Display port question

[Red Squirrel]

I'm not really familiar with this new type of port, but I see it's very hard to find video cards with more than 2 VGA or DVI outputs but some do have a display port in addition to 2 monitor ports. Is there a reliable way to go from display port to DVI or VGA? I do see adapters online so I'm guessing yes, but wonder if there are issues I don't know about. Also, is the interface/cables really sensitive to static electricity? At work one of my monitors uses display port, and whenever I get up from my chair or someone wants by and generates enough static, it flickers. Does not really bother me at work but definitely would at home. I know it's not the monitor since when I moved my PC I left the monitors and just hooked up to the monitors that were on the new desk, and same thing happens.

I'm hoping if I can get 3 monitors to work on a single card I might be able to get 3 of them working in Linux. Looking into ATI as they seem to have cards with quite a few ports. Just not familiar enough with display port to know if it's a viable solution.

 

[ViRGE]

I'm not really familiar with this new type of port, but I see it's very hard to find video cards with more than 2 VGA or DVI outputs but some do have a display port in addition to 2 monitor ports. Is there a reliable way to go from display port to DVI or VGA?

Yes. There are DisplayPort adapters for DP to SL-DVI, DL-DVI, HDMI, and VGA. The cost depends on the electronics and whether it's passive or active*, but all of them except DL-DVI adapters are under $30. For reasons I will quickly gloss over, you'll want an active DP to SL-DVI adapter if you intend to use more than 2 DVI type monitors with an AMD video card.

* For backwards compatibility purposes with SL-DVI, DP supports a so-called passive mode where it simply reassigns pins, and the video card generates an appropriate DVI signal, making the passive adapter a simple mechanical adapter. This is as opposed to an active adapter, where it actively converts a DP signal to DVI. AMD cards only have the electronics to generate 2 DVI-type signals, which is why you need the active adapter for 3+ DVI monitors.

 

[3DVagabond]

What he said ^^^

An exception to this are the Sapphire Flex edition cards. They can generate 3xDVI without using an active display port adapter. They also typically come with the needed adapter.

 

[blastingcap]

The cables aren't especially sensitive to static electricity as far as I know.

If you are cheap and want to pay more like $10, you can find DP->VGA adapters that give a lesser image quality than an the digital DP->DVI adapters but work neverthless since they are still active adapters. So you can actually have two monitors directly connected to DVI/HDMI ports, and for the third monitor hook it up to a DP->VGA adapter. It's a lot of hassle, so I would just pony up the extra $20 and get a DP->VGA (Single Link) adapter if you must use AMD cards.

Another option is to buy a Sapphire FLEX video card (search for sapphire flex on newegg) that supports up to three monitors on DVI at 1080p or less.

I also hear that the latest Nvidia cards support triple DVI/HDMI ports WITHOUT the need for DP adapters, and that you can actually have three DUAL LINK DVI signals on such cards, but I don't actually own any NV cards so hopefully someone else can verify that.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Good to know, I'll definitely play it safe and get an active one. Considering an ATI card as it seems they are better for multi monitor and from what I read, may even work in Linux for multi monitor while nvidia does not.

 

[gill77]

Anybody know if a laptop with a mini display port and a GT 525M 1GB could drive on of those Korean hi res displays, Catleap etc?

Thanks

 

[ViRGE]

Sure, it can do it. The GeForce 500 series can drive a display up to 2560x1600. But you'll either need a version of that monitor that has a DisplayPort input, or a DisplayPort to DL-DVI adapter.

 

[gill77]

Thanks Virge, that makes my day.

It's my understanding that it the display port is the key. The same laptop with hdmi or vga only would not be suitable for these dvi-d monitors Korean monitors even if the video card was good for 2500x1600.

Do I have it sort of right?

Thanks again.

Gill

 

[ViRGE]

Correct. You would not be able to properly drive such a high resolution monitor over HDMI or VGA.

 

[gill77]

Thank you Virge,

AnandTech is a great resource, thanks in large part to guys like you.

Gill

 

[Red Squirrel]

Going to be getting this, looks good?

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=63195&vpn=MDP2DVIS&manufacture=StarTech.com

Also will this work with a VGA adapter? I could get a VGA one, but I want DVI as I eventually want to upgrade my two side monitors to something that is DVI. Just not now.

 

[ViRGE]

Yep, that's exactly what you need.

As for a VGA adapter, that technically works too. However you don't need me to tell you that there's a noticeable loss in quality for using it.