Which card to buy for Triple VGA Monitor setup?

Started by Futendra, September 05, 2012, 05:21:24 pm

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Futendra

September 05, 2012, 05:21:24 pm Last Edit: September 08, 2012, 07:01:37 pm by Futendra
So, currently I have a double monitor setup (2 Samsung SyncMaster 913v's) and I really want a triple monitor setup so I can use it for gaming.

I have bought another Samsung SyncMaster 913v so now I have 3 SyncMaster 913v's


I currently have contacted people selling second hand cards, which one is best suited for me?:

- Sapphire Vapor-X HD5850 (Asking 125 euros)
- Sapphire Radeon HD6850 (Asking 100 euros)
- Sapphire Radeon HD6870 (Asking 120 euros)
- XFX Radeon HD6870 (Asking 140 euros)
- XFX Radeon HD5850 (Asking 100 euros)
- GigaByte ATI Radeon HD5870 (Asking 100 euros)

Or should I buy a AMD Radeon HD7770 and go through all the pain of the HDMI to VGA conversion?

azdesign

September 05, 2012, 11:01:09 pm #1 Last Edit: September 05, 2012, 11:09:25 pm by azdesign
I just share you my experience in the past with triple monitors, dunno if this help help you.
Back then, I was struggling looking for a way to let my HD5770 to run multiple monitor while all of my monitors were only support VGA. They said, one of my monitor SHOULD has a HDMI/DP which are digital input/output, unlike VGA/DVI which are analog (DVI is hybrid, still, not pure digital) to work. To make it happen in my current condition, I must have an ACTIVE DP to DVI/VGA converter so my 3rd monitor can act as extension, not a clone. Well, the rest was a long story and I forgot where did I wrote that topic. So, the conclusion based on above regarding how to work with triple monitors are :

1. Your card must support one of HDMI or DP
2. Your monitor input should consist of 2 analog and 1 digital. If all of them analog, you must buy an active digital to analog converter (DP -> DVI/VGA)

Now back to topic, this Sapphire Vid 2x has DP input, while your card doesn't even has HDMI or DP. It doesn't matter the outputs are. So I think, your setup is not possible. My better suggestion for you, save your money, sell your card quickly, buy newer card. Did you know, GT9800 was already obsolete and are easily overrun by newer $130 cards in term of performance, technology (shader model, DirectX), and power consumption ? If I own a 9800, I still could sell it for around $100

And please, triple monitor using obsolete graphics for GAMING ? no!
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

Quote from: azdesign on September 05, 2012, 11:01:09 pm
I just share you my experience in the past with triple monitors, dunno if this help help you.
Back then, I was struggling looking for a way to let my HD5770 to run multiple monitor while all of my monitors were only support VGA. They said, one of my monitor SHOULD has a HDMI/DP which are digital input/output, unlike VGA/DVI which are analog (DVI is hybrid, still, not pure digital) to work. To make it happen in my current condition, I must have an ACTIVE DP to DVI/VGA converter so my 3rd monitor can act as extension, not a clone. Well, the rest was a long story and I forgot where did I wrote that topic. So, the conclusion based on above regarding how to work with triple monitors are :

1. Your card must support one of HDMI or DP
2. Your monitor input should consist of 2 analog and 1 digital. If all of them analog, you must buy an active digital to analog converter (DP -> DVI/VGA)

Now back to topic, this Sapphire Vid 2x has DP input, while your card doesn't even has HDMI or DP. It doesn't matter the outputs are. So I think, your setup is not possible. My better suggestion for you, save your money, sell your card quickly, buy newer card. Did you know, GT9800 was already obsolete and are easily overrun by newer $130 cards in term of performance, technology (shader model, DirectX), and power consumption ? If I own a 9800, I still could sell it for around $100

And please, triple monitor using obsolete graphics for GAMING ? no!


Thank you! That really helps a lot, I really thought I'd be able to use the VID-2x but clearly not...
So, how could I get a triple monitor setup without having to sell this graphic card?

