Hi guys,
My pending annual PC upgrade affair is a three monitor display, but I am getting a bit bogged down with the types of connectors.
My Graphics card will do 3 x monitors fine, that's partly why I got it. It has 2 x DVI, I have attached an image to show what they look like (in the manual they look nothing like this).
Now as far as I can tell DVI-D Cables will work in DVI-I sockets. I found for example that a Single Link DVI-D works fine in my DVI-I Dual link port...
All bloody confusing.
So I have my eye on this monitor : BenQ GL2450E (http://www.amazon.co.uk/BenQ-GL2450E-Widescreen-1920x1080-Brilliant/dp/B00AK5F6LI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=O3LJM63KH1I0&coliid=I14EO063P4XR5N) x 3
That appear , from the description, to be DVI-D.
So to start with I can presumably use 3 x DVI-D Dual Link cables ?
Or should I use DVI-D Single Links x 3 ?
BTW, the third DVI cable connects through a HDMI->DVI adapter.
Can anyone make sense of this ?
I tried Sapphire, but they quoted from a specification that does not match my card....
Thanks for any pointers :)
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I get hazy when it comes to more than two monitors.
Can you post a link to your card please Freddy, it might help us sort it out.
Sure here it is :
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1037&lid=1&pid=1236 (http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1037&lid=1&pid=1236)
The port pictures have the same connectors as mine.
I think either Dual or Single Link DVI-D is going to be the solution....still digging....
I just noticed in their specs is says :
1 x Single-Link DVI-D
But the connector looks like a Dual Link DVI-D :scratch-head:
I found this helpful page : http://www.cabledepot.com/05DTDVIINF.html (http://www.cabledepot.com/05DTDVIINF.html)
Seems that as each of my monitors would have 1920x1080 resolution then single link is fine. And also as I said single link DVI-D does work with the ports.
Re the specs; I am wondering if the Single Link DVI-D port is actually correct but for some reason they used a Dual Link connector ? Maybe for further compatibility...hmmm
According to this guy it's easy to do on a card like yours.
QuoteI started out by firing up my rig with just the left-most monitor connected to one of the DVI ports. Once Windows 7 was fully booted up, I connected the middle monitor to the second DVI port, and finally the third one using the HDMI to DVI adapter (included). As I did this, the monitors were automatically configured and added. Bam, that easy.
http://icrontic.com/article/sapphire-radeon-hd-6870-review-triple-monitors-on-a-budget (http://icrontic.com/article/sapphire-radeon-hd-6870-review-triple-monitors-on-a-budget)
It seems to me that as long as the plug fits the socket then the card should detect what's plugged into it and sort it out.
Cool, thanks for digging around for me ;D
I'll try DVI-D Single Link for now as I have two here, maybe another if I rummage around. That saves me a few quid on new cables then.
Cheers :)
I know it's a bit more money but I do like the look of these, nicer stands, has HDMI input as well (might come in handy) and I have seen a few Acer screens and they have always impressed me.
http://www.ebuyer.com/393375-acer-g246hlb-24-led-lcd-hdmi-monitor-um-fg6ee-b01 (http://www.ebuyer.com/393375-acer-g246hlb-24-led-lcd-hdmi-monitor-um-fg6ee-b01)
Yeah funnily enough they are number two on my list. The Benq has slightly better reviews from more people and will be about £60 cheaper...
Here it is on EBuyer...
http://www.ebuyer.com/432395-benq-gl2450e-led-monitor-24-1920-x-1080-fullhd-9h-l7ala-fpu (http://www.ebuyer.com/432395-benq-gl2450e-led-monitor-24-1920-x-1080-fullhd-9h-l7ala-fpu)
From the comments it also appears to have HDMI, but that's juts academic to me..
The Acer does have 2ms response time though, but so should the BenQ - they appear to have mistakenly labelled it 5ms...on Amazon it is 2ms for the same model number.
I sent eBuyer a query.
If the Acer comes down to around £100 over the next two weeks I might opt for it. It's between those two anyway.
The Acer does appear to have lower wattage too, so worth noting.
There is no HDMI on the BenQ that I can see, really I was thinking of the future, will my next graphics card take say 4 HDHI monitors.
Also thought you could possibly connect one monitor to the HDMI port on your card, should you need to when connecting it all up, gives you another option.
Just some thoughts.
Read through a few of the reviews for the BenQ, a few people mention the HDMI socket.
