Asus Radeon R9 280X and three monitors

godzich · Feb 3, 2014

This seems to be a common problem, and an urgent one for me:

The GPU has dual DVI, one HDMI and one DisplayPort.

I have three DVI monitors, two with a 1920x1200 resolution, the third is 2560x1440. They work fine with my nVidia GTX660Ti.

How do I connect my 3 monitors to this R9 280X GPU so that they all work? I don't want to use the DP connector, ony the two DVI and one HDMI.

I can get only two monitors to work simultaneously. All three are however detected by the system.

HELP

Christian

larkspur · Feb 3, 2014

Use a dual-link DVI for the 1440.
Use a dual or single-link DVI for a 1200.
Use an ACTIVE DisplayPort to DVI adapter for the other 1200. Like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814999032

Oh, and make sure to check whether you have a mini-DP port or a regular size DP port to get the appropriate version of the adapter.

To connect more than two monitors on your card you MUST use the DisplayPort.

If you are gaming across the three screens the 1440 will be down-scaled to 1900x1200 so it will look weird. But Windows desktop will run at native resolution.

godzich · Feb 3, 2014

Hi,

Grateful for your knowledgeable feedback. I understand what you say and believe that is an aswer to the problem.

What remains uncomprehensible is that such a high end AMD GPU cannot drive three simultaneous monitors (two being the same resolution). Much cheaper and older nVidia cards do this (like my GTX660). Even if the resolution would be different on all three.

Is this only because of AMD has been lazy on adding clock generators, or what? Why is this not clearly stated somewhere? Prefereably on the package. Normaly all graphics and text brags about how many monitors you can connect, but mentions nothing about these serious shortcomings... Aaarghh..

Thanks a lot for your help!

Christian

PS: Does this mean automatically and always that the HDMI is useless if the two DVI outputs are in use?

ADDITIONALLY: AMD's own infopage states about multiple monitors as follows:

3 displays with DVI/HDMI, 4 displays using DisplayPort, 6 displays with an MST hub

Something does not compute here - my logic says that you can control 3 displays without any additional hardware (only passive cables) if you only use the DVI/HDMI outputs !!! Whow is wrong?

warchief18 · Feb 5, 2014

According to the AMD site, in the new versions the R9's support up to 3 monitors without the use of an active displayport adapter, I have mine running 2 dvi and an HDMI and it's working just fine..

EDIT: Maybe it's not working because your monitors have different resolutions.. I have 3 AOC23 ips Led

Jonathan Cave · Feb 15, 2014

as an owner of a 280x and 3 24" pannels, the r9 doesnt need an active adaptor.
i use 2 x dvi & 1 x HDMI

if you havent fixed this, you need to combine 2 monitors e.g. 1|3 + extend the '2' monitor so all 3 monitors are active then use CCC to do the rest.

its a right carry on but one of the combinations work - it should be easier though!

Srkpvn · Feb 15, 2014

@godzich please help me I'm new for gpu I'm also using same model.. I Dono how to setup I set 2 power cables to gpu.. I want to set power cable to motherboard it's looks a big pin

IObey · Apr 11, 2014

I had the same problem with the R9 270. Based on my experience and extensive efforts, I feel pretty sure that the DVI-DVI-HDMI configuration is not supported, at least by the R9 270. Maybe the 280/290 are different. A user on the AMD forum claims to have got results with the 280x.

I was finally able to get 3 screens working via DVI, HDMI and Displayport adapter. (I was short on DVI cables.) To get the HDMI monitor to use the full screen, open CCC, My Digital Flat Panels, Scaling Options. Move to 0% overscan. ("Enabling GPU-scaling" looks so right but oh so does not work. How annoying that CCC isn't clearer about this?)

Useful thread on AMD's forum: http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=474&th...

Hope this helps.

Jonathan Cave · Apr 12, 2014

IObey :

Incorrect the entire r9 range does not require a active displayport adaptor , unlike the 7970 etc...

Spogaz · May 6, 2014

Jonathan Cave :

Have you tried this with 3 monitors that are not identical?

I have a 27" (Main)DVI 24" (Stats)DVI 42" (Media)HDMI set up which worked perfectly on my HD6450.

Plugged in the R9 280X and it only wants to do two screens at a time. It can see all three.

Have tried your fix but am going around in circles?

Can you maintain your set up if you swap a monitor for a tv?

Spogaz · May 6, 2014

godzich :

Hi,

Grateful for your knowledgeable feedback. I understand what you say and believe that is an aswer to the problem.

What remains uncomprehensible is that such a high end AMD GPU cannot drive three simultaneous monitors (two being the same resolution). Much cheaper and older nVidia cards do this (like my GTX660). Even if the resolution would be different on all three.

Is this only because of AMD has been lazy on adding clock generators, or what? Why is this not clearly stated somewhere? Prefereably on the package. Normaly all graphics and text brags about how many monitors you can connect, but mentions nothing about these serious shortcomings... Aaarghh..

Thanks a lot for your help!

Christian

PS: Does this mean automatically and always that the HDMI is useless if the two DVI outputs are in use?

ADDITIONALLY: AMD's own infopage states about multiple monitors as follows:

3 displays with DVI/HDMI, 4 displays using DisplayPort, 6 displays with an MST hub

Something does not compute here - my logic says that you can control 3 displays without any additional hardware (only passive cables) if you only use the DVI/HDMI outputs !!! Whow is wrong?

