Having a tough time setting up 3-27 inch monitors in SLI

[seanny]

I have 3 Acer 27 inch monitors.1 of them is 3d(the middle one)the other 2 are non 3d(the right and the left ones).The only way I can activate 3 monitors to run simultaneously is if I disable SLI.When I try to run SLI only 2 monitors are allowed to run together.I also try the 'Span Displays with Surround'.When I hit configure,it shows me the correct way to have the cables hooked to the cards.Then I hit 'apply' and all my screens go crazy.The come back on for like a second then go out again.I didn't have this problem when I set up my other system which consiss of 3 GTX 480s in SLI and 3-23 inch Asus 3d monitors in Nvidia Surround.Do I need to get 2 better cards?

 

[seanny]

I am using the cables that came with the monitors....they are not regular VGA cables..the normal VGA cables have 24 prongs on the connectors....these have 18...I don't know if this will help being as though the problem still exists with the SLI issue..

 

[bystander]

You didn't mention what your cards are.

 

[seanny]

2 Sparkle GTS 450's (the fanless ones) I also downloaded the latest drivers too....

 

[11796pcs]

I'm sure this doesn't apply, but Surround doesn't support any screens larger than 2560x1600 and the maximum number of screens is 3.

 

[seanny]

I'm sure this doesn't apply, but Surround doesn't support any screens larger than 2560x1600 and the maximum number of screens is 3.

mine are 1920X1080

 

[11796pcs]

Hey I figured it out (at least I hope so). Simple answer- your cards don't support Surround.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/3dv-system-requirements-surround-technology.html

Only the cards on the page support Surround and 450s don't apply. You need a 260, 275, 280, 285, 295, 460, 465, 470, 480, 560, 560 Ti, 570, 580, or 590. Or in simple terms all the expensive cards. Hate to say it- but you should have gone Eyefinity on this one.

 

[seanny]

Hey I figured it out (at least I hope so). Simple answer- your cards don't support Surround.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/3dv-system-requirements-surround-technology.html

Only the cards on the page support Surround and 450s don't apply. You need a 260, 275, 280, 285, 295, 460, 465, 470, 480, 560, 560 Ti, 570, 580, or 590. Or in simple terms all the expensive cards. Hate to say it- but you should have gone Eyefinity on this one.

Darn..that suxx donkey nuggets....but I wanted to upgrade but will have to wait a few weeks bought tickets to go see Megadeth at the Mayhem tour in Camden,New Jersey and then bought tickets to go see the BIG4 in Yankees Stadium....I really am glad you got back with this reply...I can still play 3d content on my middle monitor until I get money for an upgrade.....AGAIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH...YOU PRETTY MUCH SAVED THE DAY FOR ME!!!

 

[seanny]

Best answer selected by seanny.

 

[ko888]

Why don't you check some of the GTS 450 reviews where they have actually tested two GTS 450 in 2-way SLI running NV Surround on three displays?

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/09/14/nvidia_geforce_gts_450_sli_video_card_review/7

Or this HardwareHeaven Youtube video showing Mafia II playing in NVIDIA Surround gaming with two GeForce GTS 450's in SLI at 5760x1080 Resolution across three 1920x1080 displays.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&sqi=2&ved=0CDAQtwIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DekLCfLlIHU0&rct=j&q=GeForce%20GTS%20450%20nv%20surround&ei=FO4HTqryF8ShtweAtdTXCA&usg=AFQjCNH2tW0NzbZludVB1nTEgsG8wLfimw&cad=rja

 

[11796pcs]

Whenever I would dig around nVIDIAs website I would get linked to the same page for system requirements as I posted before. It looks like nVIDIA only wants you to use Surround with the GTX cards, but maybe there is hope for your GTS 450s. In both of the links ko888 provides the reviewers were using the ForceWare 260.52 drivers (in one case they were using the beta version). If you go to nVIDIAs website you can't get this driver- they want you to download 275-something. Your best bet is to see if the 260.52 drivers work for you:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?258824-GeForce-Forceware-260.52
Note that it will only work with Vista and 7, also the link provided only includes 64-bit. Also I would try the "perform clean install" option when installing the driver that someone else suggests in that forum.
For some reason it seems like nVIDIA doesn't like people using this driver- maybe they released it with Surround for GTS 450s then thought they should resrict that ability to higher end graphics cards so that people don't go whining to them when they're getting 10 FPS.

Anyway if all of this fails I would try just a fresh install of Windows.

Good Luck!

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey