Displayport-compatible screens needed for Eyefinity?

rbjorn · Post by **rbjorn** » 12 Sep 2009, 21:29

Hi,

Been lurking these forums for a while but never posted until now. Anyhow, have a question that someone might have an answer to. Looking at the cards it seems the "basic" models will have something like 2 DVI, 1 Displayport and 1 HDMI.

So you think it would be possible to use some kind of converter from Displayport to DVI/VGA for the third screen, or may we actually be required to upgrade to Displayport compatible screens to use three at once?

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 12 Sep 2009, 21:39

AMD has stated that you need at the very least DVI capable screens. That implies no VGA, Component.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 12 Sep 2009, 21:41

Yeah I asked this in the main thread, a DP to DVI converter has you covered.

rbjorn · Post by **rbjorn** » 12 Sep 2009, 21:49

Yeah, kinda figured that. Bummer as I have three 22" LG W2241S with only VGA connections at home. Guess it´s a good time to ditch those and get 24" instead.

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 12 Sep 2009, 21:57

Yeah, kinda figured that. Bummer as I have three 22" LG W2241S with only VGA connections at home. Guess it´s a good time to ditch those and get 24" instead.

We dont specifically know if VGA does not work, just based on that single statement we can assume that. I hope it does I'm still the kind of guy that would love a 3xCRT setup :3.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 12 Sep 2009, 22:04

Until someone can actually try hooking a DVI->VGA adaptor to a display port ->DVI adaptor to check, we won't know for sure. I'm not likely to be the first guy with one of these, but if no one else does, I'll try slapping some VGA adaptors on the displayport->DVI adaptor (etc) and checking.

Screens like the Dell 2405/2407/2408/2409 have both DVI and VGA, so should be easy to check.

bandito · Post by **bandito** » 13 Sep 2009, 07:02

I do not think DP carries VGA analog signal as the GCs with DVI-I output, I'm not certain though...

Post by **BHawthorne** » 13 Sep 2009, 07:24

Mini-DP to analog VGA is gonna be expensive. Getting 6 of those converters would not be cost effective.

bandito · Post by **bandito** » 13 Sep 2009, 13:44

After some read up,..there are some DP that are capable to pass through analog vga signal (As DVI-I connector pass through VGA)

Dave Baumann · Post by **Dave Baumann** » 13 Sep 2009, 15:59

DisplayPort outputs are required to be used, however active adapters can also be used convert >2 "legacy" outputs to other display output types. So, with an active DP-to-DVI or active DP-to-VGA those other display input types can be used.

rbjorn · Post by **rbjorn** » 13 Sep 2009, 16:13

Ah, would be great if that works Dave. Getting a DP converter is certainly cheaper than getting new screens.

whismerhill · Post by **whismerhill** » 13 Sep 2009, 16:35

DisplayPort outputs are required to be used, however active adapters can also be used convert >2 "legacy" outputs to other display output types. So, with an active DP-to-DVI or active DP-to-VGA those other display input types can be used.

yes but on the DVI side of things that's required only for Dual link DVI
single link DVI only needs a standard adapter

edit: corrected an error of mine

Dave Baumann · Post by **Dave Baumann** » 13 Sep 2009, 16:40

I can't go into product specifics at the moment, some of these questions can be better answered later :)

Post by **thales100** » 13 Sep 2009, 17:09

I can't go into product specifics at the moment, some of these questions can be better answered later :)

Thanks Dave, this new Eyefinity technology seems to be really amazing. :)

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 13 Sep 2009, 18:20

DisplayPort outputs are required to be used, however active adapters can also be used convert >2 "legacy" outputs to other display output types. So, with an active DP-to-DVI or active DP-to-VGA those other display input types can be used.

So for anyone that wants something other than native display port displays you'll need a 150$+ powered transcoder box per output?

Seems awfully bad design to me considering how little widespread displayport is.

Dave Baumann · Post by **Dave Baumann** » 13 Sep 2009, 18:23

So for anyone that wants something other than native display port displays you'll need a 150$+ powered transcoder box per output?

Seems awfully bad design to me considering how little widespread displayport is.

Well, frankly speaking, this wouldn't be cost effective to do if it wasn't for DisplayPort. DP adoption has been in the chicken & egg stage for some but Eyefinity will give the market the kickstart its needed for a while.

Additionally we're working the ecosystem right now and active adapters should be coming through at better pricing than has been seen before.

cybereality · Post by **cybereality** » 13 Sep 2009, 19:09

Wait, so you are telling me that a standard $25 DP>DVI adapter won't work?
Like this for example: http://www.startech.com/item/DP2DVI-DisplayPort-to-DVI-Cable-Adapter.aspx

Post by **thales100** » 13 Sep 2009, 19:33

Additionally we're working the ecosystem right now and active adapters should be coming through at better pricing than has been seen before.

Sounds good, but maybe you could have simply designed some 3 x DVI out 5870 ? :wink: Thats what maybe 90% of the surround / multi monitor gamers will need, that would be plug and play "no extra expensive adapters needed" for all.

whismerhill · Post by **whismerhill** » 13 Sep 2009, 22:20

[quote]
Additionally we're working the ecosystem right now and active adapters should be coming through at better pricing than has been seen before.

Sounds good, but maybe you could have simply designed some 3 x DVI out 5870 ? :wink: Thats what maybe 90% of the surround / multi monitor gamers will need, that would be plug and play "no extra expensive adapters needed" for all.
no wonder there will be some other cards with other things than 6x miniDP on their outputs
if not directly made by ATI then it will be other partners ...

Post by **MobsterOO7** » 13 Sep 2009, 22:24

Sounds good, but maybe you could have simply designed some 3 x DVI out 5870 ? :wink: Thats what maybe 90% of the surround / multi monitor gamers will need, that would be plug and play "no extra expensive adapters needed" for all.

From what I can see about this new tech, ATi is doing their best to make this compatible with as much as possible. Making a whole new line of cards with 3xDVI slots only for a niche market such as this would be counter productive when you can just use a few adapters.

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