Best way to run 5-6 monitors with Eyefinity?

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Frostyrootbeer

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Oct 10, 2005
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Hi All,

I'm doing a build for my father (who trades commodity spreads) and I'm running into a wall of market jargon and conflicting advice. He wants to be able to spread his commodity graphs across 5 or 6 24" monitors. I was figuring I could just get a 6970 (5 inputs) but I wanted to make sure. Can I run monitors off of all the inputs on that card without an issue? Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks,
Nick
 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

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Aug 3, 2008
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To run more than four displays from the 6970 I believe you need a multi stream transport HUB, and I don't think they are available yet. You can't use all the HDMI and DVI at the same time. The HDMI is shared with one of the DVI.

But since your father doesn't need the 3D gaming performance, it would be better to get two cheap, low power eyefinity cards. The 5670 will output to three displays each and is basically the cheapest card to do so. You just need to make sure it has a DisplayPort along with two other digital outputs (HDMI/DVI)

If the monitors do not have a DisplayPort input, you will need a DisplayPort to DVI/HDMI adapter to use Eyefinity. Otherwise you could get three cheap, low power cards, pending your motherboard of choice.
 
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Red Storm

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
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cusideabelincoln said:
To run more than four displays from the 6970 I believe you need a multi stream transport HUB, and I don't think they are available yet. You can't use all the HDMI and DVI at the same time. The HDMI is shared with one of the DVI.

But since your father doesn't need the 3D gaming performance, it would be better to get two cheap, low power eyefinity cards. The 5670 will output to three displays each.

If the monitors do not have a DisplayPort input, you will need a DisplayPort to DVI/HDMI adapter. Otherwise you could get three cheap, low power cards, pending your motherboard of choice.
Click to expand...

Yeah I would definitely do the 2 cheaper cards. The DP adapter used to be expensive, but the prices have really gone down since so it's not an issue.
 
Chapbass

Chapbass

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gorobei

gorobei

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depends on how many monitors you have now, what kind of motherboard and psu you have, and what you want to spend.

A) two 6450/55x0/56x0 cards if you motherboard can handle it is easier and cheaper but less elegant.
B) 5770 eyefinity5 are available but still a little pricey. good for 5 dp monitors.
C) 5870 eyefinty6 is expensive but easily handles all 6 monitors.

if this is a new build, get the dell U2410 or next '11 version. The dells will have almost every possible input available and standard vesa mounts which makes them far more flexible.
The displayport 1.2 hubs are available but very expensive ~$200 x 2 = $400. Almost enough to justify an eyefinity6 upgrade. Unfortunately you missed the eyefinty 6 clearout sales where they were going for under $200. I <3 mine.
 
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Frostyrootbeer

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Oct 10, 2005
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Thanks for the advice!


Chapbass, you bring up a really good point. Although my dad is fine with dropping ~350 to keep things simple.


How does using 2 cards work? I just grab a board with two PCI-E slots, plug the the monitors in to both and configure through Eyefinity control panel? Beside the fact that I am pluggin monitors into different cards, is there any other big hassles involved?
 
1h4x4s3x

1h4x4s3x

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Mar 5, 2010
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Try to connect all monitors with the same display interface to avoid tearing. So, the 5x/6x displayport card is probably your best buy.
 
pandemonium

pandemonium

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Mar 17, 2011
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Depending on the level of display technology your father is willing to use, and I'm just throwing this out there, he and you may want to check out Prysm. So far they're pretty exclusive to retail and corporate-level display sizes, but it may suit his needs.

Personally, I can't wait until this is at the consumer level. LPD is the next technology of awesomeness for displays!
 
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Frostyrootbeer

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Oct 10, 2005
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Marlin1975 said:
6 monitor for $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121437

Here is the cards specs
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6950_DCII2DI4S1GD5/

Just get a 870/890 board and a decent CPU and go for it.
Click to expand...

This looks great. Do I need an AMD board to take advantage of Eyefinity?
I'm really tempted to get him an I3, just because they'll be zippy on most apps (esp. with hyperthreading) but I could get him a low priced quad core from AMD for around the same price.

What's the advantage of the 6900 over the 5770? Just one more port?
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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Frostyrootbeer said:
This looks great. Do I need an AMD board to take advantage of Eyefinity?
I'm really tempted to get him an I3, just because they'll be zippy on most apps (esp. with hyperthreading) but I could get him a low priced quad core from AMD for around the same price.

What's the advantage of the 6900 over the 5770? Just one more port?
Click to expand...


For what he is doing it comes down to number of ports, gaming does not matter. 5770 is a little cheaper but only has 5. The 6950 I linked has 6 but cost a little more. Its only about $50 differance so if he can use 6 monitors get the 6950.


Yea I prefer AMD as you get more for your dollar. So a good 870 board, a cheap quad, and 8 gigs of ram should last a long time for him and not break the bank and run cool.
You live near a microcenter?
 
