[Solved] 3 monitors w/ diff resolutions w/ 5870?

Quick question. I have 3 - 24" monitors. 2 of them are 1920x1080 and the third is 1920x1200.

I do not want to game on all 3 screens (Eyefinity), just one. So, will the 5870 support all 3 monitors at their native resolutions for surfing the web, etc?

I also understand that I need a display port adapter. Does it have to be an "active" adapter even though it won't be used for gaming? Anyone have a link to what I need?

Thanks for all the help, I'd be so lost without this forum.

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http://www.elitebastards.com/index [...] mitstart=1 is pretty good at explanations.

I haven't really looked into your question because I'm much more interested in gaming, but I do believe that everything you are looking for is possible, and in fact easily done.

The one thing I'm not sure about is the display port adaptor. From what I have learned, you must have one native display port lcd or eyefinity won't work (in gaming). In non gaming, I don't know. There is no reason why it wouldn't work fine in non-gaming situations - i believe the reason for displayport is bandwidth issues - but you should look into that before buying.

I do think you will be able to game on 1 screen while doing other stuff on another 2 screens with no issues whatsoever.

Message edited by jennyh on 10-01-2009 at 02:07:13 AM

Reply to jennyh

Yes. You can hook up all three without an issue.

Eyefinity only activates when you initialize a game. Normally, when you start a game it goes up on your primary screen and ignores the other(s). Eyefinity tricks the games into thinking all 3 screens are actually just one primary screen. If you dont' turn on Eyefinity, it just goes up on your primary monitor.

You don't need a DisplayPort adapter if you use an HDMI cable. All cards have the standard DVI x2 + HDMI + DP. I don't know anything about display port, but I do know DVI and HDMI switch over without an issue on my HTPC. Same instructions, different plug as far as I can tell. I have no idea what you mean by "active".

I've seen a couple of things suggesting that the hdmi and dvi's are mutually exclusive, at least 1 of them is (while using eyefinity).

You can pair the hdmi with 1 dvi, or have both dvi's (and the displayport ofc) while using eyefinity. You can't run eyefinity on both dvi's and 1 hdmi though.

Not sure if i'm helping or hindering here, but I'm just trying to make sure everything is clear in regards of eyefinity, how that works out in terms of normal 3-screen non-gaming I'm really not sure.

Message edited by jennyh on 10-01-2009 at 02:21:25 AM

Reply to jennyh

In some of the reviews I heard that the adapter has to be an "active" adapter that costs around $100. I've seen adaptors at newegg for around $15 that converts DisplayPort to HDMI:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-12200368

I'm not sure if this would work though. 2 of my monitors have HDMI and no DisplayPort so I guess I'm just really confused on what I need to just get 3 monitors working in non-gaming situation.

Reply to blotkis

http://www.hardocp.com/article/200 [...] ogy_review

If you scroll down to the white pages you should get the info you are looking for there hopefully.

Reply to jennyh

http://www.amd.com/us/Documents/AT [...] _Brief.pdf

Looks like it's more complicated that I thought. If you're using 3 monitors, 1 of them has to be DisplayPort.

...

So then you look at the 3rd monitor, and decide what you need. If the monitor only has a VGA and DVI slot, you'll need an active DP converter. The "Active" converts the DP signal to either DVI or VGA, this is because the DVI and VGA ports ont the monitor are analog signals (?), while DP is digital. The only DP -> HDMI available are passive, and my guess is that HDMI and DP are both digital so it just needs match up the correct connectors. Again, this is my guess.

I have 2 monitors with VGA/DVI plugs, and a 3rd monitor with VGA/DVI+2xHDMI.

I should be able to connect the first two to the DVI slots, and get a passive DP -> HDMI plug for Eyefinity.

At least I hope so, when my new 5870 arrives on Monday.

Message edited by Zirbmonkey on 10-01-2009 at 03:27:17 PM

Keep us updated on how that works out.

