Computer Setup - Need Consultation

[PCA]

I intend to set up a computer infrastructure where I need to monitor 10 - 12 Screens at the same time and don't really know the best way how to do it.

How many computers do I need and what kind of graphic cards shall I use in order to slpit as many possible screens to each computer?

I did go around in Phuket Town to get basic information but there seems to remain a basic misunderstanding between my requirements

and the solutions I get proposed from the Thais.

So if anyone living here in Phuket with the appropriate Hardware Skill please contact me if you are willed to help.

Thanks and BRs,

PCA

[Somtamnication]

Some high end graphic cards allow 2 monitors (they have two plugs) and it can be a mixture of dvi or hdmi.

Without knowing much else as to what you want to do, difficult to say.

Some motherboards allow SLI, which allows two cards in one computer. The new versions with Intel z77 chipset, allow 3 cards. Theoretically, you can have then 6 monitors.

All configurable via screen settings.

[robin33]

Wou not à large screen with more screen s on it

[PCA]

@Somtam

thanks for your reply. I am setting up a trading desk and need to use at least 10 monitors in order to watch markets. The graphic cards you mentioned do you have an idea whether they are available here and if then where? Excellent would be if I can run everything with 2 desktop computers. Is it possible that we could talk on the phone or meet? I have sent you a pm but not sure if you received it as my internet terribly sucks today.

@Robin

thanks as well, I could do that but don't like it this way due to several reasons.

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if anybody else could suggest differently than already listed please contribute.

Thanks and BRs

[Somtamnication]

No pm.

Most cards already have two outlets, if that is what you are asking. You can daisy chain two at the moment if your motherboard supports them. I would try one set first and if it works ok (no idea what your software is nor cpu), then at the most you would have to buy 4-5 computers if the 3 card option is not available.

Conversely, buy a tv with hdmi output (which is really just an expensive computer monitor) (50 inches+) and do it that way. Surely there is software for those multiple screens on a large monitor.

[Jimi007]

Probably more than you want to spend, but you can use up to six monitors with two graphics cards on a MacPro.

Graphics on display.

Every Mac Pro graphics card features three display ports for maximum workspace flexibility. Two Mini DisplayPort outputs connect to a pair of Apple LED Cinema Displays with ease. And a dual-link DVI port connects a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display or other DVI display. And with support for two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards in the Mac Pro, you can connect more displays — up to six total.

I found it here. http://www.apple.com/macpro/features/graphics.html I suppose you should be able to use the same graphics cards on a windows machine of comparable specs.

[PCA]

No pm.

Most cards already have two outlets, if that is what you are asking. You can daisy chain two at the moment if your motherboard supports them. I would try one set first and if it works ok (no idea what your software is nor cpu), then at the most you would have to buy 4-5 computers if the 3 card option is not available.

Conversely, buy a tv with hdmi output (which is really just an expensive computer monitor) (50 inches+) and do it that way. Surely there is software for those multiple screens on a large monitor.

thanks, I have that in use now but need to optimize and increase numbers in screens. What I thought to understand from your first post is that there is an option to connect (extended view) up to 6 screens to one single computer but apparently did misinterprete that. What I knew before (sorry should have said it initially) was that I can connect 3 screens to one computer but since I need at least 10+ I am searching for a way where I do not need to run 4 PCs, 3 might be ok though.

[PCA]

Probably more than you want to spend, but you can use up to six monitors with two graphics cards on a MacPro.

Graphics on display.

Every Mac Pro graphics card features three display ports for maximum workspace flexibility. Two Mini DisplayPort outputs connect to a pair of Apple LED Cinema Displays with ease. And a dual-link DVI port connects a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display or other DVI display. And with support for two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards in the Mac Pro, you can connect more displays — up to six total.

I found it here. http://www.apple.com...s/graphics.html I suppose you should be able to use the same graphics cards on a windows machine of comparable specs.

Jimmi, thanks but I don't think I want to go with Mac as I'd still would need at least 2 of them. My requirements are rather important to quantity than quality and I don't need super graphic performance for my work setup. Nevertheless I like to ask if you would know of any other possible solutions as you seem to be well skilled, do you stay in Phuket?

BRs

[Jimi007]

Probably more than you want to spend, but you can use up to six monitors with two graphics cards on a MacPro.

Graphics on display.

Every Mac Pro graphics card features three display ports for maximum workspace flexibility. Two Mini DisplayPort outputs connect to a pair of Apple LED Cinema Displays with ease. And a dual-link DVI port connects a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display or other DVI display. And with support for two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards in the Mac Pro, you can connect more displays — up to six total.

I found it here. http://www.apple.com...s/graphics.html I suppose you should be able to use the same graphics cards on a windows machine of comparable specs.

Jimmi, thanks but I don't think I want to go with Mac as I'd still would need at least 2 of them. My requirements are rather important to quantity than quality and I don't need super graphic performance for my work setup. Nevertheless I like to ask if you would know of any other possible solutions as you seem to be well skilled, do you stay in Phuket?

BRs

I did find this graphics card that seems like it will do want to want: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/351484/ati-eyefinity-will-run-six-monitors-off-one-card. The article says in theory you could run 24 monitors off it. But I would think your chipset would have to be very powerful and lot's of RAM. You may still need two machines for what you want to do. Not too sure. I'm a Mac guy mostly. I live in Rawai, but I'm leaving next week for a while.

[PCA]

Probably more than you want to spend, but you can use up to six monitors with two graphics cards on a MacPro.

