3 Displays 2 Monitor 1 HDTV

[Iglesias]

I currently have 2 monitors set up and they're connected to my 6970.

When I try to connect my TV (HDMI) to my card, it takes away one of my monitors or doesn't work.

How can I make it where all 3 would work?

1 extends to monitor 2 then extends to my TV.

 

[Iglesias]

Go into "Display Settings"
It should list 3 monitors.
Can you manually enable all 3 of them?
If not...
* When all 3 monitors are connected, which ones work (which ones can you enable) and which one can you not enable?

* What ports are each monitor connected and what type of cable does each use?
* What is the exact model and brand video card that you have?
* Are you using any type of video cable splitters?

No it doesn't list all 3 monitors, it only lists my primary one.
I am use DVI for the 2 monitors and a HDMI for the TV
Sapphire ATI Radeon 6970
No I am not using any splitters

 

[Iglesias]

1. It should list at least two of the monitors. Just to be sure:
* Right click on the desktop and select "Personalize"
* Click on "Display Settings"
* It should look like this, where you see a 1 and a 2: http://ims.fas.harvard.edu/images/training/pcresolution.jpg
Do you still only see just the #1 a not a #2?

2. Connect only 1 of each monitor at a time. Can you get each one to work by itself on the same port and cable you use when all 3 are connected?

3. The product page for your video card says that you cannot have 3 monitors unless one of them uses displayport, so... you need to buy a displayport cable, and then connect the monitors in this way:

TV - HDMI to HDMI (using HDMI cable)
Monitor 1: DVI to DVI (using the DVI-D cable; do NOT use the DVI-I cable)
Monitor 2: Displayport to DVI?

Here's the important part? Do you have a Displayport plug on either monitor?
If so, get a regular Displayport cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024601
If you do not have a Displayport cable, then get a Displayport to DVI cable (although I'm not 100% sure that will work with the video card's special requirement that one monitor use Displayport):
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024608

Neither of my monitors has the displayport port.

 

[Iglesias]

You can try a Displayport to DVI cable (but I'm not 100% sure it will support the 3 monitor mode):
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024608

Does my GPU have a Displayport?

 

[Iglesias]

If you want to take a picture of the back of the video card, I can double check. Or, if you have a link to the online store you bought it from, maybe I can check that way. I just based it off of what I saw on the Sapphire website.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202035

 

[Iglesias]

Ok, it has

2x DVI-I
1x HDMI
2x mini Displayport



So, here's the setup I recommend:

1x HMDI to HDMI
1x DVI-D to DVI-D (don't use the DVI-I cable you mentioned as it might accidentally switch to analog mode )
1x mini Displayport to DVI-D

So... here's the correct link for a mini Displayport to DVI-D cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024604
or you can look for one on newegg if you want.

To make things better, here's the stuff that I have:

1.) http://www.cnet.com/products/dell-w3706mc-2-year-completecare-service
2.) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001798
3.) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824160061

Tell me which cable I should use for each monitor.

That'd be very helpful since I'm just gonna buy all new wires. (maybe)

 

[Iglesias]

The Dell W3706MC offers a choice between DVI-D or HDMI, so before you order anything, can you check something?
1. Plug in the Dell with a DVI-D cable by itself (don't connect the 2 monitors). Does it work well using DVI-D or does it work better with HDMI? Can you set it to the proper resolution and everything.

If DVI-D works well on the Dell, then try this setup for 3 monitors:

Dell W3706MC
* DVI-D

SAMSUNG S22C350H
* HDMI

AOC E2243FWK
* mini display port to DVI-D
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024604

Mmm, it has a VGA not a DVI-D

 

[Iglesias]

The Dell and the AOC both have a DVI-D port in addition to the VGA port, so you don't have to use VGA for any of them (which is good news).

Mmm, I don't see a DVI-D port on the Dell. Strange

 

[Iglesias]

According to the manual the DVI port is supposed to be right below the VGA port on the Dell. Is there not one? If so, then I guess I'll have to suggest an alternative using HDMI for the Dell.

