Crossfire two video cards and multiple monitors

Tyrael · 08-02-2009, 11:35 PM

hey i was wondering if it would be possible to run 3 monitors with crossfire. now i know that crossfire can not be enabled with all the monitors...well as far as i know. however, i was wondering if i could plug the main monitor into one video card and the other two monitors in the other one. and somehow get a program that would allow me to enable crossfire and maybe disable the other two monitors (if anyone knows of such a program it would be good to know) so I was just wondering this because im building a computer in the near future and want two video cards so i can have three monitors and be able to play diablo III (whenever the heck blizzard decides to release it!)

Thanks,

Tyrael

Phædrus2401 · 08-03-2009, 12:19 AM

You can in fact use two video cards to run three monitors, but you cannot run them in Crossfire as that will restrict the video outputs to the two on the main card. But you could get one high-quality graphics card (Radeon 4800 series) and then also put in, say, a Radeon 4350. Play games on the monitors hooked up to the 48xx and just put web browsers and such on the one connected to the low-end card. Just run them as separate cards, not in Crossfire. In fact that's exactly what I plan on doing. ;)

Tyrael · 08-03-2009, 12:38 AM

so i dont even need crossfire? what the heck is the point of it then!=p

Phædrus2401 · 08-03-2009, 12:47 AM

Crossfire is for combining the power of two graphics cards. For instance you can put two Radeon 4870s and *theoretically* get twice the performance. In reality you only get about 30% more than one card by itself. Crossfire of two identical or similar cards, or Nvidia's SLI, is basically an expensive luxury for people who can afford two high end graphics cards and an 850w PSU. Crossfire between a low end card and a medium end card can be useful in some cases, but it's still usually better to go with one high-end card.

Basically it's a gimmick. But for 3 monitors all you have to do is have two cards made by the same manufacturer, preferably from the same series, and use your display manager to get them set up to extend your desktop.

Tyrael · 08-03-2009, 01:00 AM

ok sweet thanks a lot man you cleared a lot of stuff up for me

08-02-2009, 11:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tyrael Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 74 OS: windows xp	Crossfire two video cards and multiple monitors hey i was wondering if it would be possible to run 3 monitors with crossfire. now i know that crossfire can not be enabled with all the monitors...well as far as i know. however, i was wondering if i could plug the main monitor into one video card and the other two monitors in the other one. and somehow get a program that would allow me to enable crossfire and maybe disable the other two monitors (if anyone knows of such a program it would be good to know) so I was just wondering this because im building a computer in the near future and want two video cards so i can have three monitors and be able to play diablo III (whenever the heck blizzard decides to release it!) Thanks, Tyrael

08-03-2009, 12:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Crossfire two video cards and multiple monitors You can in fact use two video cards to run three monitors, but you cannot run them in Crossfire as that will restrict the video outputs to the two on the main card. But you could get one high-quality graphics card (Radeon 4800 series) and then also put in, say, a Radeon 4350. Play games on the monitors hooked up to the 48xx and just put web browsers and such on the one connected to the low-end card. Just run them as separate cards, not in Crossfire. In fact that's exactly what I plan on doing. ;) __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-03-2009, 12:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tyrael Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 74 OS: windows xp	Re: Crossfire two video cards and multiple monitors so i dont even need crossfire? what the heck is the point of it then!=p

08-03-2009, 12:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Crossfire two video cards and multiple monitors Crossfire is for combining the power of two graphics cards. For instance you can put two Radeon 4870s and theoretically get twice the performance. In reality you only get about 30% more than one card by itself. Crossfire of two identical or similar cards, or Nvidia's SLI, is basically an expensive luxury for people who can afford two high end graphics cards and an 850w PSU. Crossfire between a low end card and a medium end card can be useful in some cases, but it's still usually better to go with one high-end card. Basically it's a gimmick. But for 3 monitors all you have to do is have two cards made by the same manufacturer, preferably from the same series, and use your display manager to get them set up to extend your desktop. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-03-2009, 01:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tyrael Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 74 OS: windows xp	Re: Crossfire two video cards and multiple monitors ok sweet thanks a lot man you cleared a lot of stuff up for me