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Is it ok to plug my monitors into both GPUs, or does it need to be on the primary?

JaredzzC

JaredzzC

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Hi,

I have purchased 3 2560x1440 freesync capable displays (Acer XG270HU).
As far as I'm aware, freesync isn't available for multi-monitor configurations, but this is for future reference as I am now looking to buy the cables/hubs in preparation for the arrival for the monitors.

I have 2 x R9 290 XFX DD, which contain(on each card):
2x DVI-D Dual Link
1x DisplayPort
1x HDMI

because of the bandwidth, the DisplayPort (Hub) can't support 3 1440p monitors, so I shall use a 2 port hub for 2 screens and then that leaves me with one screen. Since freesync requires displayport, and each card only has 1 display port connection, is it possible to plug the 3rd screen into the second GPU, or must they all be plugged into the primary one?

Regards,
Jared.
 
GorbazTheDragon

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Doesn't using a DP hub reduce the bandwidth to each screen so the max refresh rate is significantly lower?

I would say use direct DP to your main monitor, so you can use it with high refresh rate, then secondary monitors on DL-DVI, which will allow the full resolution at 60Hz.

You might be able to run two monitors at 144Hz, by running one in each DP and the last one in a DL-DVI port on the first GPU. I don't know if the slave GPU in CFX can make display outputs though. Just try hooking them up and see if it works.
 
Aquinus

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FreeSync required DisplayPort and I think it required a dedicated link to each monitor. I'm not exactly sure how it would work but you would want the center one on DP since it's the only one that will probably be able to use FreeSync.

Side note: Did you research this before buying it? I hope you didn't intended free-sync to work on all of them.

Side side note: You can't use CFX if any monitors are plugged into the secondary adapter. I know from personal experience.
 
JaredzzC

JaredzzC

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Aquinus said:
FreeSync required DisplayPort and I think it required a dedicated link to each monitor. I'm not exactly sure how it would work but you would want the center one on DP since it's the only one that will probably be able to use FreeSync.

Side note: Did you research this before buying it? I hope you didn't intended free-sync to work on all of them.

Side side note: You can't use CFX if any monitors are plugged into the secondary adapter. I know from personal experience.
Click to expand...

Yes, I did do some research :)
I was aware before I purchased these monitors that freesync had no support for multi-gpu/multi-monitor setups, but I can hope for the future...
2560x1440, 144hz, 1ms and Zero-Frame was what really attracted me. The addition of freesync topped it all off; freesync wasn't the main incentive to buy this, it was more of a bonus I wanted to take advantage of.

Thank you for your help. You've cleared up some of what I was unsure about.
 
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