Ok, I connected the HDMI from the Dell to my GPU and it works with ONE other monitor, the 3rd doesn't work.

 

[KevinAr18]

deleted

 

[Iglesias]

If you don't have a DVI port on the Dell, then you can use this setup.
I am trying to use ONLY digtal connectors (no analog VGA connectors).

So...
You will need these 3 plugs:
* HDMI to HDMI -- (you already have this; it's just a regular HDMI cable)
* DVI-D to HDMI -- http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10231
* mini Displayport to DVI-D -- http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024604


Here's how you would plug in the monitors:
Dell W3706MC - (has an HDMI port)
* HDMI
SAMSUNG S22C350H - (has an HDMI port)
* DVI-D to HDMI
AOC E2243FWK - (has a DVI-D port)
* mini Displayport to DVI-D

I'm confused..

Dell will use HDMI from TV to 6970 as HDMI
Samsung will use HDMI from screen to 6970 as DVID
AOC will use DVID from screen to 6970 as mini Displayport.

Am I right?

 

[Iglesias]

Yeah, that seems to match up the ports with the least number of new cables ... while avoiding analog connections.

Alright, I bought the cables, hopefully it'll work man! Thanks!

 

[Kekoh]

I think you will need to use an Active adapter for the DVI > miniDisplayPort? Any time I see someone needing to use a displayyport, someone always says you need an active adapter, not just a regular one.

I've never used DP myself, so I don't know.

 

[Iglesias]

I think you will need to use an Active adapter for the DVI > miniDisplayPort? Any time I see someone needing to use a displayyport, someone always says you need an active adapter, not just a regular one.

I've never used DP myself, so I don't know.

Well, it's good you brought it up. I don't actually know how it matters either, but I have seen that recommendation multiple times.

This page is rather interesting, as it seems to suggest that for 1920x1080 @ 60Hz and lower, a passive Displayport to DVI is fine... but active is needed for higher resolutions (aka dual link DVI I guess?)
http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2967/~/active-vs-passive-dp-%26gt%3B-dvi-adaptors

Here is an active Displayport to DVI convertor, but it is very short, expensive, and will require buying either a displayport or DVI cable to make it longer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814999030
Source: someone posted about it in this thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/351720-33-active-passive-displayport


So, it's up to you if you want to cheaper passive cable or if you want to buy the more expensive active adapter and also extra DVI cable to make it longer.



The passive one you already bought should work, but it may or may not give you a tad more trouble. Just wait till they come in and see how it goes.

My DVI -> Mini DP came home today and I connected it to my GPU and it doesn't show up at all...

 

[Kekoh]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you need an active adapter.

 

[Iglesias]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you need an active adapter.

Where can I find that at?

 

[Iglesias]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you need an active adapter.

Where can I find that at?

Here's one:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=9425&seq=1&format=2
But it is too short. So you will need to add another cable to it to make it longer. .... So, take this adapter, then connect a DVI-D cable to it to make it longer. Plug the mini Displayport side into the video card, and the DVI-D site into the monitor).

Note: The DVI-D cable that you use to make the adapter longer must be DVI-D; it cannot be DVI-I. Check the current DVI cables that you own to see if either of them is DVI-D. You can see the different plug types here:
http://www.playtool.com/pages/dvicompat/dviconnscables.jpg

If none of the cables you have are DVI-D (for example, if they are DVI-I instead), then you will need to order one:
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10209&cs_id=1020902


Note: Resolution is limited to somewhere around 1920x1200 for the active mini Displayport to DVI-D adapter; higher resolutions may cost more. If your monitor is 1920x1080 or 1920x1200, the cheaper adapter should be ok.
http://support.amd.com/en-us/recommended/eyefinity-adapters

I currently have a 10ft DVID cable
So if I buy the adapter, I connect the DVID cable into that DVID port and monitor but mini DP goes into GPU, right?

And the DVID -> Mini DP is useless now? I spent $8 for nothing?

 

[Iglesias]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you need an active adapter.

