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How to run three 24" monitors?

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ahslan   04-27-2008 at 11:10:34 PM

My friend wants me to make him a desktop that will use three 24" monitors (not tvs). Will i need a crossfire or sli setup or do I simply need one video card running on a pci-x slot and another on a pci slot? He won't be using the computer to play 3D intensive video games, but instead he's gonna be using it to play a lot of tables of online poker. Any input would be appreciated.

Thx

------------------------------ AMD64 X2 6000 + Biostar Tseries 770 + 4gb DDR2 800 G.Skill + Thermaltake WingRS case + Raidmax 530w modular PSU + 200gig internal WD HD + 250gig external WD HD + 500gig external Simpletech HDD + Belkin Wireless G PCI receiver + Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4850
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darkstar782   04-27-2008 at 11:16:55 PM
- 0 +

What PCI-X graphics cards are there?

Why are you using a server motherboard?

Or do you perhaps mean PCIe?

SLI will ONLY run one monitor. You can use two nVidia cards in an SLI motherboard, without SLI mode, and then use up to 4 monitors, max 2 per card.

Or, you can buy a Matrox triplehead2go and connect 3 monitors to one graphics card, but you cannot use DVI and you cannot go above 1280x1024.

Reply to darkstar782
rockbyter   04-27-2008 at 11:34:46 PM
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two identical cards with 2 DVI ports, no SLI or crossfire, and just plug in the monitors. Windows will let you activate and set resolution to all of them. Just make sure you have just nvidia, or just ati, and the cards are very similar if not identical.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ If you don't know what OS/2 is, you don't understand.
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ahslan   04-27-2008 at 11:46:40 PM
- 0 +

i meant pci-e...

 

would two ati 3650's suffice?


Message edited by ahslan on 04-27-2008 at 11:53:19 PM
------------------------------ AMD64 X2 6000 + Biostar Tseries 770 + 4gb DDR2 800 G.Skill + Thermaltake WingRS case + Raidmax 530w modular PSU + 200gig internal WD HD + 250gig external WD HD + 500gig external Simpletech HDD + Belkin Wireless G PCI receiver + Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4850
 Reply to ahslan
espslyxerx2   04-27-2008 at 11:49:34 PM
- 0 +

rockbyter wrote :

two identical cards with 2 DVI ports, no SLI or crossfire, and just plug in the monitors. Windows will let you activate and set resolution to all of them. Just make sure you have just nvidia, or just ati, and the cards are very similar if not identical.




I wouldn't go as far as saying the 2 cards need to be "very similar if not identical". I run a 8800GTS and a 7600GT for my two screens. The second card doesn't have to be high powered since you don't game on it. But again, I think 2 cheap cards would be fine to do the job.

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rockbyter   04-28-2008 at 12:00:22 AM
- 0 +

long as the cards can run using the same driver

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ If you don't know what OS/2 is, you don't understand.
 Reply to rockbyter
espslyxerx2   04-28-2008 at 12:05:26 AM
- 0 +

rockbyter wrote :

long as the cards can run using the same driver




Uhhh, Yep, I would have to agree. Never thought of that. Good answer.

Reply to espslyxerx2
ahslan   04-28-2008 at 12:15:04 AM
- 0 +

well to run the two video cards, wouldn't i need a crossfire mobo?

------------------------------ AMD64 X2 6000 + Biostar Tseries 770 + 4gb DDR2 800 G.Skill + Thermaltake WingRS case + Raidmax 530w modular PSU + 200gig internal WD HD + 250gig external WD HD + 500gig external Simpletech HDD + Belkin Wireless G PCI receiver + Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4850
 Reply to ahslan
jonyb222   04-28-2008 at 12:53:25 AM
- 0 +

if in the off chance your buddy has a mobo with only one PCI-e slot then this card is your only choice (that I know of)


VisionTek VT3870x2OC1G Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814129111

if he has two slots then go for two cards and no CF.

------------------------------ It is a very newb question, which is why I ask it.
 Reply to jonyb222
Conumdrum   04-28-2008 at 01:00:26 AM
- 0 +

No, only if your running xfire to make ALL the GPU's work together. You need two okay GPUs where each card has two DVI/HDMI outputs. And HDMI isn't required.

Get a decent cpu/Mobo and two 8600GT's. Plenty. No need for a SLI/xfire Mobo. Just a good mobo for quality sake. And they will all be SLI OR xfire. Choose one, it don't matter since you wont be using either in your requirement.

------------------------------

 

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ahslan   04-28-2008 at 05:46:37 AM
- 0 +

so you can have two videocards connected to a mobo and they don't have to run in crossfire or sli??? wow...didnt know that...

------------------------------ AMD64 X2 6000 + Biostar Tseries 770 + 4gb DDR2 800 G.Skill + Thermaltake WingRS case + Raidmax 530w modular PSU + 200gig internal WD HD + 250gig external WD HD + 500gig external Simpletech HDD + Belkin Wireless G PCI receiver + Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4850
 Reply to ahslan
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