Graphics card that can sustain 3/4 monitors?

[cctaylor88]

Hey guys, currently running a gtx 460 and looking to upgrade my gpu just a bit in order to run 3 monitors concurrently... mostly for desktop usage and multitasking. I game but only a very little bit, right now just gw2, starcraft 2, and bf3 all of which my 460 handles very well for my needs. But I would really like to run 3 or more monitors at once, if I can sustain "eyefinity" or whatever that would be fine and dandy but this really isn't my main concern.

Would like to spend no more than about $200, need a card that can handle 3 or more outputs at the same time, would also need 4 connection slots as I will need to switch over to my TV when watching movies etc.

What would you recommend? More than likely going to purchase something used unless there is a crazy good shellshocker etc.

My current motherboard only has a single PCIe x16 slot so... I also don't mind buying a PCI card but no one can give me a straight answer and people keep linking me to $70 PCI cards which is a joke, I would rather just buy another 460 for a few bucks more you know?

Thanks

 

[TheStu]

What are the outputs on your existing card? Do you want to game on all 3 monitors (sounds like a plus but not a necessity). If gaming on all 3 isn't important, than you can get the cheap PCI card to run the 2 side monitors, leave the center on the 460, and run the TV off the 460 as well.

 

[96Firebird]

What are the connection types (HDMI, DVI, DP) of your current displays that you want to use?

And let me get this straight, you want to ideally run 3x monitors plus a TV when needed?

And when you play games, you are ok with just one monitor?

Edit - Too slow! I re-read the OP a couple of times to make sure I was understanding things correctly...

 

[TheStu]

What are the connection types (HDMI, DVI, DP) of your current displays that you want to use?

And let me get this straight, you want to ideally run 3x monitors plus a TV when needed?

And when you play games, you are ok with just one monitor?

Edit - Too slow! I re-read the OP a couple of times to make sure I was understanding things correctly...

He can always use adapters, but the thing is that you can only use 2 TMDS (DVI/HDMI) connectors at once, no matter how many are on the card. So if the card has 2 DVI and 1 HDMI, then you cannot use all 3 at once. You need Displayport in order to be able to use more. That is why the (for example) ATi 5870 Eyefinity Edition (let's go way back in time) had 6 mDP and no other connectors. So, ideally, his 460 would have 2 displayport (or mini-displayport) connectors along with whatever else.

But, I don't think that it will hence getting the cheap add-on card.

 

[cctaylor88]

My current 460 GPU has one mini hdmi (TV connected to this) and 2 DVI.. one monitor is DVI and the other is HDMI so I used an hdmi/dvi adapter.

1 mini hdmi, 2 DVI, and can only currently run 2 monitors at once.
If I were to purchase a PCI card, can it be any connection or would it have to have a special type (like a mdp)?
Also, Ive gotten quite a few PCI suggestions but people link me to outrageous $70ish cards that I am not willing to pay for..would rather drop another $100 and get a new GPU all together.
If I used the PCI could I hook up 2 monitors to the 460 and the other 2 monitors to the new PCI? How many monitors would this allow me to run at once... and no gaming on 3 monitors at once isn't needed but wouldn't mind paying a few extra bucks to have the ability.

 

[96Firebird]

He can always use adapters, but the thing is that you can only use 2 TMDS (DVI/HDMI) connectors at once, no matter how many are on the card. So if the card has 2 DVI and 1 HDMI, then you cannot use all 3 at once. You need Displayport in order to be able to use more. That is why the (for example) ATi 5870 Eyefinity Edition (let's go way back in time) had 6 mDP and no other connectors. So, ideally, his 460 would have 2 displayport (or mini-displayport) connectors along with whatever else.

But, I don't think that it will hence getting the cheap add-on card.

I was more asking as it seems like he is on a fairly low budget, and if he needed an active-DP adapter, that adds another $25 just for the adapter. This is why I was hoping at least one of his monitors had DP.

 

[cctaylor88]

Also, how do you know b/c on newegg when you go to specs it simply states the "Ports" like my card for example has 3 ports but only handles 2 outputs..how can I tell the amount of outputs?

 

[cctaylor88]

I was more asking as it seems like he is on a fairly low budget, and if he needed an active-DP adapter, that adds another $25 just for the adapter. This is why I was hoping at least one of his monitors had DP.

So it almost sounds as if I want to run any more than two monitors at a single time one of them HAS to be DP? Why is this, there is no other solution?