Eg ...
QuoteExcellent picture quality via DVI or HDMI inputs although the appropriate cable is not included withthe monitor. One of the few monitors with speakers for 'basic' sound. Some have complained about receiving a continental plug, but mine arrived with a UK power cable.
Hmm, right, after some digging it looks like there is a screw up on their site.
The reviews on eBuyer seems to be pulling from the wrong product. If you go to these two pages in different tabs and compare the REEVOO reviews then they are identical.
So I was misled it seems...
http://www.ebuyer.com/432395-benq-gl2450e-led-monitor-24-1920-x-1080-fullhd-9h-l7ala-fpu# (http://www.ebuyer.com/432395-benq-gl2450e-led-monitor-24-1920-x-1080-fullhd-9h-l7ala-fpu#)
http://www.ebuyer.com/393201-benq-gl2450hm-24-led-lcd-hdmi-monitor-speakers-9h-l7cla-tbe (http://www.ebuyer.com/393201-benq-gl2450hm-24-led-lcd-hdmi-monitor-speakers-9h-l7cla-tbe)
So I was actually reading the reviews of the more expensive monitor.... need a rethink now ;)
I was wondering why some people said it had speakers... :P
Quote from: Freddy on January 21, 2013, 20:03:50 PM
I was wondering why some people said it had speakers... :P
Hehe, that's why its better to have a couple of people looking at these things I guess ;)
I'm sure the BenQ would give you what you need and will give a nice image but I can't help think the acer would have the edge on quality.
I agree very much, that's why I always run things by you good friends of mine :)
Yes, I think the Acer is the one to go for now all things considered. The wattage of the Acer is a lot better too.
I'm sending eBuyer an email so they can sort this out, that could have been a costly mistake.
My 2 pennies worth...
I run a 22" Acer and have been totally happy with it. Blacks are as good as I've seen on any LCD monitor. It's LED backlit and the screen is about 1 cm deep. The foot on mine looks a little better made.
In truth, I've not noticed the difference between 2ms and 5ms timing (500Hz and 200Hz respectively). The only time you will see any difference, if at all, is fast moving graphics. This is how fast the liquid crystals can move. Personally, for the sake of £60 over 3 monitors, I'd go the 2ms.
You seem to have sorted the lead issue. Good quality single link is fine, unless you are thinking of much greater than 1080 res (like 1600 or 2160). I'm talking rows not colums.
I have the 22" version of this one. Link. (http://www.ebuyer.com/225851-acer-s243hlabmii-lcd-display-tft-led-backlight-24-et-fs3he-a01)
Thanks Snowcrash, yes I agree that seems like the way to go then. Good to know the Acer performs well. I'm not thinking of anything over 1080 per display. Besides to go any higher would cost a fortune...and a new card too.
They put a lot more spec details into that monitor of yours. Looks nice :thumbsup:
Cheers :)
My contrast ratio is 12 million:1, the one you're looking at is 100 million:1. Though what this means in reality, I'm still not sure about. It should mean your blacks are blacker. It's the only thing plasma screens do better than LCD.
I think yours is a newer model.
:o your getting a 3 monitor set up, I'm so jealous ;D
I can also confirm Acer makes a good quality display. My wife has had hers for a few years now.
I use an Asus, which also has good quality for a good price.
I agree with you Syber, I have an Acer monitor which has been running for a few years now. As a matter of fact, it's one of the few bits of my kit that Data hasn't slagged off and forced me to replace. :LOL:
Hehe, yes Syber, it's been years in the 'shall I, shall I not' part of my brain. I need to save a few more pounds but I think this is a goer.
Thanks to you and Diesel for the Acer observations, I think that is settled now :)
Freddy, you're encroaching on the only area where I felt at least adequate. :o Always before, my WEI has sucked, but I could at least say "Sure, my box is slow, but I can see more on it!" Now here you go and get 3 monitors? I wanna cry. :(
Seriously, Mate. Great news, and I expect they'll serve you well. :thumbsup:
Hehe, well I don't know what else to upgrade as I am pretty much happy with my PC at the moment. But the three screen enticed me again.
Anyhow, don't worry, I see that in another thread you are building a super computer to rival all others :)
It won't be long before I am catching up again, I haven't even gone with W8 yet.
Would that that were true. At this stage I'm only thinking about building another computer. Till all the legal crap is settles, and I see if I actually get some sort of monetary compensation, it's all I can do.