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Which GPU for 3x 24" Monitors?

Global_Inferno

Global_Inferno

Global_Inferno

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I have three 24" monitors that I have hooked up to a XFX Triple Monitor stand that I use predominately for work (programming), so while I need support for three monitors, I do not ever run them in a Eyefinity / 3D Surround setup.

I'm currently using a single AMD 5770 Pro, with 2 on DVI and one on Display Port, but I'm starting to feel that the GPU is holding my gaming back in titles like BF3, The Old Republic, Skyrim, etc. So I'd like a new one. In my experience AMD hasn't been the most "solid" of GPU manufactures (more driver issues than physical hardware failures) so I'd prefer an Nvidia if possible.

Do single Nvidia cards support three-screen output? If so which ones? Is it worth waiting for the next-gen cards? Will Nvidia support 3x screen on a single card in the next gen stuff (if they don't already?).
 
Nvidia cant do it. Amd are the leaders where this technology are concerned. I would wait till the 22nd dec or the 9th of january as thats when the top end amd 7000 series are released. From a few snipets that i have seen amd have upgraded multi monitor again. It could mean less headaches but your only option for single card multi monitor is amd or a multi gpu nvidia card like the gtx590.
 
IIRC (which i'm not sure i do) you need two cards for 3 monitors with nvidia.

Personally I'd go for one powerful card over sli and the associated hiccups/
 
TBH, I don't think any single card can support 3 monitors anyway!

That could very well change with the next gen though.

For Nvidia, you need two GPUs minimum.

AMD you can have one card, but really, you need two for max settings on most games :)

VRAM comes into play at your res so and may well be better.
 
Do they still need sli like the dual core amd solutions?

Cleeecooo, you can definitely run three monitors off most amd cards, but one monitor needs to be connected via dp/mini-dp; whether or not it is playable is another matter.
 
lrlcr said:
Do they still need sli like the dual core amd solutions?

Cleeecooo, you can definitely run three monitors off most amd cards, but one monitor needs to be connected via dp/mini-dp; whether or not it is playable is another matter.
Click to expand...

Yea h, the dual GPU cards like the 590 still use SLI.

I'm not disputing that the AMD can support the three monitors, I'm just saying you'd end up in x fire or SLI anyway as a single card can't handle three monitors at full settings :(

It's better value and easier to just xfire.
 
Wait for the 7000 series? Should hopefully provide better performance on such a large resolution. The 3gb vram it has should also help a lot.
 
Ok, thanks for the responses guys. I think I'll wait until the new year to see what the two companies bring out.

Just so everyone understands though, I need 3 monitor extended-desktop support but not all three for gaming, ie. my 5770 Pro copes quite well at 1920x1080 and I don't feel the need to put it across all three.

Nvidia just seems incapable of doing it, unless you SLI them or buy a card with built-in SLI in effect, neither I'm happy doing. SLI and Crossfire have always been flaky in my experience.
 
I'm setting up two MSI Hawk 560TIs in SLI for a triple-screen setup. I expect to be able to play on mid settings with this, would that be about right?
 
Veevoh said:
I'm setting up two MSI Hawk 560TIs in SLI for a triple-screen setup. I expect to be able to play on mid settings with this, would that be about right?
Click to expand...

It depends on the game tbh. I've only got a single 5850 but does ok in less demanding games. Tf2, Dirt3, Oblivion they do fine at 5760x1080 for around 50fps. Some games like Deus EX i lower to 4800x900, And **** port and demanding games like GTA and crysis give about 10-15fps.
 
If you don't plan to game on all three monitors, then a powerful Nvidia card (560/570) for running 2 monitors, one of which you game on, and a cheap-as chips one (absolutely any card will do) for the 3rd monitor.

If you do plan on gaming across all 3 monitors, then waiting is best, but as noted, AMD are the only ones that do 3 monitors from one card (in fact, the 69xx series do 4 - I have three displays that I use in crossfire when gaming, and have tested it with my hdtv connected to a 4th output).
 
I'd also go AMD if I needed to use 3 monitors as the nvidia route forces you into multi GPU setups, even if your not gaming across all 3.
 
I have been thinking along similar lines and came to the same conclusion.

I also have 3 x 24" monitors running from 2 x 4890s (not Crossfired), however, I do on occasion have at least 3 instances of a game running at any one time.

I think with a high end 7000 series I could go down to one graphics card and have good performance on newer games.

+1 wait for 7000 series
 
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