Solved VTX 7850 eyefinity setup x3 monitors

[demongorgan]

hi I have purchased a VTX 7850 and it says it supports up to 4 monitors in eyefinity.

I only want to hook up 3. I'm using x3 CQ1859s 18.5in monitors 1366x768 60hz (only have VGA connections)

my graphics card has:
x1 hdmi
x2 DVI
x2 mini display port

I have x2 dvi to vga convertors and have ordered an active mini display to vga adapter. I have herd a rule that the first two monitors can be connected to whatever (in my case the dvi ports x2) and the third monitor has to be connected via mini display port with an active adapter if the monitor doesn't have a MDP?

can you confirm this for me? or tell me what I must do to make eyefinity work across 3 monitors.

Thanks

 

[Faladu]

I have a 7950, and yeah I am able to run 3 at once, after I got the active mini-DP adaptor and cable for the 3rd port.

Will there be an issue with 3 VGAs (analog), not 100% sure, you will be a nice test case, please let us know here, all 3 of mine are digital.

I am hopeful, it's not a problem.

If anyone else has done this and reads they will surely chime in *hint hint* muhahaha!

OP, with those smaller screens, I see why you want to do this, I use 2 only usually, 3rd is my 39" HDTV, and not exactly placed right in my face, like my monitors: I have a portrait monitor 24" and a regular 23" and spaced apart, so I don't spread my games across them, it's very dependent on the software supporting it anyway, otherwise I'd expect it be quite distorted stretched artificially.

Perhaps someone doing it, can back this up or refute.

I do game a bit myself, but never needed that much range, but my eyes are getting old, so jumping around mega quick focusing over and over isn't as good. So 1 it is.... Time machine would be nice, but I'd go back 25 years or so, ooops no FPS! muhahaha!

 

[demongorgan]

Thanks for the reply. this is the active MDP adapter Mini DisplayPort VGA - Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter Converter | StarTech.com United Kingdom

I trust this is the correct one?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I'm still dreaming of a 3rd or 4th monitor so I can't comment but I use mini dp to hdmi cables on my rig and they work great and each cable cost $6.50 usd.

 

[Faladu]

OP, yeah that looks right, I spent $25ish on my to HDMI one, albeit not pounds, yikes!

For others wanting similiar:
StarTech MDP2VGAW Mini DisplayPort to VGA Video Adapter Converter - White - Newegg.com

Looks about the same except recessed.

Or skip the middle man with one of these perhaps:

Nippon Labs Model MINIDP-VGA-6 - Newegg.com
Although if I recall the AWG rating, you want a smaller #, is better. [verified, my sleepy brain is correct]

 

[demongorgan]

yeah for some reason there more expensive when I wont to convert to analog if I was going to dvi I could have picked an active up for £12 but I dunno if a converter into a converter would work i.e MDP>DVI<>DVI>VGA<>VGA>monitor

 

[Faladu]

This falls under accessories and they are way over priced to us users, business survival gear I like refer to it as.... the big profit margin items.... gotta sell a lot of them.....
Notice vast amount of various quality in retail stores.... muhahaha!

I worked in a discount store in stock, many years ago, but had access to their computer with pricing/markup values, and the gap on 90+% was tiny, and I am sure one of the reasons they went belly up.
I don't how they lasted that long (10 years maybe) with all that overhead and seriously, a nickel gap on most things.

 

[demongorgan]

Actually there's more to the problem now... Just tried to plug in my sec VGA monitor via my new dvi to VGA adapter and the 2nd monitor don't turn on? But when I unplug my primary monitor in the other dvi port the second monitor comes on. I've tried switching them about and the adapters between monitors but its only working one at a time? Vtx7850 x-edition 1gb

 

[Faladu]

See your Screen Resolution Screen, probably have to make adjustments there, I had to...

(right click on desktop | select Screen resolution)

If not there, within Catalyst.

If need be, post screen shots...

 

[demongorgan]

Na I've tried CCC and under windows display. Only shows one monitor, no option to select another. Both are set to 1366 x 768 does using two dvi at the same time not work?

