Displayport-compatible screens needed for Eyefinity?

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 16 Sep 2009, 15:53

Odd. Maybe I'm just lucky, then, but I've got so many DVI->VGA adaptors lying around I can't remember where half of them are... :lol:

cybereality · Post by **cybereality** » 19 Sep 2009, 06:31

I know we have gone through this, but just to be sure, this will work with 3 DVI monitors right?

I am looking at this from AMD/ATI's site:

Driver version 8.66 (Catalyst 9.10) or above is required to support ATI Eyefinity technology and to enable a third display you require one panel with a DisplayPort connector.

http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity.aspx

Or this slide:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_5000_Leaks/images/displays1.jpg

Post by **BHawthorne** » 19 Sep 2009, 09:47

*edited by BHawthorne* Removed inaccurate pre-release info about adapters.

cybereality · Post by **cybereality** » 19 Sep 2009, 16:17

1920x1200 or smaller resolution with a displayport to dvi passive adapter. No need for a display with displayport on it.

Thank you.

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 20 Sep 2009, 04:07

1920x1200 or smaller resolution with a displayport to dvi passive adapter. No need for a display with displayport on it.

thanks for saying this, because i was about to yell out that the only reason they needed that adapter was because they were running 30 inchers with a massive resolution. I've been able to run 24" lcd's with 1920x1080 over vga.

whismerhill · Post by **whismerhill** » 20 Sep 2009, 13:00

[quote]1920x1200 or smaller resolution with a displayport to dvi passive adapter. No need for a display with displayport on it.

thanks for saying this, because i was about to yell out that the only reason they needed that adapter was because they were running 30 inchers with a massive resolution. I've been able to run 24" lcd's with 1920x1080 over vga.
Is there really any limit to what signal a VGA cable can carry ?
I don't think so but I could be wrong...
Still, it's analog and therefore shouldn't have any bandwidth restrictions as far as I know

however the quality of the signal is not the same, protection against parasites isn't that good either & cable lenght is pretty limited or else you lose on quality again ...

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 20 Sep 2009, 14:18

[quote][quote]1920x1200 or smaller resolution with a displayport to dvi passive adapter. No need for a display with displayport on it.

thanks for saying this, because i was about to yell out that the only reason they needed that adapter was because they were running 30 inchers with a massive resolution. I've been able to run 24" lcd's with 1920x1080 over vga.
Is there really any limit to what signal a VGA cable can carry ?
I don't think so but I could be wrong...
Still, it's analog and therefore shouldn't have any bandwidth restrictions as far as I know

however the quality of the signal is not the same, protection against parasites isn't that good either & cable lenght is pretty limited or else you lose on quality again ...well i know that it is a pain to run 1080p over component unless you are using a REALLY short cable. Also I just ran my step dad's 24" 1920x1200 over DVI, it works fine without a duel link. Makes me want to replace my spare 19" with a 24"

Post by **BHawthorne** » 20 Sep 2009, 19:01

*edited by BHawthorne* Removed inaccurate pre-release info about adapters.

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 20 Sep 2009, 20:46

[quote][quote][quote]1920x1200 or smaller resolution with a displayport to dvi passive adapter. No need for a display with displayport on it.

thanks for saying this, because i was about to yell out that the only reason they needed that adapter was because they were running 30 inchers with a massive resolution. I've been able to run 24" lcd's with 1920x1080 over vga.
Is there really any limit to what signal a VGA cable can carry ?
I don't think so but I could be wrong...
Still, it's analog and therefore shouldn't have any bandwidth restrictions as far as I know

however the quality of the signal is not the same, protection against parasites isn't that good either & cable lenght is pretty limited or else you lose on quality again ...

VGA is analog. These passive adapters require hdmi or dvi digital port on the display. The only cost effective adapter are digital-to-digital with the bandwidth of "single-dvi" for these cards. Seriously, if you're using VGA get a new display. The active converter for DisplyPort-to-VGA would cost as much as a new display. :wink:

I was merely stating that it was possible. There is also an HDMI port on the back, but we all know that HDMI has a greater bandwidth then DVI.

bandito · Post by **bandito** » 23 Sep 2009, 02:32

I was merely stating that it was possible. There is also an HDMI port on the back, but we all know that HDMI has a greater bandwidth then DVI.

Not all HDMI,.... only HDMI 1.3 specs with greater bandwidth than DL-DVI or even DP.. However, hardly any devices/displays utilize that bandwidth or 1.3 specs.

