Best video card setup for 1 x 30" surrounded by 2 x 20"

[Fun Guy]

What are my video card options for one 30" display with two 20" connected to it (one on each side).

The 30" monitor:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...4&sku=224-9949

The 20" monitors, which will be mounted in portrait mode:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...4&sku=320-4687

Essentially it would be 2560 x 1600 for the 30", and 1200 x 1600 on the 20"s on either side of the 30". Basically looking at this setup:

Uses - mostly research, with sources being print, audio, and video. Several docs + apps open at once. Video editing and creation. Every once in a while some light gaming, but not critical as 98% of the use of this setup will be work-related.

So what are my options? Can a single card do this, or should I use two? Which brand, ATI/AMD, or NVidia? I most DEFINITELY need this setup to be rock-solid stable, with effortless movement between the three monitors. TIA.

 

[gorobei]

you could get by with a 5770/6770, 5750, 5670, 6670, 6790, or 6850 as a single ati card.

you are lucky your 3011 has native displayport which makes it much easier.

how are you defining effortless movement between monitor? hydravision is a bit involved if you want highly customized zones for window maximizing.

 

[Fun Guy]

how are you defining effortless movement between monitor? hydravision is a bit involved if you want highly customized zones for window maximizing.

I'm just wanting to have a clean, smooth experience as I travel from one display to another. I've heard horror stories about resource drains and other things while doing something as simple as drawing your mouse across multiple screens.

 

[Fun Guy]

A concern would be the fact that at least one of the displays would be running in analog rather than digital. Is the Display Port (never hears of one of those, what is it?) capable of outputting two 1600 x 1200 signals? If so, what does the adapter cost? If not, then I'm running one of the displays off of the VGA port, right?

I already have two Sapphire HD5570s sitting in front of me right now, so will that work for an all-digital experience?

 

[Gunbuster]

Is that Windows XP? Windows 7 is where I would start. Aerosnap FTW.

 

[gorobei]

you would be using the 2 dvi outs and 1 dp out. all digital, no adapters.

if you have the 5570s, and enough slots on your m/b then you can go with that. but probably not worth attempting any gaming.

 

[Fun Guy]

Is that Windows XP? Windows 7 is where I would start. Aerosnap FTW.

Win 7 for sure; 64-bit Ultimate.

you would be using the 2 dvi outs and 1 dp out. all digital, no adapters.

if you have the 5570s, and enough slots on your m/b then you can go with that. but probably not worth attempting any gaming.

But two 5570s would be better than one, yes?

 

[Fun Guy]

you would be using the 2 dvi outs and 1 dp out. all digital, no adapters.

BTW, my 5570s have one DVI, one VGA, and one DP - not two DVIs.

 

[Fun Guy]

I'm still not sold that I could get all three displays - with digital input - from just one video card. The 5570 has just one DVI, one Display Port, and one VGA. I won't be using the VGA because that is analog video.

Anyone else have input/ideas/knowledge/experience??

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I'm still not sold that I could get all three displays - with digital input - from just one video card. The 5570 has just one DVI, one Display Port, and one VGA. I won't be using the VGA because that is analog video.

Anyone else have input/ideas/knowledge/experience??

The ATi/AMD 5xxx/6xxx series cards are capable of doing exactly what you need. You just need to find a 55xx, 56xx, or 57xx card that has 2 dvi ports and 1 dp port.

For productivity work you should not experience any lag issues or horror stories you described. The cards above aren't stellar for gaming, but if you don't care about that get the cheapest card you can find that supports 2 dvi and 1 dp.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898

I thought there were more options in the sub 100 market, but it looks like not.

 

[Fun Guy]

The ATi/AMD 5xxx/6xxx series cards are capable of doing exactly what you need. You just need to find a 55xx, 56xx, or 57xx card that has 2 dvi ports and 1 dp port.

For productivity work you should not experience any lag issues or horror stories you described. The cards above aren't stellar for gaming, but if you don't care about that get the cheapest card you can find that supports 2 dvi and 1 dp.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102898

I thought there were more options in the sub 100 market, but it looks like not.

Wow, that looks huge, and loud.

Can I just use the two 5570's I already have on-hand?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102874

 

[Skurge]

Wow, that looks huge, and loud.

Can I just use the two 5570's I already have on-hand?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102874

That card is very very quiet. As for size. What case do you have. It's a small card compared to the higher end cards. It's much shorter than my 8800gts.

 

[Fun Guy]

That card is very very quiet. As for size. What case do you have. It's a small card compared to the higher end cards. It's much shorter than my 8800gts.

Yes, that's the point, that's what I'm after - quiet and cool.

I'm putting them in a uATX case, so it will be a fairly small area. There are two PCIe x16 slots on the MB I will be using that will run both of the cards at x8.