Widescreen Gaming Forum

Hello
Is it possible to use a dual PCI-e Motherboard and 2 PowerColor 6870 Eyefinity 6 Graphic Cards (without Crossfire) to display different or seamless content to 12 different displays?
Will my Windows 7 64Bit and ATI Drivers see and extend on all 12 displays ?
And what MB can handle this ?
Thank you.

If all you want to do is have 12 separate displays then it should be possible with a pair of Eyefinity 6 cards, if you want to create one big display then that's not possible with the ATI drivers alone, you'll need a third party bit of software, like SoftTH.

You may drive 12 display in total with crossfire disabled, as for regarding a motherboard, any mobo with 2 pci-e 16x slots will work.
Do you have something in mind already?

mhmm, Eyefinity 6 cards do have Mini DP Port Right?

If you would use Zotacs Mini DP to 2 HDMI Adapter then you could physically add 12 Monitors to one Card! Might that also work with the Software ? Or could there be a problem ?`

mhmm, Eyefinity 6 cards do have Mini DP Port Right?

If you would use Zotacs Mini DP to 2 HDMI Adapter then you could physically add 12 Monitors to one Card! Might that also work with the Software ? Or could there be a problem ?`

Thanks for a heads up on these finally being out on the market. They've taken their sweet time making these available. I've been waiting a year now. I just picked up 3 to do some testing with.

Also, if you look closely at the product pictures for the adapter it's using a DP-mDP cable into the adapter. For those with mDP ports, just pick up a 3 foot mDP cable at Monoprice and plug it into the adapter instead of the DP-mDP cable supplied. So this adapter can do both mDP and DP with the swap of a short cable.

I would be interested to know if these work with the 5xxx series cards or not.
I get the impression that these devices are DP v1.2 to be able to drive 2x 1920x1080, which the 5xxx series are only DP v1.1, should be fine for all 6 and 7 series.

I should know soon. I have 5870 E6. It might be the excuise I need to upgrade to ASUS 6970 or 7970 DirectCUII cards if it doesn't work. I still really want to get the Sapphire E6 6GB card though. Taking bets the E6 is being a hold out to be used strategically against NVIDIA releases.

Hi thanks for the answers,
@Skid: i don't want do play games, but display video clips, so I cannot use SoftTH. Usefull software by the way
@delphium: I don't have any MB in mind. The processor in an AMD X4 II 640 AM3. Any recommendation ?
@haldi: unfortunately the 2xHDMI splitter is not an option because I want to display a panoramic video clip to the extended displays.

Hi thanks for the answers,
@Skid: i don't want do play games, but display video clips, so I cannot use SoftTH. Usefull software by the way
@delphium: I don't have any MB in mind. The processor in an AMD X4 II 640 AM3. Any recommendation ?
@haldi: unfortunately the 2xHDMI splitter is not an option because I want to display a panoramic video clip to the extended displays.

Not sure what you mean by "option because I want to display a panoramic video clip to the extended displays". It could enable Eyefinity 6x1, 8x1, 10x1 and 12x1 to be done. seems like new maximum options of panoramic display to me.

i meant that using a 2xhdmi splitter i'll get cloned displays. I need all 12 displays to display different content

i meant that using a 2xhdmi splitter i'll get cloned displays.

This is not a simple video splitter, it is an MST HUB.

DisplayPort v1.2 is able to drive 4x 1920x1080 out of a single port, however you require an MST HUB to seperate the 4 video channels, which this Zotec 2x HDMI device achieves.

Thus you can essentialy drive 12 monitors using the zotec device off a single AMD E6 gfx card, we are waiting on conformation to see if they work with the AMD 5xxx series card, as I beleive they will only work with the AMD 6xxx and 7xxx series.

I need all 12 displays to display different content

Alternatively if you are not interested in using Eyefinity and Crossfire, then you could also simply use 2x AMD E6 gfx cards which give you 12 independent outputs in total.