 

[SithSolo1]

So it almost sounds as if I want to run any more than two monitors at a single time one of them HAS to be DP? Why is this, there is no other solution?

You can have 5 dvi and 18 hdmi ports on a card but it will still only output to any combination of 2 them at any given time. Its a design limitation. To run 3 or more screens you need 1 or more DP or mDP connections and a display with DP input.

 

[cctaylor88]

Well none of my displays have a DP input so you are saying IM SOL?

 

[KingFatty]

How likely are you to replace your motherboard and CPU?

If you have any inkling of upgrading, you can get a motherboard that has a built-in, integrated graphics.

Then, use your existing GTX 460. That will give you 4 simultaneous displays.

 

[cctaylor88]

How likely are you to replace your motherboard and CPU?

If you have any inkling of upgrading, you can get a motherboard that has a built-in, integrated graphics.

Then, use your existing GTX 460. That will give you 4 simultaneous displays.

Yeah, I have thought about this as well. If I were to do anything like this I would def go with i5 3570k, so I would obviously need a new motherboard as well but don't even know where to begin. Do the extreme boards have on board graphics? Like the asrock extreme6 etc?

So you are saying I can keep two monitors hooked up to my 460 and two more monitors hooked up to the onboard graphics? Will this allow me to run 4 monitors at once? Also, will I need anything like display port or can I just run everything hdmi and dvi?

 

[Peter Nixeus]

Well none of my displays have a DP input so you are saying IM SOL?

Assuming your monitors are all 1920x1080p or 1920x1200p:

Get either an AMD 7770,7850, 7870 (they can be found for $200 or less).

They must have these outputs;

2 x mini-DisplayPort, 1 x Dual Link DVI, 1 x DVI, 1 x HDMI (Total 5 outputs but I think the DVI and HDMI is sharing the same hardware video output).

Plug one monitor to the Dual Link DVI. This connects one monitor.

Use Mini-DispayPort to DVI adapter cables to connect the monitors to the two mini-DisplayPort output on the card. This connects 2 monitors.

Plug your TV to the HDMI output. (DO NOT USE the single Link DVI to plug in a monitor because it may be shared with the HDMI output).

I have an AMD XFX 7850 1GB that I purchased in Jan 2013 as a shell shocker deal for less than $140 after MIR (just received the $20 rebate today).

 

[cctaylor88]

Assuming your monitors are all 1920x1080p or 1920x1200p:

Get either an AMD 7770,7850, 7870 (they can be found for $200 or less).

They must have these outputs;

2 x mini-DisplayPort, 1 x Dual Link DVI, 1 x DVI, 1 x HDMI

Plug one monitor to the Dual Link DVI. This connects one monitor.

Use Mini-DispayPort to DVI adapter cables to connect the monitors to the two mini-DisplayPort output on the card. This connects 2 monitors.

Plug your TV to the HDMI output. (DO NOT USE the single Link DVI to plug in a monitor because it may be shared with the HDMI output).

Well in this case I would have to purchase two DP adapters, as well as a new GPU obviously so now I am leaning towards the i5 3570k + motherboard with onboard graphics... what would you suggest in this ad (so I can save extra $) http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/34da33e6#/34da33e6/33

 

[Peter Nixeus]

Well in this case I would have to purchase two DP adapters, as well as a new GPU obviously so now I am leaning towards the i5 3570k + motherboard with onboard graphics... what would you suggest in this ad (so I can save extra $) http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/34da33e6#/34da33e6/33

Out of all the mobos in that list, the few that has DP/HDMI/DVI outputs:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=380519

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=659565

If you have a microcenter near you, I recommend if you are not in a rush, to wait for the new Haswell Intel CPU. They normally have great CPU/MOBO combos.

If your monitors are not 2560x1440 or higher, DP to DVI adapters are fairly cheap (around $10 to $20). The GPU can be installed into your new CPU/MOBO if you plan to upgrade them later.

 

[3DVagabond]

He can always use adapters, but the thing is that you can only use 2 TMDS (DVI/HDMI) connectors at once, no matter how many are on the card. So if the card has 2 DVI and 1 HDMI, then you cannot use all 3 at once. You need Displayport in order to be able to use more. That is why the (for example) ATi 5870 Eyefinity Edition (let's go way back in time) had 6 mDP and no other connectors. So, ideally, his 460 would have 2 displayport (or mini-displayport) connectors along with whatever else.

