3 displays for Mac Pro Harpertown

[Mark Ziebarth]

Hi,
I want to use three displays with a Mac Pro Harpertown but I have no possibility to use two graphics cards as I'm using HD3.
Do you know any graphics card for three displays that works in a Harpertown Mac Pro?

Best

Mark

[garnoil]

Matrox makes a box that sits outside the computer but it splits your monitor output into several screens. It sounds like a good idea as it is outside the computer but I have not personally tried it.

[Mark Ziebarth]

Thanks garnoil,
I saw the Matrox boxes already. Depending on the graphics card of the Mac Pro it seems they have very limited screen resolutions. I would prefer a dedicated PCI-e graphics card if there is any.

Best Mark

[Epik Productions]

We have a matrox triplehead2go box in our main room.
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/

You are slightly limited in your resolution and depending on your monitors it can look a little stretched out, but its worth it to have 4 monitors (3 20" acer monitors and a samsung 42" tv) with an HD 3 system.

[DetroitT]

I read the ATI triple display PCIe cards are working.
I have one in a newer mac with HD and all is well.
http://www.macrumors.com/2010/08/24/...-2008-mac-pro/

[Mark Ziebarth]

Thanks DetroitT,
I found a dealer who will give me the ATI 5770 HD for a test.
There are two things I'm not sure about:
-if it works in the Harpertown Mac Pro
-if it fits with three Pro Tools cards

Best,

Mark

[mix109]

Hi Mark
Check this Apple link regarding compatibility with more than (2) Displays Connected on a Harpertown/Penryn

and also This that has to do with display connectivity

The Card can fit fine,as there is one 'Ghost' PCi Slot after the Graphic Card Slot and the First Slot that the HD1 Core Fits.

And i think that it requires 10.6.

I have been using the Matrox Triple Head for about (2) years now _2 Displays from one Head(Using the Matrox) _and a Projector from the second head of the Graphic Card
It is a good solution imho in terms of Extended desktop and it depends on the Monitor Resolution as mentioned above.

[Mark Ziebarth]

Thanks Mix 109,
I looked at the motherboard and am sure that the card will fit with three HD cards, too.
I will follow the instructions you send me. I'm guess I will buy a Matrox card as well to have 4 displays finally

Best,

Mark

[Andi R]

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer...ogy/VIDU2DVIA/

never tried it myself though....

anybody using these?

[Dism]

Originally Posted by Andi R

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer...ogy/VIDU2DVIA/

never tried it myself though....

anybody using these?

Traditionally... USB displays are not a great idea. The problem is that they steal resources, since they don't actually utilize your GPU. To generate the display, it must use CPU and RAM which can be taxing on your system if you run heavy sessions.