IGPU + GPU for 3 monitors

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cbaker007

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Apr 5, 2013
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Let me preface this by saying, I am no gamer. I am a business user who does occasional graphics work and light video editing (NOT OFTEN). I don't care as much about frame rate and could care less about getting a headache with 3D. I want more monitors and don't want to spend a ton of money for a 4 head graphics card.

I have an ASUS P8Z77-V with an i7, quad core processor and 16 GB ram. That motherboard uses the Z77 chipset with an Intel HD 4000 iGPU. The motherboard has dual PCI-e 16 slots that support some 16x and 8x modes. Additionally the manual says it supports ATI CrossFireX technology with 1 or 2 (identical) CrossFireX-ready cards, NVIDA SLI mode with 2 (identical) SLI ready cards, and LucidLogix Vitur MVP to allow an iGPU (VGA) and a discrete GPU to work better. I am running Windows 7 x64 but also use VMs of Windows 8 and various Linux flavors at times (shouldn't be a factor).

I contacted ASUS support and asked how can I support the dual iGPU with dual monitors and a card for a 3rd monitor. They told me "you will want a Nvidia card that supports iGPU Multi-Monitor support and the LucidLogix Virtu MVP software. You should be able to find a card on Nvidia's website that is compatible with that." They added that their is a setting in BIOS that allows me to turn on the iGPU and a discrete card. I was always under the impression that it was either one or the other.

So I tried looking on NVIDA and AMD (ATI) and had no luck figuring out which cards would support using the internal GPU (1 or two monitors ... currently use it for 2 and works great) and adding a card for the 3rd (and possibly 4th) monitor. I have a card with dual outputs from my old PC (a few years old) but I know it has an older NVIDIA GeForce chipset on it. So I came here to try and figure this out before I buy a card. So I was hoping to buy 1 card with dual outputs and not spend hundreds. I guess I would be willing to buy 2 cards, but would rather not if I could use the internal GPU too.

I have read the sticky on CrossFire and SLI in this forum. I am no expert and the article did mention the ability to use your internal GPU (iGPU) and a discrete GPU at the same time in passing but never really expanded on it. If I understand correctly this is a newer feature in Intel Core Sandy Bridge (3xxx) or later chipset ... like 2011 and later. I have also read a few postings here about some trying it on newer hardware and having mixed results. But most was referring to getting some "performance" enhancement and using some virtual GPU software or driver.

Can anyone tell me what series of what GPU chipset should allow me to use my internal GPU and a discrete GPU to get 3 or 4 monitors? Am I bleeding edge or will this be stable? If I have to buy 2 cards, any cheap suggestions?

NOTES:
I have an i3770 processor and this review (http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/intel_ivy_bridge_core_i5_3570k_core_i7_3770k_review,2.html) says it should support on board 3 displays. I could not get HDMI, VGA, and DVI to work. Did not try Display Port. HDMI would show up in Win 7 but I would have to disable one of the other displays to get the HDMI to work. Intel website says same thing (# of displays supported = 3) http://ark.intel.com/products/65719/Intel-Core-i7-3770-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz

Monitors have DVI and VGA. I have HDMI to VGA and HDMI to DVI adapter for testing but don't want to do this perm.

 
Solution
k1114
In theory the igpu should actually work with any discrete gpu but I keep seeing issues with asus mobos. Manofchalk and myself have asrock mobos and I too use the igpu with my 560ti for multiple monitors. Simply have igpu multi monitor enabled in bios and it works. For asus I have seen sometimes where you need virtu installed too. If you are unable to get both to work then there is no need for a $100 card. Be aware you can use 2 different discrete gpus in the same pc as well (unrelated to mobo chipsets). Since this is just for monitors, sli and cf are unnecessary.
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Honestly I think considering you are just going to be displaying on multiple monitors and no gaming you should just go look for a single card like a gt640. It would work just fine to display on all 4 monitors. You would get hdmi dual dvi and a vga output all on the single card. The setup would probably work a whole lot easier than trying to pair a separate card with the intel built in graphics. That and you can find the card for right around 100$ usually depending where you live.
 
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I would rather not spend $100 if I don't have to. I don't understand the documents suggest I should be able to use the iGPU for 3 monitors but that does not seem to work (maybe I am missing a setting). Or if I can buy a $40 video card, I would do that but I don't want to get the wrong one. As a last resort I will buy a 4 head unit or dual 2 head.
 
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Basically your just after extra displays, not really performance. Just get to two weak as cards (say GT210's) run them in SLI in the rig to get the necessary display outputs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121662

That being said, I am running a graphics card coupled with integrated just fine with my triple monitor setup. Dont ask how I did it, it just worked outright. Two of my monitors are connected to the GPU, one to the iGPU.
 
