4850+6XXX? Can I do it?

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
I have a HD 4850 512MB. It has come to my attention that it only supports 2 monitors at one time (I knew this previously actually), but I am thinking of maybe going tri monitor or more. (Cheap $150 23"-24" LCDs, glorious...) I currently have this BenQ uh... G2400WD. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824014173 I am not sure if the newer TN panels out there are even the same quality as the one I have. (I'd be satisfied with at least same quality) Anyway... I am hoping to get a 6XXX series videocard to bump up my graphics and all that jazz and give me more monitors. I am wondering if I can have both videocards work at the same time so I can have four screens: one playing a game, three doing whatever. I have a Asus Rampage Formula X48 mobo that supports crossfire.
 

Blitz KriegeR

Senior member
Jan 30, 2005
261
0
0
I may be mistaken, but I think it would be simpler to just use the 6xxx's eyefinity support and run them all off it.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
I may be mistaken, but I think it would be simpler to just use the 6xxx's eyefinity support and run them all off it.

I thought it only supported 3 monitors per card? Also I don't think all my monitors will have display ports...
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
12,040
2,254
126
I think the new 6 series cards support up to 6 monitors, and DONT require active display port adapters so you should be able to find an adapter for cheap.
 

Blitz KriegeR

Senior member
Jan 30, 2005
261
0
0
I'd have to look at anand's original post to be sure, but iirc the basic 6xxx can do 3 per card, but the eyefinity edition has 6 DP outs per card. If three is your goal I'd go with that. Hell, if the 4850 works in conjunction it could drive two more for 5 in total.
 

3DVagabond

Lifer
Aug 10, 2009
11,951
204
106
You could combine the cards to drive your 4 monitors. You can't use the two together for eyefinity though. I don't think you're going to find any $150 1920*1200 monitors either. You could get 3x 1920*1080 @ $150ea. Run them off of a 6900 and then the 4850 driving your original monitor separately.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
You could combine the cards to drive your 4 monitors. You can't use the two together for eyefinity though. I don't think you're going to find any $150 1920*1200 monitors either. You could get 3x 1920*1080 @ $150ea. Run them off of a 6900 and then the 4850 driving your original monitor separately.

Yeah. I'm not going to find 1920x1200 monitors at all anymore except for the Dell U2410... (not really worth it to me since I am not looking for uber quality)
 

yottabit

Golden Member
Jun 5, 2008
1,619
741
146
There's no reason you can't. I used to do stuff like this back in the day before video cards had multiple monitor outputs
 

notty22

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2010
3,375
0
0
I think that is for the 5XXX series. The 6XXX series don't have Eyefinity editions...AFAIK, they can support 6 displays.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-review/4

You can't do 6 monitors unless you have extra hardware.
From your link.
[FONT=verdana,geneva]Unfortunately that isn't all, connecting six monitors to two display port connectors will require an external breakout-box or monitors that support daisy chain (very expensive). The external breakout-box I mentioned will be called a MST HUB (Multi Stream Transport), to date pricing and availability for that is unknown.[/FONT]