I am not concerned about maxing out gaming settings, mainly I just need it to smoothly play 1080p. however I don't think eyefinity would work because one of the monitors is vga and the other two (one being an hdtv) are 1080p and none of them have Display Port. Currently I have an old Radeon HD4650 installed because I couldn't even get dual display working with the i5 3570K's onboard graphics. So just looking for a card that can do three monitors or one I can use in conjunction with the 4650. Any help or advice is appreciated, thanks.
Any cheap triple monitor solution?
- Thread starter jbaruch76
- Start date
Solution
If you want a compromise between good 1080p performance and entry level 3 monitor gaming than look at something like a 7850, BUT like you said, the fact that one of your monitors is VGA only will most likely be a problem. You'll be able to hook up all 3 with no problem and use them for desktop space, but trying to build a "Display Group" for EyeFinity gaming is where the resolution and VGA connection on the older monitor would come in to play and most likely not allow it.
Well like I mentioned I'm not really concerned about gaming, which I mainly do on my 360. I just want to have my HDTV running xbmc and also have a dual monitor setup on the desk for multitasking. So a 7850 would allow all 3 to run at the same time in their own resolutions?
DRosencraft
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- Aug 26, 2011
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As far as I know there is no GPU that will support three displays without at least one of those displays being connected through DisplayPort or mini DisplayPort. Now, you can buy an adapter for DVI or HDMI to Display Port. Those have to be active (not passive as most cables are) and will run between about $25-$30. I'm not certain whether your given card can support triple monitors, you will have to check the documentation, but looking at the general details on AMD's site, that isn't going to happen with that card.
So, you have two options. There is an option you can try, using a Display Link kit. There are a number of other companies that make similar devices (I just happen to have received this one a year and a half ago). You basically connect the monitor to the device, and the device connects to your PC through USB. It's very convenient for what it does, and in general costs less than buying most new GPUs.
Or, if you want a new GPU you will need at least a Radeon HD 5000 series. Don't forget, however, that you will still need either a monitor with native Display Port capability or an active DP adapter cable (something like this one).
Hope that helps.
So, you have two options. There is an option you can try, using a Display Link kit. There are a number of other companies that make similar devices (I just happen to have received this one a year and a half ago). You basically connect the monitor to the device, and the device connects to your PC through USB. It's very convenient for what it does, and in general costs less than buying most new GPUs.
Or, if you want a new GPU you will need at least a Radeon HD 5000 series. Don't forget, however, that you will still need either a monitor with native Display Port capability or an active DP adapter cable (something like this one).
Hope that helps.
nikoli707
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- Jan 4, 2012
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a friend of a friend got 3 19" $79 1600x900 monitors from best buy a while back and actually i was quite impressed by the gaming when i was watching him play. if one was on a strict budget for a triple monitor setup, the $260ish for the monitors and a $260ish for a video card would provide a very decent experience. it is an option.
wow, so many choices.
i would like to upgrade my video card because occasionally things will stutter a bit on very high resolution videos. I was looking at this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16814131473&cm_sp=which is probably overkill but will future proof me a little bit. From what i have read I can use it along with the one already installed? Can i use that for the HD monitors and my old one for the vga without buying the adapter?
The USB adapter also looks very interesting and seems to be exactly what I need at a much lower price. I am having trouble seeing the downside to it though. Is it just not powerful enough for extreme gaming?
And thanks again for the advice, you guys are great.
i would like to upgrade my video card because occasionally things will stutter a bit on very high resolution videos. I was looking at this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16814131473&cm_sp=which is probably overkill but will future proof me a little bit. From what i have read I can use it along with the one already installed? Can i use that for the HD monitors and my old one for the vga without buying the adapter?
The USB adapter also looks very interesting and seems to be exactly what I need at a much lower price. I am having trouble seeing the downside to it though. Is it just not powerful enough for extreme gaming?
And thanks again for the advice, you guys are great.
DRosencraft
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That 7850 is a nice upgrade from a 4650. You should see some decent gains there, and isn't that much in the way of overkill depending on how much gaming you actually do/how important it is to you. Unfortunately you simply can't get by on any graphics card without one of the screens being on Display Port/Mini Display Port; either native or by way of an active adapter. It simply doesn't work to allow more than two if at least one isn't DP or Mini DP.
As for the USB device option, I personally have not had any real issues with mine, but I'm only adding my third screen for productivity purposes, using the basic extended desktop option under screen resolutions. You can't use Eyefinity with the USB option because the monitor is not connected to the same GPU and is not running directly off the same set of drivers as the monitors connected to the GPU. The USB device will allow you to add the third monitor, and even run them at different resolutions, but not as a single Eyefinity group.
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