Triple Monitor Setup

[Blue 83]

I have already been running dual monitors, but am wanting to hook up a 3rd monitor I have.
What kind of adapters or anything else would I need to hook up a 3rd monitor?

[jdf_warrior]

How are you wanting to connect the monitor? What kind of interface? DVI? HDMI? VGA? If you dont have a 3rd video output, you need another card. If you dont have another output, you dont have an output, the best you could do is get some sort of splitter and have it mirror the display to another. If you have the video output, you connect the monitor and just go to the display settings and tell it to Extend the display to this monitor and it will add it to the set, then arrange the displays how you want them laid out.

[Blue 83]

I only have 1 of the video cards in it right now, and both DVI slot are being occupied by the 2 monitors I have now hooked up to it.

From what I have been reading, I have 2 options.

1: Get another 4870 video card with 2 more DVI slots and then I can run up to 4 monitors if I wanted?

2: Or get this, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815106011 (which is recommended)

But I figure if I am gonna spend $300, might as well be on another 4870 video card:shrug:

I was thinking in the beginning before I did my research...."I already am running dual monitors, and I have a 3rd monitor sitting around, why not hook up 3?" And I knew that there was gonna be some kind of splitter adapter that I was gonna need, and was willing to spend $10-$20 on it to run 3 monitors. But once I found out that I was gonna have to either get another video card, or get a $300 adapter just to run 3 monitors.....I think dual monitors if fine for now and I will just keep my $300:beer:

[Mustanley]

You could easily get another cheap video card with dual outputs, like an HD3450 or similar. That's not much more than the $10-$20 you originally budgeted.

[noxqzs]

May I ask where it is recommended for the matrox triple head? The last time I checked, it allows up to 1680x1050 for each monitor, and that might be a problem if you are running higher resolutions.

[Neuromancer]

May I ask where it is recommended for the matrox triple head? The last time I checked, it allows up to 1680x1050 for each monitor, and that might be a problem if you are running higher resolutions.

"Flexible device supports both dual-monitor configurations at a maximum resolution of up to 3840 x 1200 (2x 1920x1200) * and triple-monitor configurations with a maximum resolution of up to 3840 x 1024 (3x 1280x1024)"


If this is for gmaing, then get another 4870 instead.

IF this is for anything else.

Grab cheap 4XXX series card and drop it in. To power 1 or 2 monitors.

[nightelph]

I was in your shoes a few months ago. I had a 4870 with two monitors. I added a $80 3870 and added another monitor.. and eventually a fourth. Its good to get a second card that can use the same driver as your primary.

[Blue 83]

I ended up coming across 2 EVGA 8800GTS that I threw in my other system to run 3 monitors when needed.:beer:

[mxthunder]

We use these at my work
https://www.americanconsumercables.com/cart/product/7469/34589/6in-port-authority2-usb-20-to-xga-adapter.html

to support 3 19" monitors. Not for gaming, but it gets the job done.

[ozzlo]

[psudo thread hijack]

I am looking at getting either a GTX 260 or 4870 however I wish to power 3 monitors. 2 use DVI and the third uses HDMI. I do not want to span my desktop acrossed all 3 screens and to my understanding this is what the matrox triple head 2 go does. Also the 2 DVI screens will be running at 1920x1200 and the HDMI screen will be running at 1920x1080.

Is there a way to do this?
I've seen sugguestions to get a el cheapo second card, What types of cards would work best with a 4870 or GTX 260?

My motherboard supports xfire but not sli, I've been trying to search (having no luck) for the number of monitors 2 cards in xfire can support. The consensus seems to be just a single monitor but i've seen other posts of people claiming to be able to use more than 1 monitor. I am considering purchasing 2x4850's if I can get 3 monitors running and xfire running at the same time.

anyone know the definite answer?

[munchie21]

Wow... that's insane. 3 monitors?! good luck with that! :beer:

[JamesXP]

That will work, NVIDIA is great for dual/triple monitors you can just set them to DualView and you should be able to set each monitor its own resolution.