What monitor connection config should I use?

[Nallown]

So I just ordered 3 monitors which support DVI and DisplayPort and I'm trying to think of how I should hook this up to my GPU.

My GPU has 2x DVI and 2x Mini DisplayPort and 1x HDMI (Not going to use.)

 

So I'm wondering whether I should use a DisplayPort Adapter so I can have 1 DisplayPort be hooked up to 2 monitors or should I dedicate each output from the GPU to its own monitor so I'd use the 2 mini DisplayPort for each monitor and one DVI for another monitor.

 

What would be the best?

[TheKDub]

You might as well just give each monitor its own dedicated port.

 

Is there a reason you don't want to use HDMI?

[Enderman]

mini DP -> monitor #1

mini DP -> monitor #2

DVI -> monitor #3

[Enderman]

You might as well just give each monitor its own dedicated port.

 

Is there a reason you don't want to use HDMI?

His monitors use DVI or displayport, no HDMI.

He would have to use another adapter anyway.

[Nallown]

You might as well just give each monitor its own dedicated port.

 

Is there a reason you don't want to use HDMI?

 

mainly for its refresh rate limitations which the other ports don't have so it would be kind of out of sync

[Nallown]

His monitors use DVI or displayport, no HDMI.

He would have to use another adapter anyway.

That's true aswell but I haven't really bothered looking into whether the monitor supported HDMI or not but I just checked and turned out that they don't.

[ForsakenLive]

mainly for its refresh rate limitations which the other ports don't have so it would be kind of out of sync

On 1080p there is no limitation, the 30hz refresh rate limit is on 4k or higher resolutions. Unless you are going to use 120hz+ monitors, in that case you are right, HDMI can't do 120hz+

[Nallown]

On 1080p there is no limitation, the 30hz refresh rate limit is on 4k or higher resolutions. Unless you are going to use 120hz+ monitors, in that case you are right, HDMI can't do 120hz+

what about running them in eyefinity? that's what I'm sort of worried about.

[ForsakenLive]

what about running them in eyefinity? that's what I'm sort of worried about.

If you are on 60hz with 1440p or lower, then you have no reason to avoid HDMI, it's a very solid connector but it has got a bit of hate for not updating fast enough for 4k, so everyone started trashing it (also it has licensing fees so it increases the cost of the monitor).

HDMI is even a bit better than DVI, the thing is that if you are using dual link DVI it would use both analogue and digital part of the cable to drive on high end setups, being able to reach high refresh rates and up to 1600p resolution.

Just go mini-DP + mini-DP + HDMI.

It doesn't matter if you have 4 monitors, it will work.

[TheKDub]

what about running them in eyefinity? that's what I'm sort of worried about.

 

HDMI would push 1080p 60 FPS just fine even with eyefinity.

[Nallown]

If you are on 60hz with 1440p or lower, then you have no reason to avoid HDMI, it's a very solid connector but it has got a bit of hate for not updating fast enough for 4k, so everyone started trashing it (also it has licensing fees so it increases the cost of the monitor).

HDMI is even a bit better than DVI, the thing is that if you are using dual link DVI it would use both analogue and digital part of the cable to drive on high end setups, being able to reach high refresh rates and up to 1600p resolution.

Just go mini-DP + mini-DP + HDMI.

It doesn't matter if you have 4 monitors, it will work.

Considering that eyefinity would send the display data asynchronously would mean that they'd have to poll at the exact same rate or they'd be out of sync and since the refresh rate on HDMI would be lower then DVI would mean that it would essentially cause some stutter over all other monitors.

[ryannuttall]

I would just use both of the mini displayport for the 2 main monitors that you will be using and you can always put the 3rd monitor above you(ontop of the 2 monitors using MiniDisplay) and use that for something else. If you cant do that, then i suggest using the 2 minidisplays and 1 dvi 

[Nallown]

I would just use both of the mini displayport for the 2 main monitors that you will be using and you can always put the 3rd monitor above you(ontop of the 2 monitors using MiniDisplay) and use that for something else. If you cant do that, then i suggest using the 2 minidisplays and 1 dvi 

Since this month I've also got some friends coming over from other countries to visit me and also will be going to a few conventions I won't be spending too much money and chose to get the monitors only but next month I'll be getting this monitor stand aswell. 

 

Of course I'll be asking suggestions and some other recommendations from other people from the LTT community before I'll be placing orders but that's what I've got in mind atm. 

[ForsakenLive]

Considering that eyefinity would send the display data asynchronously would mean that they'd have to poll at the exact same rate or they'd be out of sync and since the refresh rate on HDMI would be lower then DVI would mean that it would essentially cause some stutter over all other monitors.

That's where the driver kicks in and fixes the issue with software, introducing latency on the fastest monitors to be the same as the slower. On digital signals there is no issue with this, both Displayport and HDMI use the exact same digital data sending mechanics and protocols.

[Nallown]

That's where the driver kicks in and fixes the issue with software, introducing latency on the fastest monitors to be the same as the slower. On digital signals there is no issue with this, both Displayport and HDMI use the exact same digital data sending mechanics and protocols.

That's true aswell but the poll rate would be turned down to a much lower frequency compared to if you were to usd DVI so frame skipping would be much more common over HDMI then DVI.

[ForsakenLive]

That's true aswell but the poll rate would be turned down to a much lower frequency compared to if you were to usd DVI so frame skipping would be much more common over HDMI then DVI.

nope, the slower one will limit you, if you are using Displayport it's the same anyway, both HDMI and DP have the same polling rate, and the frame-skipping that can occur on PCs is not related to the connector. The problems HDMI can have are inherited in Displayport, and besides, all these slight characteristics are not going to be seen, as the monitor is the bottleneck here, being the slowest and most flawed part of the chain.

[Nallown]

nope, the slower one will limit you, if you are using Displayport it's the same anyway, both HDMI and DP have the same polling rate, and the frame-skipping that can occur on PCs is not related to the connector. The problems HDMI can have are inherited in Displayport, and besides, all these slight characteristics are not going to be seen, as the monitor is the bottleneck here, being the slowest and most flawed part of the chain.

 

I can't see how a 144hz monitor would bottlebeck a 120hz connector. Clearly the bottleneck would be whichever output that transmits at a lower frequency then what it receives and since the GPU would transmit at a higher frequency then a 120hz connecter, the bottleneck would be the cable.

[ForsakenLive]

I can't see how a 144hz monitor would bottlebeck a 120hz connector. Clearly the bottleneck would be whichever output that transmits at a lower frequency then what it receives and since the GPU would transmit at a higher frequency then a 120hz connecter, the bottleneck would be the cable.

Wait, you are using 144hz monitors?

[Nallown]

Wait, you are using 144hz monitors?

I just noticed that I didn't mention it. Soz my fault

[ForsakenLive]

I just noticed that I didn't mention it. Soz my fault

I mentioned on my first post that the only reason not to go HDMI is 120+hz or 4k+ resolutions

Dual Link  DVI it is then