Multi video card - triple display

[Elvis Himselvis]

Can anyone advise on the hardware required to run three monitors?

I have an Asus Blitz Formula mobo with a 8800 Ultra graphics card. This is currently connected to two 24" displays, using the two DVI connections on the card. I would like to add a third display but obviously have no more DVI sockets to support this.

The motherboard is SLI compatible and has a second (at present unused) slot for a graphics card. I'm not bothered about the performance enhancement that SLI may offer.

Can I install another graphics card in the spare SLI slot and use it to connect an additional display? If so must it match the 8800 Ultra, or could it be another card?

Could I install another card on one of the PCI slots, and if so can anyone recommend one?

Are there any other solutions I have overlooked?

TIA

 

[queamin]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18043396

here it is about ati 5*** series
it isn't nvidia but if it works like they say it should be great for multi monitor set up.it is worth a look just to see what coming out at the end of the month.

 

[Wilderbeast]

Same as me, got 3x24" dell monitors. 2x 2407's and a 2408 in the middle.

I have 285gtx and an old 7950gtx, 285 powers the middle monitor and the 7950 does the left and right (although I used to use a 6200tc card, anything will do).

I'm using vista x64 and use 2 extra programs to make it look like it should. Utramon for the taskbars and displayfusion to rearrange the spanned background into the right order.

I've been told you can mix gfx vendors in windows 7.......

I'm quite interested in the new ATi cards though as they are supposed to support more than 2 screens from a single card. Time will tell on just how much these cost though, the quadro equivalent is massively expensive.

 

[ReturnOfTheDude]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18043396

here it is about ati 5*** series
it isn't nvidia but if it works like they say it should be great for multi monitor set up.it is worth a look just to see what coming out at the end of the month.

This will be handy, I've got a 3 x 22" setup, I wonder what the prices will be?

 

[Supertaff]

Also if you dont want to get a new graphics card you can go down the route of a Matrox TripleHead2Go. This is a seperate unit that conects to one output of ou graphics card (there are two versions digital (for DVI) and analogue)

It's want I use to power my 3 * 2407's and until the recent annoucement from ATI about the 58** cards was the only hardware solution to allow 3 monitors to be plugged in.

I use it to get a 5040 * 1050 resolution spanned across all three monitors, which is great for load of games e.g. iRacing, FSX,GRID, Armed Assualt 2.

Triple Head set up with 3 * Dell 2407's running iRacing @ 5040 * 1050



Taff

 

[Elvis Himselvis]

Thanks for all the advice.

I have looked at the Matroxtriplehead2go, and aside from being quite expensive it won't support the resolution required by 3 x 24" monitors, so it's not really a contender.

A new video card with multi-monitor support would be a potential solution if I was starting from scratch, but I anticipate it will be expensive and I will have to wait for it to be released. I will also have to ditch my current card.

I'm pleased to hear that adding a second card and utilising some additional software sounds as though it will solve my problem. I can pick-up a nvidia 6200 card for £10-£20 so I think I'll try this option first and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

 

[Wakinglimb]

I use 2 DVI off of my HD4890 and then a third DVI from the integrated graphics card (GF9300) it works great in Windows 7, in XP I had driver issues with the mixed vendors. Think your 6200 idea is the way to go for you tbh.

 

[e_dewson]

Have a look at the ERGOTRON monitor stands I have one, means you don't need a huge desk too. tho I'm not sure if they suppor 3 24" screens.