How to connect Laptop to PC with 12 Monitor Output

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StatWerk

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May 24, 2016
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I am an Electronic Musician and the Monitor Array that I will be using will consist of 8-12 Monitors. I will hopefully be using AMD ATI 2600 cards (2-3, depending on size of monitor array).

Musicians typically have to maintain two computers -- a Laptop for collaboration and a desktop workhorse for serious studio work. Not only is that expensive, but it can take weeks to install all of the various software we use and organization is a nightmare.

My first thought was to build a portable desktop from a 2U server chassis. That would work, but then I would have to reconnect 8-12 monitors in the correct order everytime I took the rig on the road.

The best portable solution would be a good laptop with the juice to push the software and somehow connect that to another slave PC that has all of the expansion capabilities needed (multiple HDDs, multiple graphics cards, etc).

These are half-rack graphics cards and the AMD site mentioned something about being able to mount them into docking stations. That would be the simplest thing, if that could be done.

I have a "decent" solution, but there has to be a better one -- a way to connect one "brain" to an external set of periperhals.

Ideas?

Thanks!
Mike

 
Solution
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Awesome! I found my answer! The Matrox eXpansion TripleHead2Go gets it's video from a DSUB of DVI on the Laptop and can create the thee monitor system that I need for the Mixing Console -- there is easy software that allows you to join the three or split the three with the click of a button. The SIIG USB2.0 to VGA Pro is a USB 2.0 device that will suit my needs for the other monitors and you can connect 6 to any one system. Being USB 2.0, I should be able to connect all three to a powered USB 3.0 hub and save my remaining USB ports for music gear. Right now, the rig I want uses 8 monitors, so the Matrox plus 5 of the SIIG units which add up to less money than a single FirePro 2460. Nice solution. Could easily work for either...
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Starcruiser

Starcruiser

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May 18, 2013
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If you mean the ATI Radeon HD 2600, each of those only supports 2 monitors each. You'll need newer tech than that to run 8-12 monitors. One thing to consider (cheaper too) is using USB graphics adapters, but you'll need to make sure that the USB controller can handle 12 connections plus your keyboard, mouse, and any other devices. If you've got a decent motherboard with a recent southbridge you'll be able to pull it off, though you may need to add a powered USB hub or two. Labeling your cables is a must in any case.
Here's a good video with links to good resources for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heB94f6FHd8
 
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StatWerk

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May 24, 2016
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That might work. I actually have 8 of those USB adapters that I used once upon a time. I may have misquoted the item number for the product that I am looking at, but I think that it is the FirePro 2460 -- a workstation card that allows you to group multiple monitors into a single virtual monitor (like when you want to create one huge display wall at a trade show or something). I plan to create an array of 3 touchscreen monitors using that to produce one ultrawide Mixing Console for my music software. That will allow me to see lots of tracks at once. I will explore USB options, though. Thanks!
 
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Starcruiser

Starcruiser

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May 18, 2013
896
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The FirePro... I despise workstation cards like that. They're complete ripoffs.
At any rate, I doubt you'd be able to get a 12 touch monitor seamless display running from 3 separate cards. Each card would have its own desktop essentially. You'd be much better off getting a very large 4K professional touch display and running it off of a single card, like this: http://www.touchwindow.com/c/ViewSonicCDE8451.html
 
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S

StatWerk

Commendable
May 24, 2016
3
0
1,520
Awesome! I found my answer! The Matrox eXpansion TripleHead2Go gets it's video from a DSUB of DVI on the Laptop and can create the thee monitor system that I need for the Mixing Console -- there is easy software that allows you to join the three or split the three with the click of a button. The SIIG USB2.0 to VGA Pro is a USB 2.0 device that will suit my needs for the other monitors and you can connect 6 to any one system. Being USB 2.0, I should be able to connect all three to a powered USB 3.0 hub and save my remaining USB ports for music gear. Right now, the rig I want uses 8 monitors, so the Matrox plus 5 of the SIIG units which add up to less money than a single FirePro 2460. Nice solution. Could easily work for either laptops or destops.
 
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