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5770 setup

T

tonypitt

n00b
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
40
I've gotten some great advice here in this forum about a new system I'm putting together. Components are on order, so I don't yet have any manuals and such. Now I'm trying to figure out cabling and hookups.

The video card I've ordered is a XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card. I'm mainly looking to use it in conjunction with a pair of Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP 24" LCD monitors.

The monitors have DVI, HDMI, and Display Port ports. The 5770 has 2 DVI, 1 HDMI, and 1 Display Port.

Am I correct in thinking that I just get 2 DVI cables for the monitors? (and leave the Display Port empty?)

I also have an LCD TV nearby. I'd like to integrate it into the system as well for occasional output. Can I hook it up to the HDMI output? Will this card power those 3 devices simultaneously?

Should I instead just split one of the DVI outputs and have the TV mimic one of the local monitors?

I'm sure setting up a configuration like this is typical, but I haven't been able to find a good resources to tell me exactly what configuration is best.

Thanks for any help I can get.
 
If you want 3 independent displays, you will need to use the display port. The HDMI port cannot be used simultaneously with both DVI ports. Since your monitors support display port, just use the display port with one of the monitors and use HDMI with your TV.
 
kniah said:
If you want 3 independent displays, you will need to use the display port. The HDMI port cannot be used simultaneously with both DVI ports.
Click to expand...

What, are you sure? You can't AMD's Eyefinity unless one of your monitors has a display port?
What if they only support HDMI and DVI?
 
I think it may be possible to hook up both DVI ports and HDMI connection at the same time but you won't be able to use them in eye infinity mode.

Should be able to swap back and forth between displays.

Not sure.

Good question. I wouldn't buy any extra stuff till you are able to test this set up for yourself or you get a clear and certain answer.
 
Seraphic said:
What, are you sure? You can't AMD's Eyefinity unless one of your monitors has a display port?
What if they only support HDMI and DVI?
Click to expand...

That's right, if you want to use Eyefinity and don't have a displayport monitor, you need to have a compatible ACTIVE displayport adapter, which run around 100 bucks. Without a displayport adapter, you can do DVI/DP/DVI, DVI/DP/HDMI, and I think you can also do HDMI/HDMI/Displayport
 
Yoda4561 said:
That's right, if you want to use Eyefinity and don't have a displayport monitor, you need to have a compatible ACTIVE displayport adapter, which run around 100 bucks. Without a displayport adapter, you can do DVI/DP/DVI, DVI/DP/HDMI, and I think you can also do HDMI/HDMI/Displayport
Click to expand...

That is so stupid. I have never even heard of a display port until a few days ago.
Why not just allow for display port or hdmi then the two dvi ports?
 
Seraphic said:
That is so stupid. I have never even heard of a display port until a few days ago.
Why not just allow for display port or hdmi then the two dvi ports?
Click to expand...

From wikipedia:

The video signal [DisplayPort] is not compatible with DVI or HDMI, but a DisplayPort connector can pass these signals through. While DVI and HDMI require separate clock signals, DisplayPort embeds the clock in the data signal. The data transmission protocol in DisplayPort is based on micro packets and is extensible for future feature additions, whereas DVI/HDMI transmission protocol is a Serial Data Stream at a multiple of 10 of the pixel clock rate.
Click to expand...

DVI and HDMI are essentially the same thing, just different packaging and HDMI carries audio. The video card outputs a DVI signal, which can be routed to either the DVI port or the HDMI port as electrically they are basically the same. The DisplayPort signal is something entirely different and not compatible with HDMI, which is why the two can't share an output from the video card.
 
kniah said:
DVI and HDMI are essentially the same thing, just different packaging and HDMI carries audio. The video card outputs a DVI signal, which can be routed to either the DVI port or the HDMI port as electrically they are basically the same. The DisplayPort signal is something entirely different and not compatible with HDMI, which is why the two can't share an output from the video card.
Click to expand...

