How do you connect 3 monitors on one Computer

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kouasupra

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Hi guys. I thought I ask the experts in here. I'm currently running a old ATI 4850 with just 2 DVI port in the rear. I do just photo editing and watch movie, music, and misc stuff. No gamer at all here. Here's my question.

How do you connet 3 monitors to one PC computer?

I have a 2 x 27" monitor and the 3rd one is a Wacom Cintiq.

My rig

i7 bloomfield
Asus P6T
12GB RAM
ATI XFX 4850

Do I need a adapter? Run 2 same graphic cards? (if so what's a good one for CS6 or photoshop). Thanks!
 
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Sunius

Sunius

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To display on more than two monitors at a time, you'd need either a card that can supports two monitors, or a second card. The latter option in your case would be a better one if you are happy with your current PC performance. You motherboard has three PCI express slots, which means that it can support up to three graphics cards.

My suggestion is getting the cheapest card you can get - as it will only be used for video output and not playing computer games:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131339

Also, if you're gonna get something else, make sure to get an AMD (it bought ATI a few years ago) card. Nvidia and AMD card in one system could cause driver problems.
 
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K

kouasupra

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Maestro - I just saw the price on the 3 DVI port that AMD has on newegg. Yikes!!! I don't have money $1000+ to blow on one. I think 2 GPU is probably going to be cheaper for me.

BTW, I also want to upgrade my ATI 4850 GPU to something newer.

Can't I just buy a "Y" adapter for it? Will that work? Something like this?

http://www.google.com/shopping/product/11189185854330531595?q=dual%20dvi%20cable&hl=en&sqi=2&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=975929cab25e73ff&bpcl=38093640&biw=1920&bih=963&tch=3&ech=1&psi=dmyhUI24C4_LiQLepoDoDw.1352756374598.1&wrapid=tlif135275637459810&sa=X&ei=nWyhUMmjHsntiQKv04GgBw&ved=0CJ0BEPICMAQ
 
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kouasupra

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The first one you mention. Will that support 3 monitors? Or will I need to buy 2 of them? I only see 2 DVI port. Also that's a 3.0 x 16. My motherboard only support 2.0 x 16 will it work?
 
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MotherFerJones

MotherFerJones

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If your dead set on spending that much go with a 7870 or even a 7950 if the price keeps falling.

You could probably get by with one 7770 for all three of your monitors if your not gaming on them. 7770's are right around 100 buck now-a-days. Sorry, i dont have time to post links but searches on Newegg of 7770 and 7850 will show you what im talking about.
 
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kouasupra

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Schlect - Would I just plug in the HDMI to one of the monitor or do I need an adapter convert for the HDMI on that card.

Mother - 2 x DVI, 2 x HDMI? Does that mean I can connect 4 monitor as well?
 
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Schlect

Schlect

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Yeah, you would have an HDMI cord going from 1 monitor to the card, and 1 DVI cord for each of the other monitors. Most monitors have an HDMI cord slot, but check just in case.
 
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Sunius

Sunius

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I still don't understand why you'd want anything more than a cheap HD 5450. The GTX 560 Ti supports 2 monitors at most.

Also, I wouldn't advice getting a single card for that purpose: AMD 7 series to support 3 monitors need an active display port adapter, without which it will just not work.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Most older display cards will support two monitors at the same time.
Even if they have three outputs, you can only attach two at a time.

Some newer cards support three with some attachment caveats, but they tend to be top of the line cards...expensive.

A second video card is the best choice.
It need not be expensive.
Since you use photoshop, you might want to make that card a Nvidia card which also has a CUDA capability that helps photoshop performance.

Waay back, you could install only one graphics driver, so both cards had to be supported by the same driver.
That is no longer true with windows 7.
 
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K

kouasupra

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What is the difference between the one you show me and the one I want? I noticed that they both support 2560 x 1600, but the $104 gpu has a casing on it. Is the speed faster?

Also the link you provided. Is that faster or better then my ATI 4850?
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Any discrete graphics card will display static images well, and will display movies well.
The GT610 card will do that job about as well as any. For gaming, the 4850 will be better, but not so much better that it would be considered a good gaming card.
Once you get past a $30 card, you start to get into the realm of gaming, where fast actions have to be displayed quickly.
Such cards increase in gaming capability, and also in cost. Perhaps up to $1000.

I would add just a single Nvidia GT610 so you can attach a third monitor.
The reason for adding a Nvidia card and not a AMD card would be so that you can use CUDA capabilities for photoshop.
If that is not a compelling reason, then any AMD card with the required number of ports supporting the 2560 x 1440 displays would be fine.
 
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