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Chapbass

Chapbass

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May 31, 2004
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Interesting, wasn't aware there were more cards with 5-6 ports on em.

Honestly, I'd go with a 5 monitor setup with the 5770. Cheaper card, and I personally like odd numbers of monitors, both for gaming (so the crosshair is in the middle of a monitor, not on the bezels), and for non gaming (so I have a monitor directly in front of me).
 
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Frostyrootbeer

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Oct 10, 2005
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Marlin1975 said:
For what he is doing it comes down to number of ports, gaming does not matter. 5770 is a little cheaper but only has 5. The 6950 I linked has 6 but cost a little more. Its only about $50 differance so if he can use 6 monitors get the 6950.


Yea I prefer AMD as you get more for your dollar. So a good 870 board, a cheap quad, and 8 gigs of ram should last a long time for him and not break the bank and run cool.
You live near a microcenter?
Click to expand...

Hmm, the ability to do 6 in the future would be a really nice, but I'm tempted to go with the 5770 just because it includes adapters (cheapskate, I know) and he only has 5 monitors right now.

I work 20~ minutes away from a microcenter. Should I go for one of those AMD bundles they offer? Any suggested mobo?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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Frostyrootbeer said:
Hmm, the ability to do 6 in the future would be a really nice, but I'm tempted to go with the 5770 just because it includes adapters (cheapskate, I know) and he only has 5 monitors right now.

I work 20~ minutes away from a microcenter. Should I go for one of those AMD bundles they offer? Any suggested mobo?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!
Click to expand...


Yea get the quad 840 and MSI 870a board for $140.
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ndlePROMO.html


The CPU is 4 3.2Ghz cores and the board has 6 core support, usb 3.0, 6gb Sata ports, etc... Good all round setup for a good price. Just get 8 gig of ram and which ever video card you choose and that will work well.

And if you buy from microcenter go pick out the board and read the sticker to see which on is the newwest version.
 
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Frostyrootbeer

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Oct 10, 2005
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Marlin1975 said:
Yea get the quad 840 and MSI 870a board for $140.
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ndlePROMO.html


The CPU is 4 3.2Ghz cores and the board has 6 core support, usb 3.0, 6gb Sata ports, etc... Good all round setup for a good price. Just get 8 gig of ram and which ever video card you choose and that will work well.

And if you buy from microcenter go pick out the board and read the sticker to see which on is the newwest version.
Click to expand...


Great, I'll go to MC today or tomorrow to pick up the board and CPU. I have a corsair builder series PSU lying around (430 Watt) do you think that's gonna be enough to power the card, an SSD and HD and the CPU? The 5770 recommends a 450 minimum, but I've heard efficiency is more important than just wattage alone.
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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Frostyrootbeer said:
Great, I'll go to MC today or tomorrow to pick up the board and CPU. I have a corsair builder series PSU lying around (430 Watt) do you think that's gonna be enough to power the card, an SSD and HD and the CPU? The 5770 recommends a 450 minimum, but I've heard efficiency is more important than just wattage alone.
Click to expand...


It will probable be ok with that CPU and a 5770 card. No major gaming or overclocking though.

The 840 is the newwer chip (only 95watts) so it does not use as much as the older Quads and the video card will not use to much power if its used like you say, not for gaming.
 
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Spikesoldier

Spikesoldier

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Oct 15, 2001
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Frostyrootbeer said:
Great, I'll go to MC today or tomorrow to pick up the board and CPU. I have a corsair builder series PSU lying around (430 Watt) do you think that's gonna be enough to power the card, an SSD and HD and the CPU? The 5770 recommends a 450 minimum, but I've heard efficiency is more important than just wattage alone.
Click to expand...

with 5770 that will never approach load, i would give the 430 a nod.
 
P

pcm81

Senior member
Mar 11, 2011
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Buy him 2x6970s and then visit him often to play 3d video games on his computer.
jk jk
 
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Frostyrootbeer

Member
Oct 10, 2005
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Arghh!

So I've set everything up, installed the graphics drivers, and CCC will only let me enable two monitors. I have three monitors connected via MiniDP to DVI. Do I have to use the Mini DP-to DP connectors to do more than two screens?

I can't find instructions on Eyefinity anywhere, and the sapphire manual is nonexistant.
 
Chapbass

Chapbass

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May 31, 2004
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Ummm, which adapters did youg et for the Mini-DP -> DVI? Gotta be sure theyre active or else they won't fly.
 
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Frostyrootbeer

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Oct 10, 2005
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Just the ones that came with it.

All the active adapters i've seen cost ~100 bucks. So this is going to set me back another 300-400 to get all the displays working? Do I need active if I'm going mini-display port to display port?

All I need to do is extend to 5 desktops, I don't necessarily need them to be "joined" eyefinity style.

I wish AMD or Sapphire had made it clearer before I invested in the setup.
 
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