Triple Monitor Setup

I would like a Triple Monitor setup on my desktop.

I'm currently running a dual monitor setup, main monitor on HDMI, and the smaller on DVI, both running off my GeForce 9800 GT card. I'd like to get a third monitor in this setup, but the GeForce card only has two available ports. Since my GeForce card is an addition to the base computer, could I use the old DVI port that came with the base system? Because even if I didn't have the GeForce card in there, I can still put the two monitors in the old DVI and VGA plugs that already exist on the back of the tower. If I need to buy a new card, I will, but I want to try and use what the system already has.

I am a hardware newbie, I know what I'm looking at and what to look for, but I'm slow, so please be patient with me.

My computer specs are as such:
HP Desktop Pavilion a6720y
AMD Phenom(tm) 9550 Quad-Core Processor
2.20 GHz 6.00 GB (3.50 GB usable) RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT

Future thank you to anyone who can help me!

 

No. You can only use the ports coming out of the same card. If you want a 3 monitor setup, you have to buy a card that specifically supports 3 monitors (has 3 ports on the card).

 

Alright. But reading the other triple monitor posts, it appears that if I buy a second PCI card, and have it run as a secondary video card through BIOS, a third monitor can be achieved. Is that correct?

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=145705 is where I'm getting this. My question is, if a second PCI can be used, why can't the default video card?

 

It's highly unlikely that you could enable your onboard as well as your PCIe card to work together, most BIOSes disable the onboard when an add in card is connected. However, there's a very good chance of adding another PCIe or PCI card and getting a 3 monitor setup working, providing your new card uses the same nVidia drivers.

Assuming you use 32-bit Windows, you'll probably lose more of your usable RAM though, how much depends on the amount of VRAM fitted to the new card.

 

I can upgrade to 64 bit. I just need a disc which I can get which makes alot more of my RAM usable. I'm running 32 bit because I used my friend's disc and a different key. So could anyone lead me to a reliable (cheap) card.

 

These PCI gfx cards at Newegg are closest to your current card, they'll use the same drivers so should be most compatible.

There's a better range of PCIe cards if you have an available PCIe slot, these are the lowest end of the 9 series.

 

This group of Video cards at Newegg specifically support a triple monitor setup via 1xHDMI, 1xDVI, and 1xDisplayPort on the back of the card.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

To add on

And this set does the same with 2xDVI and 1xHDMI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

 

May I suggest an alternative to buying another expensive video card?

Try this site, and admins, sorry, I am not trying to advertise for them or be a fanboy.

http://us.startech.com/

Look under USB Video Adapters on the left side. My firm has been using these with laptops to have a total of three screens. We have been very happy with them and if you are going to get one, I would recommend this one.

http://us.startech.com/product/USB2...-External-Dual-or-Multi-Monitor-Video-Adapter

Reason I recommend that one is that the cheaper ones will have latency in window dragging and sometimes will not turn on when you turn on the computer. This one however we've had no issues with.


Just a thought.

 

I'd probably get a PCI card such as http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130477

 

That's a two monitor card, not a three monitor card, which is what the poster needs.

 

Right, I it's a two monitor card. He would install it along with his current PCIe card. He could actually support up to 4 monitor then.

 

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think that configuration would work. As I understand it, you need to have one card (except in the case of SLI or XFire) that controls the logic of what signal goes to what display device.

 

Yes, it will work, just as a combination of AGP and PCI cards will work on older systems. Here's a database of video card configurations: http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimo...em=&Offset=70&LastFetched=9013&NumRecords=517

Most of the multiple card configurations there are using 2 PCIe cards but some of them are using a combination of PCIe and PCI. Of course, if the motherboard will support two PCIe video cards, that would be the best way to go.

 

Hmm, I just found this:

Which means BayWalker might be able to use 3 monitors with no new hardware needed - but only if Win7 was installed on the onboard gfx first!

Strange, no mention (on that page) of needing both adapters from the same gfx chip maker; I thought that since Vista, you could only run MM's if all the adapters were running on the same drivers (all nVidia - OR - all AMD/ATI).

Bring back W98SE, all is forgiven ...

 

So wait a second. I understand what everyone has said except you. Are you saying there is a way to enable the on board adapter that came basic with the computer?