Reply to jennyh

Best answer

I've done more research, and it looks like I'll be needing to buy an active converter. The reason seems to be around TMDS, which is the signal coding used to translate data to a monitor.

TMDS is the code standard for DVI and HDMI signals. Display port uses an entirely different standard, and thus has it's own coding chip. The signal over DP is not compatible with either DVI or HDMI. The 5800 cards only contain 2 TMDS coding chips, and one DisplayPort chip.

Since there's only 2 TMDS chips, the 3rd signal has to be a DisplayPort Signal, since that the only signal left to send. If you want to use three monitors, you need to send signals through all through all 3 coding chips => 2x TMDS +DP

So if you only have 2 DVI/HDMI monitors hooked up, whatever ports are being used will utilize those TMDS circuits to send signals to your monitors. If you only use one DVI plug and route a DP signal through a cheap passive DVI/HDMI plug, the card will look to teh reciving monitor and handshake TMDS through the DisplayPort plug.

But to transmit to 3 monitors you need to transmit through both TMDS signals, and the 3rd DisplayPort signal. The TMDS chips don't care what port they send a signal through, however teh DisplayPort signal can only be sent over the DisplayPort plug.

If you have a 3rd monitor without a DP plug, the monitor will not be able to understand a DP signal. That's why you need an active converter that transcodes the DP signal into TMDS. Once the DP signal is actively converted into TMDS and sent through DVI or HDMI, the monitor will then understand it.

...

Looks like Eyefinity has a $100 tax if you don't buy new DisplayPort standard monitor.

Yuck! I was afraid it might be something like that!

I think I might just do 2 5850's in Crossfire instead. I wanted to do Crossfire either way and the $100 premium to run 3 monitors on a single card makes it a lot less attractive.

Reply to blotkis

You should be able to buy a displayport lcd a bit cheaper than $100 hopefully.

It's a bit of a pain for people who already had the 3 lcd's I suppose, but with a little luck we should start to see more, cheaper native display port lcd's soon.

------------------------------ AMD to make $1.5bn profit Q4, *gauranteed*
Reply to jennyh

The 5850's couldn't be crossfire, you can only use one cards outputs in xfire.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Netherwind

Ionno why they use display port instead of adding another HDMI or DVI, display port isn't compatible with DVI signal like hdmi is so there is probably an expensive adapter.

I don't really get the goal of display port it seems more like a competitor to hdmi expect one is targeted at monitor and the other at TV's. Which i find odd as DVI is compatible with HDMI you'd think it be the other way around.

We don't need 3 different types of interface 1 type for the tv 1 type for the monitor is all we need transition is a bitch i guess even if display port is the new standard for monitors?Some monitors with like Composite/hdmi/dvi/rgb/displayport all on that monitor oh that poor thing.

I'm pretty sure mutli monitor set up for xfire and sli has been solved for nearly a year now netherwind.

Reply to IzzyCraft

You need an active adapter for both DP and HDMI if the resolution is above 1920x1080 (so don't use it to drive the 1920x1200 monitor for either), but for DP to work (passively) the card must be able to pass the TMDS signal through the DP connection, I'm still not sure if this is possible with the HD5K as review have said both essentially just parroting those launch slides without comprehension, I haven't seen anyone test it though.

So near term I would say drive 2 (including the 1920x1200 monitor) off of the DVI, and drive the third monitor off of the passive HDMI to DVI adapter which is sufficient for the 3rd monitor (and can support high resolutions through its faster TMDS in the HDMI, but it is not dual-link HDMI just fast single-link) but not higher resolution or colour depth without an active adapter.

Message edited by TheGreatGrapeApe on 10-05-2009 at 09:22:43 AM

Reply to TheGreatGrapeApe

Netherwind wrote :

The 5850's couldn't be crossfire, you can only use one cards outputs in xfire.

Can someone please elaborate on this? I'm not sure I follow.

