Selecting best new Graphics Card with 3+ monitor display ports

[tkreger]

Hello,
I want to add a third monitor to my home/work PC set up but my current Graphics Card - Nvidia GTX 560 says it maxes at two.

With my PC I do some video editing/rendering, a little gaming (only COD 2), and typical work applications. My budget is about $200. I don't need to overclock and am looking for the best card out there.

Thanks!

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
Intel Core i7 3770 @ 3.40GHz
MOBO: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. P8Z77-V LX (LGA1155)
12.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 668MHz (9-9-9-24)

 

[James Mason]

DisplayPort connectors? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
or "display ports" (hdmi/dvi/vga)?
A 560 has 3 display outputs, 2 DVI and 1 mini HDMI, so it can support 3 monitors.

If you buy an HDMI monitor and also a mini-hdmi to hdmi cable you should be able to support it.

 

[pete_101]

DisplayPort connectors? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
or "display ports" (hdmi/dvi/vga)?
A 560 has 3 display outputs, 2 DVI and 1 mini HDMI, so it can support 3 monitors.

If you buy an HDMI monitor and also a mini-hdmi to hdmi cable you should be able to support it.

Actually, I believe one of the DVI outputs is shared with the HDMI, so it can only support 2 displays.
The newer cards (without having to go to current generation) can display three, cards like the GTX 950, 960 or the older 750 or 750Ti

 

[tkreger]

My Monitors:
DELL2407WFPHC (1920x1200@59Hz)
ViewSonic VA2446 SERIES (1920x1080@60Hz)
Acer H203H

Yes it has the three display ports and i have the monitors cabled up. When I go to NVIDIA Control Panel to Set up multiple displays, it finds and identifies all 3 monitors and then gives me the error message: "THIS GPU SUPPORTS UP TO TWO DISPLAYS."

 

[James Mason]

ahh yeah, pete is right, the 560 only supports 2 monitors.
A GTX 1060 is the best use of your $200:
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=EV-1060-3G&c=CJ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487263


BUT... DVI is on the way out as a popular connection choice, and VGA is already gone, so your older monitors won't support the connections available on the new cards.
So... You could get an r9 380x, that has 2 dvi ports and 1 hdmi port, and definitely supports 3 monitors.
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=121125&promoid=1410

Or get a different 3rd monitor. (that acer is pretty weak)

 

[tkreger]

ahh yeah, pete is right, the 560 only supports 2 monitors.
A GTX 1060 is the best use of your $200:
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=EV-1060-3G&c=CJ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487263


BUT... DVI is on the way out as a popular connection choice, and VGA is already gone, so your older monitors won't support the connections available on the new cards.
So... You could get an r9 380x, that has 2 dvi ports and 1 hdmi port, and definitely supports 3 monitors.
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=121125&promoid=1410

Or get a different 3rd monitor. (that acer is pretty weak)

I only play COD2 so the 1060 might be overkill. The GTX 950 looks pretty good at $136. Right - the Acer is a junk but I would just use it to hold a spreadsheet for work. I should have emphasized that the rendering times are pretty long when I do video editing (on Pinnacle Studio 20), and I was told that they make a different kind of Graphics Card for PCs specifically designed for that function. And that gaming performance takes a hit when using a GPU designed for rendering. (and they are expensive.) Don't think they make a - reasonably priced card that has good rendering power, AND gaming power. Anyways - thanks everyone.

 

[James Mason]

Gaming GPUS are good at both, but rendering GPUs are better at rendering for when 3d accuracy counts (i.e. designing a bridge or building).

Rendering GPUs are prohibitively expensive though, but you can typically write off their cost after 1 project that employs them properly.

A 950 would also work, anything between 100-200 will do what you want. But the stronger the GPU, the better it will be at rendering, because rendering can push the GPU to 100% where not all games will.