ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 3 displays?

I'm running into the same issue.

Montiors.

-42" TV with HDMI or VGA

23" apple display VGA or DVI

24" HP displa VGA or DVI

Ive tried a few different adapters but used none that were "Active". I always end up with only 2 of the displays working. Can someone direct me on which adapters to purchase to use witht the 5770?

Thanks

Ive tried a few different adapters but used none that were "Active".

I always end up with only 2 of the displays working.

ACTIVE adapters is the key to getting the third display to light up:

http://support.amd.com/us/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity-dongles.aspx

Read that article and the table with extreme caution, as it contains Mini DisplayPort (which work) and Displayport (which do not fit) and ACTIVE as well as non-active dongles.

DVI can be adapted to HDMI by merely re-wiring -- no ACTIVE components are required. A DVI -> HDMI cable is all that is needed.

For displays wider than 1920, use of DVI requires Dual-Link DVI, so-called because the data lines are doubled in the cables and connectors to reach the very demanding high data rates required.

For your high-end use, Analog VGA is rather primitive, and you may not be able to specify or accept highest resolutions your displays could produce over DVI or DisplayPort.

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Amazon in the Us carries the appropriate ACCELL adapters (and several different wrong ones as well -- shop carefully) for very reasonable prices.

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Ok, I've tried to get as much info as possible, and just want to confirm before I buy another adapter. Am I correct that as long as you have two active and one passive you can run three monitors on the 5770?

Here's my current setup;

MDP>DP, 2560 x 1600 30" Dell (passive)

MDP>HDMI Cat5 converter to 1920 x 1080 TV (active)

Ok, so that works, now I just hooked up a 1920 x 1080 using a DVi>HDMI cable, no go, makes sense from my reading. (passive)

Will I have success if I change the "MDP>DP, 2560 x 1600 30" Dell (passive)" to a dual link powered mdp to dvi, like this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030XMREG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1& smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K

That would make a two active one passive setup I believe.

Thanks in advance!

Do not try to debug these "all at Once".

Split the problem in two by disconnecting one of the displays so that only two are involved.

Now try to get the DVI->HDMI connection working. (That will be a trial all by itself.)

Tips:

DVI to HDMI is a simple re-wire. No signal boosting, so no active components should be needed.

But to get Mac Automatic configuartion to work at all, the HDMI device MUST present its name and capabilities. Many do not do so readily, or do not do so unless then are configured on the display as the Primary port, and specified as a computer port if possible. The ( Detect Displays ) button is supposed to force a re-Identify if the device cooperates.

Thanks, I did some testing. Leaving the main 2560 x 1600 display connected, if I disconnected the tv (mdp>hdmi), the new connected 1920 x 1080 monitor worked (dvi>hdmi). Plug tv in and it works, then 1920x1080 monitor goes off again.

So, I need to get a usb powered (active) for my tv and it should be good?

EDIT; Looks like nobody makes an active mdp>hdmi. So can I just swap the mdp>dp for a dual link dvi, as per my original question, as long as two of the three monitors are active we are good to go?

Message was edited by: lswing217tb2

Exactly what adapter is being used for this one:

MDP>HDMI Cat5 converter to 1920 x 1080 TV (active)

It's a powered hdmi>cat5 with a send and receive module. Using it to run to a hdtv 50 feet away. So out of one of the mdp's is an mdp>hdmi which then plugs into the box, goes over 50' of cat5, then converted back to hdmi for the hdtv. Works great! OS sees it as Cat-6066.

So if I inplug that, my dvi>hdmi works instantly...

If you ask it nicely, Mini DisplayPort can put out a signal that is timing-compatible with DVI. But its signal levels are low, and if the 5770 needs to drive two such conversions, its signal levels are VERY low and stop working. You need an adapter that is ACTIVE in that it has buffer circuits that drive the output of the Mini DisplayPort up to DVI/HDMI Voltages so that your Cat-5 driver can see them and repeat them.

If running a display up to 1920 wide, that should only need to be the Single-Link US$35 Accell ACTIVE adapter or UK StarTech ACTIVE adapter. Amazon and NewEgg sell them.

The US$100 Apple Adapter is a Dual-Link DVI ACTIVE adapter. Dual-Link DVI has doubled data conductors (3 of them) to drive wider displays, so it need more power and pulls it in from a USB.

Thank you kindly! Just to clarify...

Ok, so my persisting problem is the new 1920x1080 monitor is hdmi only, hence me wanting to run the dvi>hdmi cable. I would like to leave that.

The mdp>hdmi box over cat5 1920x1080 would also be tough to find a powered convertor for, not available I think. I would like to leave that.

So if I put an active dual link dvi in place of my current mdp>dp for the 2560x1600 monitor, I should be good correct? It will free up the power of the card for the other mdp and the dvi outs?

Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort is not a conversion of any kind. The only change is the shape of the connector. There is no way to power than conversion, since it is not a conversion at all.

As I suggested above, I think you need to buy an ACTIVE adapter for Mini DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI, then a cable or adapter that adapts to your HDMI converter to Cat-5.

Ok, so active mdp>dvi, then use dvi>hdmi cable to get signal to hdmi>cat5 converter boxes.

That powered mdp should free up power for the dvi>hdmi.

Thanks for all the quick and detailed responses.

All three working now, thanks!

Bought this active (I had a cheap passive) mdp > hdmi (this then connects to an hdmi>cat5 converter box 60' over to a tv).

StarTech.com MDP2HDS Mini DisplayPort Male to HDMI Female Active Adapter Audio Converter 1920x1200

Other monitors are as before, mdp>dp and dvi>hdmi, standard cables.

Cheers!