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Started by Iglesias | | 43 answers
3 Displays 2 Monitor 1 HDTV
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.
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a b x TV
a b C Monitor
April 26, 2014 2:26:39 PM

P.S. #2 :) 

Note: that active adapter has a limited resolution of something like 1920x1200. However, that is plenty for all 3 of the displays you have now.


BTW, when you setup your TV for computer use, you should setup your TV as follows:

1. Use ONLY 1366x768 resolution on the TV.
The native resolution of the TV is 1366x768. For a computer, you should ONLY use the native resolution and nothing else; otherwise the picture will be worse than it should be.

2. Go into the settings for your TV and make sure sharpening is off.
* Go to: Pictures Settings
* Look for: Sharpness
* Set Sharpness to zero or to whatever setting means no sharpness; on some TVs the correct setting might be something weird (it's not always 0). Sometimes it's a number like 10 or 50 or in the middle. Then, if you set it any higher it adds sharpness, but if you set it lower it actually starts to blur the picture! So you need to find the setting that means NO sharpening and NO blurring at the same time. It may be 0, 10, 50, or something else... but it's probably a nice round number.
a b x TV
a b C Monitor
April 26, 2014 2:10:48 PM

P.S.
Let me also add...
Sorry, I didn't know about this when I first posted my suggestion, and sorry I told you to order the wrong cable.
Now I am pretty certain this is what is going on.

As for that mini Displayport to DVI adapter I suggested, it is rather short. If you want to make it longer, just plug one of your extra DVI cables between it and the monitor.

BTW, are you sure the TV does not have a white DVI port? What I said earlier was wrong; it is not below the VGA port; it should be in front of the VGA port (closer to the screen). The VGA should be blue and the DVI white. If you have a DVI port, it might save you from having to buy an extra cable. Then you could use your current DVI cable for the TV and your current HDMI cable for the Samsung. Then you only have to buy the active Displaport adapter for the AOC.

If not, here is the corrected list:
So...
You will need these 3 plugs:

Dell W3706MC
* HDMI to HDMI -- (you already have this; it's just a regular HDMI cable)

SAMSUNG S22C350H
* DVI-D to HDMI -- http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10231

AOC E2243FWK
* Active mini Displayport to DVI-D -- http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&c...
* + you can connect a regular DVI cable (which you already have) to the adapter to make it longer
a b x TV
a b C Monitor
April 26, 2014 2:00:51 PM

Iglesias said:
All the stuff came in and it didn't work..


The PNY is a passive device so it won't work for 3 monitors.

So, it seems the reason why you need an active device is as follows:

The AMD video cards include circuitry (TMDS) for only 2 cables using DVI or HDMI.

However, Displayport is special in that it does not require this circuitry. So, you can add a third monitor using all Displayport.

However, there is a complication when you use a Displayport to DVI or HDMI cable.

If the cable is passive, then the video card will actually treat it like it is DVI or HDMI and not like it is Displayport. Because the video card, treats it like it is DVI or HDMI, that means you need a 3rd TMDS or clock to run the cable... and the video card only has 2 TMDS or clocks, so it won't work for the 3rd monitor.

The active Displayport to DVI or HDMI cable is special. It includes an actual chip inside the adapter that adds a 3rd TMDS or clock that allows you to run a 3rd monitor over DVI or HDMI. With the active adapter, the video card thinks the 3rd monitor is Displayport and treats it like a Displayport monitor... but the adapter converts it to DVI or HDMI and adds the extra TMDS or clock that is needed to make it work.


So... this is what you need:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&c...


P.S. VGA may or may not be excluded from this problem. You *might* be able to use the 3rd monitor using only VGA or you might not. I think I read that VGA uses a separate clock or TMDS from the HDMI and DVI, but I also think some site(s) say you have to use Displayport for the 3rd monitor.
However, I really suggest running all monitors with digital connections instead of analog/VGA anyways.
April 26, 2014 12:00:21 PM

KevinAr18 said:
Iglesias said:
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?

To be fair, just send it back.

Not only that, but even if it did work, you still need the DVI, so all 3 screens can use digital connections.

As for whether it is active, if this is the model you got, then it is passive according to one of the reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-A-DM-HD-W01-Mini-DisplayPort-...

If it was a different model, let me know which one and maybe I can check.


All the stuff came in and it didn't work..
a b x TV
a b C Monitor
April 23, 2014 2:31:50 PM

Iglesias said:
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?

To be fair, just send it back.

Not only that, but even if it did work, you still need the DVI, so all 3 screens can use digital connections.

As for whether it is active, if this is the model you got, then it is passive according to one of the reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-A-DM-HD-W01-Mini-DisplayPort-...

If it was a different model, let me know which one and maybe I can check.
April 23, 2014 1:34:16 PM

Kekoh said:
Iglesias said:
Kekoh said:
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?
a b C Monitor
April 23, 2014 1:30:52 PM

Iglesias said:
Kekoh said:
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.
April 23, 2014 1:19:30 PM

Kekoh said:
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.
a b C Monitor
April 23, 2014 1:18:29 PM

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.
April 23, 2014 12:54:39 PM

KevinAr18 said:
Iglesias said:
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?

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