low cost multi-monitor web-observatory

Federico Waldo

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Jul 4, 2013
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Hi all,
I'm Waldo, and I'm following you for about 2 years. I type from Italy and I apologize for all the errors I'm gonna do with the english language. However, you're doing a fantastic and very usefull job! thanks from the millions of unregistered people who are enjoying the devotion you put in all this, seriously!

Now my first answer on this forum.
I have to monitor from 16 to 24 webpages at the same time, in Win 7 x64 environment. No big deals: no games, no 3d applications, just a lot of browser's pages. To do this, I was thinking to use 4 or 6 fullHD tv-monitor in extended desktop mode: with the 1920x1080 resolution, I could easily open and view 4 webpages simultaneously on each one. The problem is: I need a huge advise about how to connect 6 monitors to 1, 2, or even 3 desktop pc.

So, the 1 million's answer is: how can I do this with the smallest budget (not considering the tv-monitors)?

Now the already done observations:
1) I'm aware of the Firepro ATI technology but, even if controlling 6 monitors with just one video card is a cool solution, I think I spend less assembling 3 small pc than buying a firepro video-card (plus several DisplayPort-HDMI adapters). Please advise me if I'm wrong.
2) I could mount 2 or 3 dedicated video card on a capable motherboard (with 2 or 3 PciE x16 slots), but how can I view all the monitors in 1920x1080 display resolution? And how much I'm gonna spend for this solution, assuming I have to build a complete pc (always with the tiniest budget!) from nothing?
3) I could assemble 3 small pc with AMD APU technologies (due to the better integrated GPU), connecting 2 monitor directly to a couple of HDMI mobo's outputs without any dedicated video card, but: is there a mobo with 2 integrated HDMI port? Does this mobo guarantee me the fullHD resolution for both monitors?

I apologise for my verbosity, and I beg you to indulge in finding a low cost solution. Thanks!
 

grebgonebad

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You need to get yourself a video card with multiple outputs. I believe Matrox do several of these. If you purchased a video card with 6 or more outputs you could then easily run all 6 monitors off 1 PC. Alternatively you could get a couple of PCI cards each with 3 or more ouputs to the same effect.
 

Federico Waldo

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Jul 4, 2013
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thanks man, but I tried to connect 3 monitors to my HD5800 series, which has 4 outputs (1x dp, 1x hdmi, 2x dvi-d), and I can't view all the 3 monitors at max resolution. This is my biggest concern. I need the fullHD resolution for all my monitors!
Any advice?
 

Federico Waldo

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Jul 4, 2013
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The max res of my monitors is 1920x1080. If I connect anyone of them to a pc, I can view that res, but not togheter.
I tried to view them in extended desktop mode. Exactly: in the display setting control panel (and the same in the Catalyst control panel) I can run one of them at fullHD res, the second one at HDready res, the third one at even lower res.

So, are you sure I can view all the monitors at max res with just one pc? Have you ever tried it? Is there anyone who can watch 6 monitors in fullHD res, connecting them to just one pc with 2 or 3 vga card?
 

grebgonebad

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I cant see why you shouldnt be able to. As an extreme example someone with 2 recent grpahics cards would be able to use 6 full HD screens togeather for playing games and such. The only thing I can think of is that graphics card you have not being powerful enough to support 3 full HD screens.
 

Federico Waldo

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Jul 4, 2013
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:( ok, thanks a lot.
I will do some other attempts...
 

grebgonebad

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I can't be certain of that fact of course, i am not as familliar with ATI cards as Nvidia cards, I would suggest you take a look at a few websites on Google with regards to the matter.

I wish you luck in future, hope you find what you are looking for!