Eyefinity and HD6950 Question

[TexasHays]

Hey guys, I'm having trouble finding the solution on AMD's website.

I am about to buy 3x Dell U2410s.
Right now I have 1 HD 6950 2Gb but am also going to buy a 2nd one.

However, I'm assuming I won't have to buy an active displayport adapter but I am not sure.

The AMD website says I need at least one display port and at least 2 of the following outputs: hdmi/vga/dvi.

But, since the Dell monitors have displayport and dvi I should be able to do the following for eyefinity correct?

Monitor 1: Displayport to Mini Displayport
Monitor 2: Displayport to Mini Displayport
Monitor 3: DVI to DVI

That makes sense to me, but the way AMD worded their setup guide with "at least 2 of the following outputs" made me think that I can only use one mini displayport.

Thanks for the help!

 

[chithanh]

You can connect up to 6 monitors to a Radeon card, but at most two can be non-DisplayPort. (The exception to this rule are the Sapphire Flex cards).

So a reference 6950 will allow you to connect two monitors via miniDP and two via DVI/HDMI. The Sapphire 6950 Flex allows you to connect two monitors via miniDP and three via DVI/HDMI. And the ASUS 6950 2DI4S supports four monitors via DP and two via DVI.

 

[mdk30]

Are you aware that Dell just came out with the U2412M? If you don't have specific reasons for needing the U2410 (like wide gamut really being about the only thing... IF you need it in the first place) you would probably be better off with the newer model.

Also, have you heard of the screen tearing problems people are having with EyeFinity when the monitors utilize different connection types? Currently the ASUS 6950 mentioned above is the only 6950 that has 4 DP outputs so you could connect your 3 monitors all via DP. The "problem" is that card is huge and takes up 3 expansion slots, so you need to be mindful of that... especially if you want to go for CrossFire at some point. I originally wanted to go with 2x 6950s but when I realized that the ASUS was my only option if I wanted to maintain DP consistency for all my monitors, I just decided to go for a 6990 instead since that has 4x DP outputs as well, and only costs about $100 more than 2 of the Asus 6950s.

 

[Zorn]

Hey guys, I'm having trouble finding the solution on AMD's website.

I am about to buy 3x Dell U2410s.
Right now I have 1 HD 6950 2Gb but am also going to buy a 2nd one.

However, I'm assuming I won't have to buy an active displayport adapter but I am not sure.

The AMD website says I need at least one display port and at least 2 of the following outputs: hdmi/vga/dvi.

But, since the Dell monitors have displayport and dvi I should be able to do the following for eyefinity correct?

Monitor 1: Displayport to Mini Displayport
Monitor 2: Displayport to Mini Displayport
Monitor 3: DVI to DVI

That makes sense to me, but the way AMD worded their setup guide with "at least 2 of the following outputs" made me think that I can only use one mini displayport.

Thanks for the help!

I have 2 unlocked 6950s running in Crossfire, and this is exactly how I have my 3 monitors plugged in. Works fine.

 

[TexasHays]

Thanks everyone.

Yeah, I'm getting the U2412s. Not sure why I listed the other model, mental lapse I toguess.

And about the screen tearing when you use different connections: I've heard that but I also hear people say they have no issue so I'm just going to bite the bullet so to speak and see.

Besides, worse case scenario - maybe I'll get that other Asus card (mine is the reference model) for Crossfire. and use DP for all three. But of course, you said that card was bigger so I have see if it'll fit. My mobo is the P8P67 Pro (pre-recall).

EDIT: Yeah, it looks like that Asus 6950 with the 4 DP will fit... barely. It won't fit in the second x8 slot but if I move the reference model down to it the Asus should fit in the top x8/x16 slot.