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Graphics Card to run 3 monitors

M

mark_burnt

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 27, 2004
21
0
Hello,

I have a Mac Pro 4,1 and I'd like to run 3 identical Dell monitors.

The current card only supports 2 monitors, what would my best bet be?

Thanks.
 
I have used four 1080p monitors using an ATI 6870. I think the apple ATI 5870 will run three monitors. You'll need active mini display port adapters to pull it off.
 
Thanks, yes I heard the 6870 would work. But I think they are discontinued and some say loud...not sure about that last bit.
 
mark_burnt said:
But the mac ones are twice the price and not as good. I wouldn't mind if they were a little more and equal in quality...but they are not.

This is proving tricky.
Click to expand...

What operating system is on the mac pro? How much are you willing to spend. What are you going to be doing with this card? Photoshop, video editing, motion graphics. We can better help you if you provide these things.
 
BigJohno said:
What operating system is on the mac pro? How much are you willing to spend. What are you going to be doing with this card? Photoshop, video editing, motion graphics. We can better help you if you provide these things.
Click to expand...

Cool thanks.

Will be photoshop work, not really video editing or motion graphics.

Running Mountain Lion

3 x Dell 24" @ 1920x1200
 
mark_burnt said:
Cool thanks.

Will be photoshop work, not really video editing or motion graphics.

Running Mountain Lion

3 x Dell 24" @ 1920x1200
Click to expand...

Great thanks for the info. I think a gtx 660 or 670 would be perfect which works out of the box with Mountain Lion. Since the dell has dvi, hdmi, and display port then the card should work for all three monitors. I have a 670 right now running two 27" apple monitors. Runs them perfectly. I have one connected with the display port to mini display port adaptor and the other a dvi to mini display port converter.
 
Awesome thanks.

Will they need active cables do you know?

I'll take a look at the 670. Is that plug and play or flashing, etc required?
 
mark_burnt said:
Awesome thanks.

Will they need active cables do you know?

I'll take a look at the 670. Is that plug and play or flashing, etc required?
Click to expand...

If its 24 it should not need to be powered. Anything higher than 1920 1200 needs to have power. Its plug and play card. I just popped it in and it booted right up.

This is what I have http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-...e=UTF8&qid=1356036589&sr=8-3&keywords=gtx+670

and


http://www.amazon.com/ATLONA-AT-DP4...36623&sr=1-7&keywords=dvi+to+mini+displayport

To power the 27"
 
Last edited:
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BigJohno said:
If its 24 it should not need to be powered. Anything higher than 1920 1200 needs to have power. Its plug and play card. I just popped it in and it booted right up.
Click to expand...

Much appreciated.

Final question if I can...knowing nothing about cards and manufacturers.

Zotac any good?

Then I'm good to order!
 
Make sure the 600 series cards will with with triple monitors in Mountain Lion. A couple months ago I wanted to get a 670 or 680 but only a maximum of 2 ports on the card can work simultaneously. There was no solution to get 3 screens running off a single card at that time. Just thought I'd let you know. You should probably check with someone who is actually running 3 screens off a single card.
 
simplymuzik3 said:
Make sure the 600 series cards will with with triple monitors in Mountain Lion. A couple months ago I wanted to get a 670 or 680 but only a maximum of 2 ports on the card can work simultaneously. There was no solution to get 3 screens running off a single card at that time. Just thought I'd let you know. You should probably check with someone who is actually running 3 screens off a single card.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure we've confirmed that 3+ displays work fine with the latest Mountain Lion drivers from NVIDIA.
 
Well I just put a 670 in my 3,1 MP and I can only get two monitors running simultaneously, I have two connected to the DVI ports and one connects to the display port with a DVI to display port adapter, no luck. I am going to go out tomorrow and buy an HDMI to DVI connector and see if that works. I am running 10.8.2.
 
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