Hardware for running three HD Displays

[daziguy]

Hello,

I need to run three LCD/LED menu boards for a restaurant in HD 1080p. What hardware will I need to get the job done. I am assuming a moderately fast computer with three GPUs capable of HDMI output. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[tsnor]

Hi, essentially anymodern video card from nvidia or AMD will drive three displays. The trick will be finding a card with three HDMI/DVI outputs (rather than two HDMI/DVI and one display port).

Here is one possibility. 4 DVI output (2 discreet displays split to 4). http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162083

Use DVI to HDMI cables. (DVI is the same as HDMI except DVI does nto carry sound. The cables just put the connectors on each end. I use a DVI to HDMI cable to connect a PC to a 50" plasma. Works well.) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812270113

I'd drive the video card from whatever small server is lurking in your basement that has a PCIe x16 full size slot. The card above take essentially no power, so pwoer supply size is not an issue. If you need to buy a new PC a minimal one like this one shoudl work (make sure it can take a full size PCIe card): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108704

 

[austing]

Hello,

I need to run three LCD/LED menu boards for a restaurant in HD 1080p. What hardware will I need to get the job done. I am assuming a moderately fast computer with three GPUs capable of HDMI output. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

If you have a motherboard capable of three way SLI, grab 3 GTS 450's off of Ebay for 80$ each.

If you can only do 2 way SLI, grab 2 GTX 550TI's and run 2 monitors off of a splitter from the second one.

 

[tsnor]

If you have a motherboard capable of three way SLI, grab 3 GTS 450's off of Ebay for 80$ each.


He's running a sign. One low power 4-DVI card is $89.99. Two of any two DVI output would work also, but the MB cost goes up to get SLI or crossfire. Not sure why'd you'd spend $250 to $300 for three GTS450s to run a sign plus the money for a MB with three PCIe long slots, but you could.

 

[daziguy]

Best answer selected by daziguy.

 

[fire r a g e]

For AMD, you need an active dual link DVI to DisplayPort adapter to run one of the three screens.