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using a 3rd monitor
http://www.wsgf.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=21198		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  nichos [ 29 Dec 2010, 12:47 ]
Post subject:  using a 3rd monitor
Hi & Happy Neaw Year

I would like to use a third monitor for FSX.

I have:-

Mobo:-Asus P5K Premium WiFiiFi

Video Card:- GeForce 9800 GTX (PCI-E)

Three Dell 19" flat screens

& OCZ 600W Psu

I am now using two screens.

I cannot find a second Grfx Card as above in UK. Is there a compatible modern card to add to my existing system & get 3 screens? Is there another economical way of succeding in using 3 screens? thanx .......nick
Author:  g00seberry [ 30 Dec 2010, 02:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: using a 3rd monitor
You can use SoftTH with a combination of any 2 video cards; you can find the forum for details of it here on WSGF http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/1074

Might be worth looking into if you can't afford a new card. If you can, then keep in mind that you only need a single 5xxx series or higher card to run AMD EyeFinity!
Author:  nichos [ 30 Dec 2010, 17:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: using a 3rd monitor
Thanx,
I visited Maplin, el.shop in UK, for an Ati 5 series, they have the 5770 £125, but they suggested that I stay with my GeForce 9800 GTX (PCI-E) & buy a "SVAG 4 way splitter" £45, to come out of the VGA socket & into 2 of my dell monitors, & the 3rd monitor out of other socket of the Grfx card (DVI??)

There are so many variables, I am really confused with my little knowledge about this.

I only use FSX & would like to see out of 3 windows .........nick
Author:  g00seberry [ 31 Dec 2010, 02:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: using a 3rd monitor
No, what they suggest wouldn't be useful for you (and please don't go back to maplin :P)

The options available to you are:

[list][*]Buy a cheap second GFX card (£40 or so) and use SoftTH. The second card is needed just for the output so it doesn't need to be powerful.[/*:m]
[*]Buy a 5xxx series card and run EyeFinity. You'll need to buy an active DP>DVI adaptor (or DP>VGA if your screens are VGA?)[/*:m]
[*]To run nVidia Surround, you need 2 cards in SLI. Check your motherboard compatibility (from a guess I'd say it's OK) and then buy two 2xx series or higher nVidia cards.[/*:m]
[*]Purchase a Matrox TH2Go box. If your monitors are VGA, a standard analog one shouldn't be too expensive, although I'm not sure of where you'd buy one for a reasonable price in the UK.[/*:m][/list:u]

The demands of 3 screens for a game like FSX are pretty high, so you may want to upgrade your graphics card anyway to get any kind of performance with decent settings. Something to keep in mind. If you do buy anything, try to buy it online. "Specialist" hardware (which this would fall under) is overpriced on the high street.
Author:  nichos [ 31 Dec 2010, 12:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: using a 3rd monitor
Hi again,

http://www.kegetys.net/SoftTH/ This site suggests FSX has issues with SoftTH??
" ....Not working:
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
- Frame rendered only on left monitor, mouse not working correctly..."

1.How do I know my screens are DVI/VGA? please see screen shot below.

2. Is it correct to say that I will be better of with the series 5xxxx option. (£125 the 5770 & £20 / £30 for vga/dvi adaptor).

And yet this eyefinity thingi comes up with gfx cards £300 +??.

I do not seem to grasp all these conflicting facts.

Is it supposed to be a "Mini vga/dvi adaptor"? or a single Link or a double Link one?

There are so many shown, one even says £66?

The SLI option seems more complicated.
Matrox is shown at £200 to £300.

Which in your opinion is cheapest option?., considering also my 600W PSU

Will the 5770 do?, same price in Maplin here as online elsewhere.

My system is:-
Asus P5K Premium WiFiiFi Intel Core 2 Quad Pro 2.4GHz, OCZ Cpu Cooler, 2x2GB, DDR2 800 PC2-6400, GeForce 9800 GTX (PCI-E), sata 250gb, OCZ 600W Psu, X45, XPhome sp3

My 3 Dell monitors (ex office equipment) have these 2 sockets & the model is in chinese.:-


EDIT: is this below any better that others, Amazon at £114
The SAPPHIRE HD 5770 FleX is the first card available to support three DVI monitors in ATI Eyefinity mode and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area without the need for costly DisplayPort monitors or Active adapters.

I also have this monitor LG Flatron, does it help for eyefinity use?:-
http://uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?src=afw1&product_id=LGEMQ98WDP&utm_source=aw&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=affiliatewindow&src=AFW1&awc=2922_1293800999_dff858faa1288a37990a2d19ca93da69
Author:  nichos [ 31 Dec 2010, 18:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: using a 3rd monitor
After my last post above, in an utter confused state, I found near by this Sapphire HD 5770 FLEX, also available at Overcklokers & can be seen here:-
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/sapphire_5770_flex/

"......Sapphire has decided that you should be able to power three DVI monitors on a single Radeon HD 5XXX card. They've proved this by releasing the HD 5770 FLEX. The FLEX is the very first 5XXX series card with the ability to power three DVI monitors right out of the packaging......"

Has'nt anybody seen it or tried it?, of all the complicated & expensive gen people gave me, this (£119) grfx card seems to do my triple trick even by atter newbees like me. OR is there a catch to it I wonder? .....nick
Author:  nichos [ 05 Jan 2011, 22:36 ]
Post subject:  3 monitors attemt abandoned.
Sorry but please disregard above requests for help.

Overclockers verified to me:-

1. that Ati Radeaon 5770 Flex will run FSX, it does not !!.

2. that all cables needed for 3 screens are in the box, none usable was found, & 4 cables needed extra £100.
Author:  nichos [ 08 Jan 2011, 23:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: using a 3rd monitor
Posted Today, 09:26 PM from a forum helper:-

Okay so I did some googling on AMD's website and found this in the Eyefinity FAQs:

Quote: What Operating Systems does AMD Eyefinity technology work with?
At present Windows® Vista and Windows® 7 support AMD Eyefinity technology. There are plans for Linux support in an upcoming update to AMD Catalyst™ software. There is no support for Windows® XP.

So XP isn't supported for Eyefinity, unfortunately

CALAMITY, so after so much trouble I went to, & a lot kind forum helpers, I came almost to huck it & find XP whon't do.

Cheerio all.
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