Which Radeon card for 4 displays? 2 DVI, 1 DP, 1 HDMI

[scottkeen]

I have the following 4 monitors:

#1 - Dell 2408WFP - 24" Widescreen (DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, VGA)
#2 - Dell 2001FP - 20" 4:3 ratio (DVI, VGA)
#3 - Dell 2001FP - 20" 4:3 ratio (DVI, VGA)
#4 - Panasonic 720p HDTV - 32" Widescreen (HDMI, VGA)

My computer is a Dell XPS 420 running Windows Vista Ultimate.

I would like a graphics card that can do the following profiles:

Profile A - Extend the desktop across #1, #2, and #3, with #1 as the primary. Mirror #1 on #4. I'm guessing that either #1 or #4 would have to scale to match the other. Preferably, #1 maintains it's native 1920 x 1200 resolution.

Profile B - Extend the desktop across all monitors #1-4, with #1 as the primary.


I'm not using this for gaming. This is my software development computer which I would use under profile B, and when a client comes in and I have to do a demo I'd like to switch to profile A so the client can watch the demo on #4.


Which graphics card can do this, if such a thing exists? Which connectors would be used?

 

[bobby43]

Radeon 6950. Just powerfull enough for now and the future. Even if you not gaming it still support it very well for casual use.

Profiles works perfectly for me except if I switch for a single monitor profile to eyefinity. I found out that switching from single monitor profile to 3 monitor profile works very well, then switch to eyefinity if needed.

Price is ok, card is old enough for stability, had zero issue for work tasks even when gaming. Power consumption and temperature are very well too.

Hope it helps,

 

[scottkeen]

Thanks. I'd like one that will not break the bank and will also work with my existing power supply in the Dell XPS 420 (I think it's 375 Watts)

Will the Radeon 6850 work for my purposes, or do I really need to go with the 6950?

Is that profile A going to work for sure, where I'm mirroring what's on monitor #1 (1920x1200) onto monitor #4 (720p HDTV)? How does it handle the 2 different resolutions when mirroring?


I'll go with a 6950 if it's the minimum card which will do what I want.

 

[scottkeen]

Bump.

Still wanting to hear if the 6850 will work for what I want to do:

4 displays simultaneously using (2) DVI + (1) DisplayPort + (1) HDMI

The reason I'm still asking about this and want confirmation about the 6950, is because I tried a Sapphire 6790 that's in our church computer and even though it has 4 ports (2 DVI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI), it would only allow 3 monitors at a time. The moment we plugged in a monitor to the HDMI port, it shut-off one of the DVI ports.

I need to use all 4 ports simultaneously, if possible. Which is the minimum card that will do this for sure? Will the 6850?

 

[xllsargellx]

You will need a card that has 2 display ports at least 1 DVI and an HDMI port. The reason is that you can not use both DVI ports and the HDMI port. You can use the 2 DVI ports and the display port with an active adaptor (if your monitor does not have a native display port input). The card I have running 4 monitors (1 DVI, 1 HDMI, 2 mDP using active adaptors) is the 7950 unfortunately its kinda pricey think 400 range. When I get home I can do some looking and post results unless someone gets to it sooner.

 

[scottkeen]

Looks like I'm going to answer part of my own question...

First, the 6950 will NOT natively do what I want. I would have to get a card which had at a minimum (2) DisplayPorts, (1) DVI, (1) HDMI and use a DisplayPort-to-DVI converter.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/328333-33-6950-displays#t2444907

I'm wondering if the 6850 is the same way, as I would prefer to buy a less expensive card. If it is, which 6850 has that port configuration above?

 

[scottkeen]

You will need a card that has 2 display ports at least 1 DVI and an HDMI port. The reason is that you can not use both DVI ports and the HDMI port. You can use the 2 DVI ports and the display port with an active adaptor (if your monitor does not have a native display port input). The card I have running 4 monitors (1 DVI, 1 HDMI, 2 mDP using active adaptors) is the 7950 unfortunately its kinda pricey think 400 range. When I get home I can do some looking and post results unless someone gets to it sooner.

Thanks! Just posted the same thing myself about using mDP-to-DVI adapters, after doing some digging around.

In addition to the 7950 which you have, the 6950 apparently will do this too. I'm hoping I can find out that the 6850 which is cheaper can do this as well.

If the 6850 can do it, which brand and model 6850 has the port configuration I'm looking for?

EDIT: So far, the only 6850 I've found with 2+ DisplayPorts, DVI, and HDMI is the XFX HD-685X-ZCFC. Is there any others? I also need to find out if the 6850 can do 4 monitors simultaneously using a mDP-to-DVI adapter on one of the mDPs.

 

[xllsargellx]

What is your price range? Look at thus one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C31F2M?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=at055-20 just not sure about your current power supply

 

[airbud7]

Thanks. I'd like one that will not break the bank and will also work with my existing power supply in the Dell XPS 420 (I think it's 375 Watts)
.

Scott, You will need to upgrade your PS

 

[airbud7]

I'd like one that will not break the bank and will also work with my existing power supply in the Dell XPS 420 (I think it's 375 Watts)
.

You may get buy with a HD 7750...(Up to 6 displays supported with DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport)...Otherwise...Upgrade Power Supply....

 

[scottkeen]

What is your price range? Look at thus one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C31F2M?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=at055-20 just not sure about your current power supply

Oh, thanks. Didn't see that one. After rebates, they are both only $6 apart. I assume the 6870 is a much better card for $6 more?

 

[scottkeen]

(snip) just not sure about your current power supply

Scott, You will need to upgrade your PS

Thanks guys. Yes, I'm finding that out. Looks like I need a 500W at the minimum. Hate to keep asking for recommendations, but any recommendations on a brand/model PSU?

I'm looking at this 550W PSU by CoolerMaster for $50. Any good? Has 4.1 / 5 stars
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-eXtreme-Series-RS500-PCARD3-US/dp/B001G0WPLK/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1336776836&sr=1-2

 

[xllsargellx]

I have not heard anything bad about those. I think you would be fine with it.

 

[scottkeen]

Just ordered the XFX 6870 video card and a Corsair CX500 power supply.

Also ordered a
* mDP-to-DVI active adapter to attach my 2nd DVI monitor,
* mDP-to-DisplayPort cable adapter (my monitor with DisplayPort has the larger port, not mini),
* HDMI-to-CAT6-to-HDMI extender to attach to the HDTV across the room using CAT6

Supposedly, this should all work so that I can use all 4 displays simultaneously.

Whether I can setup a profile that will extend the desktop across monitors #1-#3, and mirror the display on #1 onto #4, is just a "nice to have" if it's possible especially since monitor #1 is a 1920x1200 LCD monitor and #4 is a 720p HDTV.