• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Upgrade to a triple 4K monitor

Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
223 (0.06/day)
Hey guys, thanks in advance for the time you'll spend here :)


My need is to upgrade my triple screen configuration, and mainly my central monitor (the other two are optional).

I have some questions about the limitation of my actual rig, which is custom made : i7 860 + HD 6950 3G
I'm not planning onto changing my CPU, since it still does the job (I have a i7 3770 in stock if I want to change). Question is : will my 6950 be able to run this resolution ?
In my time there were limitations on triple screen, and I wonder if I can mix this kind of resolutions (full HD + 4K)?
Also, my 6950 seems to work on DP 1.2 : http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=440&threadid=174727 but is there any considerations about drivers problems with multiple resolution, etc.
I'm using different resolutions every day, but 4K seems to be still unpredictable while you use it.

Is there any considerations to take for a 4K setup ? I'm not playing "fat games" but, if Fidji is interesting, I'll probably upgrade later.


Thank you in advance for your advices !

PS : i've spotted this screen : Samsung 28" LED - U28D590D
Do I "need" to have an IPS screen, or TN is still good enough considering my limited space (max 27-28") ?
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Messages
483 (0.13/day)
Location
Cyprus
Processor 13700KF (5.7GHZ @ 1.38v)
Motherboard Z690 UNIFY-X
Cooling NOCTUA U12A
Memory 2x16 G.SKILL M-DIE (7200-34-44-44-28)
Video Card(s) XFX MERC 7900XT
Storage 1TB KINGSTON KC3000
Display(s) FI32Q
Case LIAN LI O11 DYNAMIC EVO
Audio Device(s) HD599
Power Supply RMX1000
Mouse PULSAR XLITE V2 MINI (RETRO)
Keyboard KEYCHRON V3 (DUROCK T1 + MT3 GODSPEED R2)
Software Windows 11
Benchmark Scores Superposition 4k optimized - 20652
Doesn't matter how big the screen is , ips will always be better for almost every person (except "competitive" gamers who can feel the <10ms difference)
for your setup i really dont know anything more , but in my opinion triple monitor is waste , i can't play any game good when i play at more than 24in, but thats just me
 

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
17,866 (3.00/day)
Location
Quantum Well UK
System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCIe
Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Pro - Black Shadow
Keyboard Yes
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
I don't know whether your 6950 actually supports 4K, but if it does it's unfortunately too old and therefore too slow to give you decent framerates with it. You have to replace it if you want to avoid a slide show. Note that this card can only have 2GB or 4GB RAM, not 3GB as in your post. Most likely yours is 2GB, which is not enough for 4K 3D gaming.

I don't know the actual performance difference between those two CPUs, but I'd hazard that the 3770K would give you a useful performance boost. This is because the one you're using is pre Sandy Bridge which had a fair amount of performance improvement over yours. The 3770K has incremental IPC performance improvements (but not overclockability) over SB, hence making for a useful performance boost.

www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6950
 

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester
Joined
Nov 26, 2004
Messages
7,955 (1.13/day)
Location
Canuck in Norway
System Name Hellbox 5.1(same case new guts)
Processor Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard MSI X570S MAG Torpedo Max
Cooling TT Kandalf L.C.S.(Water/Air)EK Velocity CPU Block/Noctua EK Quantum DDC Pump/Res
Memory 2x16GB Gskill Trident Neo Z 3600 CL16
Video Card(s) Powercolor Hellhound 7900XTX
Storage 970 Evo Plus 500GB 2xSamsung 850 Evo 500GB RAID 0 1TB WD Blue Corsair MP600 Core 2TB
Display(s) Alienware QD-OLED 34” 3440x1440 144hz 10Bit VESA HDR 400
Case TT Kandalf L.C.S.
Audio Device(s) Soundblaster ZX/Logitech Z906 5.1
Power Supply Seasonic TX~’850 Platinum
Mouse G502 Hero
Keyboard G19s
VR HMD Oculus Quest 2
Software Win 10 Pro x64
A 6950 would have issues with running one 4K screen with any decent FPS.
 
Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
1,802 (0.32/day)
Location
ATL, GA
System Name My Rig
Processor AMD 3950X
Motherboard X570 TUFF GAMING PLUS
Cooling EKWB Custom Loop, Lian Li 011 G1 distroplate/DDC 3.1 combo
Memory 4x16GB Corsair DDR4-3466
Video Card(s) MSI Seahawk 2080 Ti EKWB block
Storage 2TB Auros NVMe Drive
Display(s) Asus P27UQ
Case Lian Li 011-Dynamic XL
Audio Device(s) JBL 30X
Power Supply Seasonic Titanium 1000W
Mouse Razer Lancehead
Keyboard Razer Widow Maker Keyboard
Software Window's 10 Pro
A 6950 would have issues with running one 4K screen with any decent FPS.

