Spec me a card ;)

[Tomcat825]

Ello

Right, I need a GPU that is capable of running 3 screens, but won't ever be running games. I'm not 100% sure on the best way to do this though, whether to run all 3 off 1 card using 2x DVI + 1x Display/Mini-display (Don't want a stretched desktop though, needs to be 3 desktops for 3 screens. Preferably, with the XP task bar along the bottom of the middle screen ONLY) or to XFire and go 3x DVI (Assuming this is possible and with 2 cards eliminating the need for a non-legacy port (Display port))? Any input on that?

1 is a Dell 24" widescreen, 1 is a Dell 19" non-widescreen and I don't have the 3rd yet, but this will be another 24" I imagine.

I was thinking about one of the £75 excl VAT 5770's, or would a cheaper card do the same job? As I say, it won't be running games, purely the 3 screens that will be running multiple applications.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Hi there, with one of the HD 5000 or 6000 cards you can drive three monitors independently (as well as running them as one big monitor for gaming using eyefinity).

As for running three monitors off the display outputs of two graphics cards - this will work, but not if they are configured in crossfire (in crossfire you must use only the outputs of the top card). You would want to configure them to run as independent cards for this to work - this would allow you to use very cheap cards like this - but it will require a board with two PCIE slots which can be used with graphics cards.

As for alternatives to the HD 5770. The HD 5670, 5750, 6570, 6670 also support three display outputs and are cheaper than the 5770.

Also, I should point out that this HD 5830 is currently cheaper than the HD 5770 and is a much more powerful card (not really much use if you aren't doing anything intensive, but could be useful if you use andy graphics accelerated applications.

 

[Tomcat825]

Thanks for the reply mate, so if I understand it correctly, I could get a 5770 or 5830 (more powerful = definite choice ) and use all 3 ports (1 with the sapphire passive mini display > dvi adaptor) to have a 3 screen setup, with the middle screen having the taskbar?

 

[Phase]

I would say a 5850 from the bay

If your going to run eyefinity all the screens have the taskbar

Sorry for the big daft pic. Its to show him what the desktop will be.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Thanks for the reply mate, so if I understand it correctly, I could get a 5770 or 5830 (more powerful = definite choice ) and use all 3 ports (1 with the sapphire passive mini display > dvi adaptor) to have a 3 screen setup, with the middle screen having the taskbar?

Pretty much, though you will need an active adapter like this - as a passive adapters won't work with these cards.

The sapphire 5830 has one DVI port, one HDMI port and one mini-DP port. If none of your monitors have a HDMI input, then a cheap adapter like this (and this cable) or this cable on its own will work fine without any loss in image quality (since HDMI and DVI pass the same video signal).

You can chose which ever screen you like to have the taskbar - just select it as the primary screen in windows control panel or in CCC.

I would say a 5850 from the bay

If your going to run eyefinity all the screens have the taskbar

Sorry for the big daft pic. Its to show him what the desktop will be.

To be fair - a 5850 off the bay will be faster but you don't get any warranty and it is a used card. With that 5830 for £77 that is more than fast enough for the OP's needs, has the same features (most important being three display outputs), is brand new and comes with a full 2 year warranty.

BTW, nice desktop and a really amazing wallpaper - but unfortunately the OP will be using three mismatched displays (different size/resolutions) so can't use eyefinity. Instead they will have to run the monitors independently, but making use of the single graphics card with three display outputs.

 

[Phase]

Ye sorry i missed the screen bits.

The reason on the 50 was just incase he wants a game at some time it would still do it.