Onboard Video Still Disabled by Graphics Cards?

[manderson]

This article leads me to believe the Sandy Bridge architecture will allow the use of onboard video in conjunction with an additional graphics card to achieve three monitors:

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/co...e-complete-guide-to-multiple-monitors-1074313

"First we need to sort out the hardware to produce the video signals. The cheapest solution is to use an add-in card and the motherboard's integrated graphics output. For modern Sandy Bridge boards this should provide two active outputs from the DVI and VGA/HDMI ports, alongside at least two from the add-in graphics card for a total of four."

I already have a dual DVI output ATI card. I would like to purchase one of the ASUS P8Z77 motherboards and use one of the onboard video ports with my card for three monitors. Will this work?

This is for a business client; no gaming.

Thanks

 

[hbarnwheeler]

I'm looking to do this myself with a new build. Asus tech support (via chat) claims that it is not possible with any of their H77/Z77 boards. A quick look through a few Asrock and MSI manuals suggests it is possible (Asrock calls it "Surround Display Feature" and MSI calls it "iGD Multi Monitor"), and Gigabyte confirmed via email that it is possible with their offerings. I wanted to go with an Asus board, but I went with Asrock instead, just in case.

 

[manderson]

I'm looking to do this myself with a new build. Asus tech support (via chat) claims that it is not possible with any of their H77/Z77 boards. A quick look through a few Asrock and MSI manuals suggests it is possible (Asrock calls it "Surround Display Feature" and MSI calls it "iGD Multi Monitor"), and Gigabyte confirmed via email that it is possible with their offerings. I wanted to go with an Asus board, but I went with Asrock instead, just in case.

Thanks for the response. I'll look through the Gigabyte and MSI manuals also. Should have done this to begin with, so thanks again. Hard to believe ASUS isn't on top of this.

 

[hbarnwheeler]

Thanks for the response. I'll look through the Gigabyte and MSI manuals also. Should have done this to begin with, so thanks again. Hard to believe ASUS isn't on top of this.

I wasn't able to find confirmation in the manuals of Gigabyte boards, but a Gigabyte representative did confirm over email that this would work.

In reply to one of my questions:

Dear Customer,

The ThunderBolt ports will use a Display Port monitor. If you do not wish to go this rought, you may add a discrete graphics card + use 2 monitor outputs on the motherboard.

Thank you for choosing Gigabyte products

 

[tcsenter]

Best way to find out is to check the user manual and/or technical guide for a couple current Intel branded motherboards. It has been possible for a while now, but with some restrictions.

 

[Zap]

With my Z77 motherboard (currently building system, encountered some roadblocks so taking longer than expected), onboard stays enabled. I don't recall looking specifically for a way to disable it, but being enabled means it just sits there doing nothing other than to give enthusiasts mental anguish. Popping in a graphics card will automatically make it the default display adapter. Also, you'll need to leave the IGP enabled if you use QuickSync. I plan to use the IGP to run my second monitor, so that my GeForce graphics card can clock itself down (last I checked, having dual monitors hooked up to a GeForce card forced it to stay at full clock speeds).

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I have two displays active on my P8Z77V Pro, one of which is driven by my GTX 670, the other by my 2500K. It works great; I find the performance is better this way than running both displays off my nvidia card. I can't see why adding another monitor to the 670 would present an issue.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Yes it can work, since the release of the Z68 chipset we allowed both the IGP (Integrated Graphics on Processor) and the dedicated video card to each support at least one monitor (most of the time the on board can support two monitors).

 

[bankster55]

Yes it can work, since the release of the Z68 chipset we allowed both the IGP (Integrated Graphics on Processor) and the dedicated video card to each support at least one monitor (most of the time the on board can support two monitors).

Geez I just figured out my problem
I set bios to IGPU, then removed vidcard, booted up with VGA to VGA cable
MS installs generic driver
I then installed 9-24-2012 Intel HD4000 graphics driver (i3570K)
Shutdown, reinstalled vidcard with DVI-D to DVI-D dual link and plugged in power cable, installed DVI-D single link cable from onboard to DVI-D on monitor
Rebooted to bios and set auto for graphics in bios
Booted again - PCIe monitor worked, nothing on IGPU monitor
Just for giggles I shutdown and tried VGA cable again for onboard - worked!
So I am assuming from this that VGA for onboard must be first connected output?

