MSI 7970 Lightning - 2x 120hz monitor + 1 60hz monitor?

Addicted · 25 Oct 2012 at 17:03

Hey,

So I've got 2x S23A700D Samsung monitors and want those obviously in 120hz, but I also have my other 22" monitor - standard 60hz 1080p.

Is it possible to connect these up to this card and get both in 120hz?

I can't find much around the internet, but it seems both of the DVI ports are actually single link?

What about the DisplayPorts? Can I just use 3 of those (incase I get another 120hz monitor) and have all 3 on 120hz?

Hoping someone knows.

.

Rusty0611 · 25 Oct 2012 at 17:06

You can - you'll need a DP to mDP cable

Addicted · 25 Oct 2012 at 17:11

Brilliant - so I guess I can power both 120hz monitors via the DP-> mDP, and the normal monitor via DVI?

I know with my current 5850 setup that a DVI + HDMI port shared the same bandwidth - does that apply to any of these ports?

Rusty0611 · 25 Oct 2012 at 17:14

Addicted said:
Brilliant - so I guess I can power both 120hz monitors via the DP-> mDP, and the normal monitor via DVI?

I know with my current 5850 setup that a DVI + HDMI port shared the same bandwidth - does that apply to any of these ports?

You can, yes. If you get another for Eyefinity then you can run all 3 off of DP to mDP cables.

Not sure regarding the shared bandwidth. Not AFAIK but I'll let someone else answer.

Addicted · 26 Oct 2012 at 15:29

Looked into it further, to get the miniDisplayPort to DVI-D I need some rediculously expensive adapters, and HDMI (my other monitor connection) doesn't support 120hz.

That looks to be a 7970 out the window - is it just me or are the selection of connectors crap? I can't believe the Lightning has no DVI-D, if it had just one I'd be happy.

I'm now looking at a EVGA 670 4g Superclocked w/ backplate - I'll then watercool that.

What are peoples thoughts on this?

I'd go for 4gb over 2gb purely to ensure the card lasts its time, and it seems like a good stock card to go for - plus EVGA's warranty doesn't mind the user replacing the cooler.

In terms of performance they seem to be about the same, what do you reckon?

Rusty0611 · 26 Oct 2012 at 15:39

To check - does you monitor not have a DisplayPort output?

Edit: checked your monitor specifically and can see it doesn't so you can ignore the above regarding mDP -> DP. I was assuming you had checked your monitor had a DP output

.

This 7970 has the necessary outputs for 120 Hz although you'll need an adaptor for one monitor if you go 120 Hz Eyefinity:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-293-AS

Nelly · 26 Oct 2012 at 15:40

Addicted said:
That looks to be a 7970 out the window - is it just me or are the selection of connectors crap? I can't believe the Lightning has no DVI-D, if it had just one I'd be happy.

Looks like it has one >> http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-152-MS

Surveyor · 26 Oct 2012 at 15:45

Nelly said:
Looks like it has one

It's not dual link though so won't do 120Hz.

I believe there's a driver hack (or something like that) which may get 120Hz out of it.

pgi947 · 26 Oct 2012 at 16:40

Yep, give me a few hours I'll dig out a link to the mod, doesn't guarantee 120Hz though, depends how good the dvi cable is.

pgi947 · 26 Oct 2012 at 18:00

How to get up-to 120hz via single link on an MSI 7970 Lightning

Addicted · 26 Oct 2012 at 18:56

Rusty0611 said:
To check - does you monitor not have a DisplayPort output?

Edit: checked your monitor specifically and can see it doesn't so you can ignore the above regarding mDP -> DP. I was assuming you had checked your monitor had a DP output .

This 7970 has the necessary outputs for 120 Hz although you'll need an adaptor for one monitor if you go 120 Hz Eyefinity:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-293-AS

I did look at that but it's 3 slot (so no Crossfire) and also there's no waterblock out for it

pgi947 said:
Yep, give me a few hours I'll dig out a link to the mod, doesn't guarantee 120Hz though, depends how good the dvi cable is.

