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Three displays, single card

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  • Games
  • Graphics Cards
  • Displays
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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December 28, 2013 8:11:19 AM

I've looked through a few threads and haven't found the specific scenario I'm aiming for (which probably means I'm just insane)

I'm looking for a video card that will simultaneously support three displays, but I won't be doing very much intensive triple displaying.

In most circumstances, I just use two displays for normal computing and games. However, I have a TV close enough to run an HDMI cable over and let me play games from the couch with a controller.

In my current set up, my video card will only run two displays at a time, so when I want to play games on the couch, I have to do a fair amount of shuffling around my displays.

So ultimately, I'm just looking for a card that will run three displays at a time and hopefully not require me to buy any adapters like I hear a lot of AMD cards require. I've been eyeing some of the GTX 760s, but wasn't sure if they would do the trick

More about : displays single card

a b U Graphics card
December 28, 2013 8:16:57 AM

Both Nvidia and AMD can do 3 displays. AMD needs a display port for the 3rd display, but not many have display port monitors, so they need a active display port adapter. Nvidia on the other hand don't need one, but if you're doing to use display port on the Nvidia card, also get a active display port adapter, just to save the time of shipping back and forth if passive's don't work.

For Nvidia 2D surround you can connect to any of the ports on the card.
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/3dvision-sur...
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a c 85 U Graphics card
December 28, 2013 1:00:35 PM

the display port adapters are a non issue. the cost is 25 bucks. and AMD was the ONLY one doing 3-6 displays off one gaming GPU for years. Sapphire made cards that did 3 with NO adapter for both the 6xxx and 7xxx series. they have been doing what you want for a LONG time.

nvidia only allowed 2 per GPU for years and years. FINALLY on some 600 series parts they designed all ports to be used. so cards like the 760 which are just re-badged 670s can also do it. but its a pretty new thing for nvidia. AMD has been doing it for far far longer and their r9 290/290x cards also run three with no adapter PLUS 3 more by display port.

the thing is this is all irrelevant for you. you want to use two displays, or the TV. So you just buy an HDMI or DVI splitter. so your primary monitor is ALWAYS duplicated on that TV input. and you are done. when you go to the TV its the same signal as your main monitor. its $10 and you don't really have any need for a three monitor card from what you have said.
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a c 177 U Graphics card
December 28, 2013 8:25:57 PM

I wouldn't go splitter. If someone is watching something on the TV, you won't be able to look anything up on the primary monitor. Worth the extra $15 over the cost the of the splitter. I'm running four off my 7950. Using two of the active mDP to DVI adapters. Nvidia cards should handle 3 with two DVIs.
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a c 85 U Graphics card
December 29, 2013 5:10:24 AM

he said he wanted to game on the TV not watch things. and he said HE as in one person. if multiple people are using it its a different situation. and its not an extra 15 dollars. its 5 or 10 bucks for a splitter OR he spends 200 bucks on a new GPU. he said his old one can only do 2 period so it must be an nvidia
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a b U Graphics card
December 29, 2013 8:29:40 AM

Splitters wont work, they give out the same image in both monitors.
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a c 177 U Graphics card
December 29, 2013 8:38:49 AM

That's what Unksol has in mind. His way would work. I was simply saying if a splitter is $10, and an mDP to DVI adapter is $30, I'd rather pay the extra $20 and get the three monitors instead of being stock with 2 still. Even if I lived alone and no one would on a regular basis need the third monitor, it's worth it to me to have the ability. (This is also why I refuse to run mATX cases/boards as I want the option to use 6 cards if I'd ever need it.)
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a b U Graphics card
December 29, 2013 9:26:17 PM

Not all motherboard has 6x PCIe x16 slots unless you go with the workstation models.

Based on OP's post, he mentioned he has a video card and is running on 2 monitors. There is also a HDMI on the card, and when he wants to play games with his HDTV, he has to shuffle his cables around.
By this, I believe OP has to unplug one of his monitors and then connect his HDTV via HDMI.
A few things I know is...

1. AMD has never used mini HDMI ports on their video cards. Nvidia has starting with their GTX 400 cards, where is has 2x DVI and 1x mini HDMI
2. AMD using standard HDMI port began with their HD5000 series card and Nvidia started with their GTX 600 series cards, but some GTX 600 models still uses a mini HDMI.
3. Cheaper cards from both sides has 3 outputs and they are VGA, DVI, and HDMI
4. AMD's cards that supports 3 monitors began with the HD5000 series, only if one of the output is a display port.
5. Based on Nvidia 3D Vision page, cards that can support up to 3 monitors, starts with the GTX 600 series. One thing however is GTX 650 and GTX 650Ti, both don't show a picture diagram on how to connect, so maybe they're not supported? GTX 650Ti Boost and above, does.
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/3dvision-sur...

If OP uses a mini HDMI, then he could probably be running a GTX 400 or GTX 500 card and these won't support 3 monitors on a single card.
If OP uses standard HDMI, then he could probably be running a HD5000 series card or GTX 600 series card and these can support up 3 monitors.
There are some GTX 600 series cards that also uses mini HDMI.
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