Graphics Card to run 3 monitors

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 06:18 AM

Hello,

I have a Mac Pro 4,1 and I'd like to run 3 identical Dell monitors.

The current card only supports 2 monitors, what would my best bet be?

Thanks.

ClassObject · Dec 20, 2012, 08:42 AM

I have used four 1080p monitors using an ATI 6870. I think the apple ATI 5870 will run three monitors. You'll need active mini display port adapters to pull it off.

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 08:48 AM

Thanks, yes I heard the 6870 would work. But I think they are discontinued and some say loud...not sure about that last bit.

ClassObject · Dec 20, 2012, 08:57 AM

My 6870 was loud. I put a passive cooler on it and its been great.

spoonie1972 · Dec 20, 2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassObject

My 6870 was loud. I put a passive cooler on it and its been great.

2nd that. friend has one, it's loud but does the job.

ClassObject · Dec 20, 2012, 09:01 AM

Newegg still carries several 6870s and also the arctic cooler

spoonie1972 · Dec 20, 2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassObject

Newegg still carries several 6870s and also the arctic cooler

will a standard PC one like this:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814150561

function ok in 10.6.8? ( i dont need boot screens).

BigJohno · Dec 20, 2012, 11:43 AM

Get 660ti or gtx 670.

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohno

Get 660ti or gtx 670.

Will those do 3 identical monitors?

Based in UK the 6870 is getting rare.

Heard that the 6970 works in a Mac Pro. Not for gaming, just for work.

Thanks.

Asgorath · Dec 20, 2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohno

Get 660ti or gtx 670.

Those won't work in 10.6 or 10.7, only in Mountain Lion.

BigJohno · Dec 20, 2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asgorath

Those won't work in 10.6 or 10.7, only in Mountain Lion.

10.7.4 works... http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1440150

Or just get a 5770 from Apple and call it a day.

Asgorath · Dec 20, 2012, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohno

10.7.4 works... http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1440150

Or just get a 5770 from Apple and call it a day.

Not for Kepler cards like the GTX 670, those require 10.8 as discussed in my thread

BigJohno · Dec 20, 2012, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asgorath

Not for Kepler cards like the GTX 670, those require 10.8 as discussed in my thread

Sorry my bad.

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohno

10.7.4 works... http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1440150

Or just get a 5770 from Apple and call it a day.

But the mac ones are twice the price and not as good. I wouldn't mind if they were a little more and equal in quality...but they are not.

This is proving tricky.

BigJohno · Dec 20, 2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_burnt

But the mac ones are twice the price and not as good. I wouldn't mind if they were a little more and equal in quality...but they are not.

This is proving tricky.

What operating system is on the mac pro? How much are you willing to spend. What are you going to be doing with this card? Photoshop, video editing, motion graphics. We can better help you if you provide these things.

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohno

What operating system is on the mac pro? How much are you willing to spend. What are you going to be doing with this card? Photoshop, video editing, motion graphics. We can better help you if you provide these things.

Cool thanks.

Will be photoshop work, not really video editing or motion graphics.

Running Mountain Lion

3 x Dell 24" @ 1920x1200

BigJohno · Dec 20, 2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_burnt

Cool thanks.

Will be photoshop work, not really video editing or motion graphics.

Running Mountain Lion

3 x Dell 24" @ 1920x1200

Great thanks for the info. I think a gtx 660 or 670 would be perfect which works out of the box with Mountain Lion. Since the dell has dvi, hdmi, and display port then the card should work for all three monitors. I have a 670 right now running two 27" apple monitors. Runs them perfectly. I have one connected with the display port to mini display port adaptor and the other a dvi to mini display port converter.

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 02:35 PM

Awesome thanks.

Will they need active cables do you know?

I'll take a look at the 670. Is that plug and play or flashing, etc required?

BigJohno · 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_burnt

Awesome thanks.

Will they need active cables do you know?

I'll take a look at the 670. Is that plug and play or flashing, etc required?

If its 24 it should not need to be powered. Anything higher than 1920 1200 needs to have power. Its plug and play card. I just popped it in and it booted right up.

