Does a 7970 support TWO 2650x1440 monitors out of the box?

[wbynum]

I've been trying to decide today what new video card to go with my two Korean 27" 2560x1440 monitors coming this week. I am a bit confused about the whole dual-link DVI issue though, especially as it relates to AMD cards with only one DVI port and multiple display ports. Will the following 7970 card (Sapphire HD 7970 OC) support two of these monitors, out of the box, without any additional adapters?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102982

It comes with a mini-dp to dvi adapter, but various posts seem to say one must run a $100 "active" display port to DVI adapter. Any help/advice is appreciated.

 

[lavaheadache]

short answer is yes.

 

[cmdrdredd]

You do require the active Display port adapter. Some people claim HDMI works on some models of the Korean monitors but I cannot confirm that. Everything I've read about the DVI only models is you must have the active adapter.

So unfortunately it seems like you need the vapor-X version with two Dual Link DVI ports which is about $60 more expensive or an active DP > DVI adapter.

 

[RussianSensation]

If the Korean monitors have DVI and HDMI or Display port connectors, a single Sapphire DX 7970 can drive 4 of such displays (DisplayPort + DisplayPort + HDMI + DL-DVI).

If the Korean monitors only have DL-DVI, then you will need a dual-link dual-DVI videocard or an active-DP-to-dual link DVI adapter ($100). Sapphire Vapor-X is not a dual-link dual-DVI card but a dual-DVI card with 1 Single and 1 Dual link connectors. It won't work without an adapter.

If you can only use 2x Dual-Link DVI 2560x1600, you'll want to get a GTX670 instead.

 

[wbynum]

You do require the active Display port adapter. Some people claim HDMI works on some models of the Korean monitors but I cannot confirm that. Everything I've read about the DVI only models is you must have the active adapter.

So unfortunately it seems like you need the vapor-X version with two Dual Link DVI ports which is about $60 more expensive or an active DP > DVI adapter.

Newegg shows even the Vapor-X version only has 1 dual link dvi port and 1 single link dvi port:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202001

I had started to make up my mind that the 7970 was the best for a 1440p gaming, but if I am going to have to spend $100+ over a 670 just to support 2 monitors, the 670 is looking more and more appealing.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Didn't Sapphire have a special version with two dual link ports? I guess not. Why nobody makes an AMD card that has this I'll never know. The 670 isn't a bad card if you have to go that way.

 

[RussianSensation]

Sapphire has the FLEX that allows you to use both dual-DVI ports for Eyefinity but it's limited to 1080P monitors. If you need dual-link dual-DVI off 1 high-end card, you have to go with NV this round.

 

[wbynum]

If one runs two 7950's or 7970's, is there any issue with connecting a 2560x1440 monitor up to each card, while still being able to crossfire to a single monitor correctly?

I've currently got a 7950. Instead of selling it and purchasing a 670 I could go crossfire I suppose. Not sure what would be the best option.

 

[Larnz]

When crossfired, you can only use the connections on one card.

 

[3DVagabond]

The monitor needs native displayport or HDMI if you don't want to have to use an active adapter.

 

[thilanliyan]

When crossfired, you can only use the connections on one card.

Is this true? I've never heard this before.

 

[3DVagabond]

Is this true? I've never heard this before.

Yes

 

[Destiny]

The monitor needs native displayport or HDMI if you don't want to have to use an active adapter.

A 2560x1440 with Displayport is the best option for 2560x1440 if you are looking to go multi-monitor... HDMI can do 2560x1440 (if the card can output that) but only at 40Hz or less, anymore and you may get artifacts during gaming.

 

[ViRGE]

Some people claim HDMI works on some models of the Korean monitors but I cannot confirm that.

It's basically false. No currently shipping PC monitor has a FastHDMI capable display controller. Monitor owners messing with 2560x1440 over HDMI are basically overclocking their monitor's display controler, which unsurprisingly comes with problems.

The only reliable way to drive a 2560 monitor is over DL-DVI or DisplayPort. HDMI should not be considered reliable at this time.

 

[MavAnan]

If the Korean monitors only have DL-DVI, then you will need a dual-link dual-DVI videocard or an active-DP-to-dual link DVI adapter ($100).

If you can only use 2x Dual-Link DVI 2560x1600, you'll want to get a GTX670 instead.

If the 2 Korean Monitors only have DVI inputs, what is the minimum graphics card that will run both? eg. for a computer mainly used for office work, not gaming, so a powerful 3D card is not required. Just excellent 2D image quality/clarity wanted.

Thanks

 

[gorobei]

if only 2 office and no 3d, you could just get 2x 27" (auria from microcenter $400) or (nixeus ... whooops nevermind now selling for $600).

the auria has native displayport so all you need is mini-displayport to full size displayport cable x2. you can then go for anything from a 6850 to 7750 and save yourself a couple hundred on the video card.

 

[MavAnan]

the question's more about graphics cards.

In addition to any recommendations for the minimum graphics card that can run both, can 2 Korean Monitors be run from an older card that has dual DVI-I connectors?

 

[mrpiggy]

I am currently running two Shimean 27" 2560x1440 Korean monitors with DVI input only. Originally I had both hooked up to a XFX 7970. One to the DVI dual link and one to an active mini-displayport adaptor. While this worked most of the time. It was not ideal. I had numerous issues with the active adaptor (it was an AMD "approved" model too). Issues were things like monitor on adaptor not coming back from sleep unless I rebooted, or other similar just-enough-to-piss-one-off type stuff, plus the fact you loose a USB port.

