how to get my AMD Radeon HD 7870 2048MB Video Card to display on 3 monitors

khor234

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May 9, 2013
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Hello all,

This is my first time asking a question here, so please excuse any mistakes.

Almost a year ago I built my first pc.
Specs:

cpu: Core i7 2700K 3.5GHz LGA 1155 (http://www.microcenter.com/product/376491/Core_i7_2700K_35GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor)

motherboard: P8Z68 DELUXE/GEN3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/378090/P8Z68_DELUXE-GEN3_LGA_1155_Z68_ATX_Intel_Motherboard)

case: Obsidian Series 650D Mid Tower ATX Computer Case
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/361647/Obsidian_Series_650D_Mid_Tower_ATX_Computer_Case)

ram: Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop RAM Kit (Two 4GB Memory Modules)
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/366817/Vengeance_8GB_DDR3-1600_(PC3-12800)_CL9_Dual_Channel_Desktop_RAM_Kit_(Two_4GB_Memory_Modules))

graphics card: HD7870-DC2-2GD5 AMD Radeon HD 7870 2048MB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 Video Card
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/388493/HD7870-DC2-2GD5_AMD_Radeon_HD_7870_2048MB_GDDR5_PCIe_30_x16_Video_Card)

HDD: Barracuda 1TB 7,200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ST3100005N1A1AS
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/334293/Barracuda_1TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_60Gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_ST3100005N1A1AS)

DVD drive: 22X DVDRW Burner with Dual Layer Support - OEM
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/382892/22X_DVD%C2%B1RW_Burner_with_Dual_Layer_Support_-_OEM)

power supply: ModXStream Pro 600W Modular ATX Power Supply
(http://www.microcenter.com/product/301547/ModXStream_Pro_600W_Modular_ATX_Power_Supply)

Since this past christmas I've been running three monitors. Two directly connected into the graphics card, another connected into the computer by an eclipse UV150 external graphics card. Now, however, that I am trying to connect my 3rd monitor directly into the graphics card, I get an error that says something like "the card isn't capable of supporting another monitor". Microcenter says that the card is capable of supporting 6 monitors, and I only have 2 plugged in right now, and I have had 3 running in the past. I switched the 3rd monitor off of the external graphics card because their was a noticeable delay which made that monitor annoying and fairly difficult to use. When I went to the AMD website, they directed me to using a "dongle".

My question is: Can I get my graphics card to display on 3 screens, without the use of an external graphics card? Also, what is a dongle.

Thanks in advance.
 

Spaniard United

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Nov 17, 2012
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815309008

You need an active adapter, aka dongle, to convert the mini displayport signal to DVI or VGA. You can then hook up and activate the 3rd monitor. 2 monitors is the maximum that card can handle before it has to use the displayports. If your monitor can a displayport connection on it, then an adapter is not needed and you can plug your cable directly from the displayport on your card to the displayport on your monitor, otherwise you need the adapter.
 

khor234

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May 9, 2013
3
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10,510


Thanks, but I'm still a little confused. One monitor is connected into the HDMI, another is connected into the DVI, and the last is connected, via adapter, into the DisplayPort
 

khor234

Honorable
May 9, 2013
3
0
10,510


Thanks for your help. :)