2012 Mac Pro ATI Radeon HD 5770 3 apple displays

Question

Level 1

0 points

2012 Mac Pro ATI Radeon HD 5770 3 apple displays

We have a Macpro we purchased for our IT Director and it says supports 3 Displays but we put on 3 apple LCD displays and they are not the thundebolt since Mac pro dont have this option. The card has 2 displayports and 1 DVI so we got an active DVI to Displayport adapter and nothing works but shows up in system pref as a display but nothing comes up. She went to the apple stoer spoke to a rep and they told her that the new OS mountain lion does not support 3 monitors on 1 card which it clearly stated when bought it would. We have spent over 12k on this setup with apple and about to do another order for over 300k but she may not want to put alot more into apple products if this is how they work. She was told to buy 2 more video cards from apple which we are waiting on but not happy to spend another $400 for something that is said to work.

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 15, 2013 6:09 AM

Reply

Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Apr 15, 2013 6:28 AM in response to CHSTECH

What resolution are all the displays?

Short answer, it does work. Not sure why you had trouble.

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

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

Active MDP to HDMI audio and video converter:

http://ca.startech.com/AV/Displayport-Converters/Mini-DisplayPort-to-HDMI-Active -Video-and-Audio-Adapter-Converter-Mini-DP-to-HDMI-1920x1200~MDP2HDS

Discussion: Using three ports.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2734984

Print out the above and send it to that rep when you get yours working perhaps?

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 15, 2013 7:04 AM in response to CHSTECH

they told her that the new OS mountain lion does not support 3 monitors on 1 card

That person needs to be sent back for re-training. That configuration works well, but requires some hidden items: ACTIVE Adapters (that contain signal Boosters) from Mini DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI (for 1920 wide or under, available as StarTech or Excell) or Dual-Link DVI (for 1920 wide and up, available direct from Apple at US$100).

As you debug, test one display at a time. Once all work individually, only then try all at once.

The item in short supply is additional POWER to run the signal Boosters, so ACTIVE (powered) adapters are required.

Reply