BTW: this is my card: http://www.msi.com/product/vga/N9800GT-T2D1G-OC.html
The website of MSI says this about my card:
HDMI-Output    1 (via DVI to HDMI adaptor)

azdesign

September 06, 2012, 10:49:01 pm #3 Last Edit: September 06, 2012, 10:56:03 pm by azdesign
Your card does not have HDMI, MSI only provide its DVI-> HDMI adaptor, which is basically DVI. It must have at least real HDMI port. There is another solution for you but I haven't tested it with triple monitor. This only works if your motherboard has AMD chipset. To let the onboard display work together with the card display. I tried it before it works in dual monitor setup, one cable goes to the DVI port on my motherboard, one goes to DVI port to my card. Using a bit settings in BIOS, you can have multi monitor setup. But that was AMD and ATI. They has that features.

I don't really know about Nvidia nor has experiments using triple monitor with it, so I think this guy here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZcrkybN1Ak who claims that he played in triple monitor in 9800GT before can help you.

Currently, he is using http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/displayport/ and using an active DVI->DP adaptor. I warned you, I really warned you not to spend much money on those device. It is better if you buy newer card which support Nvidia Surround View. But if you insist, be my guest. Note that those cards, your 9800 which not optimized for multi-monitor will suffer lag running games in triple monitor. Hope this helps  ;)
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

Quote from: azdesign on September 06, 2012, 10:49:01 pm
Your card does not have HDMI, MSI only provide its DVI-> HDMI adaptor, which is basically DVI. It must have at least real HDMI port. There is another solution for you but I haven't tested it with triple monitor. This only works if your motherboard has AMD chipset. To let the onboard display work together with the card display. I tried it before it works in dual monitor setup, one cable goes to the DVI port on my motherboard, one goes to DVI port to my card. Using a bit settings in BIOS, you can have multi monitor setup. But that was AMD and ATI. They has that features.

I don't really know about Nvidia nor has experiments using triple monitor with it, so I think this guy here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZcrkybN1Ak who claims that he played in triple monitor in 9800GT before can help you.

Currently, he is using http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/displayport/ and using an active DVI->DP adaptor. I warned you, I really warned you not to spend much money on those device. It is better if you buy newer card which support Nvidia Surround View. But if you insist, be my guest. Note that those cards, your 9800 which not optimized for multi-monitor will suffer lag running games in triple monitor. Hope this helps  ;)
Any recommendation for a card that supports nVidia Surrounf view that is good for gaming?

azdesign

September 07, 2012, 04:38:17 am #5 Last Edit: September 07, 2012, 04:46:36 am by azdesign
There are 2 choices :
1. AMD HD7870
2. Nvidia GTX660Ti
Both around $300. Which one to decide ? here is list of advantages each card has :
1. AMD : Better scaling for GPU(CrossFire) and Monitor (Eyefinity). Great overclocked performance.
2. Nvidia : Has PhysX and 3D (For some games which you require its feature, this will be an advantages)

Why I recommend you $300 card ? because if you're running games on triple monitor, the game will lag a lot because basically, consider that you usually run games on 1440x900, now you have to run 5320x900. True, games nowadays are stagnant in term of resources usage, as most of them are Xbox/PS3 ports. But for some game dedicated for PC games such as Metro 2033, you'll need a better card like above for running properly in triple monitor.

But if you're in a tight budget, go for AMD 7770 ($120-$150), the best card for its price range. No Nvidia. AMD 7770 should handle skyrim in triple monitor well (not highest details of course). Like I said, AMD has better multi monitor scaling(AMD Ayefinity), so games in multi monitor will run better than those run in Nvidia's multi monitor (Nvidia SurroundView)

If you want to buy AMD cards, buy Saphhire with "GHz" edition on the label. Those have great overclocking potential. And has 2 years of warranty too (in my local store)
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

Quote from: azdesign on September 07, 2012, 04:38:17 am
There are 2 choices :
1. AMD HD7870
2. Nvidia GTX660Ti
Both around $300. Which one to decide ? here is list of advantages each card has :
1. AMD : Better scaling for GPU(CrossFire) and Monitor (Eyefinity). Great overclocked performance.
2. Nvidia : Has PhysX and 3D (For some games which you require its feature, this will be an advantages)

Why I recommend you $300 card ? because if you're running games on triple monitor, the game will lag a lot because basically, consider that you usually run games on 1440x900, now you have to run 5320x900. True, games nowadays are stagnant in term of resources usage, as most of them are Xbox/PS3 ports. But for some game dedicated for PC games such as Metro 2033, you'll need a better card like above for running properly in triple monitor.

