Muti-monitor office PC build help

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squirtingrhino

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Jan 1, 2014
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Hi, I am building an Office PC soon. This PC will mostly be used for word, Excel, heavy internet browsing (20+ Tabs along with Web Based investing software), as well as running investing software and PDF files. when not managing my investments I might be running some CAD software (AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Revit, Solidworks etc.) because I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering. My Budget is $1000, at maximum. My main concern is what is the best graphics card configuration to power 6 monitors, I will not be using 6 initially, more like 2-3 monitors initially, however I want to be able to expand to 6 in the future. Monitors will all be 1080p 24". Silence is a factor in this build, no overclocking will be done because I am focusing on reliability. This PC shouldn't have any flare as well, it is preferable that it look clean and professional.

I have intentionally left out my Graphics card configuration because I need suggestion on that piece of hardware, also I am fine with 256GB of storage because most files will be saved and opened from an NAS server. If anyone has further suggestions or alternate builds feel free to post them here.

Remember this is first and foremost an Office PC oriented toward multitasking with 6 monitor support, no gaming of any sort and occasionally CAD

Thanks in advance, Kyle

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($160.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT NZXT H230 Black ATX Mid Tower ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($84.64 @ Newegg)
Total: $736.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-01 00:56 EST-0500)
 
Solution
manofchalk
Doesnt work like that with AMD cards I'm afraid. In a Crossfire setup, the only card that you can connect monitors too is the primary card (usually the top one).
Though, if you dont set up the cards in crossfire it might work.
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nostall

nostall

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Nov 28, 2012
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Since gaming is not an issue, then I suggest trying to obtain a work station card for graphics (because of the CAD etc.) and with multi monitors I think the amd/FirePro cards are your best choice.
With display port technology they will support the number of monitors you want.
But they are not cheap. Here is an example from Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195118

That is approximately a low-mid level card; there are less expensive ones and there are much more expensive ones.


 
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manofchalk

manofchalk

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May 11, 2012
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The rig you have specced out looks pretty good to me, nothing to really change IMO.

A 6-monitor setup is tricky.
- With AMD you have to make extensive use of Displayport, which is a connector that isnt on a lot of mainstream monitors. The way I would see it working is having a card like the 260X, using the HDMI/DVI ports for three monitors with the DisplayPort connector running a hub to connect to the other three. The only problem with that is if your monitors don't support Displayport, it will get expensive very quickly from needing adapters.

- With Nvidia, I'm not even sure you can have above 4 monitors. The maximum for Nvidia Surround is 3 plus one auxilliary display, but that is Surround, their multi-monitor gaming utility. I don't know if that extends to just outright using monitors.
That and the screens you have to use for Nvidia Surround need to be pretty much identical or it doesn't work, where AMD's Eyefinity doesn't have this issue.
 
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squirtingrhino

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Jan 1, 2014
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I am not so concerned about the graphics horsepower as far as obtaining a card that can run 6 monitors at once, I have ran CAD applications on my laptops gtx 660m with ease, but this build will be running a fair amount of monitors with stock charts and financial information. I have found cheap professional graphics cards but they only support a couple of monitors (DVI and VGA ports usually) and are expensive when compared to their consumer counterparts
 
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squirtingrhino

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Jan 1, 2014
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Yeah I was looking into just spending the $140 on an R7 260X which AMD says will support 3 monitors native (if I am correct) and then just waiting for the prices to drop in the future and get a second R7 260X
 
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squirtingrhino

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Jan 1, 2014
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I think your R7 260x with display port hub will work on 6 screens, EVGA just released a $99.99 display port hub ($79.99 after mail in rebate) so I should be able to use the 2 DVI and 1 HDMI to power all 6 monitors
 
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nostall

nostall

Splendid
Nov 28, 2012
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You might have to buy used, on ebay, but here is the card you are looking for
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-5000/hd-5870-eyefinity-6-edition/Pages/overview.aspx
Yes, its a bit older in the graphics dept., but it supports 6 monitors.

Also, a standard ATI card with eyefinity should support 2 monitors on the DVI links and one on display port: I helped set up a co-worker Alienware for work stuff, not gaming, and he is running two standard 5870 cards, NOT in Crossfire, and two monitors on each card. He doesn't want to spend anymore money for two more display port monitors and has been very happy with the setup. (He replaced an ancient PC that was running a Matrox AGP card that supported 2 monitors, and was slllooooowwwww).

Misc. info re. eyefinity and multi monitors
http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/amd-eyefinity-technology/Pages/eyefinity.aspx
 
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