Need help understanding 3 monitor solution

[boglwe]

I currently have 3 32 inch sharps 1080p and would really like to run all three. I am holding off buying a video solution to this MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131614 and would like some advice. Here are some things to think about

1. Please assume I know very little
2. I do not mind if it is ATI or Nvidia
3. I do not care if it is working in crossfire or SLI
4. Does crossfire support 3 monitors, if so, how?
5. Does SLI support 3 monitors, if so, how?
6. Can I "easily run 2 ATI not in crossfire to support 3 monitors?
7. Can I easily run 2 Nividia not in SLI to support 3 monitors?
8. Please assume I know nothing!
9. I do a lot of publishing work with INdesign and photoshop, so 3 monitors is HUGE. I also wanna play Iracing with 3 monitors.
10. I would love for the cabling to be contained to JUST the video cards and the monitors. No junction crap if possible.

Sorry I am so specific, but I posted an earlier thread and got little response.



ONE MORE THING.... when you explain, please, assume I know nothing. (I am a system builder, and currently running two off a 5870, and before that, ran 2 off a 295 and an 8800, so I do know a little)

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Grab a cheap Radeon card and add that to your system. Plug the third monitor into the cheap card.

Just get the cheapest Radeon HD 4000 series card you can find. It will probably be the HD4350, or 4550. But other cards will work, such as the HD3450.

You don't even need to do Crossfire or SLI, but to answer your questions 4 and 5: Yes, both setups can indeed work with more than two monitors.

For questions 6 and 7: Yes, you can easily do this and is just like what I first explained. You don't need to do Crossfire or SLI, and since you have an extra PCI-E x16 slot on your motherboard just pick up another video card. You could even put your GTX295 and 8800 and run three monitors from these cards, although this setup will use much more power than a 5870 and a low end Radeon card.

question 10: You won't need any internal cabling. Just install the cards and hook up the monitors as you normally do.

 

[boglwe]

So, running two 5870's in Crossfire..... just simply plug 2 in one and 1 in the other?
Or same configuration without crossfire? Money is not really an issue, FPS is more important to me on all monitors.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Ah, I think I was a little off.

If you have two 5870s and you want to drive 3 monitors, you will have to disable Crossire mode in the drivers. Whenever you want to game, re-enable Crossfire mode, but you'll lose the connection to the monitor(s) on the "seconday" slave card.

But ATI is working on their drivers so that you can use two 5870s in all-the-time Crossfire mode to drive 3 (or more) monitors with their new Eyefinity feature.

If you were hoping to game using all three monitors such that the game spans all three monitors, then you're just going to have to wait until the drivers are working for Crossfire mode.

 

[boglwe]

Ah, I think I was a little off.

If you have two 5870s and you want to drive 3 monitors, you will have to disable Crossire mode in the drivers. Whenever you want to game, re-enable Crossfire mode, but you'll lose the connection to the monitor(s) on the "seconday" slave card.

But ATI is working on their drivers so that you can use two 5870s in all-the-time Crossfire mode to drive 3 (or more) monitors with their new Eyefinity feature.

If you were hoping to game using all three monitors such that the game spans all three monitors, then you're just going to have to wait until the drivers are working for Crossfire mode.

AHH DUDE< thanks so much so far for your help. It has been invaluable. Just to make sure i have this right. There is only ONE game I want to do three monitors with and that is with Iracing. The game supports 3 monitor setup......So, with that said.... I could really care less if it is in crossfire mode for just that game. When I play something like crysis I would certainly go to crossfire for ONE monitor and be very happy. But regardless....

2 cards will support 3 monitors in landscape mode?


I am actually thinking about returning the 5870 and getting 2 GTX 295's.