3 Monitor Setup Help

[ilikegirls]

Hello,

So I am trying to help my brother with setting up his three monitors on his 5870. We have two DVI's and one DisplayPort -> DVI and thats the current setup.
Yet for some reason, windows will not allow all 3 to work at one. If I want monitor 1 and monitor 2 thats fine but it wont allow monitor 3 to be added and if I want it to be added I need to disable one of the other two (monitors 1 or 2).

I have a feeling it might be the display port but I am not really sure how to check this. I also went into CCC and when I want to make a group for EF, it only allows me to do a 2 monitor setup.

If you could help me with this I would be very grateful!

Thanks again,
Eli

 

[devBunny]

What graphics card are you using? If it's a single card then it may be one that can only manage two monitors but gives you a choice of connections, ie. either (DVI + DVI) or (DVI + DP) but not (DVI + DVI + DP).

 

[devBunny]

Doh! Forget that, I overlooked see the mention of 5870! ;o)

 

[jfreggie]

Is the DP to DVI an active adapter?

 

[ilikegirls]

Thats my problem! I have no idea how to check... I sorta got one from school I think lol
i know it works great to have a dual monitor setup but it seems like something is problematic when I try 3

 

[jfreggie]

If your system will work with just the DVI and the DPtoDVI adapter - its likely you have a passive adapter.
An active adapter is like $30-35 - something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B087B-005B-DisplayPort-Single-Link-Certified/dp/B004071ZX0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334091451&sr=8-1

hope it helps...

 

[ilikegirls]

Yeah it does thank you!

I found a little number on the adapter and it seems like this is the adapter I have
http://www.nextag.com/Dell-Genuine-Displayport-To-873409819/prices-html

I think its passive... but what does that mean?

 

[jfreggie]

As far as ive seen passive adapters don't do some kind of encoding or conversion to the signal - where as the active adapters do. So looks like you just need to find an active adapter like i linked earlier and should be good to go.

 

[ilikegirls]

Sounds good thank you very much!

 

[ilikegirls]

Best answer selected by ilikegirls.