Hardware to run 3 monitors?

[catukf]

Hello, hi ive just purchased this computer
Gaming Computer i7 2600k 8GB DDR3 GTX 550Ti 500GB WIFI Asus PC Windows 7 HP64
and I 'd like to buy & set up 3 monitors to go with it. I,m not sure exactly what I'd need to do this so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Update: Recently spoken to a technician and he's wondering how to connect 3 monitors to 2 video outputs?

[Haldi]

you cant run 3 Monitors (aka Surround) on a single Nvidia GPU (Except GTX670, 680) You need a 2nd GTX550 for SLI ! THen it will work. (but you said the GPU only has 2 outputs ? Problem!)
Best way would be to buy an AMD GPU! 7750 or such. they should be able to run Eyefinity aka 3 Monitor gaming on a single card.

[Paradigm Shifter]

you cant run 3 Monitors (aka Surround) on a single Nvidia GPU (Except GTX670, 680) You need a 2nd GTX550 for SLI ! THen it will work. (but you said the GPU only has 2 outputs ? Problem!)
Best way would be to buy an AMD GPU! 7750 or such. they should be able to run Eyefinity aka 3 Monitor gaming on a single card.

Surround on the 200, 400 and 500 series cards works by plugging two monitors into the first card and the third monitor into the second card. So no, no problem. However, the OP will still require either the purchase of a second 550Ti, or another card which would be capable of running Surround from a single GPU (ie: 670/680, as Haldi said).

You won't have to worry about DisplayPort capable monitors on the 670/680 route as long as each monitor is <1920x1200, as I'm running Surround with two monitors via DVI and the third with an HDMI->DVI cable.

You have a few options, but what options are recommended will depend on a) exactly what you want to do (light gaming or heavy?) and how much you would be prepared to spend. ;)

[catukf]

Thanks for the info. I'd like to use 2 monitors to run second life and Photoshop on the 3rd monitor.

[catukf]

and I'm prepared to spend approx £100 on a second graphics card

[Haldi]

if you DON'T want to use Surround. Aka play Games spanned over 3 Monitors, but just use the 3rd Monitor for Windows, gaming in Windowed mode or such. You could just buy an additional GTS 210 or any GPU !

[catukf]

I would like to run second life on ultra setting with occasional shadows enabled for photography and I'd like the 3 monitors for other games and watching videos. I really just need to know what 2nsd graphics card I need to buy to enable me to do this and any other hardware I might need. Also for the triple monitors what sized screen and resolution should I go for with the computer I bought? 21.5" widescreen - 1920x1080?
Thanks for any help in advance :)

[catukf]

If I buy a second 550TI card with SLI bridge will it work with this motherboard (ASUS P8H61-MLE USB3)

[icemanmelb]

Guys,
I might be on the wrong path but I'm trying to have 3 monitors running off my alienware m15x with a DisplayPort & VGA Port + the laptop screen. The m15x comes with an Nvidia GTX 260m. Just wondering if the build in card can handle this or do I need to purchase a new Alienware m18x laptop.

thanks...

[AussieTimmeh]

If I buy a second 550TI card with SLI bridge will it work with this motherboard (ASUS P8H61-MLE USB3)

It appears that motherboard only has one PCI-E graphics card slot, so no, you cannot run a second PCI-E GPU in that motherboard, let alone run it in SLI.

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8H61M_LEUSB3/#specifications

[AussieTimmeh]

Guys,
I might be on the wrong path but I'm trying to have 3 monitors running off my alienware m15x with a DisplayPort & VGA Port + the laptop screen. The m15x comes with an Nvidia GTX 260m. Just wondering if the build in card can handle this or do I need to purchase a new Alienware m18x laptop.

thanks...

It depends what you are trying to do. If you want to play Battlefield 3 on anything other than low settings, I would say it is not going to handle it.

Also, I am unsure how you would connect 3 monitors to it, unless you were considering using one monitor off the DisplayPort connector, one off the VGA port, and the laptop screen, which would be very weird and I am not sure if it would allow that. You certainly could not run it in Nvidia Surround, you might be able to use it as an extended desktop but you wouldn't play games with it.

Your best bet would be a Triplehead2Go, but even then your graphics card would struggle.

[chunhei]

[quote]Guys,
I might be on the wrong path but I'm trying to have 3 monitors running off my alienware m15x with a DisplayPort & VGA Port + the laptop screen. The m15x comes with an Nvidia GTX 260m. Just wondering if the build in card can handle this or do I need to purchase a new Alienware m18x laptop.

thanks...

It depends what you are trying to do. If you want to play Battlefield 3 on anything other than low settings, I would say it is not going to handle it.

Also, I am unsure how you would connect 3 monitors to it, unless you were considering using one monitor off the DisplayPort connector, one off the VGA port, and the laptop screen, which would be very weird and I am not sure if it would allow that. You certainly could not run it in Nvidia Surround, you might be able to use it as an extended desktop but you wouldn't play games with it.

Your best bet would be a Triplehead2Go, but even then your graphics card would struggle.

I'm pretty sure 260m is not able to recognize more than 2 monitors no matter what. Only option is use external usb video card/adapter for the extra monitors, I'd personally just get a new laptop.