Adding A 4th Monitor As Tv?

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 09:16 PM

Hey guys I just had a quick question. I run 3 monitors at the moment, 2 from dvis and 1 from display port. I have a free HDMI and 1 free display port available on the back of my xfx 6970.

I had a 42' HDTV I want to add above my 3 monitors, so I can watch movies and youtube while I game on the other 3 below. Would it be best to extend my desktop onto this tv via HDMI to HDMI or rather get a HDMI to mini displayport cable?

I've heard of some issues before with HDMI to HDMI. hearing that it won't extend the display and give me issues.

Which method of connections should I go with to extend my HDTV above my 3 monitors to my desktop?

**tetrisGOAT** · 2012-05-06, 09:53 PM

If you are to be using HDMI to your TV, you will run into issues, since the signal is shared between one of the DVI-ports.
Meaning; It can only use one monitor at the same time. So either move one monitor from DVI to the free DP, or add the TV with a DisplayPort to HDMI-converter.

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 10:02 PM

I did some research and it looks like the only way to extend the display with 4 monitors, is to use 2 dvi and 2 mini displayport. Just ordered a mini displayport to HDMI just for the occasion. I think it will work the way I want it to.

Correct me if I am wrong before it ships! lol.

It's not the converter, but rather a single cable with one end HDMI and the other mini DP.

**tetrisGOAT** · 2012-05-06, 10:05 PM

No, that seems about precisely what you want to do!
Do make sure that the adapter you ordered is an active one. Usually says so in the description or name if it is. Otherwise, make sure you get one of those instead.

I am not 100% positive you need an active one if you already occupy one of the Displayports, but I think you do if you already occupy both of the DVI-slots.

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 10:05 PM

Will this work fine?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o00_s00_i00

Its what I ordered.

**Simonzi** · 2012-05-06, 10:11 PM

I don't think you'll be able to use the 4th monitor the way you want to if you're gaming across the 3 monitors using an Eyefinity profile. But I could be wrong.

**tetrisGOAT** · 2012-05-06, 10:12 PM

It's not active, so my general thought would be "No". Sorry

@ Simonzi; Depends on setup, and game, and if running windowed or not (ie, if the game already doesn't support it).

running it on top of the middle one is a fairly common solution.

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 10:14 PM

Can you give me a link to a cable from Amazon that will suit my needs correctly?

**wrathblade** · 2012-05-06, 10:16 PM

and meanwhile how about a picture of your setup? sounds quite nice!

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 10:24 PM

**tetrisGOAT** · 2012-05-06, 10:27 PM

Only thing I found that seemed active to a reasonable price was this.
It's to DVI, so you need to move one of the DVI-monitors to the DP and then you can use the HDMI port.

**wrathblade** · 2012-05-06, 10:27 PM

...drewl... gief moar money

wanna go 3+ screens also

but my video card won't manage more then 2....
even tho i have 3 poorts...

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by tetrisGOAT

Only thing I found that seemed active to a reasonable price was this.
It's to DVI, so you need to move one of the DVI-monitors to the DP and then you can use the HDMI port.

Thank you for your help. I will get this all going hopefully soon. You are really helpful.

So if I just order this active adapter, move a dvi to mini DP, do I just use a HDMI to DVI cable? And everything will work fine?

I tried hooking up a HDMI to HDMI from tv to pc and it won't extend, it says it has to disable one of the 3 monitors.

Or are you saying since only 1 DVI will be at use, I can extend off of the HDMI in the HDMI slot, and get 4 monitor functionality. Since 2 DVIS cut off the HDMI power?

**Philenia** · 2012-05-06, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Moddy

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/RGDaG.jpg[/I MG]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/8JEwe.jpg[/I MG]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Rm6sY.jpg[/I MG]

no offence but it doenst look comfortable to me, it looks the screen is to high compaired to the height of the screen.
Also nice sofa :P.

But swap 1 dvi with HDMI and connect that one to the TV, put the 2 side monitors on VGA.

**tetrisGOAT** · 2012-05-06, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Moddy

I tried hooking up a HDMI to HDMI from tv to pc and it won't extend, it says it has to disable one of the 3 monitors.

Or are you saying since only 1 DVI will be at use, I can extend off of the HDMI in the HDMI slot, and get 4 monitor functionality. Since 2 DVIS cut off the HDMI power?

Yes, the latter. You might have to try the two different DVI-ports, since I keep forgetting which one it is.

HDMI would only work when less than two DVIs are being occupied.

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 10:41 PM

Alright so I don't need an HDMI to DVI since the HDMI will function correctly, removing a DVI to Mini DP with the active adapter and everything should work fine. The HDMI won't work with 2 DVI, but it will extend properly with only 1 DVI in use. Okay, got it. Ordered the cable, sounds like it will all work appropriately. Thanks for your help.

**Djinni** · 2012-05-06, 10:48 PM

Umm actually something most people here will overlook. Chances are if your just using it for Movies and stuff you can use your onboard display, IE plug the TV into your Motherboard INSTEAD of the graphics card.

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by Djinni

Umm actually something most people here will overlook. Chances are if your just using it for Movies and stuff you can use your onboard display, IE plug the TV into your Motherboard INSTEAD of the graphics card.

Wow dude you are the man. Seriously, I had an extra VGA to VGA cable laying around, and the tv has a VGA input labeled as PC. I connected it to the TV and to the VGA out on my motherboard, rather then the video card and it instantly reconized it and my monitor software even gave it its own taskbar. Running at
1360x768 above my middle monitor it looks brilliant.

Since I am using sandy bridge, and a 2500k, does that mean that the tv is running on the built in Intel hd 3000 graphics from the cpu?

Just wondering, will it affect pc performance at all? Not sure how it works.

**tetrisGOAT** · 2012-05-06, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Moddy

Since I am using sandy bridge, and a 2500k, does that mean that the tv is running on the build in Intel hd 3000 graphics from the cpu?

Just wondering, will it affect pc performance at all? Not sure how it works.

1) Yes. It was something I omitted, sorry!

2) Don't think so. It could possibly have issues if the computer thinks you want to "switch" to it primarily, but I do doubt that.

**Moddy** · 2012-05-06, 11:49 PM

I am so happy, this is awesome. :3 Does that mean I can do another monitor from the mobo from the DVI port as well? Lol I am getting carried away.

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