Question More than 4 Monitors - windows 10 - how?

[Iddo Genuth]

Hi All,
Quick question. I have a desktop PC (win 10) with an RTX 1080TI and four 4K monitors connected to it (not for gaming - normal work, video, image editing etc.).

I want more monitors (again 4K ones) - what are my best options for doing this?

Iddo

 

[geofelt]

What is your motherboard?
If it has integrated graphics you should be able to attach perhaps two more monitors.

Or, you can install a second graphics card to attach them.

What is your application that needs so many 4k monitors?

 

[Iddo Genuth]

No integrated graphics in the MB (and this is not a good way of adding monitors anyway as it can at most add 1 monitor).

I multi-task so I do many many things at once and working with monitors of different resolutions is very problematic so I prefer everything at 4K.

Adding another graphic card is not as straightforward as it might sound.

I would be happy to hear from people who actually did this and how it works and what issues they ran into.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You only have 2 options:

1. Use the integrated video. And yes, if there are multiple connectors you can add generally up to 2 additional monitors.
2. Add 1 or more additional video cards, power supply permitting.

That's all there is.

 

[Iddo Genuth]

Forget about 1.
Let's discuss option 2.
What happens if you just "throw in" another GPU - most MB has only a single slot for fast GPU the other pci-es are much slower typically - how will the OS recognize it and work with it?

As I said I would really like to hear from people who have actually did this and worked this way - this is not a very common thing and I do expect issues.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

A video card can go into ANY PCIE slot and will work just fine. As you've already stated that you don't game then the difference between a card operating at x4 and another at x2 or x3 will not be distinguishable. This is done every single day without problems. This is much ado about absolutely nothing.

 

[USAFRet]

Just a thoughht process, but instead of 8x normal 4k screens, how about 4x very wide screens?

 

[geofelt]

What is the application?
Perhaps a single large 4k monitor could be divided up into windows, say for stock charts.

What kind of connection do you need?
There are some workstation graphics cards that will connect up to 6 monitors via displayport.

 

[Iddo Genuth]

I will try to connect a second GPU and see if it works - despite what ex_bubblehead stated I am not optimistic - I fully expect all sorts of issues - from driver issues to all sorts of other OS BS.

I do not want other monitor setups - thank you - my question was about connecting more than four 4K monitors into one PC.

 

[DRagor]

I will try to connect a second GPU and see if it works - despite what ex_bubblehead stated I am not optimistic - I fully expect all sorts of issues - from driver issues to all sorts of other OS BS.

Well, if you were kind enough to answer the question about what motherboard you have we might have more useful answers, including ones covering those issues ... but you are not helping.

 

[Iddo Genuth]

The MB is an old X99 (sabertooth) but the computer as a whole will be replaced with X790+Intel 13'd Gen in a few months - the question will still be relevant for that computer.

 

[DRagor]

The MB is an old X99 (sabertooth) but the computer as a whole will be replaced with X790+Intel 13'd Gen in a few months - the question will still be relevant for that computer.

The question will be relevant, but the answer might be different. See, there are already 12th Gen Intel motherboards that have 2 HDMI and 2 DP ports, possibly allowing 4 extra monitors from mobo alone (possibly because mobo specs don't state what max number they can drive unfortunately). There is possibility you may not need a second GPU at all when you upgrade.

 

[Iddo Genuth]

Why the insistence on using MB ports? I will not buy a MB based on this factor and it will limit me in the future - I prefer an option that will allow me to extend my setup easily up to at least 8 4K monitors - and this will require another GPU - my question is to people who actually did this and work in this way - what problems should I expect.

 

[USAFRet]

Why the insistence on using MB ports? I will not buy a MB based on this factor and it will limit me in the future - I prefer an option that will allow me to extend my setup easily up to at least 8 4K monitors - and this will require another GPU - my question is to people who actually did this and work in this way - what problems should I expect.

And we're just trying to get you to a viable solution.

Are you looking for "number of monitors"?
Or are you looking for some number of screen real estate in square inches and resolution?

 

[DRagor]

Why the insistence on using MB ports?

Definitely not my intention. Just presenting you the options you might not know. But I don't care what option you choose, that's not my money.

and this will require another GPU - my question is to people who actually did this and work in this way - what problems should I expect.

Running more than one GPU presents three challenges: One - motherboard that has correct PCIe slots. In your scenario not a problem since you are going to buy new one anyway. Two - power. Depending on what is second GPU you may be forced to change PSU to be able to run them both. Three - drivers. That mostly depends on what GPU you will mix. Some combinations might be not possible.

 

[geofelt]

Running a second graphics adapter works fine.
I had occasion to emergency use motherboard graphics along with discrete graphics with no issues.
If you will use a second graphics adapter along with your GTX1080ti, make it nvidia, the same as your current main gpu. They will use the same graphics driver.
Possibly issues might arise if you need both nvidia and amd drivers.

PCIE2/3/4... are both forward and backwards compatible.
The main difference is the speed.
With gtx1080ti class cards, there is minimal difference in performance between pcie3 and pcie4.
It is only the very top encd cards that might show a small difference. think 5%.
Running at X8 will make no difference. This assertion is one you can probably test out for yourself by trying out your card is a x8 slot.

 

[Iddo Genuth]

Thanks for the answers guys.
I will try to see if an old GTX 950 I have here will work on the X99 for now.

For the new computer, everything is going to be top of the line (I buy super high-end gear but keep it for many years typically).