Graphics card to run 2x 2560x1600 displays? (non-gaming)

[3lusive]

Hi guys,

I need some good advice about the best way to run 2x 2560x1600 displays for NON-gaming. My rig currently has no gpu - I use HD 3000 graphics that come with the i5 2500K, and they allow me to easily run 2x 1920x1080 displays. However, I will soon be upgrading to a U3011 (and then eventually another one), but the Sandybridge iGPU does not of course support such resolutions.

Therefore, my question is what is the best option for a non-gamer to be able to run 2x 2560x1600 displays, and in relation to my rig which is posted below. If you notice, I only have a 430W psu, so I was thinking about getting a passive card - but do passive GPU's support dual 2560x1600 displays? If possible, I really don't want to have to upgrade the PSU.

Any ideas welcome.

My rig:

Antec 300 | Asus P8H67-M Pro R3 | i5 2500K | 16GB XMS3 RAM | 60GB Corsair F60 SSD | 1TB Samsung F3 HDD| 500GB Seagate Barracuda HDD | 430W Corsair PSU | Logitech G500 and C510 | Win7 x64 Ultimate

 

[Qbah]

You'd need to get any Radeon HD6xxx+ series card, use the dual-dvi port for one screen and a DisplayPort -> dual-DVI active adapter for the other monitor (once you get it). For non gaming, any card from 6-series and up should fit that bill. Hell, I bet even the HD5xxx series would work too.

The important fact here is:
1 screen from the dual-DVI slot
1 screen from a DP->dual-DVI active adapter

The Radeons that have two DVI slots do not have both dual-DVI, so you can't run both screens off the DVI ports only.

EDIT:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4070/dell-u3011-review-dells-new-30-inch-flagship

The U3011 has a native DisplayPort, so no active adapters needed You can run both screens off the DP slots or one from dual-DVI and another one from DP. Maybe a mini-DP to DP at most, depending which card you get (some come with miniDP slots, some with DP slots).

 

[MrK6]

OP, what do you use your computer for? Almost any GPU with two digital outs will support dual 2560x1600 displays, but other programs can be accelerated by different GPU's. Therefore, it'd be wise to pick a GPU that will help enhance your experience :thumbsup:.

 

[3lusive]

I use my computer for web browsing, media, and general office tasks (word/excel/adobe pdf), and I run a youtube channel so I render a video at least once a month using Corel VidStdio and/or Vegas.

My two 1920x1080 displays are great for productivity, but they just do not provide enough vertical resolution to have a proper viewing experience. I have DisplayFusion and I use my second display for windows, and the primary one for chrome or whatever app I am primarily using. I couldn't go back to one display now, even if I had one 2560x1600 display.

So I need to find a GPU that will run two 1600p screens, and will be compatible with a 430W PSU (if possible), which is why I wanted to know if there were any passive GPUs that could run such a setup (and hence not require a 6-pin floppy connector). Just to be on the safe side, I would prefer it if the GPU supported 2x Duallink DVI connections (just in case I have any issues with running one in DisplayPort).

Any specific suggestions bearing in mind my psu?

Thanks

 

[Qbah]

None of the Radeons come with two dual-DVI ports. If there are two, one is always single-DVI.

I don't have experience with nVidia cards, but for example this GT430 has two DVI ports. Newegg doesn't say in detail what they are (which it does for Radeons). You'd need to wait for someone else to confirm if both are dual-DVI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130609

EDIT: Here's another GT430, passive cooling.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500222

Neither requires a 6-pin power plug and will work fine with your 430W PSU.

 

[3lusive]

Excellent, they seem like the cards I need. I just need to confirm whether they are both dual-link DVI and that they support dual 2560x1600 output. I'm based in the UK by the way.

I will do some googling to see if they do but if anyone knows please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[3lusive]

It seems at least the Zotac has two Dual-DVI ports. On amazon if you click technical details it says it supports 'DVI 2 (DVI-I), HDMI 1 (mini-HDMI w/ bitstreaming support)' and the picture seems to show two dual-DVI ports.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zotac-ZT-40606-20L-Zone-Graphics-Card/dp/tech-data/B0057GV5WO/ref=de_a_smtd

So is this my best option and should run two 2560x1600 displays without issue?

 

[Qbah]

It seems at least the Zotac has two Dual-DVI ports. On amazon if you click technical details it says it supports 'DVI 2 (DVI-I), HDMI 1 (mini-HDMI w/ bitstreaming support)' and the picture seems to show two dual-DVI ports.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zotac-ZT-40606-20L-Zone-Graphics-Card/dp/tech-data/B0057GV5WO/ref=de_a_smtd

So is this my best option and should run two 2560x1600 displays without issue?

Well, the picture does show clearly both ports are dual-link DVI-I. However, to be sure, I'd shoot an email to Zotac support and ask to make sure that both ports can work in dual-link mode at the same time when running two 2560x1600 screens.

I could imagine a situation where both ports are electrically dual-link, but can act as DL DVI-I only separately... or maybe someone around here already runs it like that

 

[samboy]

Not sure if this helps, but I ran 2xU3011 for a while with a 9600GT card and it was fine for normal desktop use........

(Just make sure it has 2 dual-link DVI ports)

 

[moriz]

modern radeon cards do carry a HDMI 1.4 port, which is capable of outputting 2560x1600. all you need is a HDMI to DVI dongle and you are set; generally cheaper than a miniDP to DVI adapter. they should in fact come with the necessary dongles.

with that said, you might want to consider the HD7750, assuming they are available. this is the most powerful video card that doesn't require a power connector. it also has the built in video encoder that the HD7000 series have. it should retail around $110 or so.

 

[3lusive]

Thanks for your inputs.

