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#3469179 - 12/06/11 02:23 PM Just got Eyefinity!!
mucat Offline
Member

Registered: 02/04/01
Posts: 1158
Loc: Calgary, AB, Canada
I have a 24" 19X12 LCD for 4 or 5 years now and was running a 4870. My plan was to sell this 24" LCD and replace it with 3 X 21" 1080p LCD. However, with the falling price of LCD, it is really not worthwhile to sell the 24" anymore. So I sort of gave up on that idea and just looking for good price on 21" 1080p LCDs. A months ago, I bought P2211h for less than $120. I thought I was going to wait out for the new Radeon 7000 release patiently. But then, opportunity knocking, someone was selling a used U2211h for $100. I figure, $100 for an IPS panel? Why the heck not. So I jumped and completed my LCD collection. Now, I figured 6950 2GB were (and is) selling at close to $200 price point nowadays. Even with the new Radeon 7000 released, the price will probably at most fall to $150, that is, if there is stock left. So I might as well upgrade to 6950 2GB now. After a bit of research, thinking between 6950 and 6970 and reading about different cooling fans from different vendors, I finally bought a powercolor 6950 2GB for $220 (before $10MIR). Hooked up everything and BAM!!!!

I am totally overwhelmed by this eyefinity thing. There is so much more information and detail. My whole field of vision is occupied by all 3 monitors. For an extra of less than $450 ($220 for the two LCDs and $220 for 6950 2GB), it is totally worth it. Also, the LCDs are components that will last through many upgrades.

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#3469279 - 12/06/11 04:29 PM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
kludger Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 02/25/07
Posts: 2969
Loc: Seattle,USA
Eyefinity is pretty awesome, I've been using for ~2 years now, I just wish more games supported it with builtin rendering otherwise with most games you get a bit of stretching on the side monitors due to the large width resolution.

iRacing really does Eyefinity the best, they render each monitor individually with the right perspective so no stretching at all.

Congrats on the 6950 the 2GB memory should really help on texture performance at Eyefinity resolutions, my 5870s 1GB do ok but don't have a lot of texture headroom at 5760x1080, they've been fine for 2 years, but hopefully once the 7xxx series comes out I can consider an upgrade. You got a good deal too, considering my first 5870 was $399 a couple of years ago and the second one was $200 a year ago.

In case you run into questions, the following has always been a good resource:
http://widescreengamingforum.com/forums/multi-monitor-gaming/amd-eyefinity-discussions
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#3469741 - 12/07/11 11:57 AM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
Snake_Pliskinn Offline
Member

Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 443
Loc: Enterprise, AL
What adapters are you guys using for the 3rd monitor?
Just got a new computer with dual 6970's and the connectors are different than on my old 5XXX card. I used an adapter from Dell that required a connection to a powered USB port in addition to the connector that went to the video card. Well that connector is no longer on the newer video cards, just two DVI and two mini DV (I think that's the term) and an HMDI video connection.

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#3469745 - 12/07/11 12:02 PM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
Allen Online   content
Senior Member

Registered: 10/13/99
Posts: 4748
Loc: Ohio USA
Nice setup. Very cost effective smile
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#3469798 - 12/07/11 01:03 PM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
JAMF Online   tunes
Frugalite & P-38 fan
Senior Member

Registered: 05/29/10
Posts: 2779
Loc: The Netherlands
Originally Posted By: Snake_Pliskinn
What adapters are you guys using for the 3rd monitor?
Just got a new computer with dual 6970's and the connectors are different than on my old 5XXX...


The 5770/5850/5870 are regular size DisplayPort.
The 6xx0 cards are mini-DisplayPort.

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#3470046 - 12/07/11 09:19 PM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
Snake_Pliskinn Offline
Member

Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 443
Loc: Enterprise, AL
Ah the joys of new hardware:/

Picked up an Apple Mini DP to DVI adapter. When it is plugged in, one of the DVI connected monitors is not detected but the Mini DP monitor works fine. With the Mini DP unplugged from computer, the two DVI connected monitors work just fine. Sigh. Hoping its something unique to the Apple cable.

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#3470125 - 12/08/11 05:05 AM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
CyBerkut Offline
Member

Registered: 07/24/09
Posts: 238
It sounds like your Apple MiniDP to DVI adapter is passive. On the AMD (ATI) cards that support Eyefinity, a maximum of two non-DisplayPort monitors can be connected with plain old passive adapters. Beyond that, you need to be looking for one that is on AMD's validated dongle list.

http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx

They don't necessarily have to have a USB powered connection, as someone despcribed above. I'm currently at 4 non-DisplayPort displays on my HD5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition card... two just use the adapters included with the card, and the other two use 3rd party dongles from Sapphire that are on that list, (One of them is in line with an adapter that came with the card to get from MiniDisplayPort to DisplayPort). All of my displays run at 1080P. My understanding is if you are running something higher, it probably needs one of those powered adapters described in an earlier post.

FWIW, both of my Sapphire adapters were obtained from NewEgg. If you include both "DisplayPort" and "Eyefinity" in your search criteria, it should bring up the appropriate adapters... just read the descriptions carefully.

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#3470216 - 12/08/11 08:09 AM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: CyBerkut]
Snake_Pliskinn Offline
Member

Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 443
Loc: Enterprise, AL
Thanks for the info. I do have an AMD approved adapter on the way. The Apple cable was an opportunity target. I'm sorely missing my eyefinity (the single card 5XXX) and really looking forward to ROF with lots of video memory;)

Originally Posted By: CyBerkut
It sounds like your Apple MiniDP to DVI adapter is passive. On the AMD (ATI) cards that support Eyefinity, a maximum of two non-DisplayPort monitors can be connected with plain old passive adapters. Beyond that, you need to be looking for one that is on AMD's validated dongle list.

http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx

They don't necessarily have to have a USB powered connection, as someone despcribed above. I'm currently at 4 non-DisplayPort displays on my HD5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition card... two just use the adapters included with the card, and the other two use 3rd party dongles from Sapphire that are on that list, (One of them is in line with an adapter that came with the card to get from MiniDisplayPort to DisplayPort). All of my displays run at 1080P. My understanding is if you are running something higher, it probably needs one of those powered adapters described in an earlier post.

FWIW, both of my Sapphire adapters were obtained from NewEgg. If you include both "DisplayPort" and "Eyefinity" in your search criteria, it should bring up the appropriate adapters... just read the descriptions carefully.


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#3470369 - 12/08/11 12:17 PM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
Raw Kryptonite Offline
Beat the Kobayashi Maru
Hotshot

Registered: 04/04/08
Posts: 7071
Loc: MS
Congrats! I got a 6950/2GB with this in mind, but no idea when I'll be able to do the monitor side of it. Can't even decide on what monitor size to get. LOL
I'd be interested in hearing more about your experience as you get into it. Performance in different games etc.
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#3470446 - 12/08/11 01:55 PM Re: Just got Eyefinity!! [Re: mucat]
2Lt_Joch Offline
Member

Registered: 07/13/01
Posts: 366
Loc: Montreal, Canada.
Congrats,

slightly off topic, but I have been looking into this as well since I may have a chance to pick up some slightly used monitors soon.

Is there an advantage to going with a Matrox Triplehead setup over Eyefinity?
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