Need 2GFX's? to run 3 or more monitors

[MarkW7]

Hi all,

I need to run 3monitors, maybe four in the future.

Do i need 2 graphics cards?

The problem is i only have 1 16x slot on my motherboard. But i do have 3 PCI and 2 PCIx1?

Any ideas?

 

[Ham]

You can probably get away with a single card and two dual link DVI splitter things.

Either that or a 4850X2 which has 4 DVI ports, but will only need 1 PCI-E slot.

 

[MarkW7]

Thats a little expensive, i dont need good graphics card as it isnt for gaming.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Do all monitors need to display the same thing?

Id say a new mobo is needed and a couple of low spec cards if you want your decktop expanded across all of the monitors.

 

[monkey7]

My guess it you will need two graphics cards.

Reading up on dual link a bit:

- Max. res of a single link is 1920*1200 = 2.304.000

- Max. res of a dual link is (more or less) double that: 2560*1600 = 4.096.000

If you use two higher end (say 1680*1050) screens you'd already need 2*1680*1050 = 4.032.000, which should júst be doable. You will however need splitters which can let the DVI port believe it has two seperate screens, and I do not know if those exist.

Your second option would be a dual/triplehead2go of Matrox, but they will cost you a kidney, and probably someone else's too.

Last thing I can think of is a PCI graphics card. I heard (cannot confirm) it is possible to run a pci-e and pci card alongsides each other and run 3+ screens. Will have to check this with my own PCI card but I'll have to get it back from a friend first.

EDIT: something else, what about the PCI-e x1 slots? PCI-e is open ended so in theory you can put a very low end PCI-e x16 graphics card in there as long as it's just for office use. 2* HD3450 or 9300GT for example?

 

[MarkW7]

So PCIx16 works in a PCIx1 slot?

If so this this will solve my problem; it'd be running like an 8400gs or similar; £30 ea cards.

 

[monkey7]

Will have to check with someone who has actually done it, but yes I think so. It will just run at 1 lane instead of 16, of course affecting performance.

 

[tinytomlogan]

No mate it wont work youll need a new mobo

 

[MarkW7]

Can i not run a x16 and then just a normal PCI.

 

[monkey7]

Solid arguments ttl ... -.-

A PCIe card will fit into a slot of its physical size or bigger, but may not fit into a smaller PCIe slot. Some slots use open-ended sockets to permit physically longer cards and will negotiate the best available electrical connection. The number of lanes actually connected to a slot may also be less than the number supported by the physical slot size.

While wiki is not the best source, this suggests it couldbe possible, which still doesn't say a thing. From what I understand of it is that it's possible to insert longer cards into shorter slots as long as the rear is open ended like the x4 slot (that's the middle one) on this pic:

Also came across an interesting topic on this while googling:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/page-247979_10_0.html

It seems to work there.

EDIT: there's of course still the possibility of two PCI based cards, which are pretty cheap.

 

[MarkW7]

The 1x slots are closed ends.

 

[monkey7]

Sounds like new motherboard or PCI cards then...

Or follow this lead, in which case I either declare you mad if you fail or a genius if you succeed:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/page-249291_12_0.html

 

[MarkW7]

PCI x1 are so stupid, i've never seen a PCI1 device.

 

[monkey7]

I love them, just needs more cards to fit in there. Got a PCI-e x1 wireless card and it's really, really small. Most wireless / sound cards don't need to be large but they are because their slot is long.

 

[tinytomlogan]

x1's wont be open ended, pretty sure you can properly run a gpu ina x1 thats why I said new mobo if you want to use PCIE cards

 

[MarkW7]

Yep, looks like a new mobo.

I need 2x PCIx16 and the rest as many PCI as you can.

Any ideas?

 

[monkey7]

As many normal PCI? What do you need PCI for nowadays?

Let me have a look.

EDIT: take a look at this one: http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/222453/asus-p5kpl-1600.html#tab:info

It's a dutch page but I'm pretty sure you can get what it means

 

[MarkW7]

PCI;

[Serial card if not onboard]

[More USB's]

Wireless card

Then 2 spare.

Yep, i just wish theres a way i can get PCI-16 and PCI to play nice?

 

[MarkW7]

Is there cards with 4 outputs?

 

[monkey7]

There are, but they are usually expensive. Out of the back of my head:

- some asus 3870x2's

- some 4850x2's

- some asus 4870x2's