What is Haswell's "collage" mode?

[t-ray]

I want to another purely non-gaming build, and I was pricing out equipment based on a 3770k. Then I read about Haswell's support for three displays in "collage" mode. This has me very interested. Anybody have any ideas about what this actually means?

I'm interested because I want to run three displays in linux, and I don't want to have to go the nvidia or ati route. All the research I've done suggests that getting three displays to work in linux is a nightmare, mostly due to having to run proprietary drivers. I'm hoping that having this functionality baked into the IGP that things will be simpler.

 

[jenneth]

If I remember correctly, it just means that it can handle three screens on its own.

 

[exar333]

Yes, you will be able to connect 3 displays without the need for an external PCI-express card, assuming the board supports it. Pretty nice for enterprise/business settings where you just need the support for triple-displays, and not major power to power them (like for 3d games or rendering).

 

[kevinsbane]

Collage mode sounds like Eyefinity/NVidia Surround to me. Ivy Bridge can already handle triple screen output.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Ivy Bridge already supports the ability for 3 displays.

 

[inf64]

Can IB do QuickSync with discrete GPU being primary one? If not can Haswell do it? If yes then great . QuickSync is awesome feature.

 

[mikk]

Yes Ivy Bridge can do it on Windows 8.

 

[mrle]

Can IB do QuickSync with discrete GPU being primary one? If not can Haswell do it? If yes then great . QuickSync is awesome feature.

IB can do it with the latest Intel driver on Windows 8 platform. Surely Haswell will be able to do it, too.

 

[Grooveriding]

How will it do it though ? I have my doubts motherboard manufacturers are going to put three separate connections on every motherboard IO panel.

My guess is you have to do this with daisy-chained DP or buy specific boards with multiple connections. You may be unable to make use of it with some motherboards that don't have the right connections, unless DP is a mandate of Haswell motherboards ?

 

[blckgrffn]

How will it do it though ? I have my doubts motherboard manufacturers are going to put three separate connections on every motherboard IO panel.

My guess is you have to do this with daisy-chained DP or buy specific boards with multiple connections. You may be unable to make use of it with some motherboards that don't have the right connections, unless DP is a mandate of Haswell motherboards ?

It is pretty easy to find boards with three digital outputs now.

Heck, you can find dual Thunderbolt boards with just a little effort I can confirm that at least the Gigabyte model works great with mini-dp to DVI for 30" displays. Just helped spec a hackintosh just for that purpose.

 

[mrle]

Although Ivy supports 3 displays, there's a caveat: two of them need to be driven off DisplayPorts (source).

Now I'm not sure if that means two separate DPs or daisy chaining off one, but it might not be so easy to find a motherboard supporting either of those two options.

 

[jhu]

It's when it posts drunk pictures on Facebook with other hot, delidded chips.

 

[Idontcare]

It's when it posts drunk pictures on Facebook with other hot, delidded chips.

Fully exposed selfies?

 

[ViRGE]

Fully exposed selfies?

Good heavens! How obscene!