 

[Faladu]

OK, so it is not even working like before with just the 2 DVI connected monitors? (only)

I would call VTX tech support, if you have exhausted yourself on this and have them troubleshoot directly with you.
If they said in their documentation that 3-4 works, then it could be a specific hardware issue, they should have knowledge of and provide solution. [assuming they are competent, I have worked tech support myself]
I hate to say it, but if the first rep seems OFF, hang up wait, 2 mins, call back. muhahaha!

This hopefully saves you time and further aggravation, I had to have a Brother tech support rep walk me through my laser printer install for instance, mine is a cheap model with only 1 button, but they had they had THE answer and was good to go and more things for me that weren't in the documentation. It was an internal setting that had to be adjusted. (one button? yeah)

It could be a video card bios upgrade for a solution, and typically that's only given out by tech support, because that can render a video card if not handled right, USELESS.

 

[demongorgan]

This is the first time I've tried more than one monitor. The other ones just been sitting there as I've been waiting for the 3rd one to turn up. But after I posted on here with my original question I got tempted to try my 2nd monitor out and then found the issue. Lol

The card does support x2 dvi. So it should work. I've looked at the specs of my card and I believe I found the issue? It says I have x1 DVI-I and x1 DVI-D could this be the issue? As my adapters are both dvi-I adapters. (Even though it pics up a single monitor regardless of what dvi I plug it into) I think its when I plug in two. It can only Handel one dvi-I at a time?

Was just pondering on it at work and sounds right to me. I bet if I get a HDMI to VGA it would work. Same as with a passive dvi to VGA or active MDP to VGA.

 

[Faladu]

DVI-D is digital only but your able to get A monitor working on both ports, so yes, again I would call VTX and get their input, perplexed a little at that engineering possibility, stinks!

But your theory, yeah possible.

The DVI-I is both analog and digital and DVI-A (have never seen one) is Analog only.

You need analog on one end, digital on the other in all 3 cases.

 

[demongorgan]

think that's going to rule out my other dvi-d port then. just need to decide on hdmi to vga or passive mdp to vga

 

[Faladu]

Advice is still: Call VTX.... could even be a video card bios update that fixes it, they generally are not shown on web sites.

 

[demongorgan]

I emailed support yesterday. Would ring but its like £1.30 a minute aaaaand I figures I would be on the phone for quite some time

 

[ganjiry]

Just my 2 cents folks but from past experience with AMD gpu's only the one Dvi connection is capable of sending an anologue signal. Usually the top one. So no matter what adapter you use it won't work. You need to have atleast one monitor that is Dvi compatible.

 

[Faladu]

I was wondering about VGA * 3, it is tech from the 80's, not surprised, if the case, but VTX would know for sure.

 

[demongorgan]

I orderd and active HDMI to VGA converter and a active MDP to VGA converter.

1x dvi-i to VGA
1x HDMI to VGA
1x MDP to VGA

So fingers crossed this should work. And then I think I'll start saving for some updated monitors with dvi and HDMI ports.

 

[demongorgan]

yep 2 monitors now up and running

x1 DVI-I (DVI-A to vga adapter)
x1 HMDI (HDMI to VGA Active adapter)

waiting on last monitor coming today
x1 MiniDisplay port (minidisplay port to VGA Active adapter)

total cost
£0 : DVI-A to VGA
£0.99 : DVI-I to vga (failed attempt)
£6.99 :Active HDMI to VGA
£21.99 :Active minidisplay port to VGA
£39.99 :CQ1859s monitor
£39.99 :CQ1859s monitor
-------------------------
£109.95

so still cheaper than buying 3 DVI/HDMI monitors. hopefully others looking to eyefinity 3 vga monitors will find this and get some use out of it. just remember its all about the active! only use passive on the DVI-I port as this is analog anyways.

so remember future people looking at this:
you can use any combination of ports for the first two, but you will need the mini display for the 3rd monitor.
guide for VGA monitors: ports and the convertion type needed.

VGA = just plug in the VGA lol..
SL DVI-I =Passive Adapter
DL DVI-I =Passive Adapter

SL DVI-A =Passive Adapter
DL DVI-A =Passive Adapter

SL DVI-D =Active Adapter
DL DVI-D =Active Adapter

HDMI =Active Adapter
Display port =Active Adapter
MiniDisplay port =Active Adapter