But, I don't think that it will hence getting the cheap add-on card.

Sapphire Flex technology doesn't require a DP connection. We still need to know the monitor's inputs though to make the best suggestion.

 

[TheStu]

Sapphire Flex technology doesn't require a DP connection. We still need to know the monitor's inputs though to make the best suggestion.

I checked out the website for that, they don't seem to explain how they are doing what they are doing. Maybe they are using an all DP solution, but just integrated adapters onto the PCB so that from outward appearances it looks like DVI? I don't know. But again, this would require the OP to have to buy an all new GPU.

Any solution would require the OP to spend money on the problem. The cheapest route is to get a second low-power card. If he has a PCIe x1 slot free on his mobo, he can get something like this 5450 Should do a little better than an equally priced PCI card.

The next cheapest is to get a new GPU, like this 7850 for $170. And a couple MiniDP adapters

Finally, there is the new CPU/Mobo route, which is the most expensive. OP is looking at spending at least $300-350 probably.

 

[3DVagabond]

I checked out the website for that, they don't seem to explain how they are doing what they are doing. Maybe they are using an all DP solution, but just integrated adapters onto the PCB so that from outward appearances it looks like DVI? I don't know. But again, this would require the OP to have to buy an all new GPU.

Any solution would require the OP to spend money on the problem. The cheapest route is to get a second low-power card. If he has a PCIe x1 slot free on his mobo, he can get something like this 5450 Should do a little better than an equally priced PCI card.

The next cheapest is to get a new GPU, like this 7850 for $170. And a couple MiniDP adapters

Finally, there is the new CPU/Mobo route, which is the most expensive. OP is looking at spending at least $300-350 probably.

They add a separate clock generator to the HDMI. It's no longer sharing one with the DVI outputs.

 

[SolMiester]

Do not the NV 6xx Kepler series support 4 monitors at once, no adapters necessary!...GTX660 for $200 and done!!.

One Dual Link DVI-I, One Dual Link DVI-D, One HDMI, One DisplayPort

 

[GaiaHunter]

Do not the NV 6xx Kepler series support 4 monitors at once, no adapters necessary!...GTX660 for $200 and done!!.

One Dual Link DVI-I, One Dual Link DVI-D, One HDMI, One DisplayPort

Can you tell me if a GTX690 let you to have 4 monitors, 1 playing a game in window mode and the 3 others doing whatever?

 

[SolMiester]

Can you tell me if a GTX690 let you to have 4 monitors, 1 playing a game in window mode and the 3 others doing whatever?

Here the link...

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-690/features

 

[GaiaHunter]

Here the link...

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-690/features

Yeah, I saw that before.
One guy was saying that he needed to use a 7800GTX to run its 4th monitor, that he couldn't play GW2 in window mode in a monitor and have 3 others to do whatever with a single GTX690.

But that 2D surround and 3D surround is a bit tricky.
To make sure:
- nvidia surround is the multi monitor technology,
- 3D vision is the 3D technology.
- 3D visions surround is 3D+ multi monitor;
- 2D surround is just the same as surround.
Right?

Or is 2D surround - two monitors, 3D surround - 3 monitors, 3D vision surround 3 monitors+ 3D?

EDIT: I'm pretty sure it is the first.

 

[SolMiester]

Im not sure mate, I think 2D is all panels period, but just 2 dimensional....no depth....surround is gaming and 3D, the eye popping stuff...I think they confuse some with 2D for desktop, gaming is the other dimension, but 3D should be 4th, however instead of depth, it jumps out at you....

NV state the card can run surround across 3 and use 4th as monitor, not sure how that works with windowed mode?

 

[GaiaHunter]

Im not sure mate, I think 2D is all panels period, but just 2 dimensional....no depth....surround is gaming and 3D, the eye popping stuff...I think they confuse some with 2D for desktop, gaming is the other dimension, but 3D should be 4th, however instead of depth, it jumps out at you....

NV state the card can run surround across 3 and use 4th as monitor, not sure how that works with windowed mode?

I would think that if a card can run a game in 3 screens it could run a game in a window too, but I'm not 100% sure.

After all they say maximum resolution but not a minimum resolution for 3D surround...

 

[n0x1ous]

Pretty sure the Kepler series can output 4 at the same time. Get a gtx 660