Cheapest card for dual 2560x1440?

[vp8585]

Hi, I have just bought a Dell XPS 8500 and two Crossover 27" 2560x1440 monitors. The XPS comes with a Geforce GT 620 and only one DVI slot. The Crossover monitors only accept DVI-D dual link connectors and do not work with port converters. I bought a GT 610 off of newegg thinking its two DVI outputs would be perfect two run my two monitors. Apparently, the card does not support full 2560x1440 coming out of both DVI outputs at the same time? To add to the problem, the XPS 8500 only has one PCIe x 16 slot. So I can't run both video cards at the same time since they both require PCIe x 16. The XPS does have 3 PCIe x 1 slots, I don't think the Crossover will work with a PCIe x 1 video card.

I haven't received any of the hardware yet, so this is just my understanding based on google searches that I've done. Can anyone recommend a solution for me? I will be doing no gaming whatsoever, so I just want the cheapest solution. It seems there is very little documentation anywhere on videocard makers' websites to help me.

Thanks!!

 

[philipma1957]

first order from amazon as they will be easier to return.

second must you have nvidia?

 

[darckhart]

you either need a card with 2x DL-DVI and the ability to drive both at these high res, or a card with 1x DL-DVI and, say, a DP which you can get an adapter to DVI (though that often can be expensive too).

afaik, recent cards with 2x DL-DVI connectors are mostly nvidia. for example:
http://www.evga.com/products/pdf/02G-P4-2643.pdf

oh here's a refurb older gt 430:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130886

 

[Anubis]

just get one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Accell-UltraAV.../dp/B002ISVI3U

and pretty much any gfx card will work

I run 2 of the Shimian QH270s off a 7950 with one of those adapters

 

[24601]

PCI-e 1x slots work perfectly fine with PCI-e 16x, just cut out the part at the end blocking the card from fitting in.

There's no way these crappy cards will take advantage of PCI-e 16x for any real purpose.

I'm not even sure why PCI-e 1x slots even stop at the 1x instead of just have a hole there.

 

[cmdrdredd]

PCI-e 1x slots work perfectly fine with PCI-e 16x, just cut out the part at the end blocking the card from fitting in.

There's no way these crappy cards will take advantage of PCI-e 16x for any real purpose.

I am still shocked at how that works. You cut off connectors and the card can still communicate as if nothing is wrong.

 

[24601]

I am still shocked at how that works. You cut off connectors and the card can still communicate as if nothing is wrong.

It's because PCI-e is an interface that scales in blocks of 1x, which is why they have an Nx at the end of the name. Its perfectly scalable up and down.

 

[cmdrdredd]

It's because PCI-e is an interface that scales in blocks of 1x, which is why they have an Nx at the end of the name. Its perfectly scalable up and down.

That really doesn't explain how cutting off electrical connectors from the card would still allow it to function. I understand the specifications well, but it's still shocking to me that it works.

 

[This Guy]

That really doesn't explain how cutting off electrical connectors from the card would still allow it to function. I understand the specifications well, but it's still shocking to me that it works.

I read it as cutting the end off the socket... but your way sounds cooler!


To answer your question:
In 1x mode any connectors past the 1x socket are not needed. As they are just a little bit of copper with no function other than to transfer data across 4x, 8x, or 16x sockets, cutting them off would have no impact on 1x opperation AS LONG AS the PCB traces for 1x operation do not pass beneath them.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I read it as cutting the end off the socket... but your way sounds cooler!


To answer your question:
In 1x mode any connectors past the 1x socket are not needed. As they are just a little bit of copper with no function other than to transfer data across 4x, 8x, or 16x sockets, cutting them off would have no impact on 1x opperation AS LONG AS the PCB traces for 1x operation do not pass beneath them.

I wonder if there is a way to know for sure for a specific card. I guess maybe someone who is an engineer of some type could probably figure that out. It's beyond me though.

 

[RussianSensation]

ZOTAC Synergy ZT-60404-10L GeForce GT 630 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

Dual Link Dual-DVI.

 

[tweakboy]

8800 GT or 290 gtx

 

[vp8585]

Just wanted to follow up and let people know my results in case it can be of help to anyone, since the documentation that's available from the video card makers is so horrible and lacking.

I received the Dell XPS 8500 and it came with a 1GB GT 620 card installed. It has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, and 1x VGA. I am able to get dual 2560x1440 using the DVI and VGA. If I try the DVI and HDMI, I get 2560x1440 in the DVI and only 1920x1080 in the HDMI. I was using a 15 foot HDMI cable, so not sure if that's a factor, but I'm guessing it's more likely that the video card does not have HDMI 1.4. Btw, I have two Crossover 2730MD-Ps.

I called EVGA and their tech support person said that the 1GB GT610 I bought from Newegg for $41 would definitely support dual 2560x1440. I connected both monitors with DVI and only one DVI output on this card would display 2560x1440 while the other 1920x1080.

Interestingly, the Geforce website says the max VGA output is 2048x1536, but I am definitely getting 2560x1440 out of the GT 620 card that came with the Dell. Anyway, I'm glad this is over, cause it was such a headache! Hope this helps.

