Displayport-compatible screens needed for Eyefinity?

Post by **BHawthorne** » 26 Sep 2009, 03:26

I just had a thought. Would two 5000 series cards (not in Crossfire) allow you to have 4 DVI ports active? Because it seems buying two 5850 cards (for $250 a piece) would come out to the same as a single 5870 (for $400) + $100 active-DP>DVI adapter. So with 2 cards you could run 4x DVI monitors without any adapters or potential power 6 displays (4x DVI and 2x DP) or 5x DVI displays with only a single active adapter. Plus if ATI ever gets CrossFire and Eyefinity working together it will probably end up being more powerful. What do you guys think?

EyeFinity SLS mode does not bridge GPUs or cards. It has much the same behavior of the old nVidia span modes in that it's single GPU and single card (for now).

cybereality · Post by **cybereality** » 26 Sep 2009, 04:56

Kyle Bennett of HardOCP says he tried the Apple adapter ( http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571Z/A ) and he could not get it to work:

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1034669531&postcount=11

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 26 Sep 2009, 06:05

Kyle Bennett of HardOCP says he tried the Apple adapter ( http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571Z/A ) and he could not get it to work:

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1034669531&postcount=11

according to your article linked

Also, it is my understanding that in the near future you will NOT need an active adapter to output through DP to DVI or HDMI.

when is the "near future"?

For those that wants to know I been at it for like 2 or 3 hours swaping ports/adaptoers/cables.. vga,hdmi,dvi.

Here's my finding:
- no matter what combination I only get two screens/display. it seems u still need a active DP adapter (or a DP screen) for triplehead to work.

- the DVI ports.. u can use a VGA adapter on it and it will work.
- u can use a HDMI->DVI cable/adapter and it will work.

I got two new spare Dell 2408wfpb a02 here that have a displayport. I'm gonna set it up and see how it runs.

be back in an hour or two.

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 26 Sep 2009, 06:06

btw: I want to test out the input lag the Dell 2408WFPb against my BenQ G2400WD

how would I go about doing this?

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 26 Sep 2009, 06:25

btw: I want to test out the input lag the Dell 2408WFPb against my BenQ G2400WD

how would I go about doing this?

Input lag: You set them up in clone mode, put on a large countdown timer that counts in the hundredths of a second realm then take a picture at a very fast shutter speed.

jayodom · Post by **jayodom** » 26 Sep 2009, 06:35

If there are any electronics experts out there that can build circuit boards or design a community based instruction guide, this raw displayport component or something like it, might be able to serve as a base for a homemade Active adapter. I think if you order like a couple thousand you get a reduced price.. LOL just kidding. But in all seriousness. Anybody out there with the drive and skills to design a DIY Active DP to DVI/HDMI adapter?

http://www.paradetech.com/products/displayport-format-converters/displayport-to-hdmidvi-converter/

edit* - This looks to have the DisplayPort Reciever, bi-directional data channel, DisplayPort Firmware, HDCP compliance for HDCP handshake and DVI/HDMI transmitter (assuming you could attach this end to a DVI/HDMI adapter) . Can even support the embedded audio. If you really wanted to go wild you could hardwire this thing right inside you monitor and purchase a DisplayPort Receptacle and you monitor could be converted to a DisplayPort monitor. It only support 1080p and so that means no DVI-D Dual, but I believe it is active converter that makes the DisplayPort authentication (or handshake) and allows DisplayPort functionality to be active.

http://www.paradetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ps161_product_brief_20090331.pdf

I kinda started digging around the DisplayPort.org website and went on a tangent.

- Jay

thenjwaslike · Post by **thenjwaslike** » 26 Sep 2009, 07:06

Kyle Bennett of HardOCP says he tried the Apple adapter ( http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571Z/A ) and he could not get it to work:

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1034669531&postcount=11

i wonder if hes using the miniDP to DVI on the 5870 6dp card?? i thought the regular 5870 has displayport, not mini displayport?

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 26 Sep 2009, 07:07

WTFudge..

I hooked up the 3 monitors
DVI -> BenQ moniotr
DVI -> BenQ monitor
DP -> Dell 2408FWP (with a DP cable)

I can only use 2 screen at a time like previously ?!

btw: I got the Asus 5870 card. (but just using the standard CAtalyst control pannel)

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 26 Sep 2009, 07:23

WTFudge..

