HS Radeon 6790 using all output ports (2x dvi/display port/hdmi) Possible?

[comhack]

I have a HIS Radeon HD 6790 1 GB GDDR5 video card running the Catalyst driver under Archlinux.

I currently have 3 monitors attached to my card using 2 of the DVI ports and one Active DisplayPort which leaves the HDMI port open. I am planning on buying a hdmi LCD monitor and I read conflicting reviews of AMD cards that basically say one of the DVI ports uses the same controller of the hdmi port.

I am basically just wondering if it is possible to use both the DVI ports, the displayport and the HDMI port at the same time with the version of card I have?

╔═ comhack@Cerberus 02:35 PM 
╚═══ ~-> pacman -Qi catalyst-total | grep Version
Version        : 12.4-1

╔═ comhack@Cerberus 02:35 PM 
╚═══ ~-> lspci | grep VGA
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Barts LE [AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series]

The specs for my video card show:

AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology1
Native support for up to 4 simultaneous displays
Up to 6 displays supported with DisplayPort 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport

http://www.amd.com/us/products/deskt...verview.aspx#3


If this indeed the case, what options do I have? running 2 cards in sli or an adapter?
Thanks a lot

[comhack]

Moderators can you please move this to the Videocards - AMD - ATI section as this is the wrong area to post this thread in.

Thanks

[Valagard]

Yes it should support 4 displays

6970 and 7970 can both do six displays max, just matters if you have enough monitor ports to hook them up, and I think they are limited to 1920x1080 when you have 6 hooked up

[comhack]

Originally Posted by Valagard

Yes it should support 4 displays

6970 and 7970 can both do six displays max, just matters if you have enough monitor ports to hook them up, and I think they are limited to 1920x1080 when you have 6 hooked up

Well I have 4 outputs:

2x DVI
1 DisplayPort
1 HDMI

I have just read that one of the dvi ports shares the same channel as the HDMI and I was just wondering if this is the case or not.

[Valagard]

Originally Posted by comhack

Well I have 4 outputs:

2xDVI
DisplayPort
HDMI

I have just read that one of the dvi ports shares the same channel as the HDMI and I was just wondering if this is the case or not.

It shouldn't share the channel with the HDMI, a a stock 7970 with four ports the DVI is on its own bus

If you get something like say a ASUS Direct CU II 7970, its got 6 ports, you need to switch it from Dual DVI to Single lane DVI in order to use all 6 ports

Just try hooking up HDMI and DVI togeather, I didn't have a problem with my 6970 doing it

[comhack]

Well I will not be ordering the monitor till next week but I was trying to research beforehand as I had read some conflicting information. Anyway, I guess I will just try it out when I get the new monitor.

Thanks for the replies.

[comhack]

Also, I failed to mention that DVI ports are:

Upper Single-link DVI-D
Bottom Dual-link DVI-I

http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-640.shtml

That might tell if the hdmi and dvi-i share the same channel. Either way I am ordering the monitor so I guess I will just wait and see.

[The Mac]

There are only 2 legacy port DACs, the rest are displayport

so one dvi and one hdmi, or 2 dvi. Not all 3.

[comhack]

Well I currently use 2 dvi ports, and one display port which leaves my hdmi port open. So you are saying I could only use 1 dvi port if I connect the hdmi? Will that affect my displayport as well?

[The Mac]

no, it will not effect displayport.

You can use the hdmi port with 2 dvis in use, but it will just be a clone one of the dvi ports which is pretty useless.

Since your already using 1 display port, you'll have to slap on an active DP adapter to get another legacy port.

If you werent already using a DP, you could get away with a passive adpater.

[comhack]

What do you mean by adding an active DP adapter to get another legacy port? I already have an active adapter on my DP so I can connect my third monitor via dvi cable to the DP.

I am sorry I am new to display ports and such. Do you mean to get some kind of active adapter splitter for two monitors or what?

[The Mac]

You dont need an active adaper for the first DP, passive will do.

But if u need more than one, youll need active adapters for all DPs.

Think of it like theres only one DP DAC, and the passive adapter just does a resignal so you can only use one device. (technically DP doesnt use DACs, but its easier to think of it this way)

Once you move to 2 DPs, you need active adapters because now you have to share the bandwidth with more than one device.

DAC=RAMDAC=The Clocks that control the monitor Frequency. In legacy ports (HDMI, DVI, VGA) you need a DAC for each Monitor. The technology in DP doesnt need individual clocks, but something has to mange the bandwidth and create the nessisary clocks when sharing between more than one legacy device. Thats what active adapers, and Hubs do.

