ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 3 displays?

Question

ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 3 displays?

Is it possible to setup my Mac Pro the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with the following displays?

Mini DisplayPort --> StarTech MDP2DVI Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter --> LG IPS235 Monitor

Dual-Link DVI --> IOGEAR DVI to HDMI Adapter --> 15' HDMI Cable --> Samsung 32" LED 1080p TV

This setup will be used in a design studio. I know the first two will work because I'm already using that setup, but I wasn't sure if I could add the Samsung 32" LED TV as well. The two LG IPS235 monitors are for my desktop use. The Samsung 32" LED TV will be used to show clients print and website design proofs and will likely be set to mirror one of my desktop monitors.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Posted on Oct 18, 2012 10:09 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Oct 18, 2012 10:16 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3382

Guide to Apple graphic display adapters needed

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3235

Atlona (Dual Link) DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter for Apple 27-inch LED and 27-inch iMac

http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Link-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-USB-Pow ered.html

Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Mid 2012): Issues with three displays and multiple DVI, HDMI connections

It's not the USB data that is needed to run three displays. It's the extra POWER. If you read the Apple article, they say the only solution they endorse is their US$100 Dual-Link adapters. Check the table at the end of the article.

Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported display configurations

Readers here have found that if you have two Brand-X Powered adapters, aka active adapters, it also works fine. These do not always require another USB. If designed recently, they can pick up a power pin in the Mini DisplayPort interface.

AMD (makers of the 5770 and 5870) lists the qualified POWERED adapters that meet their most stringent requirements. Look down the page and you will find several qualified Active Mini DisplyPort to various others, such as HDMI. These adapters are available from other outlets, such as Amazon, sometimes for far less than the Apple adapters.

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

The other desktop monitor will plug directly into the DVI port on the card and the 40 inch tv will still connect via HDMI over the second Mini Display port.

That will work only if you use an active Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter.

The only (someone) have found to work (2009)

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/337561577/miniactive_display_port_tohdmi.html

but you should confirm that they are really active before buying 500 of them.

You can connect a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable to an active Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter but that won't give you any audio over HDMI. You could connect the DVI displays to the Mini DisplayPorts with active adapters and use a DVI to HDMI cable or adapter from the DVI port to the TV.

If you want audio via HDMI, you can use audio from the Mac Pro's optical output with this DVI to HDMI converter:

http://www.apogeeinc.net/products/item.aspx?item=2745

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Answer 2

Oct 18, 2012 10:24 AM in response to The hatter

Thanks for the post, but the last two links are broken. Also, not sure how this helps me.

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Oct 18, 2012 10:40 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

Gets asked so often I don't have time to redo every time.

Sorry about the bad link.

Yes the APPLE articles and how to properly handle 27" and larger as well as HDMI, that is in there.

You need active dual-link for anything above 23-24"

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Answer 4

Oct 18, 2012 10:57 AM in response to The hatter

No worries.

So I can't connect a 32" TV to the Radeon's built-in Dual-Link DVI port? If that's the case, will I need a setup like this instead?

1. Mini DisplayPort --> StarTech MDP2DVI Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter --> LG IPS235 Monitor

2. Dual-Link DVI --> LG IPS235 Monitor

3. Mini DisplayPort --> Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Passive Adapter --> 15' HDMI Cable --> Samsung 32" LED 1080p TV

Also, what's the differeance between and Active and Passive adapter?

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Answer 5

Oct 18, 2012 11:52 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

For some reason I couldn't edit my previous post, so I'll append it here.

I researched Active vs Passive so I now understand that terminology as it relates to video adpaters. From what I understand, and as you mentioned, in order to connect any monitor (or TV) that's larger than 23", you'll need an active adapter. I checked the AMD link you provided an unfortunately, they don't recommend any active DisplayPort or MiniDisplayPort to HDMI adapters. Not sure if this is because HDMI doesn't support active adapters or if it's because none were available when AMD published that list.

Nevertheless, after a little more research, I did find an adapter from Moshi, although I'm still unclear as to whether it's passive or active. Unfortunately, the reviews are not very good. http://store.moshimonde.com/hdmi-adapter-1.html

I am still confused about one thing. As long as the other monitors connected to the Radeon HD 5770 are smaller than 23" can I still use passive adapters for those, even in a three monitor setup?

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Answer 6

Oct 18, 2012 2:50 PM in response to Kelly Crossley

The scarce resource is the Power needed to run the Active components in all kinds of adapters.