I hooked up the 3 monitors
DVI -> BenQ moniotr
DVI -> BenQ monitor
DP -> Dell 2408FWP (with a DP cable)

I can only use 2 screen at a time like previously ?!

btw: I got the Asus 5870 card. (but just using the standard CAtalyst control pannel)

Whoa, maybe it is not the adaptor at all and the WHOLE THING IS LIES! ;)

Good luck :)

thenjwaslike · Post by **thenjwaslike** » 26 Sep 2009, 07:38

WTFudge..

I hooked up the 3 monitors
DVI -> BenQ moniotr
DVI -> BenQ monitor
DP -> Dell 2408FWP (with a DP cable)

I can only use 2 screen at a time like previously ?!

btw: I got the Asus 5870 card. (but just using the standard CAtalyst control pannel)

WWWWWWWTTTTTTTTTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF?!

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 26 Sep 2009, 07:53

damn it's close to 3am and I AM STILL FUDGING with the card

did anyone in this forum got 3x eyefinity working yet?

thenjwaslike · Post by **thenjwaslike** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:04

i have nothing else to say, i highly doubt that the powered/active DP to DVI will work..

geniv2 - not even ur native dp monitor works?!?!?!?!?! ati u motherfudgers...

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:21

mmmm fudge :)

But man I am feeling for you guys. This has been a clusterfudge from start to finish.

I was so looking forward to 3x1920x1200.....looks like I will be looking longer :(

But best of luck

StAnToN · Post by **StAnToN** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:26

Hi

Not sure what you guys are doing but ive got my 5870 card setup with a dell 2409 and two crappy AOC 24"dvi monitors.

What you need to do is go into the desktop and displays section where it shows the three monitors.

You might need to either diable two of the monitors then select the option to make a group it will then arrange them for the maximum res for eyefinity.

let me know if that helps if not tell me exactly what you are trying to do.

cybereality · Post by **cybereality** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:27

Wait... WTF?!?! This is just getting worse and worse by the minute. I'm sticking with Nvidia.

jayodom · Post by **jayodom** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:28

Wow. I'm sure ATI made the whole thing up. * Sarcasm.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:30

If you're gonna go with theoretical remodels of the outputs how about this:
3 non-standard connectors and 3 sets of dual-connector dongles included. 3x dual-dvi, 3x dual-hdmi and 3x dual-dp.

A bit like this hp 8400gs I have has just 1 non-standard connector to dual-vga.

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:33

I doubt it's my system.

I run Windows XP Pro sp3 32 bit
hardware is as follows:
C2D Q6600 @ 3.2 ghz, Enermax Liberty 620watt PSU, Gigabyte GA-965PDS3 mobo, 4x2gb OCZ DDR2 800mhz, 60gb SSD + 320g Maxtor SATAII HD+ WD Raptor X 150g, SB Xi-Fi Extreme Gamer, WinTV PVR 150, 16x DVDRW Liteon, Logitech Cordless MX3100 desktop w MX1000 mouse + G9 laser mouse, Logitech cordless rumblepad 2, Sennheiser HDR100 wireless headset, ATI Remote Wonder II, Logitech QuickCamPro 9000,

the card installs properly.

maybe Asus fludge some how...

even at bios boot/staretup I only get 2 monitors at a time

StAnToN · Post by **StAnToN** » 26 Sep 2009, 08:53

Hi

Please read my post a few posts back.

You will only get two screens at bios it doesnt come into three screens until you get into windows.

Im really supprised people are having problems setting this up i scratched my head to start off with but its quite easy once you get into the ati control manager.

The other thing is are you running the latest drives as i noted that the drivers that came on the disc with my radeon were not the latest.

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/ATIRadeonHD5800seriesrecommendedgraphicsdriver.aspx

theres the link for the latest version of the driver.

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 26 Sep 2009, 09:05

Hi

Please read my post a few posts back.

You will only get two screens at bios it doesnt come into three screens until you get into windows.

Im really supprised people are having problems setting this up i scratched my head to start off with but its quite easy once you get into the ati control manager.

The other thing is are you running the latest drives as i noted that the drivers that came on the disc with my radeon were not the latest.

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/ATIRadeonHD5800seriesrecommendedgraphicsdriver.aspx

theres the link for the latest version of the driver.

I'm running windows XP.

I don't even see any drivers update for the XP version of cataliyst for the 5870, highest it goes is 4790.

but I do see the driver for Vista :(

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