Question About Graphics Card

[d0ndela]

Hi

I am looking for a graphics card that will support 3 monitors (with each their own content, so extended mode not clone).

Obviously there are tons of models with 3 outputs on the back (VGA, DVI & HDMI or 2*DVI & HDMI etc.), but my question is if you can just use 3 at the same time and that way connect 3 monitors, or do they maximum support dual monitors?

The model I was looking at is this one: http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/NVIDIA_Series/ENGTX560_DCII_OC2DI1GD5/

Thank for your help.

[h90]

My guess would be if 3 monitors would work at the same time they would promote that.

I don't know if it can be done with multiple graphic cards?

[benbear]

^{I would of thought you'd be looking at something like a}

Nvidia GeForce GTX 580, Nvidia GeForce GTX 570, AMD Radeon HD 6990 or AMD Radeon HD 6970

Hope you got the P.C for it and also you got to worry about cooling as well

[prism]

^{I would of thought you'd be looking at something like a}

Nvidia GeForce GTX 580, Nvidia GeForce GTX 570, AMD Radeon HD 6990 or AMD Radeon HD 6970

Hope you got the P.C for it and also you got to worry about cooling as well

And enough of a power supply unit too.

[TwentyBaht]

d0ndela,

Although, not knowing the specs (PCI, AGP slots) of your computer's motherboard, it is possible to use multiple, single-output video cards. I've added two PCI video cards to an existing onboard AGP motherboard. For, a total of three monitors. (Thai lady loves a Facebook command center). But, may have to go to BIOS and set the order of video hardware boot recognition, i.e., AGP last.

And, there are single video cards with multiple output available, like the one you linked. Just a bit expensive for me.

Cheers

[ETatBKK]

the professional choice is the nVidia Quadro NVS 420 series, a 'single' adaptor that supports up to 4 monitors. low power consumption at 40W active.

this is designed for business graphics, not fancy for gaming and comes at a big price tag - USD420+

http://www.nvidia.com/object/workstation-solutions-nvs.html

[manarak]

the professional choice is the nVidia Quadro NVS 420 series, a 'single' adaptor that supports up to 4 monitors. low power consumption at 40W active.

this is designed for business graphics, not fancy for gaming and comes at a big price tag - USD420+

http://www.nvidia.co...utions-nvs.html

Yes, if doing something serious, the Quadro is the way to go - it will not lock up and will keep going as long as the PC is going.

Another solution would be as another poster said to get an additional VGA card (as the first card probably already supports dual monitors).

If you are not a gamer, any card around 1500 baht will do.

[nocturn]

A quadro or pair of higher Nvidia cards is the way forward. As someone here has already menttioned make sure you have one heck of a power supply 750-1000w and a case that can handle the cooling.

For the price of one quadro, you can purchase two very good cards that will run 4 monitors

[manarak]

A quadro or pair of higher Nvidia cards is the way forward. As someone here has already menttioned make sure you have one heck of a power supply 750-1000w and a case that can handle the cooling.

For the price of one quadro, you can purchase two very good cards that will run 4 monitors

No special cooling required for the quadro though - many quadros are equipped with passive heatsinks.

[BangkokImages]

You didn't say what you would be using your computer for, this is important.

Dual cards are of course an option, but perhaps an unnecessary option. Keep in mind that a video card depending on its size can block air flow significantly inside your case, and depending on the card they're also major heat generators. Careful selection is key.

Any of the ATI Eyefinity cards will support three monitors with a caveat being one of these monitors must be either a Displayport monitor, OR you can use an active Displayport adapter. These adapters used to be rare and expensive, but today they're about $20 and easy to find.

Another low cost option would be the Sapphire FleX HD 5670 1gb GDDR5 board which can support 4 monitors, one of the four must either be Displayport or use Sapphire's excellent (and expensive) Active Displayport Adapter. I use this card in my day trader PC builds with excellent results, it's quiet with it's largish fan and draws very little power while not requiring a separate power connector and is fine for business use (spreadsheets, day trading, word processing) and even light gaming. It's small and doesn't block airflow much either.

This might be a good choice depending on your needs. I've installed up to five of these cards in a single machine so far for up to 20 monitor support. We live in great times.

If you're looking for an imaging monitor and color profiling is important to you, then the ATI Eyefinity cards can support up to three color managed monitors which utilize internal LUT's (look up tables) if carefully configured. But I would recommend a more powerful version if this is the case as imaging benefits from a moderately powerful card, and video rendering from the most powerful cards. Your tasking determines your video card needs.

I hope this helps.

[benbear]

I've installed up to five of these cards in a single machine?

Tht is a great idea that I have never thought about, Your P.C best be super hot ( cool ) and quad core needed to cope, power supply and some ram, but yeah I can see it.

[BangkokImages]

I've installed up to five of these cards in a single machine?

Tht is a great idea that I have never thought about, Your P.C best be super hot ( cool ) and quad core needed to cope, power supply and some ram, but yeah I can see it.

Like any other display function, what you're displaying on the monitors and what you're doing with it determines the requirements of the machine. Many people are using them to display mostly static information (charts, tickers, etc) and they require very little RAM or processing power. For instance, security systems displaying the view of a camera on one monitor, another camera on another monitor, etc, etc.. require very little in the way of processing power and RAM.

[sniffdog]

My GTX480 has three outputs, but you can use only 2 at the same time.

[BangkokImages]

My GTX480 has three outputs, but you can use only 2 at the same time.

Yes, Nvidia works this way. Many graphics cards have more output ports than they support, they're just there to give you a variety of ports for the sake of compatibility.

ATI came out a few years ago with their "eyefinity" which supports 3 monitors (one monitor must be a displayport monitor, or use an active DP to DVI adapter), an "eyefinity 6" which supports 6 monitors, and like the card I referenced above 4 monitors. There were even some special editions made that had 12 ports.. but those are very hard to find.

What makes the ATI's especially unique, is that all three monitors has their own LUT (look up table) which is mandatory for color management, where before eyefinity all outputs would share the same LUT like Nvidia still does. This is only important to photographers and graphic artists though and both of these are game cards. Fortuantely ATI put their eyefinity on their workstation cards too.