Making the right connections.

amermirg

Member
May 15, 2013
28
0
0
hello hoping to get a new gpu for my son ...the gpu 2xDVI, 1xHDMI, 2xminiDP

At present he has 3 screens ...two of the screens have DVI and one has HDMI
He connects 1 screen via HDMI, 1 via DVI and 1 from a full size Displayport using an active adapter (full size DP to DVI)

With the new card can I just buy a Mini displayport to displayport (non-ctive) adapter.
OR would I need to buy a new active minidisplayport to DVI adapter...the price difference is quite a bit

thanks
 

stahlhart

Super Moderator Graphics Cards
Dec 21, 2010
4,273
77
91
Okay; I'll try to get a conversation going here...

Can you provide details on the three monitors (make and model)? Do you have a budget in mind for the graphics card purchase? Assuming your son is going to be doing surround gaming, are there specific games he likes to play, or wants to play?
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
hello hoping to get a new gpu for my son ...the gpu 2xDVI, 1xHDMI, 2xminiDP

At present he has 3 screens ...two of the screens have DVI and one has HDMI
He connects 1 screen via HDMI, 1 via DVI and 1 from a full size Displayport using an active adapter (full size DP to DVI)

With the new card can I just buy a Mini displayport to displayport (non-ctive) adapter.
OR would I need to buy a new active minidisplayport to DVI adapter...the price difference is quite a bit

thanks

I'm not following this. You've got two DVI screens and an HDMI screen, and a card with two DVIs and an HDMI.

Connect each of them to their appropriate port, sell the active adapter to offset cost?
 

TakeNoPrisoners

Platinum Member
Jun 3, 2011
2,599
1
81
If you are running eyefinity you need some sort of active adapter or native displayport connection.
 

amermirg

Member
May 15, 2013
28
0
0
Thanks folks for the replies.....
My son's present GPU has 1 fullsized display port , into which I have put an active display-port to dvi adapter ....and this works.

His new card does not have a full sized display-port BUT has a mini display port.

My question is : Do we need to buy a new active mini display-port to DVI connector

OR would a normal adapter (non-active) mini display port to full size display-port

( into which we could plug the active full size display port to DVI) work ok?

Don't know why new GPU doesn't come with an adapter...
(if i just need to get a normal adapter I can pick one up locally ...an active one would need to be ordered)

THanks for any advice
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Thanks folks for the replies.....
My son's present GPU has 1 fullsized display port , into which I have put an active display-port to dvi adapter ....and this works.

His new card does not have a full sized display-port BUT has a mini display port.

My question is : Do we need to buy a new active mini display-port to DVI connector

OR would a normal adapter (non-active) mini display port to full size display-port

( into which we could plug the active full size display port to DVI) work ok?

Don't know why new GPU doesn't come with an adapter...
(if i just need to get a normal adapter I can pick one up locally ...an active one would need to be ordered)

THanks for any advice

Look at your first post. Does this new video card actually have 2 DVI and one HDMI?
 

amermirg

Member
May 15, 2013
28
0
0
these are the ouputs...he is running 3 screens...one has HDMI and the other two have DVI ports....I know that to run three screens I need an active adapter to convert the display port signal, which I have,.

What i'm trying to confirm is, will adding an non active mini-display port to display port adapter (so I can plug in the display port to dvi that I have) work.

Goes like this;;;;

non-active mini DP>>>DP....active DP>>>DVI....DVI to screens DVI

http://products.xfxforce.com/en-gb/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Radeon™_HD_7870/FX-787A-CDBC

Output - DL-DVI-I : 1
Output - HDMI : 1
Output - mini DP : 2
Output - SL-DVI-D : 1
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
these are the ouputs...he is running 3 screens...one has HDMI and the other two have DVI ports....I know that to run three screens I need an active adapter to convert the display port signal, which I have,.

What i'm trying to confirm is, will adding an non active mini-display port to display port adapter (so I can plug in the display port to dvi that I have) work.

Goes like this;;;;

non-active mini DP>>>DP....active DP>>>DVI....DVI to screens DVI

http://products.xfxforce.com/en-gb/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Radeon™_HD_7870/FX-787A-CDBC

Output - DL-DVI-I : 1
Output - HDMI : 1
Output - mini DP : 2
Output - SL-DVI-D : 1

You do not need an active adapter to go from mini to full sized. It's just a connector change.

That said, why are you fooling around with Displayport on the new card? The card has the two DVIs and the HDMI you need.
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
You do not need an active adapter to go from mini to full sized. It's just a connector change.

That said, why are you fooling around with Displayport on the new card? The card has the two DVIs and the HDMI you need.

Only one DVI port is Dual Link. If you are trying to run resolutions at 2560x1440 I think you do need to use Display Port.
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Only one DVI port is Dual Link. If you are trying to run resolutions at 2560x1440 I think you do need to use Display Port.

I made an assumption I shouldn't have, I assumed no one would try to make a single 7870 drive 7680x1440.
OP,what resolution? If you're staying within 1920x1080, my post about using the DVIs is accurate. You can do 1080p on single link DVI.
 

nitromullet

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2004
9,031
36
91
You do not need an active adapter to go from mini to full sized. It's just a connector change.

That said, why are you fooling around with Displayport on the new card? The card has the two DVIs and the HDMI you need.

He has to use DP to get the third display working.

To enable more than two displays, additional panels with native DisplayPort™ connectors, and/or DisplayPort™ compliant active adapters to convert your monitor’s native input to your cards DisplayPort™ or Mini-DisplayPort™ connector(s), are required.

...and, yes, a miniDP to DP adapter will work just fine.
 

amermirg

Member
May 15, 2013
28
0
0
thanks EVERYONE for the replies and the confirmation that
non-active mini DP>>>DP....active DP>>>DVI....DVI to screens DVI
will work nitromullet

much appreciated... :)