 

[24601]

Just wanted to follow up and let people know my results in case it can be of help to anyone, since the documentation that's available from the video card makers is so horrible and lacking.

I received the Dell XPS 8500 and it came with a 1GB GT 620 card installed. It has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, and 1x VGA. I am able to get dual 2560x1440 using the DVI and VGA. If I try the DVI and HDMI, I get 2560x1440 in the DVI and only 1920x1080 in the HDMI. I was using a 15 foot HDMI cable, so not sure if that's a factor, but I'm guessing it's more likely that the video card does not have HDMI 1.4. Btw, I have two Crossover 2730MD-Ps.

I called EVGA and their tech support person said that the 1GB GT610 I bought from Newegg for $41 would definitely support dual 2560x1440. I connected both monitors with DVI and only one DVI output on this card would display 2560x1440 while the other 1920x1080.

Interestingly, the Geforce website says the max VGA output is 2048x1536, but I am definitely getting 2560x1440 out of the GT 620 card that came with the Dell. Anyway, I'm glad this is over, cause it was such a headache! Hope this helps.

You can technically go as high rez as you want out of the VGA connection, but the picture quality would be so bad you would not like it.

Its purely an analog connection, so degradation is sorta linear.

 

[vp8585]

Yeah, now that I compare my the screen using DVI to the one using VGA, I can see a clear difference in reading small text. The small text on the VGA screen is noticeably blurrier than on the DVI screen. To people out there, you can make do with using VGA at 2560x1440, but I don't recommend it. I'm going to look for a video card that can support two DVI outputs at 2560x1440 again.

Communism, I know you said I can use a PCI 1x card in my PCI 16x slot, but that's not my problem. I need a PCI 16x card that can support dual 2560x1440 out of two DVI ports at the same time.

Thanks, to the person who linked to the Zotac card. I looked at the spec sheets, and while it does say dual DVI display capable, it doesn't explicitly say dual 2560x1440 supported. Did I miss it? I emailed zotac to ask, I'll let you guys know if I hear.

Anyone else know of a card under $100 that can definitely support dual 2560x1440 through two DVI ports?

thanks!

 

[24601]

Yeah, now that I compare my the screen using DVI to the one using VGA, I can see a clear difference in reading small text. The small text on the VGA screen is noticeably blurrier than on the DVI screen. To people out there, you can make do with using VGA at 2560x1440, but I don't recommend it. I'm going to look for a video card that can support two DVI outputs at 2560x1440 again.

Communism, I know you said I can use a PCI 1x card in my PCI 16x slot, but that's not my problem. I need a PCI 16x card that can support dual 2560x1440 out of two DVI ports at the same time.

Thanks, to the person who linked to the Zotac card. I looked at the spec sheets, and while it does say dual DVI display capable, it doesn't explicitly say dual 2560x1440 supported. Did I miss it? I emailed zotac to ask, I'll let you guys know if I hear.

Anyone else know of a card under $100 that can definitely support dual 2560x1440 through two DVI ports?

thanks!

That's not what I said.

I said you could use a PCIe 16x card in your PCIe 1x slot.

 

[vp8585]

Oh ok, sorry, read that wrong.

All the Crossover ebay listings say you can't use them with "low profile" graphics cards. That means PCI 1x right? If not, can I just buy a PCI 1x card and use that as long as it's not low profile. Or would buying a PCI 16x card and cutting it to 1x size be the only way? Thanks!

 

[24601]

Oh ok, sorry, read that wrong.

All the Crossover ebay listings say you can't use them with "low profile" graphics cards. That means PCI 1x right? If not, can I just buy a PCI 1x card and use that as long as it's not low profile. Or would buying a PCI 16x card and cutting it to 1x size be the only way? Thanks!

The easiest way would be definitely to either file down the end of your PCIe 1x slot (IMO easiest solution, and does not irrevocably damage anything) or to as you say, buy a PCIe 16x card and cut it to 1x size.

Here is a link to someone doing it for reference.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/249291-30-card

http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/permalink/814462/812947/ShowThread.aspx#812947

 

[Tweak155]

I might be crazy but the Dell xps 8500 likely came with a 3rd gen processor which has onboard video. Have you tried one to that?

 

[Vincent]

I also have two 27" 2560x1440 and am using an Asus GT640-DCSL-2GD3 to drive both of them via DVI-D.

$100 AR

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-DDR3-Grap.../dp/B009TORML8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121706

 

[vp8585]

Thanks Vincent. Didn't see your post til now, but I emailed EVGA and Zotac tech support. They said the cheapest cards they have that support dual 2560x1440 are:

Zotac GeForce GT 630 1 GB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 DVI Mini-HDMI Graphics Card ZT-60404-10L

and

EVGA GTX 650 Ti Boost (connect one monitor via DVI and the other via DP with DVI adaptor)

Can't vouch for the EVGA card, but I bought the Zotac card above for $69.99 off amazon, and it works great. Dual 2560x1440 using both of the card's DVI outputs. Glad this is over!