asked on

Upgrading my Nvidia Video Cards for multi monitor systems. What do you suggest?

I have a Windows 7 64bit OS on a ASUS Intel Core (TM) i7 CPU 920 @2.67Ghz with 12GB RAM. I have three NVIDIA cards on my mother board supplying video for 6 monitors. I have two NVidia 9600GT cards with 512mb and a 8400 card at 256mb.

I have two monitors at 2560 by 1600. Two at 1680 by 1050 and one at 1920 by 1200 and one at 1920 by 1080.

I would like to be able to add two additional monitors to this configuration. So I am thinking of upgrading one of my 9600 cards to a - Windows 7 64bit OS on a ASUS Intel Core (TM) i7 CPU 920 @2.67Ghz with 12GB RAM.

I am thinking of upgrading one of my 9600 cards to a GeForce GTX with 2GB of onboard memory. It has two dvi ports and two hdmi ports.

Can someone comment on this configuration and the possible problems I may encounter and what people would recommend? Thanks.

wolfcamel

the new gtx with 2gb onboard will enable higher res, and will provide faster processing.
personally - if you budget will allow - i like to make all the cards the same - this can then provide uniformity of resolutions and colours.

You shouldnt really have too many problems - but it depends a little on what you are trying to do..run games, run cad, do signage or what?

Norm Dickinson

I just installed a single XFX HD-687X-CNFC Radeon HD 6870 900M Video Card - 2GB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.1 (x16), 1x HDMI, Dual DVI, 2x Mini DisplayPort into my system that is running an AMD FX-8150 8-core 3.6 GHz CPU with 16 GB RAM. It is very fast and claims to support four monitors on one card using the Mini DisplayPort interfaces. You can probably run your entire planned configuration very nicely on just two of these cards.

The issues you will run into in any situation like this is inadequate power and airflow. Heat is a big issue for video cards like these and you didn't mention much about your power supply. I would run a minimum of a gigawatt power supply (1000W) and use a high airflow case design, not a cheap mid-tower. Consider the CoolerMaster HAF series for a professional chassis that is a little bigger and a lot better, and designed for these kinds of installations.

http://www.coolermaster.com/category.php?category_id=3584

•Mini Display Port 1.2: 2560x1600 Max Resolution
•HDMI 1.4a: 1920x1200 Max Resolution
•DVI-I Dual-Link: 2560x1600 Max Resolution
•DVI-D Single-Link: 1900x1200 Max Resolution
•GDDR5: 256-bit Memory

http://xfxforce.com/en-gb/Products/Graphics-Cards/AMD/AMD-Radeon-HD-6000/AMD-Radeon-HD-6870/HD-687X-CNFC.aspx

Callandor

Massive amounts of onboard memory are unnecessary for anything except 3D games with large textures. Since your current setup has nVidia cards, in order to minimize driver conflict you should go with another nVidia model. I have both the GTX 460 and GTX 560Ti and am happy with both, though the 460 is weak when running recent games. It will still be a good step up from a 9600, though.

Mike McLoughlin

ASKER

Thanks! I do have a 1000W power supply, high airflow case. Any suggestions on an NVidia equivalent for the XFX Radeon? the GTX 460 only supports two monitors it appears.

SOLUTION

Callandor

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Mike McLoughlin

ASKER

Okay, this is helpful! I have regular monitors with VGA and DVI ports. Are there adapters that I could use to connect displayport? Is NVidia coming out with a four monitor card any time soon?

SOLUTION

Norm Dickinson

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Callandor

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Mike McLoughlin

ASKER

thanks for your help