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Well you are going to need to adjust in the screen resolution settings to either extend or duplicate your monitors to the new screens chances are it won't auto detect and do it for you in regards to running 3 monitors on the igpu. I do believe that it will cause trouble trying to mix and match cards even if it says they are supported although I have never tested the setup you are proposing. Even amd has issues trying to match their own cards with their own apu's. Though if you are willing to spend some time playing in your bios trying to see whether to initialize the internal gpu first or the external card first. Though i still think you are going to have a bad experience trying to do it this way and end up with a cheap video that won't display on all the monitors you need it to. Duplicating the monitors I can see it remotely working. Extending your screens probably not. I would just spend the extra 60$ and buy the graphics card with 4 ports. Could drop it in disable your internal graphics and load it up and drink your coffee. Probably take as much time as it takes to open the case and install the thing.
 
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Can I ask what processor, chipset, and GPU chipset you are using that works with iGPU (x1) and GPU (x2)?

 
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In theory the igpu should actually work with any discrete gpu but I keep seeing issues with asus mobos. Manofchalk and myself have asrock mobos and I too use the igpu with my 560ti for multiple monitors. Simply have igpu multi monitor enabled in bios and it works. For asus I have seen sometimes where you need virtu installed too. If you are unable to get both to work then there is no need for a $100 card. Be aware you can use 2 different discrete gpus in the same pc as well (unrelated to mobo chipsets). Since this is just for monitors, sli and cf are unnecessary.
 
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Solution
You can set either to primary, this is just which monitor bios will show on. Which monitor is set to primary in windows will affect which card software uses. Although the adobe and autodesk software I have ignore any setting and use my 560ti regardless.

Btw I have a i5 2500k, asrock z68 pro3, 560ti. Manofchalk has i5-3570k, AsRock Z77 Extreme4, HD7870 or so it says in his sig.
 
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Are you sure you really need 4 monitors?

Check out "hydravision" from amd. (you can just look or search for it, before buying a card)
What does it do? It works the same as having multiple windows accounts so you can switch between multiple desktops on the same computer. The windows version is slow and "clunky" as it takes time to switch making it sort of useless.
For Hydravision to work well you must assign some hotkeys and remember a few important ones.

Almost any low end ATI/AMD card will work for Hydravision.

Nvidia also has their version of this, and i think intel does too.

You don't need a card as powerful as a geforce 650 or hd-7770 to do this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121439R
$31.99 Open Box
ASUS EAH6450 Silent/DI/1GD3(LP) Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card

Ask a few friends what old cards they might have laying around.

 
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Well, after some playing, I think you are right K1114 that there is some iGPU + GPU issue with ASUS on the 3rd gen Intel Core series. I have tried several different BIOS settings to get the combo to work with the GT640 card I purchased. No luck. I did not install the Virtu GPU software, but outside of that nothing seemed to allow both to run. ASUS has no information in the manual either. I am disappointed in that to say the least since the iGPU (4000) is decent for what it is. I only had a choice locally for a G210 or a 640 that is suppose to support 3 monitors. So I paid 2x the 210 price but I guess that will be good in the end. It was either 2 - 210's or 1 - 640 and they cost the same. Took the better performing 640.

So I guess I need a mini-HDMI adapter and I will assume I can get the 3rd running on HDMI.

I should call ASUS and tell them to send me a free video card for the BS propaganda about their iGPU + GPU option.

Thanks for the responses.
 
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From what I can read, it is required if you want to "marry" the two GPUs together. Additionally from what I read, it basically adds the processing power of the iGPU to the GPU but does not change your ability to use the iGPU with a display (diagram on software developer's web site implies the display should be connected on GPU). So while I enabled it in BIOS it did nothing to enable the other card (could not be seen in Windows and the GPU display was set back to just VGA in 16 color even with the driver installed). When I could not find the install disk easily, I figured it was a waste of time. Are you thinking it would work with the virtu?
 
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It does not add processing power of each and doesn't have to be connected to the card. I am guessing because how they setup the bios, virtu is needed to "run" the igpu. You may not even have to have virtu running but the other thread I helped with the same issue would not answer me if it was running or not. He just said he installed it, it worked and was never heard from again.

I don't know what you are referring to when you said you enabled "it." And you didn't say which driver you are talking about either. You'll want the latest version of drivers off their respective site, never use the driver disks. Make sure both discrete and igpu drivers are installed first before virtu. I did mention virtu mvp might be a requirement on asus mobos for igpu multi monitor to work. http://www.lucidlogix.com/driverdownloads-mvp.shtml
 
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