Concerning bandwidth... analog VGA with 400MHz RAMDACs beats HDMI 1.3's, DP's and DL-DVI's bandwidth (but being an analog signal instead of digital)

rbjorn · Post by **rbjorn** » 23 Sep 2009, 11:42

So anyone see any reason a simple Displayport > VGA converter from HP, Dell etc for around $35 shouldn´t work for this?

YouTube · Post by **ViciousXUSMC** » 23 Sep 2009, 12:47

So anyone see any reason a simple Displayport > VGA converter from HP, Dell etc for around $35 shouldn´t work for this?

Well for $35 it sounds like an adapter not a converter. To go from analog (vga) to DP/HDMI/DVI (digital) you would need a device to transcode the signal on the fly and they are usually $100+

So many people I have seen on my other forum that buy the laptop VGA --> DVI adapter for $2.50 on ebay and wonder why it doesnt work....

Typhoon2000 · Post by **Typhoon2000** » 23 Sep 2009, 14:40

I suspect it may be better for me to sell a Dell 2407WFP and replace it with a second hand 2408WFP which has dispalyport if it appears you need an expensivconverter rather than an adaptor. Any Eyefinity reviews been posted?

rbjorn · Post by **rbjorn** » 23 Sep 2009, 14:58

Well for $35 it sounds like an adapter not a converter. To go from analog (vga) to DP/HDMI/DVI (digital) you would need a device to transcode the signal on the fly and they are usually $100+

So many people I have seen on my other forum that buy the laptop VGA --> DVI adapter for $2.50 on ebay and wonder why it doesnt work....

Maybe a stupid question, but what are those adapters purpose (Displayport > VGA) then if they can´t convert the signal? You mean sometimes the Displayport sends out an analog signal?

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 23 Sep 2009, 20:57

I think reviews of the 5870 that deal with EyeFinity are going to be left to "us" to do, rather than any of the normal review sites. From the short section Anandtech had about it, the reviewer didn't seem like it was worth his time. Guru3D might be different and do one in future, but who knows?

And rbjorn... I agree. I see no point in these cheap DP->VGA adaptors if they don't work. I guess time will tell.

DaFox · Post by **DaFox** » 23 Sep 2009, 22:35

[quote]So anyone see any reason a simple Displayport > VGA converter from HP, Dell etc for around $35 shouldn´t work for this?

Well for $35 it sounds like an adapter not a converter. To go from analog (vga) to DP/HDMI/DVI (digital) you would need a device to transcode the signal on the fly and they are usually $100+

So many people I have seen on my other forum that buy the laptop VGA --> DVI adapter for $2.50 on ebay and wonder why it doesnt work....

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MB572Z/A
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5107&seq=1&format=2

These look like active converters to me (due to their formfactor). I really dont see why these would not just work fine.

I use a $2.50 VGA -> DVI adapter just fine.

Magic Man · Post by **Magic Man** » 23 Sep 2009, 23:28

Those passive VGA-DVI adaptors only work where the DVI input is DVI-I capable, i.e. it is taking the DVI-A component of the cable.

Connecting a VGA output via such an adaptor to a suitable monitor is still connecting via a VGA signal it is just that the monitor is capable of taking and accepting the analogue VGA singal over the DVI(-A) part of the cable.

My HP LP1965's have dual DVI-I connections, i.e. you can connect via analogue or digital, it comes with a VGA to DVI cable - but it's still analogue.

bandito · Post by **bandito** » 23 Sep 2009, 23:41

DP to VGA adapters are (most likely) not active adapters, but a signal/cable pass through adapters (as with the DVI-I to VGA adapters). It seems Apple are the only ones using the DP to carry analog VGA signals as well (and charging a lot for the adapter, USD 34, when it should cost only about USD2.5)

dazboots · Post by **dazboots** » 24 Sep 2009, 00:18

Those passive VGA-DVI adaptors only work where the DVI input is DVI-I capable, i.e. it is taking the DVI-A component of the cable.

Connecting a VGA output via such an adaptor to a suitable monitor is still connecting via a VGA signal it is just that the monitor is capable of taking and accepting the analogue VGA singal over the DVI(-A) part of the cable.

My HP LP1965's have dual DVI-I connections, i.e. you can connect via analogue or digital, it comes with a VGA to DVI cable - but it's still analogue.

will this work on my 22 inch screen.

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Cabling/HDMI%2FMonitor+Cables/DISPLAY+PORT+M+-+DVI+F+ADAPTOR?productId=36183

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 24 Sep 2009, 00:21

will this work on my 22 inch screen.

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Cabling/HDMI%2FMonitor+Cables/DISPLAY+PORT+M+-+DVI+F+ADAPTOR?productId=36183

We don't know for sure.

That's the problem.

ATi's rep is sure taking his time clearing this concern up. :(

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