Mac Pro with 9 Displays (30")

[jkheit]

Hi All:

I'm working on a project where I want to get at least 9 30" (maybe 27") displays working on a new Mac Pro. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a Mac Pro to use that many displays?

I think the most you can do from Apple is 6 via two ATI 5770 or 5780 display cards (3 displayports per card).

To make this work though, I think I would need to use either the ATI 5770 Eyefinity (supports 5 displays) or the ATI 5870 Eyefinity (supports 6 displays). Unfortunately there is no Apple blessed version of this card.

However, I'm aware that there has been some success flashing non-apple blessed ATI 5X70 cards (at least that are close to the reference design). In following the threads in the forums, I've seen success with cards supporting 3 displayports like the apple/reference design.

Has anyone tried/succeeded in flashing the Eyefinity versions of the card like this single slot version and do all (5 of) the displayports work?

http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/graphiccards/hd%205000series/5771.asp

Thanks for any ideas/help!

[ventro]

What's the project?

[jkheit]

What's the project?

A custom desk.

[strausd]

http://eshop.macsales.com/search/usb+display+adapter

you may not get the resolutions you want, but still an idea. And as far as I know, you can put 4 GT 120s in to get 8 monitors.

[jkheit]

http://eshop.macsales.com/search/usb+display+adapter

you may not get the resolutions you want, but still an idea. And as far as I know, you can put 4 GT 120s in to get 8 monitors.

Thanks. I thought of the various USB'ish solutions. But really am looking to get a 2 or 3 card solution so the performance is something more reasonable.

[Cynicalone]

You could get 8 with 2 5770, and 1 GT 120.

[Umbongo]

3 GT 120s and a 5000 series card should theoretically give you that.

[alphaod]

If you don't mind using Windows, then just build a PC with 2x 5870/5970 Eyefinity 6 GPUs and you can get up to 12 monitors.

[jkheit]

If you don't mind using Windows, then just build a PC with 2x 5870/5970 Eyefinity 6 GPUs and you can get up to 12 monitors.

Not a big windows user. I would love to get 2 5870 eyefinity cards. I wish someone would try to flash them and try them on OSX.

Not sure this would work, the new macpro only has 3 slots. It will fit 2 double wide cards, so you can't just put in 3 5770s. You could put in 2 apple cards, and the try flashing a 3rd parry single slot version of a 5770 that is close to the reference design. That might work.

I guess that leaves 2 questions: 1) does anyone know of a single wide version of either the 5770 or 5870 (that supports 3 30" displays--most seem to have one hdmi port, which I think mazes out only at 1080p), and 2) would having 3 cards make the Mac pro howl (my 2006 Mac pro would be fine with 2 video cards, but the third would make the system sound like a jet engine)?

Thanks.

[Transporteur]

Not sure this would work, the new macpro only has 3 slots.

What makes you think that?

It has 4 slots and the easiest solution has already been presented by Umbongo.

Three GT120s (single slot) in the three upper slots. plus a single 5770 or 5870 in the first slot.
Gives you 9 ports that each support up to 2560x1600.


Reference 5770s in a single slot design are for example made by Sapphire.
Just check out the threads for flashing PC cards if you wanna go that route.

[jkheit]

What makes you think that?

It has 4 slots and the easiest solution has already been presented by Umbongo.

Three GT120s (single slot) in the three upper slots. plus a single 5770 or 5870 in the first slot.
Gives you 9 ports that each support up to 2560x1600.


Reference 5770s in a single slot design are for example made by Sapphire.
Just check out the threads for flashing PC cards if you wanna go that route.

I have two apple 5770s and only see 1 free slot. Maybe one of the cards blocks a slot? I'll check.

I don't see any single slot sapphire cards:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&leg=&psn=000101&gid=3&sgid=643


If there is a single slot sapphire reference-based card that supports 3 30" displays, that would be great. Thanks.

[Hellhammer]

I have two apple 5770s and only see 1 free slot. Maybe one of the cards blocks a slot? I'll check.

The slot #1 doublewide so if you take out the 2nd 5770, you should have three empty slots which can be populated with GT 120s as they are single-slot cards.

[gjarold]

I'm resurrecting a dead thread here because I am now faced with the same issue.

To wit: I need to connect EIGHT 2560x1600 displays to a single 2009 mac pro.

One easy way to do this is with 4 gt120s. Ok, no problem.

However, I am ALSO interested in a pcie based SSD card, and am wondering if there is any way possible to do that ... basically, drive 8 displays with only three pcie slots ? (since the fourth will be used for the SSD).

It doesn't look like this is possible ... the 3x display cards apple sells (HD 5770 and 5870) are both dual height, so wouldn't that eat all four slots ? If I get one of these 3x display cards and put it in the top slot, and put gt120s in the next two slots, that only gets me to 7 displays.

So correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems there is no way to get 8 displays in 3 pcie slots ?

Thanks.

EDIT: SORRY - original post I said 4 displays, I meant 8 - I need to connect 8 displays, and am wondering if I can do it with three cards...

[Stephen23]

This doesn't seem to have been mentioned in this threat before, so you might want to look into it:

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/

takes three displays and combines them into one, 3x wide. Very useful for entertainment solutions and display situations, though I don't expect they would be much good for gaming, if that is what you're after.

