5 Monitor Setup

[DerQ]

I would like input on what video cards to get for my 5-monitor setup I am putting together for my home workstation. It will be all 2D work, with no gaming or 3D.


I will have 5 monitors that are each 3-4MP, most likely between 2048 x 1536 and 2560 x 1600 (monitors have not yet been purchased). It will be a Dell Precision tower that is pushing them.

Cost is not a huge concern, but I would guess that I would not need the craziest cards on the market for my needs since it will be all 2d work. My biggest concern is having enough ports and providing the needed resolutions.

-q

 

[KingFatty]

Get a motherboard that has built-in video, usually 2 video ports right there.

Then get a video card that supports 3 video ports, then you have 5.

You may be able to find inexpensive triple display AMD cards, but if you want higher performance/cost (e.g., typical gaming cards) then Nvidia and AMD both have stuff that works.

Also could consider used video cards, maybe find a super-cheap 5830 for triple-screen eyefinity?

 

[3DVagabond]

If you want to do it from a single card you'll need an Eyefinity 6 card with 6xDP for 5 monitors at those resolutions. That and either monitors with native displayport inputs (best option) or 5x DP -> DL-DVI connectors, which run ~$100 a piece.

THIS is the cheapest listed on Newegg.

 

[gorobei]

for monitors over 1920 by 1XX0 you will need displayport or DL-DVI. since no card has 5 x DL-DVI you are looking at displayport.

the 7870 eyefinity6 card vagabond listed is probably the best option for a new card though somewhat pricey.

there may be some of the older 6770 eyefinity5 cards floating around in retail or repackagers like geeks.com. those can usually be found for under $100.

some of the older asus 6970 top of the line cards had 1 dvi and 4 displayports, not sure if it would be any cheaper than the 7870 e6.

 

[spikegifted]

Since you only want 2D, have you consider a Matrox card? Pick one which has a LFH60 connector and with a cable upgrade, you are looking at 4 analog monitors.


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

 

[Slug]

I did the same in a dell T3400. I used 2 low end quadros (FX570's I think) and a 3rd low end GeForce card I already had. Quadros are driving 4 monitors at 2048x1536 each over DVI and the GeForce is driving a single monitor at 1920x1200 over DVI. Just used the nvidia quadro drivers. No issues to this day. I'm doing all 2D as well.



EDIT: Currently using Windows 7 Pro

 

[guskline]

BE CAREFUL with Windows 8. Tons of posts that so far it "does not play nice" with multi-monitor setups. BTW I have an Active Displayport for sale in the For sale area.