Apparently, though, I think the U3011 does not have 1.4a HDMI ports, and as far as I know I will need both the GPU and the monitor to support 1.4a it for it to be able to display 2560x1600 over HDMI.

I am currently emailing Zotac to confirm whether the GT430 Zone supports simultaneous 2560x1600 resolutions through 2x dual link DVI.

 

[moriz]

that's why you need the HDMI to DVI DL adapter. i think all HD7000 series cards come with it. at least, my 7970 came with one.

 

[exar333]

I second the recommendation for a 7750 card. Low-power card that should be fine with your PSU, assuming your 2500K isnt at an insane OC like >5ghz.

The IB HD 4000 will support the resolutions you need (arrives in April) but no boards yet can output higher than what you are already using...

 

[3lusive]

I'm steering more towards the GT 430 Zone because of these reasons:

a) the GT 430 Zone (hopefully) supports two Dual-DVI outputs, which I may need as the monitors won't have HDMI 1.4a ports. Or are you telling me that a GPU with HDMI 1.3 ports can display 2560x1600 over a HDMI cable if you use a HDMI/Dual-DVI adaptor to connect it to the monitor?

b) not many retailers are stocking the 7750 in the UK, and for the ones that do it costs £40 more.

and c) I think I would prefer Nvidia's drivers for stability and reliability, but I could be wrong.

Anyway, hopefully Zotac will confirm tomorrow if it does support two 1600p displays. I'll update this thread when I find out - I may have to look for alternatives still.

 

[moriz]

If you have a hdmi 1.4 to DL DVI dongle, then yes, it will go up to 2560x1600. There's a high likelihood that the card will come with one.

Also, if all you'll be doing on it is web browsing and docs, the drivers become irrelevant.

 

[3lusive]

Ok I have emailed Zotac and they sent me the brochure and have confirmed that it can support two displays in 2560x1600 (so both ports running in Dual-link mode).

I'm nearly ready to order the card from amazon now seeing as it is only £50, and amazon are a reputable company who will honour any returns (other small computer retailers in the UK often won't).

Just one last question, does Nvidia support running two monitors of different resolutions? I know Intel do with the HD3000 graphics. I only want to know because when the U3011 arrives, I will be running it with one of my 1080p displays.

 

[Qbah]

Ok I have emailed Zotac and they sent me the brochure and have confirmed that it can support two displays in 2560x1600 (so both ports running in Dual-link mode).

I'm nearly ready to order the card from amazon now seeing as it is only £50, and amazon are a reputable company who will honour any returns (other small computer retailers in the UK often won't).

Just one last question, does Nvidia support running two monitors of different resolutions? I know Intel do with the HD3000 graphics. I only want to know because when the U3011 arrives, I will be running it with one of my 1080p displays.

Yes, they do.

 

[3lusive]

Ok the Zotac GT 430 Zone is installed and its running both my 1080p displays fine. Only issue I am now having is video playback.

It doesnt seem to scale low res videos as well as the integrated graphics that was previously installed. Videos seem a little less clear and fuzzy. Any ideas?

 

[Qbah]

Ok the Zotac GT 430 Zone is installed and its running both my 1080p displays fine. Only issue I am now having is video playback.

It doesnt seem to scale low res videos as well as the integrated graphics that was previously installed. Videos seem a little less clear and fuzzy. Any ideas?

You need to be a bit more specific. Is it Flash video? Video in a player? Which player? You running any codec packs (K-Lite etc)?

 

[3lusive]

Yes, videos in media players. The exact same thing happens regardless of player (like VLC or WMP). It isn't a major difference, but I see some minor ringing artefacts around the edges of objects/people in the vids I watch (especially true if the vid is watched full screen), which weren't present when using the iGPU.

I am in fact running divx, and some other codecs, but I usually just use Gspot to tell which codec I need for whatever type of new media I am playing.

Also, my computer has began to freeze randomly, without BSOD, since I'v installed the card. I'm currently also trying to determine what is the cause of this, as the system was previously rock solid stable.

 

[Qbah]

Did you uninstall the Intel drivers before putting the new card? Display drivers are very picky when being mixed between camps. It often leads to OS instability.

If so, did you install the latest WHQL ones from www.nvidia.com for your card?

If you did or did not uninstall the Intel set, you might want to do that now (and the nVidia ones too - I guess remove nVidia first, then Intel). There's no driver sweeper for Intel drivers though.

Since VLC shows this too, it's not a codec problem in my opinion. The random freezes could suggest a driver conflict somewhere

 

[3lusive]

I did not in fact uninstall the Intel drivers before the Nvidia ones.

I uninstalled them after installing the Nvidia drivers, a few days later in fact.

They are the latest ones though off Nvidia's website.

I need to determine whether my issue is related to drivers/power/heat. I very much doubt it's related to heat as speccy says my GPU stays around 30 degrees and my CPU at around 37 degrees.

I have an app called 'whoscrashed' and, although it cannot determine the reason for the crashes (because no crash dumps are being written), it says that:

Whenever a computer suddenly reboots without displaying any notice or blue screen of death, the first thing that is often thought about is a hardware failure. In reality, on Windows most crashes are caused by malfunctioning device drivers and kernel modules. In case of a kernel error, many computers do not show a blue screen unless they are configured for this. Instead these systems suddenly reboot without any notice.

If I view Event Viewer after the system freezes (once its rebooted), it says that it has experienced a critical Kernel-power failure.

It locks-up at least once a day, where it just completely freezes and does not show a BSOD, and less frequently it randomly reboots without input from me. There is never any BSOD it just freezes and all inputs are unresponsive.

It has to be related to the GPU somehow, as these issues have never been experienced by me previous to installing it. I just can't determine whether it is drivers, or whether my PSU can't run it, or some other issue...