Stephen

[goMac]

Two 5770s and two GT 120s will get you 10 displays.


I'm resurrecting a dead thread here because I am now faced with the same issue.

To wit: I need to connect four 2560x1600 displays to a single 2009 mac pro.

One easy way to do this is with 4 gt120s. Ok, no problem.

Or two 5770s?

[Mackilroy]

Two 5770s and two GT 120s will get you 10 displays.
You wouldn't be able to fit two 5770s from Apple and two GT 120s – not unless you were using a single-slot PC 5770.

[mulo]

you guys do know each displayport supports four displays on its own right? - daisychain it.

DisplayPort version 1.2 was approved on December 22, 2009. Most significant improvement of the new version is the doubling of the effective bandwidth up to 17.28 Gbit/s, which allows for increased resolutions, higher refresh rates, and greater color depth. Other improvements include multiple independent video streams (daisy-chain connection with multiple monitors)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

[Transporteur]

you guys do know each displayport supports four displays on its own right? - daisychain it.


And you know that there is no adapter for daisy chaining, right?
I haven't heard of a single card that supports this feature yet. Even Matrox cards don't support it (and I suspect them to be the first ones to implement such a feature).

Anyhow,
2 5770s give you 6 display outputs and leave the upper most PCIe slot for the SSD. That way you won't cut the PCIe performance of the two upper slots (they share 8 lanes). And 8 lanes is more than enough for a SSD.

[Vylen]

Aside from needing a card that supports DP 1.2, you also need monitors that support daisy-chaining as well. Don't know if those exist either.

[iamcheerful]

Have you explored these options ...
http://www.cubixgpu.com/Products/Desktop

[Hellhammer]

I haven't heard of a single card that supports this feature yet. Even Matrox cards don't support it (and I suspect them to be the first ones to implement such a feature).

AMD 6000-series supports DisplayPort 1.2 and daisy-chaining

http://plaza.fi/s/f/editor/images/X-2010102208091343665.jpg

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/amds-radeon-6870-6850-renewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market/3

Unfortunately MST hubs or displays with daisy-chaining don't seem to exist, yet.

[Transporteur]

AMD 6000-series supports DisplayPort 1.2 and daisy-chaining

http://plaza.fi/s/f/editor/images/X-2010102208091343665.jpg


Oh, I wasn't aware that the 6 series already implements 1.2.

Where the heck are the 6 series cards for Mac? :mad:

[gjarold]

Ughh... I misspoke in my original thread-resurrection-post.

I need to connect EIGHT displays, not four, and I am wondering if there is a way to connect 8 x 2560x1600 with only three total video cards ?

I know I can do it with four if I use 4 gt120s ... that gets me 8 displays.

I am just wondering if there is any possible way to get to 8 displays, but only use 3 pcie slots... since I already have one single slot device in the system. I don't think I can use 2 5770s and a gt120, since each 5770 takes up two slot spaces...

Thanks.

[Mackilroy]

If you don't mind using that USB adapter mentioned earlier you can do it, but otherwise I can't think of any combination of cards that will supply enough ports for your needs.

[Bwa]

9 displays == 1x 5770 (3) + 3x GT120 (6) or 2600s.

You could also look into an PCIe expansion chassis. These run around $2000 - $5000 depending on what you're buying.

http://www.magma.com/

bhphotovideo stocks a few by other manufacturers as well, I believe.

[goMac]

You wouldn't be able to fit two 5770s from Apple and two GT 120s – not unless you were using a single-slot PC 5770.

Ahhh that's right, I always forget the 5770's are dual slot.

[Bwa]

Ughh... I misspoke in my original thread-resurrection-post.

I need to connect EIGHT displays, not four, and I am wondering if there is a way to connect 8 x 2560x1600 with only three total video cards ?

I know I can do it with four if I use 4 gt120s ... that gets me 8 displays.

I am just wondering if there is any possible way to get to 8 displays, but only use 3 pcie slots... since I already have one single slot device in the system. I don't think I can use 2 5770s and a gt120, since each 5770 takes up two slot spaces...

Thanks.

You can run 2x 5770s + a 3rd single-wide card. I am running 2x 5770s and a third card for something else. The 1st PCIe slot is spaced far enough away from the 2nd slot that the 1st 5770 doesn't block the second slot. However, as you note, the 2nd 5770 does block the 3rd slot. The 4th slot is still available when all is said and done.

[trancepriest]

http://www.cubix.com/content/gpu-xpander-desktop

[iamcheerful]

trancepriest, we both thought the same. i shared the exact same proposition above.

hi-5 :)

but i believe TS wants to utilize the PCI slots in the mac pro only; don't want breakout boxes.

[trancepriest]

iamcheerful,

Sorry I missed your earlier post. Yeah I'm looking into getting the Desktop 4 myself for Davinci Resolve color grading purposes. Got one NVIDIA Quadro 4000 and RED Rocket card to dump into it.

[Transporteur]

I just found ebay item number 230576687643.

Flashed SINGLE slot 5770 with dual DVI and single miniDP output. Goes for $220.
Might be a viable option.
I'm not experienced with flashed graphics cards, though.