How to run 6 Monitors?

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

Hi Everyone, I am trying to figure out the best & economically reasonable way to upgrade my PC to be able to run 6 monitors. This is just for work/multitasking purposes, no gaming etc... Maybe just watching some video's but that's about it.

Admittedly not too much of a techie but I have tried searching online and my head is spinning with all the different conflicting info. Hoping to get a simple answer and I'm hoping all I need to do is buy 1 or 2 new Vid Cards to make this work (fingers crossed)

Here's my current set up:
(6) Acer AL2216W Monitors
Intel Core i7 2600K Processor
Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 M/Board
8 GB Ram
Running Windows 7 64-Bit
Current video cards are dual - Asus EAH5450 SL/DI/512MD3

Really appreciate the help!

Calnin · Jul 25, 2014

I'm going to be honest and say I don't really know how eyefinity works with 2 graphics cards (at least for 6 monitor)

I've seen cards that have 6 display ports that you could check out, but they're quite a bit more expensive if whatever you have is working already.

Here's one of them : (http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-Products-Eyefinity-Graphic-900548/dp/B0085O90SQ)

bignastyid · Jul 25, 2014

Add a 1x pci-e 5450.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-ae5450512md2sh
That would give you 3 and you can run 2 monitors on each for a total of 6.

ak47jar3d · Jul 25, 2014

Go with 7870 eyefinity model!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0&_nkw=Radeon+HD+7870+Eyefinity+6&_sacat=0&_from=R40

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

bignastyid :

Thanks, but wouldn't my motherboard need to be able to run 3 vid cards though? Mine only supports 2.

bignastyid · Jul 25, 2014

jm973 :

It will support as many video cards as you have slots. But it will only support 2 cards in crossfire which you won't be using anyway.

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

ak47jar3d :

Thx ak47jar3d, Correct me if im wrong though but if I did that vid card, would I need to also buy 6 display port adapters? My monitors only have a VGA and DVI inputs. Is there any way to do this without Display Port adapters or do you have to use Display Ports no matter what when trying to run 6 monitors? and do I need 1 single card? Or can go with dual cards like I currently have and run 3 off of each?

Thx!

caqde · Jul 25, 2014

well if you can connect them using 6 mini dvi ports then this -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129274

could probably work it is a bit cheaper then the 7870 although admittedly still pricey at ~$230 but it is a nice single card solution

ak47jar3d · Jul 25, 2014

caqde :

Beat me to it. Nice. 230 is not bad considering you only need one card for 6 monitors.

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

bignastyid :

jm973 :

It will support as many video cards as you have slots. But it will only support 2 cards in crossfire which you won't be using anyway.

Gotcha, I only have 2 slots on the MB unfortunately.

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

ak47jar3d :

So with that card I would just need to also buy 6 Mini Display Port -to- DVI adapters and should be all set? My monitors only have DVI and VGA inputs. Is the single card necessary/easier/cheaper vs. using 2 cards? I had found some cards that supported up to 3 monitors each card and were around 100 bucks each. I figured doing that and not needing any special display port adapters etc.. and just using their standard DVI, VGA and/or HDMI (I currently have 2 monitors running HDMI from my vid card to DVI in the monitors so I already have 2 of those cables) would be cheaper. Or am I missing something? Thx!

ak47jar3d · Jul 25, 2014

jm973 :

ak47jar3d :

So with that card I would just need to also buy 6 Mini Display Port -to- DVI adapters and should be all set? My monitors only have DVI and VGA inputs. Is the single card necessary/easier/cheaper vs. using 2 cards? I had found some cards that supported up to 3 monitors each card and were around 100 bucks each. I figured doing that and not needing any special display port adapters etc.. and just using their standard DVI, VGA and/or HDMI (I currently have 2 monitors running HDMI from my vid card to DVI in the monitors so I already have 2 of those cables) would be cheaper. Or am I missing something? Thx!

It would be easier to just used the one card (driver issues can get annoying with two cards). And yes, all you need is Display port to DVI or VGA converters and it will work fine. The video card won't care, it will treat the signal as the same.

bystander · Jul 25, 2014

jm973 :

bignastyid :

Gotcha, I only have 2 slots on the MB unfortunately.

You will not be using them, at all. You'll put all your monitors on the card they are linking.

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

ak47jar3d :

jm973 :

It would be easier to just used the one card (driver issues can get annoying with two cards). And yes, all you need is Display port to DVI or VGA converters and it will work fine. The video card won't care, it will treat the signal as the same.

Okay cool. Any reason you could think that this wouldn't work with my existing current Motherboard? (I know most places are bitchy about returning vid cards after opening them) so at almost $300 bucks I just want to make sure lol! Also, any idea where the best place to buy 6 of these converters for less than half the price of the card itself? ha-ha! Thx again.

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

bystander :

jm973 :

You will not be using them, at all. You'll put all your monitors on the card they are linking.

I'm sure I'm showing my rookieness here, but I'm losing you on this. Linking them?

bignastyid · Jul 25, 2014

jm973 :

According to the specs of the motherboard you posted you have 2 16x pci-e slots 3 pxi-e 1x slots and 2 pci slots. The cards you currently have are 16x the card I posted will use a 1x slot. So unless you have other cards plugged inot those 3 1x slots the card I posted should work. Plus there shouldn't be any driver issues since all 3 cards are 5450's.

k1114 · Jul 25, 2014

You have 7 slots so can have 7 graphic cards. It's simpler to use multiple cards and save a lot of money. There are no issues and you don't even use multiple drivers. All 5450 use a single driver. Getting that single card, you'll be paying another $100 for adapters since amd requires active dp.

bystander · Jul 25, 2014

jm973 :

The cards that have 6 DP will be put in the slot your current GPU is located in. You do not need to use both. A single 6 mini-DP card will handle all your needs alone.

jm973 · Jul 25, 2014

bignastyid :

Now I get it. Yes luckily all 3 of those slots are free. I will give that 3rd card a shot and see how it goes? Thanks!

bystander :

jm973 · Jul 29, 2014

bignastyid :

jm973 :

According to the specs of the motherboard you posted you have 2 16x pci-e slots 3 pxi-e 1x slots and 2 pci slots. The cards you currently have are 16x the card I posted will use a 1x slot. So unless you have other cards plugged inot those 3 1x slots the card I posted should work. Plus there shouldn't be any driver issues since all 3 cards are 5450's.

Just installed that 3rd vid card. It works! Thanks so much for the help. Really appreciate it.

How to run 6 Monitors?

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