ATI 5870 using 3 DVI monitors?

**sclincoln** · 10-07-2009, 06:39 PM

I had a TH2Go using 3 DVI monitors but it died. After some disappointments with RMA I'm looking into moving to an ATI 5870 but it only has 2 DVI ports. I gather the other 4 are the display port type. I've seen display port to DVI adapters but before going down this path, I want to make sure it's just that simple. So my question is, can I just buy a couple display port to DVI adapters to run my 3 monitors with an ATI 5870?

**mrmaestrom** · 10-07-2009, 07:48 PM

The 5800-series cards come with 2 DVI, 1 HDMI and 1 DisplayPort. DVI and HMDI require a clock signal to be passed through to the monitor, but the cards only have two clocking chips. This means you can use two of the clocked ports, so DVI & DVI, or DVI & HDMI, but not DVI & DVI & HDMI. Therefore, to get a three-monitor setup going you need to use DisplayPort. A simple DisplayPort-DVI converter will not work, since they do not generate the clock signal that the monitor's DVI input requires. You need to buy a powered or "active" adapter, and unfortunately they don't come cheap, over US$100 I believe. Also, there are reports that not all of them work with the cards, so do a Google search for models known to work before you go and purchase one.

Mike

**djt** · 10-08-2009, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by sclincoln

II'm looking into moving to an ATI 5870 but it only has 2 DVI ports. I gather the other 4 are the display port type.

I picked up an Asus 5870 last week; it has two DVI ports, a DisplayPort (full size) and a HDMI port. I�m currently using the HDMI port connected directly to a 1080P HDTV.

**sclincoln** · 10-08-2009, 01:25 AM

Then, how are they running 6 monitors off of that card?

**sclincoln** · 10-08-2009, 01:36 AM

On the ATI website, they say, "ATI Eyefinity technology with DisplayPort connectivity, enables a single GPU to support up to six independent display outputs simultaneously."

Is this referring to a card that hasn't been released yet or what's the deal?

http://www.amd.com/us/products/techn...eyefinity.aspx

**sclincoln** · 10-08-2009, 02:21 AM

Ok, so after poking around a bit, I noticed that ATI is planning to launch an Eyefinity edition later in the year that will support 6 monitors with mini DisplayPort.

But, if DisplayPort outputs don't have a clock signal and DVI monitors require them then what's the point of DisplayPort to DVI adapters (like the one listed below)?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812120624