Is this adapter good? http://www.amazon.com/PNY-A-DM-DV-W01-Mini-DisplayPort-Adapter/dp/B007WPKFVU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1398119152&sr=8-7&keywords=Mini+DisplayPort+to+DVI+ACTIVE+Adapter

 

[Iglesias]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you need an active adapter.

Where can I find that at?

Here's one:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=9425&seq=1&format=2
But it is too short. So you will need to add another cable to it to make it longer. .... So, take this adapter, then connect a DVI-D cable to it to make it longer. Plug the mini Displayport side into the video card, and the DVI-D site into the monitor).

Note: The DVI-D cable that you use to make the adapter longer must be DVI-D; it cannot be DVI-I. Check the current DVI cables that you own to see if either of them is DVI-D. You can see the different plug types here:
http://www.playtool.com/pages/dvicompat/dviconnscables.jpg

If none of the cables you have are DVI-D (for example, if they are DVI-I instead), then you will need to order one:
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10209&cs_id=1020902


Note: Resolution is limited to somewhere around 1920x1200 for the active mini Displayport to DVI-D adapter; higher resolutions may cost more. If your monitor is 1920x1080 or 1920x1200, the cheaper adapter should be ok.
http://support.amd.com/en-us/recommended/eyefinity-adapters

I currently have a 10ft DVID cable
So if I buy the adapter, I connect the DVID cable into that DVID port and monitor but mini DP goes into GPU, right?

And the DVID -> Mini DP is useless now? I spent $8 for nothing?

Yeah, that's how you would plug it in.
Yeah, I guess the mini DP to DVI-D won't work on your setup for 3 monitors; sorry about that; I didn't know.

Is this adapter good? http://www.amazon.com/PNY-A-DM-DV-W01-Mini-DisplayPort-Adapter/dp/B007WPKFVU/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1398119152&sr=8-7&keywords=Mini+DisplayPort+to+DVI+ACTIVE+Adapter

It definitely looks like it is an active adapter but it doesn't say anywhere for sure.


Also, do your two monitors work so far (for dual monitor use)? If they aren't working in dual monitor mode, then I guess there's no point getting another cable until that is resolved.

Yes that's what I'm using, 2 monitors and they work perfectly fine

 

[Iglesias]

Yes that's what I'm using, 2 monitors and they work perfectly fine

Ok, so apparently what was required was a Displayport for the 3rd monitor. But, if you need to convert the Displayport to DVI-D, then you must use an active adapter.
Sorry for getting it wrong. So, the active adapter should probably solve the problem and get it all working for 3 monitors.

Alright I'm purchasing that active adapter

 

[Iglesias]

Yes that's what I'm using, 2 monitors and they work perfectly fine

Ok, so apparently what was required was a Displayport for the 3rd monitor. But, if you need to convert the Displayport to DVI-D, then you must use an active adapter.
Sorry for getting it wrong. So, the active adapter should probably solve the problem and get it all working for 3 monitors.

Hey I ordered that adapter, but they sent home a Mini DP -> HDMI... Would the 3 screen still work perhaps?

 

[Kekoh]

I don't think so... sounds like it's not Active.

You could try searching for the exact model number cable you received to check if it's active.

 

[Iglesias]

I don't think so... sounds like it's not Active

So it has to be the mini DP -> DVI?

I just got a replacement order for free and 1 day shipping.

 

[Kekoh]

I don't think so... sounds like it's not Active

So it has to be the mini DP -> DVI?

I just got a replacement order for free and 1 day shipping.

Well, if they are sending you the correct cable, you might as well open the wrong one up and try it out. Unless they want it sent back.

If it's an active adapter it should work, but since they sent you the wrong cable I wonder if it's active or not.

 

[Iglesias]

I don't think so... sounds like it's not Active

So it has to be the mini DP -> DVI?

I just got a replacement order for free and 1 day shipping.

Well, if they are sending you the correct cable, you might as well open the wrong one up and try it out. Unless they want it sent back.

If it's an active adapter it should work, but since they sent you the wrong cable I wonder if it's active or not.

When I connected it, my 2nd monitor turned off and it was replaced by the TV.
I'm guessing this isn't an active adapter?