Reply to blotkis

Both my 5780 and Active DP->DVI converter arrive tomorrow. Sadly, that's also my training day, so I'm at two gyms before I get home for the day. I won't have time to install until Wednesday... but I'll probably just be up all night tomorrow playing with it anyhow.

I promise to give a full detail of all the quirks I find with eyefinity once it's running. But until then, here's all the details I've found so far:

*If you have 2 cards in crossfire, Eyefinity doesn't work. This is a driver issue. It's the same driver issue that prevents any Geforce cards from using 2 monitors while in SLI if you have an Nvidia card. So really, it's par for the course for everyone.
*The cards out currently only support 3 monitors, max. Yes, there are 4 display output ports. But there's only 3 signal chips in the hardware. ATI plans on releasing an Eyefinity edition with 6x mini-DisplayPort outputs, with all the signal chips to use all 6 ports at the same time. This means the cards you currently buy will always be limited to 3 monitors, because it's the hardware limitation.
*Buying a Second Card will never never allow you to use more than 3 monitors. Crossfire works by offloading the processor demand between 2 chips on two separate cards. CrossFire doesn't even use the ram of the second card. The final calculation result is piped through the primary card, while the secondary card is just there as a co-processor. So the only output you'll get from Crossfire will be restricted to the outputs available on the primary card.
*The display output chips on the available 5800 cards are currently 2xTMDS + 1xDP. TDMS is the signal used by either HDMI or DVI. DP is the signal used by DisplayPort. DisplayPort doesn't NOT understand a TDMS signal, and DVI/HDMI do NOT understand a DP signal. This is why DisplayPort has to be one of the outputs for 3 monitor Eyefinity to work, because the 3rd chip is only a DP output. It's also the reason why you need an active converter if you only have 3 DVI/HDMI monitors. The 3rd signal sent out has to be DP, and you need an special extra chip to translate the DP signal over to DVI/HDMI on the 3rd receiving monitor.
*Why DisplayPort? Wikipedia has a list of reasons. First, it's an open standard that does not charge royalties to use. So it's cheaper to make the chips, plugs, cords, and anything else needed to send the signal form the card to the monitor. After that, there's a lot of room to grow bandwidth with later versions. Especially with Fiber Optic options of the future. It's sort of Firewire vs USB, VHS vs Betamax, BluRay vs HDDVD. They both do the same thing, but it's up to who adopts and uses it who becomes the new standard. That's the cut throat nature of industry. Time will tell if DisplayPort catches on as the new standard. Right now, it seems like an annoyance, especially when I had to pay and extra $100 to make the port work with my 3rd monitor.

Message quoted 2 times

Zirbmonkey wrote :

*Buying a Second Card will never never allow you to use more than 3 monitors. Crossfire works by offloading the processor demand between 2 chips on two separate cards. CrossFire doesn't even use the ram of the second card. The final calculation result is piped through the primary card, while the secondary card is just there as a co-processor. So the only output you'll get from Crossfire will be restricted to the outputs available on the primary card.

Thanks for taking the time to write that up. It was extremely helpful.

I just want to make sure I understand the quote above though. Let's say I have 2 5850's with 2 - 24" monitors at 1920x1080 plugged into one card and 1 - 24" at 1920x1200 plugged into the other. If I want to utilize Crossfire's advantages only on my main gaming screen (1920x1200) will it work? I'm assuming i'd have to disable the other two monitors w/ ATI's software but I'm fine with that if I get the benefits of Crossfire on my main screen. Am I understanding how it works correctly?

Reply to blotkis

Crossfire initializes on boot of the OS. So you can't just toggle Xfire by clicking it on and off.

Right now, if you have Crossfire enabled, the only monitor that will show up will be the primary output on your primary card. Only one monitor has the ability to work at all... until they patch it

Later on they plan to patch the drivers to allow multi display support while in Xfire. But Xfire only outputs through the primary card. So the 1920x1200 monitor you have plugged into the second card will never be used while in Xfire setup. You'd need to hook that monitor into the primary card to get any signal to it.

