I would like to hook up a 3rd monitor to my PC. I have a Dell XPS720 which currently has a 6800GTS in the primary PCI-E slot and runs two monitors. I would like a 3rd monitor now and would like to know if its just a case of installing a new graphics card in the secondary PCI-E slot and off you go? Do you have to have two of the same cards and an SLI bridge connector, or can I just do as I mentioned above?
you don't need to do SLI if you are just doing it to add another monitor (your mobo probably isn't SLI ready anyways). If memory serves me correctly, you can just plug it in, install drivers and go. zomg, we have the same # of posts.
as your currently running a nvidia card i would suggest adding an ATi card to power the 3rd monitor, this will help alot as two nvidia cards of different types can cause driver issues and pain!
if you have a second PCIe connector then yes, just plug in a card and go, no SLi bridge or anything. and i haven't done it, but the issues with running two different nvidia cards are supposedly gone now.
Uh no non on on onononono!! You'll get more driver conflicts between ATI and NV than you will across NV generations. Best thing to do is try to get two cheap 8-series cards if you can. Preferably the same generation by an 8 and 9 series work fine for example, so would a 6 and 7 I think. No SLI bridge, just two cards powered correctly will be fine.
if ALL you're trying to do is power the 3rd monitor and at normal resolutions and not watch video etc, you can even use a very cheap bottom of the barrel pci, or pci-E 1x card. Back in the day I ran a ti 4600 and a vodoo 3 pci card to add more monitors. it seems like overkill to use a $80 100w graphics card when the bare minimum will get you by alternatively you could pick up a cheap 6 series card used
Thanks for the answers. I will go and order myself a new card now! I will post pics of the setup once its all up and running in the relevant thread. I think it will be pant wettingly good...
