Minimum spec GPU for three monitor setup?

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woodson

232 posts

Master Geek

#243289 4-Dec-2018 16:01

Looking at adding a third monitor to my wife's work PC, and also have another possible 3 monitor build coming up (neither are gaming rigs). From what I can tell, the very minimum GPU that will do the job currently, is the GTX 1050. Would I be correct in that?

Thanks for any tips. 🙂

SpartanVXL

1306 posts

Uber Geek

#2139319 4-Dec-2018 16:22

You can run 3-4 displays simultaneously on any graphics card that has the physical connectors and is Kepler based or higher eg. 6xx, 7xx, 9xx, 10xx, 20xx series.

AMD cards as far back as the HD 5xxx series can also run three monitors (those will need an active adapter for the third monitor). The newer ones, RX series, can run up to 4 displays.

You could go with a el cheap, basic gt 1030 or gt 710, whatever has three display outs on the back of the card.

Note this is just to have extended desktop, you might run into issues trying to do anything more intensive than excel.

Edit: additionally if you have displayport on the motherboard with intel igp as well as displayport daisy chain compatible monitors you can simply plug all three into each other and power them off one plug on the computer.

solutionz

589 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2139320 4-Dec-2018 16:22

Depends on your motherboard, and the input(s) on your monitors.

If you already have VGA + HDMI on your MB you may only need another single output GPU, or a USB adaptor. Otherwise any GPU with dual output will do (provided you can still use your onboard output).

woodson

232 posts

Master Geek

#2139323 4-Dec-2018 16:26

My wife's current machine has a GTX 730 in it, but three monitors didn't seem to work (unless I was doing something wrong?)

woodson

232 posts

Master Geek

#2139324 4-Dec-2018 16:28

@solutionz - I didn't think you could mix and match using outputs from both a GPU and motherboard?

solutionz

589 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2139329 4-Dec-2018 16:35

woodson:

@solutionz - I didn't think you could mix and match using outputs from both a GPU and motherboard?

Generally you can, but depends on the hardware & BIOS options.

e.g. I'm currently using the integrated VGA on my Intel S2600 board + AMD FirePro W4100 with 2x passive VGA adapters & 1x active DVI adapters (for 4x monitors total with room for 1x more / projector).

SpartanVXL

1306 posts

Uber Geek

#2139331 4-Dec-2018 16:38

woodson:
@solutionz - I didn't think you could mix and match using outputs from both a GPU and motherboard?

You can, Windows will let you extend desktops across available adapters. Eg. you can use the Intel igpu to display up to the max it can support + any monitors that are on a dedicated card.

As for the GT730 there are three different models of it. Two are Kepler based which will work. One is based on the older architecture, Fermi, and will only support two at once.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_700_series#GeForce_700_(7xx)_series

If you take a look at the list you can see three entries for GT730 released June 2014. You'll have to match up the specifications of your card with which one is on the list, but i'm guessing its the fermi one if you've already tried to give it a go.

GF108 == Geforce Fermi

GK208 == Geforce Kepler

msreef

88 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2139335 4-Dec-2018 16:47

Not sure if you've made your mind up... but I moved from a triple monitor setup (one 16:9 27' in the middle, two 16:10 24's either side) to dual ultrawides.

Now I have one 35' UW 3440 x 1440 in front of me, and a 25' UW 2560 x 1080 above it. I very much prefer this setup, and would recommend it any day of the week for gaming and work productivity / development. I have an Nvidia 1070.

Equinox IT

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solutionz

589 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2139336 4-Dec-2018 16:54

woodson:

My wife's current machine has a GTX 730 in it, but three monitors didn't seem to work (unless I was doing something wrong?)

What's the motherboard, and monitors?

Depending on the sub-model the 730 itself supports 2x or 3x monitors: https://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-730/specifications

woodson

232 posts

Master Geek

#2139355 4-Dec-2018 17:24

Pretty sure the 730 we have is the 128 bit model that only supports 2 monitors.

Just been having a play with mixing and matching onboard graphics and GPU and seems to do the trick with some tweaking.

Thanks for all tips!