DVI can be directly converted to HDMI with an adapter that only contains wires, no active components needed. So you should run your TV set with such an adapter off the DVI port.

To run more than two displays, any other adapter must be ACTIVE adapters.

Display size is not exactly the determiner of whether Dual Link DVI is required -- wider than 1920 pixels wide is the determiner.

Adapters that are active will make that feature obvious in their advertising.

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Answer 7

Oct 18, 2012 6:29 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant. So will this configuration work?

Mini DisplayPort --> StarTech Adapter --> LG IPS235 Monitor

Dual-Link DVI --> DVI to HDMI Adapter --> Samsung 32" LED 1080p TV

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Answer 8

Oct 18, 2012 7:19 PM in response to Kelly Crossley

That setup looks like it should work. Those Startech adapters are listed as active and Gold certified:

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

Check out the several paragraphs at the top of that page as well for more insight on active adapters.

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Answer 9

Nov 25, 2012 8:54 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

Okay, I just tried this and I can't get it to work. I've connected everything as described above, but the Samsung TV is not recognized by my Mac Pro and the Mac Pro is not recognized by my Samsung TV. Any ideas?

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Answer 10

Nov 25, 2012 9:15 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

Reduce complexity by attaching fewer than three displays at once to debug.

Turn OFF [√] Mirror displays so that resolutions can be set independently on each display.

Use HDMI #1 on the TV, or the one designated for computer connection.

Make sure all connectors are fully seated. Mini DisplayPort must be seated so that essentially ALL of the metal cable-end is inside the jack.

Use "Detect Displays" button to get your Mac to check again for what is connected. Use About this Mac > ( More Info ) > Graphics & Displays to determine whether the name of the Display is shown (which is required for automatic configuration).

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Answer 11

Nov 26, 2012 7:02 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Not sure what I did, but I finally got it to work. Thanks!

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Answer 12

Dec 18, 2012 8:59 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

After several weeks it turns out this setup is not working, reliably. Here's what I ended up going with:

Mini DisplayPort --> Accell Adapter--> 15' DVI cable --> LG IPS235 Monitor

Mini DisplayPort --> Accell Adapter --> 15' DVI cable --> LG IPS235 Monitor

Dual-Link DVI --> DVI to HDMI Adapter --> 25' DVI to HDMI adapter/cable --> Samsung 46" LED 1080p TV

After the first week of testing one of the Accell Adapters failed. I replaced it with a second and that worked for about a week. I'm starting to suspect that the problem is deeper rooted, especially after reading that the 5770 has low power issues.

Here's a little more detail. Both monitors and the TV are connected from my Mac Pro through rather long lengths of DVI cables (15-25'). I wonder if this has something to do with the signal loss or premature failure of the Accell Adapters. Perhaps I need an ACTIVE DVI to HDMI adapter for the TV as well. I'm hoping somebody with more knowledge of this subject can help me figure this out.

Of course it could be that the Accell Adapters are just crap and perhaps I should try the Startech version, which have worked well for me in the past (well, at least the passive adapters). 🙂

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Answer 13

Dec 18, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

The Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI cable (US$100) works slightly differently. It picks up even more power from a USB lead.

Since you are running particularly long cables, using at least one Apple adapter may be unavoidable.

DVI to HDMI is a simple -re-wire -- there are no ACTIVE components. So I would not expect an ACTIVE adapter to be available.

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Answer 14

Dec 18, 2012 10:05 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I took my Mac Pro into an Apple Store tonight. The Apple geniuses determined that the HD 5770 is in fact defective, but they were unwilling to replace the graphics card under warranty even though I purchased it through B & H Photo, an Apple Authorized dealer, and it's within the 1-year manufacturer's warranty.

Instead, they assigned me a case number and said the card should be warranted by AMD. I just checked AMD's website and they refer you to Apple. I really hope this is not going to be a royal PITA to resolve. 🙂

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Answer 15

Dec 19, 2012 7:36 AM in response to Kelly Crossley

I do not speak for Apple. But I always thought an Apple-branded card bought through an Apple Authorized dealer was warranted by Apple.

I think the technician may be making a mistake. But perhaps there is some subtlety I am missing. I think that dealing with the Vendor or Manufacturer should not be your problem. If it drags on, you may want to ask to the store manager to intervene.

Apple wants you to be a happy customer. Be polite and businesslike at all times. Customers who scream and threaten to sue everyone will never be happy customers, so they tend to get no breaks whatsoever.

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