Two Radeon HD 6350 (HDMI) not supporting three monitors

I just got a new work computer here (Dell Optiplex 790) and this issue is driving me nuts because my productivity is way down without three monitors, and even further because I'm spending all my time trying to get three monitors to work =D

I have two ATI Radeon HD 6350 video cards with HDMI ports. I'm using two splitters. One splitter for the main card has two Acer monitors hooked up (these work), and the other splitter has a single Acer monitor hooked up and does not work.

I know it works, because I can alternate between monitors but only two at a time.

Now - I've been doing research for about six hours and I just can't figure it out. I've been reading a lot about something called a "display port" but I can confirm that there are no display ports on either video card.

I've included a pic just for fun I guess:

Skibbles, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Is it two cards, or is it a single card with a low profile bracket like the one shown here?



If it is a single card, then you can only run two monitors off of it unless you use a splitter. A splitter also defeats the purpose of multi monitor unless you are looking to run the same thing on both (clone).

I cracked open the case earlier to double check and it's certainly two separate cards. Device manager also has two cards listed.

I'm not trying to achieve eyefinity or anything, just three separate displays. My old station used to handle three monitors with a splitter and a single so I don't see how this can't work!

Yes...with AMD GPU's you need a display port for all three monitors to work. The AMD technology is called eyefinity. Have a look at this.


Experience Eyefinity

Thanks for the quick replies!

So I can have all the video cards I want but if they don't have display ports I'm SOL?

Eyefinity is exactly what I don't want though. I just want three seperate displays. Does this make a difference?

I just want to make sure it's clear I can't do anything so I can tell the boss the new PC won't work =)

I'm having trouble understanding what you're saying... =(

To be detailed however: the three monitors are all VGA connected to DVI adapters, connected to an HDMI splitter with DVI females.

VGA->DVI->HDMI Splitter (and thus, an adapter as well)

I tip my hat to you sir. It worked!!!!

This is what I did for those who may have the same issues:

1) Both HDMI ports have DVI splitters plugged in.
2) One monitor has DVI straight from the monitor to a HDMI splitter on the "main" gfx card (slot 1)
3) The other two monitors are VGA, adapted to DVI, and both plugged into the "second" gfx card (slot 2)

I don't know how this worked or if I got lucky, but it's worth a try for anyone having problems.