I have been running three monitors for a while; but to do so I have had to run two video cards.
Not certain why i needed two video cards but when connecting three monitors to a single video card the driver always forced me to chose which two i would display to.
With the my wife on a business trip i decided to investigate this “problem” as to reduce some of the noise and heat…and buy some new toys<g>.
At the local computer shop i saw they had an ATI 77700 for ~$150. Quick check on the on the web confirmed this card would support three monitors simultaneously!
Yeah that was easy!!!
Came home installed it and guess what – same problem!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Little research and it turns out folks are running the Eyefinity software ATI to solve this problem.
Go in to the Eyefinity tab and i still only see two monitors as being uniquely active (it will let me duplicate to all three)
…After some research i find this:
To enable more than two displays, additional panels with native DisplayPort™ connectors, and/or certified DisplayPort™ adapters to convert your monitor’s native input to your cards DisplayPort™ or Mini-DisplayPort™ connector(s), are required.
okay…I think that means i need to use the displayport output….
I grab a displayport to DVI connector hook everything back up- – same problem!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I do some more research and find
Depending on the card model, native DisplayPort™ connectors and/or certified DisplayPort™ active or passive adapters to convert your monitor's native input to your card's DisplayPort™ or Mini-DisplayPort™ connector(s) may be required
Okay I happen to have one of the listed passive displayport to HDMI connectors. I hook everything back up- – same problem!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Turns out that adapter wasn’t “Active”…whatever that means.
So back to the computer shop and $28 later i have an active displayport to DVI connector.
I hook everything back up and (wait for it…) Eyefinity now works across all three monitors!!!!
I can now use three monitors…but since i run one monitor in Portrait orientation i need to span across two and extend to the third.
This is a horrible experience; everything wants to position itself right in the seam of the two being spanned.
At this point was giving up and going back to just two monitors on brand new video card when i noticed the previously grayed out “Extend” for the third monitor was now enabled ………
YEEAH!
I will let you guess which monitor i do my coding in<g>
Turns out you do NOT need Eyefinity software to extend across 3 monitors but you DO need an active Displayport adapter or a native Displayport monitor with the ATI display hardware.
(Btw been super happy with my new 77700 ATI video card now that it is set up correctly)