SLI Triple screen issue

[Sangetsu0412]

Hello,
My initial screen & Graphics card setup was as following:
2x MSI Twin Frozr II's 560's (= 2x2 =4 DVI ports )
2x27" Iiyama 16:9 screens with each a VGA + DVI port, both are plugged in into Card n°1 and have SLI enabled.

Since last week I have a playstation and no available TV (occupied by the misses 😉 ) in the evening... So I decided to buy a third computer screen (ASUS 19:11 widescreen with 1x DVI + 1x HDMI for my Playstation), an extra switch to provide both with internet connection , the whole shabang....

Now SLI won't work with the 3 screens on. Everytime I enable SLI , the third screen on card n° 2 just gets black and i'm only able to use that screen for my playstation.

I've browsed a lot of sites to find an answer but they all talk about disabling and other stuff.

I need help on figuring this out to make SLI work + the third screen as well.

Any help is appreciated!

Greetz

Sang

 

[photonboy]

Hey,
If you want that third monitor working (as a separate screen) you'll need to add another graphics card. In some cases you might be able to use your iGPU in your CPU as well but probably not. The cheapest card with no fan would make sense.

Like THIS if you have an available slot: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-210sl512md3l

More info (from NVidia SLI FAQ)

MULTI-MONITOR
How many monitors are supported when running in SLI mode?

With GeForce R180 drivers (or later), standard SLI configurations for 2-way, 3-Way, and quad SLI support a maximum of two monitors. Additional monitors (up to 6 monitors total enabled) may be enabled by using either a motherboard GPU and/or a PhysX capable graphics card (GeForce 8 series or higher with at least 256MB of memory) that does not have the same GPU as those that are SLI enabled.


Can I use SLI multi-monitor in all SLI configurations?

Yes. SLI Multi-monitor is supported in 2-way, 3-way, and Quad SLI configurations and is enabled automatically when SLI technology is enabled in the 'NVIDIA Control Panel' (right-click on your desktop to open).


Can I add a 3rd graphics card in my 2-way SLI enabled PC to connect more monitors?

Yes, you can add an additional graphics card to your PC to connect two additional monitors. The additional graphics card must have a GPU that is different from your SLI GPUs and must be NVIDIA PhysX capable (GeForce 8 series and higher with at least 256MB of memory). For example, two GeForce GTX 2XX GPUs in SLI and a GeForce 9XXX GT is a supported configuration.

 

[unksol]

huh? there are no 19:11 monitors... why would you buy a third monitor for your PS3 if you had two all ready... that you could use with your ps3... that's completely irrelevant. Monitors don't need "switches" or get internet...so many things wrong here.

Assuming you bought a third monitor at a different resolution to use in nvidia surround of course you'll have problems if it doesn't match the others

 

[unksol]

holy crap photon did you hit your head? you are quoting from 180 drivers from years ago??? they are on 335 at least now. you really think nvidia can't do 3monitors in SLI? Their own instructions show you how to do it. there is a web tool for it... who on earth would want to game on two monitors???

 

[Sangetsu0412]

Hey man,
Thanks for the quick reply.
If I break down your answer I have 2 possible solutions (by reading between the lines)
1. adding a cheap 3rd graphics card to plug in that monitor (not on one of the 2 available dvi ports on the second twin frozr because it won't work)
2. buy 1 big graphics card with 3 dvi ports (only one i can find costs me a left ***)

I can't ignore that voice in the back of my head looking for door number 3 :s

 

[Sangetsu0412]

huh? there are no 19:11 monitors... why would you buy a third monitor for your PS3 if you had two all ready... that you could use with your ps3... that's completely irrelevant. Monitors don't need "switches" or get internet...so many things wrong here.

Assuming you bought a third monitor at a different resolution to use in nvidia surround of course you'll have problems if it doesn't match the others

I think you're wrong here, well, half, the 3rd screen has a native 2560x1080 resolution, it's an asus mx299 with a dvi port and hdmi port.
the dvi port atm goes to my second msi twin frozr gcard, the screens hdmi goes to my hdmi on my playstation , the switch is for providing internet to 1: my computer and 2 : the playstation....

 

[Sangetsu0412]

ps, I don't game on 2 monitors, only 1 for pc games (the age of my cards doens't allow good gaming when they're not in sli , the asus screen is , indeed, for playstation games and movies