PC and Multi-moniter Advice

suj87

suj87

suj87

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Joined
3 May 2011
Posts
62
Hi Everyone,

I am going to build a PC soon, my best mate Gav (colugav) just got advice off people on here for one, and it looks awesome.

I am also going to be using the PC for:
*3D CAD Modelling
*General Surfing
*Films/Music
*Play some games (not that much tbh, but would good to have)

but I also would like the following:
*Photoshop (as I do a lot of photography, so editing etc)
*Multi-Screen use
*Memory Card Read (not too much of a problem, but if cheap can get now/later)

I will expand on what I meant by multi-screen

I will also be getting a 24" Iiyama like Gav, but I have a Dell screen at home (19") that I want to multiscreen (so have like music playing on that and random stuff) and my main 24" screen running the main programs etc.

But also, if possible, to make use of the 32" LCD screen I have on the other side of the room, to run films off it when needed.

TBH if its a lot of hassle/money for 3 screens, then just 2 (the Iiyama and the LCD screen mainly needed)

Is this possible? My budget is very similar to Gav's, but our needs are slightly different, as I don't want a TV Tuner, and not the biggest game fan.

The following is the spec of Gav's PC, if any one can advise me please on what I need?

Spec1.jpg

Spec2.jpg



Thanks in advance.
Suraj
 
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That Sapphire 5850 has,

- Display Connectors: 1 Dual-Link DVI-I, 1 HDMI & 1 DisplayPort

So multi screen is possible, as the Liyama has a HDMI input also, and hopefully your Dell has a DVI? trying to then add more will be a right pain in the butt do to the displayport output.


And that case+psu combo has disappeared,

so heres the case - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-214-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29

and a psu - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-046-OC
 
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Hi Stulid,

Thanks for the reply, I thought that too, but wasn't 100% sure, so I could run 2 easily (i'd ideally want the Iiyama and the LCD if I had to pick 2) will it be a lot more hassle for the third (Dell)?
The dell is well old, only VGA (can this not be adapted to DVI?)

Thanks again

(PS thanks, I just noticed that too)
 
suj87 said:
Hi Stulid,

Thanks for the reply, I thought that too, but wasn't 100% sure, so I could run 2 easily (i'd ideally want the Iiyama and the LCD if I had to pick 2) will it be a lot more hassle for the third (Dell)?
The dell is well old, only VGA (can this not be adapted to DVI?)

Thanks again
Click to expand...

one 24" connects using the DVI

one 23" connects using HDMI

your then left with the display port which needs special monitors with display port connectors.

theres this - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-150-OK&groupid=701&catid=1915&subcat= - but it converts a MINI display port into DVI
 
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Excellent Stulid

So I can go ahead and get it and run 2 screens for the mean while, then run another when I get that adapter, that is excellent.

Thank you very much for your help mate, much appreciated :D


(too slow again, that is a good compromise too :D)
 
I dont even think that the diplayport adapter will actually work, its a MINI style but the sapphire card is a full size displayport, so it wont even fit in the card, but I am not 100% sure.

So the XFX will be a better solution, you can find a DVI to VGA adapter for around £2 from anywhere.
 
Thanks Stulid, that is a very good compromise, it is not that much more in cost neither.

So to confirm, I can run all 3 moniters off just that graphics card? As I was reading of people needing 2 graphics cards (2 moniters per card)?

Thanks again.
 
Ok, I am going to go ahead and order my setup, first custom build, kinda scared, but tbh I am normally good at this stuff (and the fact I work on cars all the time and have done for the last 4-5years should help, well it better lmao)

thanks for the help, I might be back needing help lol
 
Hi there,

Unless I am mistaken, even if you are not using eyefinity you still need one of the outputs of the HD 5850 card to be delivered by displayport, if you use the XFX card and connect two monitors via DVI and one via HDMI then you could only enable two monitors at a time.

You can buy full-size DP to DVI active adapters for a similar price to that mini-DP adapter. Have a google for "Sapphire 44000-02-40R".

So with that adapter, connect one of the DVI monitors up to it using the display port, use a DVI-I to VGA adapter from the card's DVI-I port to hook up the VGA monitor and the HDMI port directly for the TV.

Also, I wouldn't suggest using the coolermaster PSU that comes with the case, there are no reviews for it and similar units from Coolermaster aren't that great, especially when you are running such a nice system with a Quad core CPU and a HD 5850. I would suggest this PSU (review here). The OCZ PSU suggested by stulid is also decent quality.

The rest of the system looks really nice, though if you are doing a lot of photo editing then I would go for the Dell U2311H monitor. It has very accurate colours since it uses an E-IPS panel and is generally a peach - here is a review.
 
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cmndr_andi said:
Hi there,

Unless I am mistaken, even if you are not using eyefinity you still need one of the outputs of the HD 5850 card to be delivered by displayport, if you use the XFX card and connect two monitors via DVI and one via HDMI then you could only enable two monitors at a time.

You can buy full-size DP to DVI active adapters for a similar price to that mini-DP adapter. Have a google for "Sapphire 44000-02-40R".

So with that adapter, connect one of the DVI monitors up to it using the display port, use a DVI-I to VGA adapter from the card's DVI-I port to hook up the VGA monitor and the HDMI port directly for the TV.

Also, I wouldn't suggest using the coolermaster PSU that comes with the case, there are no reviews for it and similar units from Coolermaster aren't that great, especially when you are running such a nice system with a Quad core CPU and a HD 5850. I would suggest this PSU (review here). The OCZ PSU suggested by stulid is also decent quality.

The rest of the system looks really nice, though if you are doing a lot of photo editing then I would go for the Dell U2311H monitor. It has very accurate colours since it uses an E-IPS panel and is generally a peach - here is a review.
Click to expand...

Hi Andi,

Thanks for that, I have swapped to the PSU you suggested, just before my order.
I would really like that screen, but I cannot afford the extra money atm, might be a consideration for the future.

Much appreciated on the help :D

Gazza123 said:
I think you get one of these with the GFX card anyway. But if not then they can be bought pretty cheaply.
Click to expand...

Thanks Gazza, that is even better, I cannot wait for tomorrow, half day fridays (gotta love engineering) so I can go home and be like a little kid :D

Thanks for all the help people!
 
Thanks everyone for the advice, got it up and running now, its awesome, need to get all my software on it, so can test it out.


Got a question though, my mate Gav got the same setup (but with a Sapphire, as I have the XFX) but on performance, his runs 7.6 scoring, mine seems to run 6.0, is this due to me running the VGA screen with my main LCD moniter? or is it down to settings/updates?

Thanks in advance
 
Ah, so you both have a HD 5850, but from different brands?

Have you installed the laster catalyst graphics drivers? I believe the most recent version is 11.4 (here is a link - assuming you are using win7/vista 64bit).
 
Thanks again Andi.

I downloaded that last night, but didn't reboot my PC, when I did this morning and ran it, it was perfect :D

7.7 now :D.

Thanks again to everyone and their help
 
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