I couldn't agree more. If my shitty little HD6450 can do it out the box. can't see why this can't.
Mate says he can only use 3 or more if he use's D.P.

Had any luck with this yet?

martinmatt · May 21, 2014

I have the similar problem.

Last month I bought "MSI R9 280X OC Gaming" and tried to connect 2 monitors and LCD TV at the same time but it is not working.. ale the displays has the same resolution and timing.

1. Monitor: cable VGA/VGA -> reduction VGA/DVI -> DVI on graphic card
2. Monitor (primary): cable DVI/HDMI -> HDMI on graphic card
3. TV: cable HDMI/HDMI -> reduction HDMI/miniDP -> DP on graphic card

Each time I try to enable all 3 at once, it pop up a window saying that first I have to disable one of 2 currently active displays.
(BTW, on my graphic card are 4 connectors: DVI, HDMI, 2x mini Displayport.)

Thexderfy · Jun 23, 2014

it seems that not all the R9 280x contain the hardware to run three monitors without having an Active Adaptor. I know that my Asus 280x (model DC2-3GD5) will not allow it no matter what configuration you use unless you use an Active adaptor. Whether the version 2 does I do not know.

I would suggest trying one out and seeing if that fixes your problem.

IntruderPTY · Apr 2, 2015

Just to inform, I got a HIS R9 270X IceQX2 and I COULDN'T use 3 monitors without 1 active DP-HDMI adapter. After understanding this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf0X0lNFmgw&index=1&list=PLi5sS1d73gQQOP8-FzoEY16Zoh1iJJEWV . After understanding the AMD view on LEGACY vs Native DisplayPort I realized my problem with this and my previous card (XFX R7700). And believe me, I tried all combinations I could imagine, but one of the monitors will show but no activate image, then I got myself a MiniDP to HDMI active (EyeInfinity Certified) (Accell miniDP1.1 to HDMI ACTIVE Adapter), and now it works beatifully, I ordered a native miniDP to DP cable (since my third monitor is DP, but im actually using it right now with the adapter), just to test if it works without the adapter, and maybe try a 4 monitor config (native DP supposedly support up to 6)

Important to mention, monitors are not the same brand nor size.

card: HIS R9 270X IceQx2
monitor1: LG TV Scarlet 32" 1920x1080
connected: miniDP-HDMI pasive cable
monitor2: HP w2207 22" 1680x1050
connected: DVI cable with DVI-HDMI pasive adapter
monitor3: Asus VE276 1920x1080
connected: miniDP-HDMI active adapter - HDMI cable

combinations tried that didn't work:

miniDP-HDMI pasive adapter - HDMI cable
miniDP-HDMI pasive cable
DVI-DIV cable

miniDP-HDMI pasive adapter - HDMI cable
HDMI-HDMI
DVI-DVI

miniDP-HDMI pasive adapter - HDMI cable
miniDP-HDMI pasive cable
HDMI-HDMI

Hope this helps anyone who is looking for this answer.

y4nn1c7 · Jun 11, 2015

Hey mate, I've got literally the same graphics card (Radeon XFX R9 280X) and I've got 3 27"in monitors and when i first got it, it had been working fine for about a couple months but crapped out after that and gave me this error about settings could not be saved and that i ha to try different combinations, pretty familiar stuff but i happen to get it working after that but that's only cuz i gave it a good old restore and got it back to when i first got it but now it seems to have done the same thing and i've looked for every single troubleshooting i could find and done it all except for the active mini display port, i dont wanna have to do that when i know it's worked previously. it'd be great if anyone could help me out

ajac09 · Jun 11, 2015

Code:

I have 3 monitors connected to mine. 2 DVI and one HDMI. Using an DVI to HDMI connector for one monitor. Wish I could hook up one of the monitors with built in sound to the hdmi but wouldnt work with all 3 monitors.

Barry_Gire · Jan 27, 2016

Hi,

I have the Asus R9 270X 2gb card with the same problems. Nothing worked. However, I've eventually got it to work using DVI (x2) and a HDMI (x1) connection.

It definitely does NOT need an active display port to run the third monitor. The problem is the display adapter driver. To check which one you are using, right click on 'My computer', click Manage, click on the device manager, it will list your hardware on the right, under Display Adapter it should read 'Asus R9 280X'. Nothing else. You can try to roll back the drivers to previous ones to see if that resolves it but if you have windows automatic driver update on, it will continually download AMD's latest driver and install it undoing any driver rollbacks you preform.

I used Guru3D DDU to uninstall anything related to AMD catalyst. I then reinstalled the original software I got with the ASUS card and the hey presto my 3 monitors worked.

Don't update the AMD catalyst software either. Just leave it be.

Hope this helps!
Barry

muttgamer · Apr 5, 2016

Hi Godzich;
I'm considering buying this graphics card to run 3 monitors, and when looking online to see whether the GPU would handle a 3 monitor setup, I found this post. Did you eventually get it working or did you have to make a compromise?
Thanks!

Barry_Gire · Apr 5, 2016

muttgamer :

No compromise at all. I just keep the Asus driver that you install with the CD and don't use AMD display driver. Automatic updates do try to 'update' the driver but this will cause the problem. I'm still able to use the latest AMD catalyst.
Cable wise, I can use either display port, the HDMI, DVI connections and all 3 still work.

It was a nuisance figuring this out but I hope this helps.

Asus Radeon R9 280X and three monitors

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