 

[lamedude]

Is the IGP still disabled if not plugged in or if that Lucid software isn't used?

 

[bankster55]

Its always "on", just trickle voltage, nothing to lose sleep over
according to Raja @ HF

 

[manderson]

Geez I just figured out my problem
Just for giggles I shutdown and tried VGA cable again for onboard - worked!

What MB are you using?

 

[manderson]

I'm looking to do this myself with a new build. Asus tech support (via chat) claims that it is not possible with any of their H77/Z77 boards.

Given the comment by our Intel Rep, I have to wonder if the chat tech support person was misinformed. Seems like ASUS should work as well as the others.

 

[hbarnwheeler]

I just put the machine together and it works just fine. I've got an i5-3570K paired with an Nvidia 8400GS on an Asrock H77 Pro4/MVP and it is running 3 independent displays (extended desktop) no problem. It wasn't even a pain to set up. I just plugged it all in and it worked.

 

[bankster55]

@manderson
The machine used by me in this situation was a Z77 V-Pro

@hbamwheeler
>Did you use Win 7 or Nvidia control panel or ASRock 3D to config monitors?
>Did you add monitors one at a time?
>Did you start with VGA to get things going?
>You never had a vidcard installed then or now?
>After playing around a lot (Win 7 display/Catalyst CC) I wound up with desktop icons and desktop theme on one monitor and desktop theme taskbar on another. Clicking on taskbar flipped window to second monitor.
I assume this is not right way to run 2 monitors?

I learned that Win 7 installs MS generic VGA drivers upon first boot, which might explain need for VGA connection BEFORE Intel graphics drivers. And you are in 800/600 res.
However, even in IGPU primary and VGA, with no vidcard, the CCC is still in play from O/S.

IGPU in bios, no vidcard, HD4000 drivers only showing
Add vidcard, set auto in bios graphics both drivers showing
First VGA boot installs MS generic drivers only
Under any dual graphics condition PCIe is default

http://i.imgur.com/ldRdM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CeXl2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YrukC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OldVc.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fNuKp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/G1XJL.jpg

 

[hbarnwheeler]

Everything just went smoothly for me:

I entered the BIOS on first boot and set the igpu as the primary display device (with my display attached to the DVI port). Then, I installed windows and all of the motherboard drivers (including that for the iGPU). After Windows was installed and updated, I just plugged my other two displays into my 8400GS one at a time and used Windows to configure them (Display properties in Control Panel). It was all very simple and I didn't even have to install the drivers from Nvidia as the ones windows provided worked just fine.

I use DisplayFusion to place a taskbar on my extended displays.

 

[bankster55]

Oh O.K.
thnx for info
You installed Win 7 FROM SCRATCH with IGPU DVI plugged in
Thats the difference
And plus you are using MS generic drivers for vidcard
Dont know if you are still there, but could you give me a screenshot of drivers tab in dev man for nvidia card?

 

[hbarnwheeler]

No problem:

 

[bankster55]

Ahhhh
Win 7 took one from its inventory
thnx

UPDATE:
Finally got the whole enchilada figured out (for ASUS)
I mistakenly thought that I had to be in "Auto" in bios graphics primary for dual monitor IGPU PCIe
I could not make onboard DVI-D work at all no matter what I did, so I bought a dual link DVI-D to DVI_D cable and hooked it up to second monitor, still didnt work.
Then I set IGPU primary in bios and IT WORKED!
Under this condition my secondary monitor was the O/S and my main big Dell monitor was the extended. So I just switched Dell to primary in Win 7 display and now I had Dell as main monitor and secondary monitor was extended working in DVI-D.

This was counterintuitive, since I wanted PCIe on main monitor, but for IGPU DVI-D (not VGA) I had to use IGPU primary running the show to do it. And this was the source of all my problems - heh