Since I never gamed on the second monitor, my solution was to put in a 2nd passive cooled 1GB 5450 video card and plug the 2nd Shimean monitor into its' d/l DVI output while leaving the other plugged into the 7970's d/l DVI. This has worked well, with one remaining issue whereas every once in a while, Windows 7 will pop a screen error saying something about running out of video memory on the 5450 and disabling Aero on the desktop depending on the application I use (generally happens with VLC player). This is a known issue with running two AMD video cards. It's not actually running out of video card memory, because it occasionally gives the same error, even when I tried using a spare 6870 card with 2GB as the second card (was too noisy though with both a 7970 and a 6870, so went back to using the 5450 with the 7970). Not sure if the new 13.1 driver fixed this random win7 aero disabling issue.

If I had to do it over again with these two particular monitors that only do DVI input, I would just get a good NVidia card with two d/l outputs since none of the AMD cards seem to have two d/l DVI ports. I have a old GTX480 in another PC that can run both monitors through its two d/l DVI outputs just fine without all the problems. Not worth the hassle with the AMD cards with the active displayport adaptors since they aren't cheap (mine cost like $90) and the adaptors suck. Now if the monitor has other inputs other than just DVI like mine do, the 7970 card might work better, but if you have two high-rez DVI-only monitors and you only want to use one video card, I'd suggest you go NVidia with two d/l DVI outputs already on the card instead of attempting the adaptor BS.

 

[MavAnan]

If I had to do it over again with these two particular monitors that only do DVI input ... I'd suggest you go NVidia with two d/l DVI outputs already on the card

So an old 8800GT 512mb with 2 dual-link DVI-I outputs will do the trick?

Any modern cards with 2 dual-link DVI outputs?

 

[Black Octagon]

It's basically false. No currently shipping PC monitor has a FastHDMI capable display controller. Monitor owners messing with 2560x1440 over HDMI are basically overclocking their monitor's display controler, which unsurprisingly comes with problems.

The only reliable way to drive a 2560 monitor is over DL-DVI or DisplayPort. HDMI should not be considered reliable at this time.

You're right about 2560x1440 but what cmdrdredd said was "Some people claim HDMI works on some models of the Korean monitors but I cannot confirm that."

I believe that he is referring to multi-input versions like the Catleap Multi. These screens accept HDMI and also a scaler so that it can run lower resolutions like 1920x1080. They won't support 2560x1440 over HDMI, but they will "work" via HDMI.

They also are not desirable for gaming. The scaler, multiple inputs and OSD are all reported to collectively add significant input lag compared to what you get on a single-input (DL-DVI) version.

 

[mrpiggy]

So an old 8800GT 512mb with 2 dual-link DVI-I outputs will do the trick?

Any modern cards with 2 dual-link DVI outputs?

FYI: You need two DVI-D outputs, Not "DVI-"I" for the higher resolutions.

According to the specs of the 8800GT cards, it supports two DVD-D d/l outputs at a max od 2560x1440, so theoretically, it should support the two DVI-D monitors at the high desktop resolutions, however if you're gonna bother dropping the change for two new monitors, spending an extra $80 for a cheap GT640 or similar vid card with much more VRAM and much newer would be better. Something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125433 would probably be a better solution (again to note that it is under the assumption you will not be doing any real gaming on it).

 

[Black Octagon]

FYI: You need two DVI-D outputs, Not "DVI-"I" for the higher resolutions.

This is incorrect. Both DVI-D and DVI-I exist in both single link and dual link form. The graphics card's dual link DVI output can be either DVI-D or DVI-I, so long as it is dual link. However, the input on the monitor is DVI-D, so you need a (again, dual link) DVI-D cable. DVI-I won't fit because it has extra pins

 

[MavAnan]

FYI: You need two DVI-D outputs, Not "DVI-"I" for the higher resolutions.

According to the specs of the 8800GT cards, it supports two DVD-D d/l outputs at a max od 2560x1440, so theoretically, it should support the two DVI-D monitors at the high desktop resolutions, however if you're gonna bother dropping the change for two new monitors, spending an extra $80 for a cheap GT640 or similar vid card with much more VRAM and much newer would be better. Something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125433 would probably be a better solution (again to note that it is under the assumption you will not be doing any real gaming on it).

Just looked up the spec sheet of the old 8800GT I have lying around and it's dual DVI-I but it says "two dual-link DVI outputs support two 2560x1600 resolution displays". So I'm guessing that should do it even though they're not DVI-D outputs.

Is the image/clarity any different from a DVD-I connector at 2560x1440 vs that same res from a DVD-D connector?

I take your point about the newer card (even though no gaming will take place on this particular system). Maybe something like this GTX650 because of the DDR5 or the Ti version. I don't think it makes much of a difference for these purposes. The plain version draws less power.

Will 1GB vs 2GB make mush of a difference?

 

[Black Octagon]

Just looked up the spec sheet of the old 8800GT I have lying around and it's dual DVI-I but it says "two dual-link DVI outputs support two 2560x1600 resolution displays". So I'm guessing that should do it even though they're not DVI-D outputs.

Is the image/clarity any different from a DVD-I connector at 2560x1440 vs that same res from a DVD-D connector?

Paragraph 1 is correct. And the answer to your question is no

 

[MavAnan]

Paragraph 1 is correct. And the answer to your question is no

Thanks. Do you think it makes any difference (for non-gaming purposes) when running two Korean screens, if the gfx card has 1GB or 2GB - or whether it's an old 8800GT vs something like a GTX650?