But if you're in a tight budget, go for AMD 7770 ($120-$150), the best card for its price range. No Nvidia. AMD 7770 should handle skyrim in triple monitor well (not highest details of course). Like I said, AMD has better multi monitor scaling(AMD Ayefinity), so games in multi monitor will run better than those run in Nvidia's multi monitor (Nvidia SurroundView)

If you want to buy AMD cards, buy Saphhire with "GHz" edition on the label. Those have great overclocking potential. And has 2 years of warranty too (in my local store)



I am not an overclocker and my budget is about 100-150 euros, and if I would buy a new card it'd be a second hand one, since I really need to be carefull buying things nowadays. It's just that it is kind of my dream to have triple monitor...

azdesign

September 08, 2012, 05:47:19 am #7 Last Edit: September 08, 2012, 05:48:46 am by azdesign
For second hand graphics around your budget, consider buying Nvidia GTX560Ti or AMD HD6870/HD6950. I own 6870 and satisfied with its multi-monitor performance. Multi monitor setting in those cards are easy, no need to buy additional device (as long as one of your monitor support DP/HDMI. If not, you have to buy an active DP->DVI/VGA adapter which should be around $10, only 1 is required). The setup later will be : 2 DVI from your card goes to 2 monitor DVI. Then, one DP from your card to DP->DVI adapter goes to your 3rd monitor DVI. That was my current setup.
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

September 08, 2012, 01:18:51 pm #8 Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 04:32:17 am by Futendra
Quote from: azdesign on September 08, 2012, 05:47:19 am
For second hand graphics around your budget, consider buying Nvidia GTX560Ti or AMD HD6870/HD6950. I own 6870 and satisfied with its multi-monitor performance. Multi monitor setting in those cards are easy, no need to buy additional device (as long as one of your monitor support DP/HDMI. If not, you have to buy an active DP->DVI/VGA adapter which should be around $10, only 1 is required). The setup later will be : 2 DVI from your card goes to 2 monitor DVI. Then, one DP from your card to DP->DVI adapter goes to your 3rd monitor DVI. That was my current setup.


I am thinking to buy a HD 6870 any idea where I could buy one?

I currently have contacted people selling second hand cards, which one is best suited for me?:

- Sapphire Vapor-X HD5850 (Asking 125 euros)
- Sapphire Radeon HD6850 (Asking 100 euros)
- Sapphire Radeon HD6870 (Asking 120 euros)
- XFX Radeon HD6870 (Asking 140 euros)
- XFX Radeon HD5850 (Asking 100 euros)
- GigaByte ATI Radeon HD5870 (Asking 100 euros)

Or should I buy a HD 7770?


I bought the XFX 5850.

azdesign

September 09, 2012, 04:46:33 am #9 Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 05:00:00 am by azdesign
hmmm, 5870 and 5850 was around the same price yet you bought 5850 ? why ?
Btw, great choice, I would recommend it earlier if I log in sooner. 5850 in general, has slightly more performance if compared to 6850. But having an old chip, it has disadvantages when running DX11 features such as texture tessalation. Also, it has greater power consumption.

