another eyefinity setup question

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
Another eyefinity setup question. Reading conflicting reports on forums

My setup
3x19 lcd VGA monitors 1280x1024 each
5850 ati
Win 7 64bit

Will 2x vga > dvi. And 1x vga > displayport PASSIVE be ok?

Ive heard that vga to Passive DP is OK when using low res VGA monitors in a three display eyefinity setup and active is only necessary when using something like DVI native monitors
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
I think with the passive you will lose the 3rd display on wake up/resume

its like 25 bucks for the sapphire active adapter on newegg
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
I think with the passive you will lose the 3rd display on wake up/resume

its like 25 bucks for the sapphire active adapter on newegg

If its the dvi - dp i cant use it possibly. Reviews on newegg say peiple who go vga - dvi > dp active cant utilze eyefinity unless the dp monitor veing used is native dvi. That led me to some forums that say it might be possible to use the vga - dp adapter for success
 

NoQuarter

Golden Member
Jan 1, 2001
1,006
0
76
ALL DisplayPort -> VGA adapters are inherently ACTIVE adapters so yes that will work regardless. It's impossible for a DP -> VGA adapter to be passive because DP has no way to output an analog signal. (A passive adapter relies on the video card to output the proper signal, an active one converts)


DVI -> VGA adapters for example can and are passive adapters because DVI has several pins set aside specifically to carry an analog signal and just needs a passive adapter to match the interface up. DisplayPort has no pins for carrying analog so needs an adapter with a chip in it to convert the signal to VGA.
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
ALL DisplayPort -> VGA adapters are inherently ACTIVE adapters so yes that will work regardless. It's impossible for a DP -> VGA adapter to be passive because DP has no way to output an analog signal. (A passive adapter relies on the video card to output the proper signal, an active one converts)


DVI -> VGA adapters for example can and are passive adapters because DVI has several pins set aside specifically to carry an analog signal and just needs a passive adapter to match the interface up. DisplayPort has no pins for carrying analog so needs an adapter with a chip in it to convert the signal to VGA.

Thanks! I think that clears up for me some of the issues on why. Wtf is with amd and their current situation on explaining eyefinity? I wouldnt think it would be that difficult tocome up with a cause+effect type of setup troubleshooter, a'la. Enter # of monitors, enter type of connections, etc. Etc eventually leading to your personal setup options and what extensions or limitations are there.

Had i not been a adept user as it is, i would have ordered a non active displaY port, then a active one, and then a vga displayport. That would have been very frustrating.

Oh well, just ordered one off newegg, will post results once received. Ive heard lerformance on older vga monitors has more.flickering and sleeping issues, if so, oh well because my monitors are all hand me downs so no love lost
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
well I just got this from newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812270279


and eyefinity works great :)

for some reason, the dport dongle wanted to go on my far left monitor and the 2 other VGA monitors (middle and right) are using VGA<DVI hookups to the card.

my far right monitor is a crappy ADVUEU 1280x1024

the 2 on the left are nice DELL monitors


that may have had something to do with it's "pickiness"

otherwise it woudl default at 1024x900 res max, but correcting the hookups gave me full 1280x1024 on all 3 monitors extended.

the bezel adjustment thing works OK, takes some experimentation but not bad



on a side note.


DIRT2 WOWWWWWWWW drool :D