Trying for a cheap Eyefinity Setup On a VERY strict budget.

[SuBo]

Hey all,
Im trying to upgrade the PCs in our office to Windows 7, the problem is at the moment, we are all using triple monitors limited to DSUB connections.

This i believe causes a "flaw", due to the fact, that windows7 doesnt really let you mix gfx cards (at the moment most use onboard intel + cheap 4xxx ATI cards under winXP).

So im kind of screwed in two ways ;
1. Windows 7 doesnt let you "mix" gfx cards like this
2. If i was to go the normal eyefinity way, i would need to get new monitors to allow for the DVI connections (assuming HDMI>DVI, DisplayPort>DVI method thats normally used).

Does anyone know if the following would work ;

AMD A4-3300 2.50GHz (Socket FM1) APU Processor (AD3300OJGXBOX) AMD A4-3300 2.50GHz (Socket FM1) APU Processor (AD3300OJGXBOX)
Asus F1A55-M LK AMD A55 (Socket FM1) DDR3 Motherboard [F1A55-M LK R 2.0]
Sapphire HD 6450 HM 512MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card (11190-04-20G) [11190-04-20G]

With the A4+Mobo, that should give me a Dsub, and a DVI, which i can convert to DSub, and then the 6450 working as an eyefinity card, also having a DSub.

Meaning, i can potentially upgrade to windows 7, get a slightly faster computer, and still keep my perfectly working monitors. Without having to shell out an extra £300ish just for monitors ?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[edscdk]

I have 3 poeple using onboard intel and cheap ati addin cards, windows 7 is happy as larry... no fancy setup just using w7 multi-monitor

am is missing something ? what issue do you have exactly?

 

[SuBo]

Hmm,
Everytime i have tried it, you cant get all 3 monitors working at the same time, due to the drivers.

You either get the 2 offboard ATIs working, or the single onboard working. Windows simply wont let you enable all 3.

 

[edscdk]

I will admit they would ahve been 2x dsub and a hdmi / dvi but not had any issues

 

[SuBo]

I believe it was something to do with the newer fancy windows driver signing, that stopped you mixing gfx cards up or something.

That aside, can anyone see any flaws with the above proposed spec, i'd hate to present it to my bosses, them to give it the nod, and me to then find it doesnt work and ive wasted £100.

£100 doesnt sound a lot, but meh, budget is non existent.

 

[SuBo]

edscdk,
Can you possibly check how its setup for me, i might try and reinstall my own machine to give it a try, but im pretty sure ill get the same 2 monitor or 1 monitor thing.

 

[Confused]

Do you NEED Eyefinity to combine all the monitors into one large one, or do you just need a standard, run-of-the-mill multiple monitor configuration so you can have more desktop real-estate?

I've been running multiple monitors from multiple graphics cards (not in Eyefinity - that's primarily for gaming etc) for years, since Windows 2000 in fact, and it's "just worked"

 

[SuBo]

Hmm, It seems it may have been a limitation of relying on the same cards that work in XP, but dont work in windows 7.

Having just put a 4350 into one of the spare PCs here it worked flawlessly. Where as previously i was using older Rad9250's and nvidias of the same age.

Seems, i dont need the budget now, just £30 per PC for a newer gfx card, and throw out the ones with onboard that isnt supported in windows 7,