Graphics on display.

Every Mac Pro graphics card features three display ports for maximum workspace flexibility. Two Mini DisplayPort outputs connect to a pair of Apple LED Cinema Displays with ease. And a dual-link DVI port connects a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display or other DVI display. And with support for two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards in the Mac Pro, you can connect more displays — up to six total.

I found it here. http://www.apple.com...s/graphics.html I suppose you should be able to use the same graphics cards on a windows machine of comparable specs.

Jimmi, thanks but I don't think I want to go with Mac as I'd still would need at least 2 of them. My requirements are rather important to quantity than quality and I don't need super graphic performance for my work setup. Nevertheless I like to ask if you would know of any other possible solutions as you seem to be well skilled, do you stay in Phuket?

BRs

I did find this graphics card that seems like it will do want to want: http://www.pcpro.co....s-off-one-card. The article says in theory you could run 24 monitors off it. But I would think your chipset would have to be very powerful and lot's of RAM. You may still need two machines for what you want to do. Not too sure. I'm a Mac guy mostly. I live in Rawai, but I'm leaving next week for a while.

Hello Jimmi, thanks again. I will do my research into that direction couldn't open that link though but I assume this has rather to do with my permanently dying internet connection today.

[Jimi007]

I will do my research into that direction couldn't open that link though but I assume this has rather to do with my permanently dying internet connection today.

Huh, the link didn't work for me either. I'll PM you with the article.

[Somtamnication]

Having a hell of a time saving this message.. Here we go again, third time...

I did say the new intel z77 chipset and only on some motherboards allow 3 cards. That would mean 6 monitors.

gforce http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/sli/faq

this motherboard does a quad card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157294

these do 2 and 3 SLI connections... http://www.futurelooks.com/intel-z77-motherboard-round-up-featuring-asrock-asus-ecs-gigabyte-intel-and-msi/

and how to set up http://www.epinions.com/content_4436697220?sb=1

Edited September 2, 2012 by Somtamnication

[PCA]

Having a hell of a time saving this message.. Here we go again, third time...

I did say the new intel z77 chipset and only on some motherboards allow 3 cards. That would mean 6 monitors.

gforce http://www.geforce.c...hnology/sli/faq

this motherboard does a quad card http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813157294

these do 2 and 3 SLI connections... http://www.futureloo...-intel-and-msi/

and how to set up http://www.epinions....4436697220?sb=1

Hi Somtam, thanks a lot for the additional information. Apparently I have a very annoying problem with my internet connection today and will hopefully manage to research those links tomorrow.

I had tried to send you a pm but it did not go through I believe. I'll try to send you a PM tomorrow and would appreciate if we could talk on the phone if that's ok with you.

BRs

[BuddhistVirus]

Maybe there's something you want in here

How to set up multiple monitors

http://www.popularmechanics.com/_mobile/technology/how-to/tips/how-to-set-up-multiple-monitors

[hkt83100]

If you just have to watch multiple screens, forget about using a computer. It is a matter of choosing the right equipment for the right purpose. In this case I would suggest to contact some guy who knows about CCTV stuff, who will install a hard-disk recorder with multiple (up to 8 or 16 or 32) inputs lines which is controlled via network from a computer using some proper software which can display multiple images or zoom in on one, can display recordings of (depending on capacity of the hard-drive) hours, days or weeks, and export parts of the recordings for evidence purpose.

But all I said/wrote before might be wrong if I did misunderstood/misinterpreted the original posting :-(

[Simon1985]

HI PCA, you must be a serious trader to need 12 monitors. I have a Matrox Quad Card which enables me to have 4 montiors connected to my PC. 4 Monitors at the moment is enough for me to trade with. Was thinking about adding another 4 at a later stage. The Matrox Quad Cards fit into a PCI slot. So if you had a top range PC with 3 free PCI slots you could in theory have 12 monitors if you bought 3 quad cards. If I was you I would contact matrox support( matrox.com) or look on there forum to confirm the PC requirements, you might even find a better solution. I was thinking about spending 6 months in Thailand trading. Have you worked out what Internet connection you are going to be using yet?

[Simon1985]

HI PCA , you could check out www.tradingcomputers.com if you contact this company you should be able to find out a solution.

[PCA]

Thanks a lot for all recommendations, I need to do proper research now in order to make a final decision. Might go for 1 or 2 monster sized TVs instead of many monitors if that option fits my purpose.

@Somtam

I'll send you a PM

@Simon

thanks for your advice as well, I was using Matrox card when I started trading from here 15 years ago and it was supporting 3 screens.

Regarding internet connection it depends it was already sufficiently working (for my requirements) at that time and things have definitely improved.

If you run 2 lines and have a mobile phone for emergency calls to your broker that's all what you need.

Edited September 3, 2012 by PCA

[Somtamnication]

PM sent.

I would imagine two tvs with hdmi outputs with two cards would be enough. No idea what your rig is. Too many cards and you will have heating problems.

[walker600]

ask your question on google and i'm sure you will find some technical advise....

[PCA]

ask your question on google and i'm sure you will find some technical advise....

well I did before posting believe it or not....

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@somtam,

sorry just saw your sms on my mobile. I will give you a ring tomorrow if that's ok for you.

[Chicog]

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/peripherals/the-complete-guide-to-multiple-monitors-1074313

[PCA]

http://www.techradar...onitors-1074313

thank you, great stuff!

BRs