[comhack]

Well I only have one display port, 2 dvis and one hdmi so I don't think that will work.

[The Mac]

your are correct sir.

there are only 2 legacy DACs, so between the 3 legacy ports, you can only use 2 monitors.

If you wish another legacy monitor, youll need another active adapter on a DP port.

If you dont have another DP, youll need to get one of those illusive hubs (sorta like USB)

Im not sure if a dual-link active adapter will allow you to put two monitors on it. Something to look into if you need it.

[comhack]

Well I already have 3 monitors so you are saying that I need a hub for the fourth monitor?

[The Mac]

if you do not have a free DP port, yes.

If you do have anoither free DP port, then just another active adapter will do. (or solve the problem and get a DP monitor...lol)

[comhack]

Would something like this work? StarTech.com 8-Inch LFH 59 Male to Dual Female DVI I DMS 59 Cable
I was thinking that I could have two dvi monitors connected to the splitter that act as one large display. That way I could have 4 monitors attatched.

So if that will work, I plan on using:

--the dual link dvi connected to two dvi monitors that act as one big monitor
--my other monitor connected to the displayport
--the fourth monitor connected to hdmi port

Would that scenario work?

[The Mac]

i dont think so, i think that would just create a clone.

Also, the current DP hubs are not 1.2 compliant, meaning they make whatever you connect present to the video card as one big monitor, rather than 2 separately controlled.

I looked up your card, you do not have a spare DP port.

Without a 1.2 compliant hub, i believe right now you are stuck with 3 monitors, or 3.5 with a 1.1 compliant hub.

[comhack]

Originally Posted by The Mac

i dont think so, i think that would just create a clone.

Also, the current DP hubs are not 1.2 compliant, meaning they make whatever you connect present to the video card as one big monitor, rather than 2 separately controlled.

I looked up your card, you do not have a spare DP port.

Without a 1.2 compliant hub, i believe right now you are stuck with 3 monitors, or 3.5 with a 1.1 compliant hub.

Well I would have no problem using two of my dvi monitors attached to the adapter above as one big desktop as long as I could have the DP and the hdmi as separate screens.


Well that sux, I guess I will have to forgo using one of my dvi monitors in place of a larger one. I am really disappointed and wish there was a way to make it work.

[The Mac]

Originally Posted by comhack

Well I would have no problem using two of my dvi monitors attached to the adapter above as one big desktop as long as I could have the DP and the hdmi as separate screens.


Well that sux, I guess I will have to forgo using one of my dvi monitors in place of a larger one. I am really disappointed and wish there was a way to make it work.

you could upgrade to a different card that has 2 dp ports. Then you could just slap an additional active adapter on it.

[The Mac]

why do you need 4 montors anyway?

seems an odd number, particularily if they are different sizes...

[comhack]

Originally Posted by The Mac

why do you need 4 montors anyway?

seems an odd number, particularily if they are different sizes...

Well I do a lot of multitasking, admin a forum, and I run a couple of servers. I also have anywhere between 7-15 terminals running at all times. Here is a screenshot to show you how busy I stay:

[The Mac]

Originally Posted by comhack

Well I do a lot of multitasking, admin a forum, and I run a couple of servers. I also have anywhere between 7-15 terminals running at all times. Here is a screenshot to show you how busy I stay:

better you than me.

lol

my suggestion: if you dont need one of the monitors for gaming, get an additional cheap radeon like a 6450 or something for that extra monitor

[comhack]

Originally Posted by The Mac

better you than me.

lol

my suggestion: if you dont need one of the monitors for gaming, get an additional cheap radeon like a 6450 or something for that extra monitor

Thanks for the suggestion, I think that is exactly what I will do. I found a ASUS EAH6450 Radeon HD 6450 1gb for $44.

That will work perfect as I only game on one monitor anyway.

[NRG_XL]

The ad from His shouts: AMD Eyefinity technology: Gaming and productivity on up to three simultaneous displays

That might just mean you are able to connect 3 displays.
3 displays is not equal to 4 diplays so the answer will be: Neh the 4th display will not be

An HD6450 will not enable even 1 display for gaming...@1080p normal settings DX10 games will run approx @15fps and dx11 games @6 fps..

and don't tell me your buying a 6790 plus a 6450 coz that is expensive and not effective at all

ugh