Used to be a member many years ago and have decided to come back to my simming roots again..... so hello again!

Just bought e new machine from Dell with a ATI 5870 in it and was wondering what i had to do to set up a 3 screen panorama setup.

I know it can use the new Eyeinfinity set up but I have a 3 year old 27 inch dell LCD WITHOUT a display port on it.


I was thinkng of buying 2 24 inch monitors for each side as I seem to understand 1 of the 3 must have a display port connection , problem is I am finding it hard to find a local dealer whos dis[plays have a display port connection.

Question is do I have to do it with the eyeinfinity or can I do it another way and would it be as good?

I should probably just buy 2 24 incers from dell that are equipped with display ports but that will take a couple weeks to get.

Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks

darren

Welcome back!

I would do it with the Eyefinity system as it's pretty easy to set up. Triple Head to Go is your alternative, and there are mixed issues with that. You must have one monitor be a native/active display port monitor for Eyefinity to work, no way around that requirement... BUT you CAN purchase extra an active display port adapter that can turn a DVI monitor into a display port monitor. These adapters are powered, unlike the passive ones. Dell sells one I believe.

One last thing I would recommend: Get all three of your monitors the same size. Things will flow more natural if you do, not only for games but for desktop productivity as well.

I've got an Eyefinity setup with a 5870 and LOVE it!

What I've read, you'll need an active DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter, which will set you back about an additional $100.

Most of these are re-branded Accel units and are powered by USB, sold by Dell as Bizlink Adapter, by Saphire and maybe a few others. Here's how they look:



Read up on issues though, because YMMV.

AMD is apparently releasing a cheap alternative "soon", that's going to sell for about 30$ and will only do up to 1080p:
http://www.amd.com/us/press-releases/Pages/amd-announces-ati-eyefinity-tech-2010aug31.aspx

Dell has them for $20 -- only place I looked so they might be cheaper elsewhere.

Display Port to DVI

No, that's the wrong kind of adapter Allen. It needs to be an active DVI to display port adapter.

Hmmmm? I thought that was only for very high resolutions. The "inactive" lower cost ones support up to 1920x1200 -- depending on which one a person buys.

Here is a list of Displayport to DVI converters (active and inactive) -- the cheapest 1920x1080 is $10 plus shipping. One claims to support QXGA (2048x1536) resolution at 24-bit color depths -- seems to be "active" at $15 plus shipping.

Displayport to DVI

I guess until I try Eyefinity and purchase such an adapter, I can't be sure I know what I'm talking about. So, my comments are FWIW

The only way you'll run Eyefinity from the DP connector without an active adapter, is when it's going to VGA.

The only "active" one is the StarTech one for 150$. Same housing as the Accell.

JAMF & ArgonV,

Thanks for the corrections. Frankly, I had a hard time getting my mind around the "extra $100" needed to implement Eyefinity. But, this morning, in reading what AMD had to say about it, I see why its not incredibly stupid. Just that they should have made that part more clear. Of course, that would scare a few people off of Eyefinity.

Fortunately, my Dell U2410 (which is otherwise not worth what I paid -- don't buy one) does have displayport -- so I am spared the "extra" cost of an active adapter.

I have a 24" LCD currently not connected to anything (while we remodel a room) -- DVI. And, I could always "temporarily" move another LCD -- DVI. Now, I need a displayport cable. Hmmmm Problem: my HD5830 probably cannot handle all those pixels very well. Still....

Anyhow, thanks for persisting and, thereby, injecting some sense into me. Always good to know the facts

No worries, sorry for the short reply. I was on my iPhone...

Luckily I also had monitors that were Display Port ready and I just needed the cable.

You can indeed purchase a cheap "active" adapter (DP to DVI). There are many on the market this last month or so, great news for Eyefinity users. Here is a thread listing adapters that work:

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/technology/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx.aspx

A very informative site on adapters (from the guys at WideScreenGaming):

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/ATI_Eyefinity_-_Ecosystem_September_2010

And an adapter from Amazon that has been certified to work with Eyefinity (DP to DVI, 29.99 should be availible later this month):

http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B087B-005B-...9711&sr=1-3

The drawback to the single-link active adapters is that they are limited to a 1920x1200 resolution.

So Allen, you were not far off