If you want to use all three monitors, the signals all come out of the first card. The second card is there to off-load processing tasks, and the result is sent back to the primary card.

The other two monitors wouldn't even get sent a signal. You'd have to choose which monitor you want to get a signal to, and the other two would be blank.

Wow, I never knew that Zirb. I thought that Crossfire does not currently work for Eyefinity, but will work if I plan on gaming on 1 screen. I guess I was way off.

Reply to blotkis

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 422-8.html

"Originally I had planned for that to be a three-column chart; when I saw S.T.A.L.K.E.R. at 28 frames and Grand Theft Auto IV at 29 frames, my first thought was: now here’s a reason to buy two Radeon HD 5870s. But CrossFire doesn’t yet work. ATI’s driver team is looking at the issue, it says, but there is no ETA on when a pair of 5870s might be used to bolster performance further. Criticism number two: no CrossFire? Really?"

So right now you can only have 1 monitor working while in Xfire.
Once they patch it, you'd be able to use 3 monitors in crossfire coming from your primary 5850. But the only way you'd ever be able to connect 6 monitors is using the special Eyefinity Edition 6x DP card.

I'd never use 6 monitors, so 3 is fine with me.

Ok ok, so I am ordering a 5850 today and plan on buying a couple smaller rotating monitors for the sides. All I need to do is make sure that they support "display port" correct?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to CptTripps

CptTripps wrote :

Ok ok, so I am ordering a 5850 today and plan on buying a couple smaller rotating monitors for the sides. All I need to do is make sure that they support "display port" correct?

All the monitors with DisplayPort also accept DVI. So if you grab two of those you'll have no problem at all. Everything will work out.

But if you go the "cheaper route" and grab 2x sub $200 monitors with the standard DVI/HDMI connects, you'll need to add a $100 active converter to your order.

Any update on your setup Zirb?

Reply to blotkis

So here's what I have:
i7 920 @3.3GHz
6BG OCZ Platinum

I picked up a Sapphire HD5870 off Newegg. I also got an Active DisplayPort to DVI converter from Dell.

DVI 1 = Samsung 2343 (2048x1152)
DVI 2 = Samsung 2343 (2048x1152)
DP -> DVI = Samsung 2333HD (1920x1080)

So I got my card Tuesday night, and was up late just trying to get the drivers to work.

I uninstalled all the nvidia drivers, and switched out the cards. My old EVGA 8800GTX went out, and the new Sapphire 5870 hotness went in. Unfortunately the ATI drivers didn't play nice with Windows 7. It kept booting to a blank screen where the welcome screen should be. After un/reinstalling the ATI drivers in safe mode, I just hooked all 3 monitors up at the same time. This time, the welcome screen booted to the monitor hooked up to the DisplayPort... not the DVI monitor the initial boot showed up on.

After messing with display controls, I got extended mode up and showing the right order of the monitors. I created an eyefinity group, but the resolution on the first 2 monitors got shrunk to 1080p as well. I guess when you group a set of monitors in landscape, it uses the max output on the smallest resolution on the other monitors.

I've gotten WoW, Crysis and NFS Shift up and running in eyefinity mode, and it's really impressive. I'll get into the quirks tomorrow, need to get other things done tonight.

Message edited by Zirbmonkey on 10-09-2009 at 05:18:49 AM

so you were not able to get the native resolution on 2048x1152 via the DP -> DVI? got a link for the adapter you got?

Reply to allimsayin

The 3rd monitor (2333HD) that has the DP converter only supports 1080p. That's the native max resolution on the screen. But DP can go up to 1600p if I had such a monitor (I do not).

