Need help choosing Graphics card for 4 monitors...

Brian8377

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Hello all! Ok, I've been having NOTHING but problems with my XFX 6870 eyefinity card...it's LOUD, and it constantly crashes and gives the "system has recovered..." error, so much that it's actually not even usable, so, It's getting returned. But now I have on idea what to get.

I've built a high end PC specifically for a digital audio workstation. I'm using an i7 3930K processor, Asus Sabertooth x79 motherboard, 32G ram, SSD for system and HDD for project storage. I would like to keep the pc as quiet as possible, so maybe a passive cooled card?

I need to be able to run 4 monitors, well, actually, 3 monitors and an HDTV. I chose the 6870 eyefinity card because it was capable of the 4 monitor outputs, but it crashes so often that I can't even use the PC.

So, what would the best option be for driving 3 monitors plus a tv? I'm not going to be doing any gaming, just need lots of desktop space to work with, and will use the main TV to watch videos and search the net with. The three monitors I have are all Dell U2312HM's. They have display port, dvi, and vga, but no hdmi.

Please help! I'm completely lost with all the choices and i don't know what to do now...thanks!

Brian
 

laircouk

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If you have the budget, I would suggest these GPU for work and playing games... if you have time.

Diablo 3 FOR PC is coming to town! You don't want to miss that... play some games if you have time. It will be fun... :)

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MSI R7870 Twin-Frozr Edition (2GB)
http://msi.com/product/vga/R7870-Twin-Frozr-2GD5-OC.html

If you have the budget, I would prefer this if you're going to work with 3 monitor @ maximum performance / resolution.

MSI R7970 Frozr ~Lightning Edition (3GB)
http://msi.com/product/vga/R7970-Lightning.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127670


This is also an alternative from XFX with "Ghost Technology" Cooling support. One of my LAN buddy, he got one of this monster. It supports his 24" ASUS monitor without crashing or chocking itself... pretty good GPU and a lot better than XFX previous GPU model.

XFX Radeon HD 7970 DOUBLE DISSIPATION Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150596

P.S. These GPUs will require Silver ~ Gold 80 Plus PSU. So please consider checking your PSU power unit just to make sure...







 

Brian8377

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Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately, those are WAYYYY out of my price range, and from the look of them, way too advanced for my needs. I'm looking for a simple, quiet card.


Open to using two cards if need be, but want to stay around what the 6870 cost, around $170 or so. Again, no gaming or anything like that, just normal use x4...

Brian
 

laircouk

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Brian8377

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I apologize...there was a typo in the earlier message! I meant to say that I'd like to stay around the same price that the 6870 had cost me, OR LESS! ...so around $170 or less...

The original idea was to buy this card because it would provide enough power to do video editing etc.etc. if I decided to do that in the future. However, with the noise and the problems it's just not going to work for me. So now I just want a quiet card (or two) that can just do 4 displays reliably. I can't have all these crashes in the middle of recording audio...

Thanks!

Brian
 

laircouk

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If you want to go for a little more, not much... I would prefer this if you have the budget.

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7770 (1GB) $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102967

ASUS HD7770 V2 (1GB) $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121632

Both of these GPU has good cooling support and provides better performance than HD 7750 Series GPUs.

It's your choice, your decision and your budget. Don't forget to read costumer's review... :)


This is the best card you can get @ your preferred budget. It has good cooling performance and runs pretty well under load.
Also, please consider reading costumer's review. :)

MSI R7770 (1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127664

1x DVI, 2 x mini display port, 1 x HDMI - Good enough for 3 monitor setup!
 

Brian8377

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Yes, but I need to run 4 monitors...

I'm so frustrated with this amd/ati driver problem right now that I'd rather just stay away from them altogether...I'm afraid I'm just going to have the same issues.

I've got over $1800 in a computer I can't use because it keeps freezing up.

Isn't there a SIMPLE solution to running 4 monitors in an extended desktop mode without using eyefinity? This is 2012...there has to be a stable way to do this...

Also, i forgot to mention, My x79 motherboard doesn't have onboard video....
 

laircouk

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Sigh...

One of my buddy doesn't have any problems using 3 monitor when gaming. His GPU is high-end: "Ati 7970 DOUBLE DISSIPATION Edition". He didn't have any problems...

Second, you will need Nvidia / AMD GPUs to run triple ~ quad monitor setups. Without dedicated GPU... it's pointless...
 

ooostephen

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I've been wrestling with the same issue for the last two years, with similar setup; 3x1900x1200, 1x1900x1080(HDTV). I now use two HD5770, and unless you're going to spend $2k on a FirePro or similar, it seems two cards will be required. Even with two cards, I frequently logged errors about GPU resources being over utilized, on a Z68 MoBo. Performance was barely adequate. I strongly advise confirming with card maker that it'll support 3 or more displays simultaneously, and in extended desktop mode. There is likely a required port combination, such as 1 DP with DVI and/or HDMI. With PCIE3, two HD7770s would be the best value purchase, as they are well rated at Tom's, compared against the HD7750. I can confirm the Saphire HD7770 will output 3 ports simultaneously. Their support email generally responds within two days.

on a related note, I suspect this is more an AMD driver issue because their workstation cards, like the FirePro line have awful specs, but apparently handle ~6 extended desktop displays.

 

Brian8377

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Ok, after a full re-install, everything is working great! Must've had a corrupted file or something. Anyway, no problem now running 3 eyefinity with 4th. extended desktop...!

This card only cost about $170 on newegg, and it handles the 4 monitors easily...no problems running video on all monitors simultaneously...and since I'm not gaming, it's not even breaking a sweat!
 

randomkid

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As I was reading the posts downward, I already have in mind the suggestion to reinstall drivers & trouble shoot beforebuying a new GPU. So I'm glad you sorted it out yourself. 6870's are good cards.
By the way, what is the exact brand & model of your 6870? It will be useful info for others who wish to have 4 monitors working too.

 

Brian8377

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I haven't tried putting each monitor in extended desktop...but what's the difference? I mean, the way I have it setup now all four screens can be used independently. If you put something on one screen and maximize the windows it fills just that screen. so I'm confused as to what the difference would be? What are you trying to accomplish?





XFX HD-687X-CNFC Radeon HD 6870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

I bought it from newegg here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150563