HI all,
I'm running a Mac Pro MA356LL/A with the stock graphics card. I'm wondering if there's a way to get it driving 3 23" Cinema HD screens.
Has anyone done this before, sucessfully?
System Specifications are : http://support.apple.com/kb/SP30
I'm running with the stock graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI and dual-link DVI).
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6M
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/726537-REG/Apple_MC742ZM_A_ATI_Radeon_HD_5 770.html
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6M
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/726537-REG/Apple_MC742ZM_A_ATI_Radeon_HD_5 770.html
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
So it's possible with the extra hardware. Cool.
Might it be possible to get some kind of splitter for the dual-link connection that will drive two single-link displays? Or am I demonstration my ignorance of single-/dual-link DVI connections?
It supports three. you only need dual-link active minidisplay adapters for higher resolutions above 1920 x 1200
And long overdue to dump the 7300 - before it dumps you - and 5770 and Lion go well together too.
So a kind of signal splitter would work with the exisitng card?
And noted. Is the 7300 an unreliable card?
The ATI 5770 has two mini displayports and a DVI output, so everything gets its own port.
I've got two 27" monitors and a 37" HDTV (all 1920 x 1080) on my 5770.
You'll need ACTIVE adapters on the MDPs for whatever input your displays are, like the Accell B087B-006B UltraAV Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D Single-Link Active Adapters I got on Amazon. They're about a third the price of the Apple part, tidier to install, and work great. I run the HDTV off the DVI port with a DVI-HDMI cable
Good luck
7300 is over 7 yrs old has 256MB and lacks some of the newer feature specifications.
Some more info about using 3 displays and when you do and do not need active or dual-link (and your 23" ACD doesn't)
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.
In 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
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:
Active MDP to HDMI audio and video converter:
Discussion: Using three ports.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2734984
Dual-Link doubles only the three data lines and their returns. This reduces the clock rate needed for supporting displays wider than 1920 wide, which would otherwise have to be stupidly fast (and unreliable).
Dual-Link does not mean Dual Display.
As for a splitter, forgetaboutit.
Thank you.
I think for now I'll be sticking with my 2 x 23". I was trying to pick up a 3rd but the deal went south, so it's now a moot point. But thank you for your information, and your assitance.
Can a 2009 Mac Pro (MA356LL/A) drive 3 23" Cinema HD Screens?
