Extending multiple desktops

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converse

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Is there a way to connect 4 screens to a pc without having to buy 2 graphics cards? I.e use 1 graphics card that allows for 2 screens, and then a device which allows another 2 screens to be connected, and the displays to be extended so that u can display something different on each screen?
 
Display ports on monitors are few and far between, unless you use an adapter, which adds to your cost, anyway. Dual Display GPU's are cheap enough, do you not have a slot to put a second card in?
 
Just buy some USB to VGA Graphics Adapters... then you can add as many screens as you have USB ports.
 
converse said:
flatspin, i don't think i have space for another gfx card, motherboard about 2 years old
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You might have another pci-express slot. Open up your pc and just check. It doesn't even need to be a full length slot. If it's not for gaming even a 1x slot should work.
 
Garyvdh said:
Just buy some USB to VGA Graphics Adapters... then you can add as many screens as you have USB ports.
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Expensive option.

sand_man said:
Would that not just replicate the same screen though?
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I regularly run dual screens, with different things on them - Excel Spreadsheet on one, Word Doccie on the other. I rarely need to go beyond that.

converse said:
Gary, do u know where i can buy these from and how much they go for +-?
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Phone Frontosa - they have all those gadgets. Extra GPU is still going to be cheaper if your current one supports dual display.

converse said:
flatspin, i don't think i have space for another gfx card, motherboard about 2 years old
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Qwkslver makes a valid point (Couldn't get the quote in)- you're bound to have some short socket PCI-E's left - just add a cheap nVidia card and you'll be sorted.

The problem with AMD is they're pushing Display Port, which is fine if you have 3 monitors that support Display Port (they're not cheap ATM). So, if you have 4 monitors already, pump 2 nVidia GPU's and you have 4 screens, even if one of them is on X1 PCI-E bus. DVI to VGA adapters are cheap, so are the dual display nVidia cards. When you start converting from your USB bus to VGA you have converters in your gadget, so if you want to go cheap, look at dual cards. ;)

If you want help with your board, etc, PM me and I'll find the most cost effective solution at cost, no worries.
 
Thanks for the reply flatspin. I went through my cupboards and found the motherboard box, the model name is Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L. I am currently using a nvidia Geforce 9800GTX graphics card. Last time i enquired about dual cards i heard that one needs two of the exact same cards in order to do the 4x display setup. Please correct me if im wrong and advise on the most cost effective solution :)

The USB to vga adaptors i've noticed go from anywhere between R400-R1000, so quite a pricey option. I trade the stock market from home for a living and have the need to have multiple charts open, so i need to look @ getting more screens. Thanks again for your help
 
Yes thats correct it does support dual displays, already have 2 screens hooked up. Adding 1 of those gpu's, will it work? Which port would i slot it into, does my motherboard have enough space for it?
 
converse said:
Yes thats correct it does support dual displays, already have 2 screens hooked up. Adding 1 of those gpu's, will it work? Which port would i slot it into, does my motherboard have enough space for it?
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It goes into one of those black little slots next to your current card
 
converse said:
Thanks for the reply flatspin. I went through my cupboards and found the motherboard box, the model name is Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L. I am currently using a nvidia Geforce 9800GTX graphics card. Last time i enquired about dual cards i heard that one needs two of the exact same cards in order to do the 4x display setup. Please correct me if im wrong and advise on the most cost effective solution :)

The USB to vga adaptors i've noticed go from anywhere between R400-R1000, so quite a pricey option. I trade the stock market from home for a living and have the need to have multiple charts open, so i need to look @ getting more screens. Thanks again for your help
Click to expand...

You only need identical gpus when using sli.
 
I'm also quite interested in this topic.

I currently have a dual monitor setup running off an HD4870 Ati Radeon card via dvi and hdmi outputs. My motherboard is an Asus P7P55D-LE and the system weakness, the PSU, Huntkey 650W.

How best would I accommodate a 3rd monitor?

TIA
 
sand_man said:
I'm also quite interested in this topic.

I currently have a dual monitor setup running off an HD4870 Ati Radeon card via dvi and hdmi outputs. My motherboard is an Asus P7P55D-LE and the system weakness, the PSU, Huntkey 650W.

How best would I accommodate a 3rd monitor?

TIA
Click to expand...

If I was you and that's all I wanted to do then I would find myself a second hand 1156 socket motherboard that has crossfire then get a second hand 4800 series card.

If won't do much for gaming performance though and I'm sure the PSU will handle it, I could be wrong so get another opinion.

Update: Looking at your motherboard specs you already have a slot for crossfire, then all you need to do is look for a second hand 4800 series card. You can look/request one here: http://www.carbonite.co.za/

Your motherboard specs: http://za.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1156/P7P55D_LE/#overview
 
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sand_man said:
I'm also quite interested in this topic.

I currently have a dual monitor setup running off an HD4870 Ati Radeon card via dvi and hdmi outputs. My motherboard is an Asus P7P55D-LE and the system weakness, the PSU, Huntkey 650W.

How best would I accommodate a 3rd monitor?

TIA
Click to expand...

You'd need an ACTIVE dp to dvi/hdmi converter. That's it. Well besides the 3rd monitor that is.
 
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