Linking Together 3 Computer Monitors...

[annie0000]

My 14 year old son is keen to buy 3 monitors with his Christmas money and link them up to his PC for gaming. Is there anything in particular he needs to be aware of or check before he makes an expensive mistake? His fallback is to do 2 instead but he would prefer 3 :)

Thanks for any help.

[bazwillrun]

Google "using three pc screens"

theres plenty of advice etc on whats needed etc.

I use two but for multi track recording and graphics/video editing, so not sure how it pans out for gaming, pretty similar Id imagine

[annie0000]

Thanks baz - i'll get him to do that before purchases are made - still have to entirely reorganise his bedroom and build an extension for his desk!

[beso]

He will need the video hardware in the PC to support three monitors.

Having VGA, DVI and Display Port connectors does not necessarily mean they can all run separate monitors at the same time.

[annie0000]

thanks Beso, I think i will need to get him to go to a proper PC shop rather than trying to buy on-line as it seems more complex than just shoving them all in the connectors then. He was using a laptop and aslo had it linked to his large tv screen. Now he has built a PC for Christmas so only have it linked to the tv and is missing his extra screen........then he saw a set up in the computer shop with 3 screens so has been drooling about it ever since!

[SlackAlice]

Beso makes a good point. You need specialist advice, especially about suitable graphics cards. Only top of the range can cope, generally you would have 2 graphics cards. One graphics card to serve 2 monitors and another graphics card to serve the third monitor. Adding another graphics card may well need a higher rated PSU to cope with the extra load and consideration given to cooling the interior of the case.

Also, not all games support multiple screens. A cheaper solution may well be Oculus Rift.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oculus_Rift

[annie0000]

thanks slack - I'll look into that - he has this graphics card:

http://www.ebuyer.com/614483-msi-r9-290-gaming-4gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-displayport-pci-e-graphics-r9-290-gaming-4g

and a 650w psu.

[annie0000]

ooh just looked at your link -v interesting! although he wears glasses so might find something like that uncomfortable. it says that it can do simple dioptric correction but he has a really really strong prescription and astigmatism so probably wont be enough :(

[annie0000]

hi methyl - he has windows 8.1. He has this motherboard: Gigabyte H97M-D3H Intel LGA1150 H97 Micro ATX Motherboard Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

As far as I know when he was using the laptop he used the main screen for playing the game and the laptop screen for "other" stuff. Whatever that means... The set up he saw in the shop was a game playing over 3 screens so I'm not sure if it's that he has in mind or back to his original arrangement.

We have a slight issue at the moment in that we can't get the TV he is using as a screen to pick up the picture from the PC if he has it connected to the HDMI connection on the graphics card, only when it is connected to the motherboard slot.

He only built it on Christmas day so that's still a problem to be ironed out and I am doing my best to help given that I am no expert!

[annie0000]

I'm not quite sure what you were getting at there methyl, but that was really rude. Last time I looked, there was no obligation to answer anything on here. My apologies if a 48 year old office worker and a 14 year old child don't know in advance every piece of relevant information that someone might want. I am always thankful and appreciative of any help I get on here but I can do without the attitude.

[bazwillrun]

"I have worked on Unix systems with multiple graphics monitors (both independent and combined) but I have so far never seen a Microsoft Windows system drive more than two independent monitors"

that says it all about you, you really havent got a clue have you....

[annie0000]

thanks fender and baz - I got some really good help on an dedicated PC builders forum when i was buying the parts so I've popped back to them to see if they can help with the graphics card issue before he starts getting over ambitious! The graphics card does say it can ultimately run 6 screens with the use of a Hub.

I am inclined not to allow him to spend £200+ on another graphics card and I don't think that should be necessary - i think he will be happy enough (for the moment) to get two screens running for whatever other stuff he does while gaming on the main one.

Now I've just been asked if when he gets his screens, can he get his tv mounted on the wall so he can use it with his xbox......

[annie0000]

Graphics card and USb issues solved....it heps when you connect a power supply....

the fans were running on the graphics card so didn't realise that it needed and additional power source, apparently it gets a bit of power from the motherboard which was enough to run the fans but not the graphics card itself - now connected to the PSU and problem solved :)

Thanks to all those who helped :)