Graphics 5 monitor question (non gaming)

I have a friend who wishes to run 4 monitors ("but 5 would be cool"), and she's a bit of a tight arse.
Not for gaming use, she is moderator on a few chat sites and other places. She also watches HD films etc.

She has 3 monitors set up via a HD 6770 using the 2 DVI and 1 HDMI.
She wishes to add another 1 or 2 monitors into the mix.

The problem is, her motherboard is fairly old and only has 1 PCIe slot (occupied by the 6770) and the rest are PCI.

Ive suggested to her that a USB 3 PCI card and a USB3 to HDMI adapter might be her cheapest option.

Are there any other options aside from getting a new mobo and another 6000 series card?

Thanks in advance

 

Can you not have any output throught the mobo?

 

I don't think it's possible to use onboard graphics and a dedicated graphics card at the same time

 

I thought that was possible at least with Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge (but I don't think she has either).

Maybe you'll have some luck finding some old PCI cards on eBay? Might be problematic with the different drivers though.

In any case, five monitors is quite heavy duty usage, and heavy duty hardware costs a lot and has to be upgraded frequently. Buy a new motherboard.

 

PCUpgrade are good with sourcing parts that you can no longer buy anywhere else, Might be worth giving them a call.

 

what is her budget ? AMD released the firepro W600, a card specialized on wall display (up to 6 screens) :

http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstation/graphics/firepro-display-wall/w600/Pages/w600.aspx

Else the FirePro Multi-View 2460 is more affordable and allows for 4 screens :

http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstation/graphics/ati-firemv-2d/2460-mv/Pages/2460-firemv.aspx

Both cards are non-gaming cards and both uses display port connectors. In France, the W600 costs 549€, while the FirePro multi-view 2460 costs 279€.

 

Im not sure that firepro cards are neccessary or even aforadable... Trying to keep it cheap, although she seems to be considdering an upgrade to a z77 platform now lol

 

Matrox Millennium G550 often on ebay around £20

HTH

dunx

 

Does she have an AGP slot?
If so, I'd reccomend a Radeon 4650. My old system used AGP, and that card has lasted me from 2008 'till 2012.
Although, I don't know how well it'd perform on multiple monitors...

 

Okay, so Im talking her round to a z77 platform.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2712989&CatId=4910
She lives stateside, so this is her best place to shop aparently.
As far as I understand it, this board will allow her to utilise all 3 video outs on the mobo as well as the 3 already on her 6770, giving her a potential of 6 video outs?

Can someone please correct me if Im wrong

 

She may be able to find a better deal on Newegg. I've preferred them over TD for years now.

 

Spoke with my m8 at PCUpgrade and 2 AMD PCI cards shouldn't cost more than £50 each, Don't think they are listed on the site so you'd have to call them on Monday. They definitely have them in stock.

 

There is still the option of various DisplayLink devices. Sure, they are not as good as even an IGP, but it is an option and it costs you only one USB port - if single link DVI/HDMI/VGA with 1920x1200 max is enough.

 

spotted this a while ago, 4 monitors from a nvidia 610

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-034-KF&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2298

 

of if you are lucky, you can find an HD5870 / 6870 / 7870 / etc with eyefinity 6

 

I agree with GuilleAcoustic, the easiest way would be to replace the 6770 with another PCIe card.

Depending on her budget, her best bets would be:

Club 3D Radeon HD 6870 Eyefinity 6 (about £200)

Club 3D Radeon HD 7870 Eyefinity 6 (about £240)

Keep it mind you may need to add about £20 to the total for mini DisplayPort adaptors if they are not included in the box.

I would opt for the 7870 as it is more power efficient and alot more powerful should she ever need the graphics card to do something intensive.

Despite the old age of the motherboard, this would seem the easiest - albeit quite expensive - method of futureproofing her computer for upto six monitors.

 

No ! MSI site says two only... http://uk.msi.com/product/mb/Z77A-GD65.html#/?div=Detail

dunx

P.S. Eyefinity 7870 for four displays... or a pair of cheap cards for two each.

 

Would it not be easier / cheaper to have one big monitor/tv and just have several windows open?

 

Matrox TrippleHead?

 

Wouldn't give near the same level of detail. It is not size, as the number of pixels. A huge full HD tv would still only give you 1920x1080. You would need something like the high pixel Dell displays. For an U3011 you are talking 800£ and for an U2711 you are talking 500£. You can get a lot of graphic cards for that.