This is what I have http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-D...ywords=gtx+670

and

http://www.amazon.com/ATLONA-AT-DP40...ni+displayport

To power the 27"

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohno

If its 24 it should not need to be powered. Anything higher than 1920 1200 needs to have power. Its plug and play card. I just popped it in and it booted right up.

Much appreciated.

Final question if I can...knowing nothing about cards and manufacturers.

Zotac any good?

Then I'm good to order!

BigJohno · Dec 20, 2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_burnt

Much appreciated.

Final question if I can...knowing nothing about cards and manufacturers.

Zotac any good?

Then I'm good to order!

Not sure about that card. All I can tell you is that evga works great.

mark_burnt · Dec 20, 2012, 03:42 PM

Thanks for all your help.

simplymuzik3 · Dec 20, 2012, 05:56 PM

Make sure the 600 series cards will with with triple monitors in Mountain Lion. A couple months ago I wanted to get a 670 or 680 but only a maximum of 2 ports on the card can work simultaneously. There was no solution to get 3 screens running off a single card at that time. Just thought I'd let you know. You should probably check with someone who is actually running 3 screens off a single card.

Asgorath · Dec 20, 2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplymuzik3

Make sure the 600 series cards will with with triple monitors in Mountain Lion. A couple months ago I wanted to get a 670 or 680 but only a maximum of 2 ports on the card can work simultaneously. There was no solution to get 3 screens running off a single card at that time. Just thought I'd let you know. You should probably check with someone who is actually running 3 screens off a single card.

Pretty sure we've confirmed that 3+ displays work fine with the latest Mountain Lion drivers from NVIDIA.

ashman70 · Dec 20, 2012, 06:12 PM

Well I just put a 670 in my 3,1 MP and I can only get two monitors running simultaneously, I have two connected to the DVI ports and one connects to the display port with a DVI to display port adapter, no luck. I am going to go out tomorrow and buy an HDMI to DVI connector and see if that works. I am running 10.8.2.

Dec 20, 2012, 06:18 AM	#1
mark_burnt macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2004	Graphics Card to run 3 monitors Hello, I have a Mac Pro 4,1 and I'd like to run 3 identical Dell monitors. The current card only supports 2 monitors, what would my best bet be? Thanks.
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 11:43 AM	#8
BigJohno macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SF	Get 660ti or gtx 670. __________________ Mac Pro 5,1 3.33 SSD's GTX 670, Macbook Pro 2.66, iPhone, iPad Flickr
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 06:12 PM	#25
ashman70 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2010	Well I just put a 670 in my 3,1 MP and I can only get two monitors running simultaneously, I have two connected to the DVI ports and one connects to the display port with a DVI to display port adapter, no luck. I am going to go out tomorrow and buy an HDMI to DVI connector and see if that works. I am running 10.8.2. __________________ Iphone 4s 16GB, iPad Mini 32GB wifi Mac Pro 3,1 2x2.8GHz Xeon quad core, EVGA 670, 16GB RAM, 1x256GB SSD, 1x2TB, 4x3TB, LG Bluray burner, 3x Dell 23" LED
	0

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Dec 20, 2012, 08:42 AM	#2
ClassObject macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2010	I have used four 1080p monitors using an ATI 6870. I think the apple ATI 5870 will run three monitors. You'll need active mini display port adapters to pull it off.
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 08:48 AM	#3
mark_burnt Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2004	Thanks, yes I heard the 6870 would work. But I think they are discontinued and some say loud...not sure about that last bit.
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 08:57 AM	#4
ClassObject macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2010	My 6870 was loud. I put a passive cooler on it and its been great.
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 09:01 AM	#6
ClassObject macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2010	Newegg still carries several 6870s and also the arctic cooler
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 02:35 PM	#18
mark_burnt Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2004	Awesome thanks. Will they need active cables do you know? I'll take a look at the 670. Is that plug and play or flashing, etc required?
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 03:42 PM	#22
mark_burnt Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2004	Thanks for all your help.
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 05:56 PM	#23
simplymuzik3 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2009	Make sure the 600 series cards will with with triple monitors in Mountain Lion. A couple months ago I wanted to get a 670 or 680 but only a maximum of 2 ports on the card can work simultaneously. There was no solution to get 3 screens running off a single card at that time. Just thought I'd let you know. You should probably check with someone who is actually running 3 screens off a single card.
	0