Adapter Link: Dell item 330-5521
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] u=330-5521

If you hunt the web, you can find coupon codes. I got mine discounted to $75, but after 3-day shipping it still ended up being $95. The code I used expired last Monday, so it wouldn't help you.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Zirbmonkey on 10-09-2009 at 11:23:19 PM

i have three of those 2343bwx monitors. so im trying to figure out how to hook up the 3rd one. i have read a few places that the DP to DVI wont support the 2048x1152. but i dont know whats right or wrong. im putting together a new windows 7 box, and im trying to decide to get two 4800's or one 5800. i would prefer the single card for sure, but will i be able to get that native resolution from the single adapter on all three

Reply to allimsayin

Zirbmonkey wrote :

The 3rd monitor (2333HD) that has the DP converter only supports 1080p. That's the native max resolution on the screen. But DP can go up to 1600p if I had such a monitor (I do not).

Adapter Link: Dell item 330-5521
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] u=330-5521

If you hunt the web, you can find coupon codes. I got mine discounted to $75, but after 3-day shipping it still ended up being $95. The code I used expired last Monday, so it wouldn't help you.

will you hook the displayport with the adapter into your 2343 and see if it will pull off 2048x1152 ?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to allimsayin

allimsayin wrote :

will you hook the displayport with the adapter into your 2343 and see if it will pull off 2048x1152 ?

Works just fine.

your a hero. adapter and card ordered!

Reply to allimsayin

Zirbmonkey wrote :

*If you have 2 cards in crossfire, Eyefinity doesn't work. This is a driver issue. It's the same driver issue that prevents any Geforce cards from using 2 monitors while in SLI if you have an Nvidia card. So really, it's par for the course for everyone.
*The cards out currently only support 3 monitors, max. Yes, there are 4 display output ports. But there's only 3 signal chips in the hardware. ATI plans on releasing an Eyefinity edition with 6x mini-DisplayPort outputs, with all the signal chips to use all 6 ports at the same time. This means the cards you currently buy will always be limited to 3 monitors, because it's the hardware limitation.
*Buying a Second Card will never never allow you to use more than 3 monitors. Crossfire works by offloading the processor demand between 2 chips on two separate cards. CrossFire doesn't even use the ram of the second card. The final calculation result is piped through the primary card, while the secondary card is just there as a co-processor. So the only output you'll get from Crossfire will be restricted to the outputs available on the primary card.
*The display output chips on the available 5800 cards are currently 2xTMDS + 1xDP. TDMS is the signal used by either HDMI or DVI. DP is the signal used by DisplayPort. DisplayPort doesn't NOT understand a TDMS signal, and DVI/HDMI do NOT understand a DP signal. This is why DisplayPort has to be one of the outputs for 3 monitor Eyefinity to work, because the 3rd chip is only a DP output. It's also the reason why you need an active converter if you only have 3 DVI/HDMI monitors. The 3rd signal sent out has to be DP, and you need an special extra chip to translate the DP signal over to DVI/HDMI on the 3rd receiving monitor.
*Why DisplayPort? Wikipedia has a list of reasons. First, it's an open standard that does not charge royalties to use. So it's cheaper to make the chips, plugs, cords, and anything else needed to send the signal form the card to the monitor. After that, there's a lot of room to grow bandwidth with later versions. Especially with Fiber Optic options of the future. It's sort of Firewire vs USB, VHS vs Betamax, BluRay vs HDDVD. They both do the same thing, but it's up to who adopts and uses it who becomes the new standard. That's the cut throat nature of industry. Time will tell if DisplayPort catches on as the new standard. Right now, it seems like an annoyance, especially when I had to pay and extra $100 to make the port work with my 3rd monitor.

I think you are talking about SLI there, i have had a crossfire setup a long time and used 2 monitors with no problem, the other card's two connectors are also available for use though i have never personally tested 4 screens. Eyefinity would definitely not work.

You can also turn crossfire on and off via a button in catalyst control center. You don't need to restart your computer, Unlike what you describe, which sounds very familiar to nvidia SLI setup.

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