I assume that will only allow me to do it for one of the DVI? Seems a bit of a gamble of £450+ tbh!

pgi947 · 26 Oct 2012 at 19:00

I would presume you could do it on both connectors, one is DVI-I one is DVI-D, as you're using a digital input device which port you use doesn't matter.

I don't think the DVI ports share either (not certain on this).

tommybhoy · 26 Oct 2012 at 23:17

You could use 2XDVI and 1XHDMI(HDMI to DVI cable), but would lose 120 Hz in all of them if you run eyefinity I presume:

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1 x Sapphire HD 7970 VAPOR-X GHZ 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE FARCRY3, Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs & 20% off MOH Warfighter PC Games £379.99
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Or find a 7950 Flex, but you would still lose the 120Hz in eyefinity mode:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1157&pid=1718&psn=&lid=1&leg=0

Both the above only output DL-DVI in one output though.

Whether you go AMD/Nvidia, I don't think you'll be able to run 1@60Hz and 2@120Hz in Eyefinity/Surround due to one of them only being 60Hz, as I above they would all run@60Hz I presume.

Rusty0611 · 26 Oct 2012 at 23:57

Eyefinity/Surround effectively tricks your PC into thinking it has one giant monitor attached so they do indeed need to be running at the same refresh rate.

Addicted · 27 Oct 2012 at 10:00

Yeah that's fine, I don't usually run Eyefinity but a normal triple monitor setup - so if I play a game I still have the other two on, but at least the main one will be 120hz!

To be honest I think I'm going to go for the 670, disappointed with the weird port layout of the 7970's so I'll give the greens a go this time round, seeing as they meet exactly what I need/want. ( I don't need any additional cables as it's exactly the same as my 5850 setup and also allows both 120hz monitors to go into 120hz as it has 2x dual link DVI).

chipachap · 27 Oct 2012 at 14:56

You won't be able to run 2 monitors at 120hz and another at 60hz, the 120hz ones will down-clock to 60hz.

I've tried it every way possible to have my 60hz monitor on at 60hz while playing bf3 at 120hz on the other one.

It just won't work, even though in Windows and in bf3 it says 120hz it's clearly not the case, the second I plug out the 60hz screen the 120hz monitor flashes and goes back to 120hz.

You won't need any adapters if you're using DisplayPort 1.2 on all monitors, this is the preferred method imo as no converting has to be done.

Rusty0611 · 27 Oct 2012 at 15:23

chipachap said:
You won't be able to run 2 monitors at 120hz and another at 60hz, the 120hz ones will down-clock to 60hz.

I've tried it every way possible to have my 60hz monitor on at 60hz while playing bf3 at 120hz on the other one.

It just won't work, even though in Windows and in bf3 it says 120hz it's clearly not the case, the second I plug out the 60hz screen the 120hz monitor flashes and goes back to 120hz.

Not the case for Nvidia cards. Is that an AMD qwerk? Actually I remember you pointing this out before and other AMD users weren't experiencing this?

chipachap · 27 Oct 2012 at 15:30

Rusty0611 said:
Not the case for Nvidia cards. Is that an AMD qwerk? Actually I remember you pointing this out before and other AMD users weren't experiencing this?

It's definitely happening, although some people may not notice the difference it's easy to spot in FPS while scanning. I've swapped monitor connections several times and it's the same all the time. I've came across a couple of others who say the same thing and others who don't but it's impossible to know if it's not happening or if they just don't notice. I'd imagine it's difficult for the card to produce two different speed outputs anyway so if it does work I'm surprised.

Rusty0611 · 27 Oct 2012 at 17:29

No more difficult then outputting to two different resolutions.

Addicted · 29 Oct 2012 at 09:14

chipachap said:
It's definitely happening, although some people may not notice the difference it's easy to spot in FPS while scanning. I've swapped monitor connections several times and it's the same all the time. I've came across a couple of others who say the same thing and others who don't but it's impossible to know if it's not happening or if they just don't notice. I'd imagine it's difficult for the card to produce two different speed outputs anyway so if it does work I'm surprised.

I can output one monitor in 120hz and the others in 60hz with my 5850's?

Or at least it seems to - I have fps counters up and the display looks as if it's in 120hz (you can tell by it being smoother), maybe it's a psychological thing ;D