As your monitor does not have a DP/HDMI, here are the steps for you :
1. Buy an active DP->VGA converter / DP->DVI + DVI->VGA converter, one example is : http://www.waroengkom.com/product/Display-port-to-VGA.jpg
2. Buy 2 DVI->VGA converter for the rest of your monitor
3. Like I said in your previous topic, 2 DVI ports in your card, plug it with DVI->VGA then attach it to 2 of your monitor
Last step, use that active converter, plug it on DP port on your card, apply DVI->VGA converter if you cannot find DP->VGA, plug the cable to your primary monitor.
4. Now, download the latest driver, open CCC, see the AMD Eyefinity multi-display, you'll know what to do, then, apply bezel compensation until you feel comfortable. Enjoy the game in triple monitor. Note, not every games has multi-monitor support, fortunately, people been doing custom mod for this, known as widescreen fixer. https://www.widescreenfixer.org/ hope your games listed there and enjoy  ;)
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

September 09, 2012, 04:59:57 am #10 Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 05:06:35 am by Futendra
Quote from: azdesign on September 09, 2012, 04:46:33 am
hmmm, 5870 and 5850 was around the same price yet you bought 5850 ? why ?
Btw, great choice, I would recommend it earlier if I log in sooner. 5850 in general, has slightly more performance if compared to 6850. But having an old chip, it has disadvantages when running DX11 features such as texture tessalation. Also, it has greater power consumption.

Now, download the latest driver, open CCC, see the AMD Eyefinity multi-display, you'll know what to do, then, apply bezel compensation until you feel comfortable. Enjoy the game in triple monitor. Note, not every games has multi-monitor support, fortunately, people been doing custom mod for this, known as widescreen fixer. https://www.widescreenfixer.org/ hope your games listed there and enjoy  ;)


I bought it but it isn't yet here :D can there be incompatibility with my motherboard?


I already have 2 DVI > VGA adapters. Any idea where to buy the DP to VGA?

AH SHIT! Just found out that my power supply is only 250W. I need at least 500W.

azdesign

September 09, 2012, 05:01:15 am #11 Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 05:08:55 am by azdesign
My last post was update with step by step to work with it. What it your motherboard ?
My local computer center mall has plenty of them, they even display their computer with triple monitor working on all VGA (one with active DP->VGA port of course). Check your local store, not small one, a big one, preferrably big mall where only computer stuff sold there. That device should cost around 10-20$
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

September 09, 2012, 05:04:40 am #12 Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 05:10:57 am by Futendra
Quote from: azdesign on September 09, 2012, 05:01:15 am
My last post was update with step by step to work with it. What it your motherboard ?


P5KPL-VM

azdesign

September 09, 2012, 05:50:10 am #13 Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 05:52:43 am by azdesign
So the conclusion is, to support your card, you must own a new power supply with these support :

1. 500 watt
2. Has at least 80% efficiency (usually labeled with 80PLUS logo)
3. Has 2 6pin connector, check if it has 8 pin connector as its 2 additional pin can be detachable

this one you told me was okay, go for it
http://www.amazon.com/Accell-UltraAV-B101B-003B-Display-Adapter/dp/B003HC85D2

After you got all the stuff mentioned above, just follow the steps I posted before and happy gaming.  :D
~ Check out my deviantart http://my-az-design.deviantart.com/ ~

Futendra

Quote from: azdesign on September 09, 2012, 05:50:10 am
So the conclusion is, to support your card, you must own a new power supply with these support :

1. 500 watt
2. Has at least 80% efficiency (usually labeled with 80PLUS logo)
3. Has 2 6pin connector, check if it has 8 pin connector as its 2 additional pin can be detachable

this one your told me was okay, go for it
http://www.amazon.com/Accell-UltraAV-B101B-003B-Display-Adapter/dp/B003HC85D2



Okay, this is my personal update now for me to keep up what I basically need to buy

My budget is 150-180 euros.

This Power Supply (35 euros):
http://www.4launch.nl/shop/product/125460/-voeding-corexstream-500w/tweakers

http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/315259/ocz-corexstream-500w-power-supply.html#tab:info



This Graphics Card (100 euros):
http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/246219/xfx-hd-5850-1024-mb-ddr5-%28hd-585a-znfc%29.html



This adapter (25 euros):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Accell-UltraAV-B101B-003B-Display-Adapter/dp/B003HC85D2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318379289&sr=8-1

Totaal 160 euro without shipping

Futendra

I have received the power supply today, the OCZ CoreXStream 500W (which makes an annoying sound when passive) and I received the Xfx 5850 videocard yesterday. Now I only have to wait for the adapter.