So based on this, I'd think that 2 DVI + DisplayPort or 2 DVI + HDMI would work, but 1 DVI + 1 DisplayPort + 1 HDMI would not. The more I study this, the more confused I get. It seems crazy to me that I can't find this specific issue addressed in the documentation for this card, but so far I've come up dry.

I'm also a bit confused about DisplayPort in general. If I have 2 monitors with DisplayPort that I want to run in a dual monitor configuration, would I actually need 2 distinct DisplayPort outputs on a video card? Or can 1 DisplayPort output actually power multiple monitors? If so, how is that done with cables, splitters, etc.?
 
kniah said:
From wikipedia:

DVI and HDMI are essentially the same thing, just different packaging and HDMI carries audio. The video card outputs a DVI signal, which can be routed to either the DVI port or the HDMI port as electrically they are basically the same. The DisplayPort signal is something entirely different and not compatible with HDMI, which is why the two can't share an output from the video card.
Click to expand...

But why even include a display port at all? I'm sure almost no monitors sold from a year ago on have it (like my 24" monitor). Seems like it should have been like two DVI ports and two HDMI ports on the card. It is like they are forcing you buy a new monitor that has a display port in order to use the new Eyefinity technology.
 
tonypitt said:
So based on this, I'd think that 2 DVI + DisplayPort or 2 DVI + HDMI would work, but 1 DVI + 1 DisplayPort + 1 HDMI would not. The more I study this, the more confused I get. It seems crazy to me that I can't find this specific issue addressed in the documentation for this card, but so far I've come up dry.

I'm also a bit confused about DisplayPort in general. If I have 2 monitors with DisplayPort that I want to run in a dual monitor configuration, would I actually need 2 distinct DisplayPort outputs on a video card? Or can 1 DisplayPort output actually power multiple monitors? If so, how is that done with cables, splitters, etc.?
Click to expand...

The card produces 3 video signals: DVI, DVI, and DisplayPort. The DVI signals can either be routed to the DVI port on the back of the card OR the HDMI port since they are basically the same thing.

Signal 1 (DVI) -> DVI OR HDMI

Signal 2 (DVI) -> DVI OR HDMI

Signal 3 (DisplayPort) -> DisplayPort ONLY

As for why ATI decided to add DisplayPort to the card instead of a third DVI port I don't know. Perhaps for added flexibility or future-proofing.
 
Q: Darthdingo wrote:
- Display Port being a MUST to triple screen game ( how many Gamers have a monitor with DP, not too many, and only the newer Dell's and HP have that connection, which are rather pricey displays, so all the good priced monitors or us with old monitors are left out ? )
A : Dave Baumann
As I've said, DisplayPort is the enabler to this technology, its not feasible to offer it as a "no extra cost" value add feature without it.
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16792&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=360
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1034700511&postcount=464 it looks like because t clock sources on asic ,can only drive2 outputs without DP.

tonypit you have to use a DP screen (or DP output with an active adapter) + 2 of 3 dvi/hdmi outputs for eyefinity setup .
kniah said:
As for why ATI decided to add DisplayPort to the card instead of a third DVI port I don't know. Perhaps for added flexibility or future-proofing.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
It sounds like in my situation I'll do 1 monitor DVI, 1 monitor DisplayPort, and the TV via DVI.

Seems strange to me to configure it in that fashion, although I don't doubt the information posted here.

Both my monitors support DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI, so I'm sure that I'm in a better situation for this than most of the people out there.
 
Yoda4561 said:
That's right, if you want to use Eyefinity and don't have a displayport monitor, you need to have a compatible ACTIVE displayport adapter, which run around 100 bucks. Without a displayport adapter, you can do DVI/DP/DVI, DVI/DP/HDMI, and I think you can also do HDMI/HDMI/Displayport
Click to expand...

OP just said that he owns 2x Dell 2408WFPs. Those all have native Displayport built in.

With your setup, I would do this:
1x Displayport to 2408WFP
1x DVI to 2408WFP
1x HDMI to LCD TV
 
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