Or you could also go down the route of a motherboard with 4x pci-e 16x slots running at 8x electrical and use 4 cheaper amd cards that would give you 3x outputs each.
I built a pc for work that powers 12 screens using an AMD CPU + 4x AMD GPU's, 6450's or something ill have to get the specs, as this worked out cheaper than 8 active adaptors and 2 E6 cards.

hey Timdas, if your looking to display one long extended video, you should look into this software : http://resolume.com/ It will allow you to que up multiple video's, trigger them and manipulate them in real time. (the forums are full of helpful people)

I use it all the time with my Eyefinity 6 card, and you can also extend the display to multiple cards, so doing 12 screens would not be a problem. But your going to need to spend some cash on your rig! this isn't an easy task....

This is not a simple video splitter, it is an MST HUB.

DisplayPort v1.2 is able to drive 4x 1920x1080 out of a single port, however you require an MST HUB to seperate the 4 video channels, which this Zotec 2x HDMI device achieves.

That sounds really interesting. What about the problem of needing active adaptors when connecting more than two non-DP monitors? Are they required in addition to the zotac devices?

If not, that would be great!

From what we understand, the zotec device has 2 active adaptors built in :)

@stickygreen : thanks for the tip. i already tested resolume.
@Delphium: thanks for the info regarding the hub

I want to tell you guys exactly what i need so maybe you have other ideas:
I already bought the following configuration:
AMD Athlon II X4 640 AM3, 8 GB ram, NOX URANO II 530 PSU and 1xPowerColor 6870 Eyefinity 6
i don't want to use it for gaming but for video playback
I have 5 video projectors side by side , another 2 video projectors side by side (using eyefinty in 1x2 mode) and 4 lcd side by side, mounted in different corners of a showroom.
I want to display video content on these compositions.
One option is to use windows 7's extended displays and play clips using VLC (in wall mode) or use Resolume which can select the desired display to play on.

My options to achieve the desired output configuration will be:
1.2x PowerColor 6870 Eyefinity 6 (and changing also the MB and the PSU)
2.1x PowerColor 6870 Eyefinity 6 + Zotacs Mini DP to 2 HDMI Adapter (but i don't know how windows reacts to this adapter . any idea ? is a driver or software that help me configure the output ?
3. a nice and interesting gadget that works though LAN: i-tec Multimedia Distribution Client but i don't know their feature yet besides the site's info. I've send them an email

...........
2.1x PowerColor 6870 Eyefinity 6 + Zotacs Mini DP to 2 HDMI Adapter (but i don't know how windows reacts to this adapter . any idea ? is a driver or software that help me configure the output ?

I think each Desktop will be recognised as if it were connected with a single HDMI/Dp cable!

3. a nice and interesting gadget that works though LAN: i-tec Multimedia Distribution Client but i don't know their feature yet besides the site's info. I've send them an email

You may easily have slide shows or DVD video in full HD resolution on up to 6 screens.

Wonder what they'll answer in their mail :)

Sounds like you should be looking into a digital sign player solution.
check out the brand ROKU, and there brightsign series. it's all inter-connectable, and scalable, it will suit your needs, and will work without problems.

@stickygreen : i've search for Roku but i cannot figure how to play extended 5x1 video with that without an expensive system. The digital signage solutions are way over my budget.
@Haldi: i-tec sent me the email but it seems that it works well only on Microsoft Multipoint Server 2010 and that win 7 offers some problems.
i still wait for some answers

@stickygreen : i've search for Roku but i cannot figure how to play extended 5x1 video with that without an expensive system. The digital signage solutions are way over my budget.

It's going to cost less in the end, trust me, this is what i specialize in. Fixed/permanent and mobile/temporary video instillation, projectors, monitors, TV's, multi-screen, video mapping, edge blending, even full dome content and live playback.

I don't come to this site cause I'm a gamer...

The system that you've spec'd out, isn't very powerful, and could cause you issues in a few ways. It's really hard to understand exactly what you are trying to do, because you haven't explained it in detail. I can tell you, that running 12 monitors at XGA resolution will take a much more powerful system than what you're planning to use.

If you'd like to get into more detail i can help. I will need to know.

total number of images to be shown - how many have to be spanned content, and how many are single displays, can any of them be the same image, like the LCD monitors in the corner of the room?
types of displays - resolution, input connection type.
cable lengths, and type?
your expectation for length of video clips to run, and is this on a loop, or do you want to control it?
your expectation of resolution, codec, file format?
and most importantly, your expected budget?

@stickygreen, i've send you a PM