Ehh not true. It supports DP 1.2, and it probably has enough juice to run most games at 4k with no AA(which you don't need) on medium-high settings at 60 fps. Will it max out 4k? no.

I have a Dell Up2715Q, a Samsung UD590D, and a Acer Xb280HK. Avoid the Dell Up2414 and the Up3214q...anything using MST..avoid like it's satan's taint. SST is where it is at...so much easyier, and stable. I am actually getting ready to sell the Dell and the Samsung though, the Acer..while not as good a quality as the IPS on the Dell, it has Gsync, and Gsync at 4k is vvverry nice.
 
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
3,612 (0.52/day)
System Name TheReactor / HTPC
Processor AMD 7800x3d 5050Mhz / Intel 10700kf (5.1ghz All Core)
Motherboard ASrock x670e Taichi / ROG Strix z490-e gaming
Cooling HeatKiller VI CPU/GPU Block -2xBlackIce GTX 360 Radiators - Swiftech MCP655 Pump
Memory 32GB G.Skill 6000Mhz DDR5 / 32GB G.Skill 3400Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s) Nvidia 3090ti / Nvidia 2080ti
Storage Crucial T700 2TB Gen 5 / Samsung Evo 2Tb
Display(s) Acer Predator xb271hu - 2560x1440 @144hz
Case Corsiar 550
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply Antec Quattro 1000W
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Corsair Gaming k70
Software Windows 10 Pro 64bit
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
1,383 (0.37/day)
Location
Alabama, USA
Processor 5900x
Motherboard MSI MEG UNIFY
Cooling Arctic Liquid Freezer 2 360mm
Memory 4x8GB 3600c16 Ballistix
Video Card(s) EVGA 3080 FTW3 Ultra
Storage 1TB SX8200 Pro, 2TB SanDisk Ultra 3D, 6TB WD Red Pro
Display(s) Acer XV272U
Case Fractal Design Meshify 2
Power Supply Corsair RM850x
Mouse Logitech G502 Hero
Keyboard Ducky One 2
Yeah, a 6950 is not enough for 4k except on lows. He would want a 290 or 970/980 for one 4k screen, with a 280x or 780/ti as a minimum. To even consider triple 4k you need something crazy like an 8GB 290x triple cf or a TITAN class card. You're going to shoot past 4GB VRAM very quick.
 
Joined
Nov 21, 2014
Messages
376 (0.11/day)
Location
Russia
System Name home-pc
Processor i7-950
Motherboard TUF-x58
Cooling nh-d14
Memory 8GB ram
Video Card(s) rx-580(4)
Storage 1tv raid, 240 mlc ssd, 1tb for data
Display(s) 32" TV 1080p
Case -
Audio Device(s) audigy 2 zs platinum
Power Supply some chinese expiriment
Software 10
The 3770K has incremental IPC performance improvements (but not overclockability)
according to info i searched 3770k has no benefits vs 3770 cause of bubblegum between chip and it's cover(you cant OC more than 4.3-4.4Ghz(both cpus, you can OC nonK intel cpus but not that much as K) if you dont replace intel's "revolutionary solution" to liquid metal and void guarantee)
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
3,275 (0.46/day)
Location
Sunny California
Processor Intel Core i9 13900KF
Motherboard Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero EVA Edition
Cooling Asus Ryujin II 360 EVA Edition
Memory 4x16GBs DDR5 6800MHz G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo Series
Video Card(s) Zotac RTX 4090 AMP Extreme Airo
Storage 2TB Samsung 980 Pro OS - 4TB Nextorage G Series Games - 8TBs WD Black Storage
Display(s) LG C2 OLED 42" 4K 120Hz HDR G-Sync enabled TV
Case Asus ROG Helios EVA Edition
Audio Device(s) Denon AVR-S910W - 7.1 Klipsch Dolby ATMOS Speaker Setup - Audeze Maxwell
Power Supply EVGA Supernova G2 1300W
Mouse Asus ROG Keris EVA Edition - Asus ROG Scabbard II EVA Edition
Keyboard Asus ROG Strix Scope EVA Edition
VR HMD Samsung Odyssey VR
Software Windows 11 Pro 64bit
Triple 4K setup on a single 6950? It should be to drive all three screens for 2D apps without any problems.

As far as gaming, you'll need to lower all details on most games to be able to run them on a 4K single monitor, but you didn't even mention gaming in your post, so I don't think that's even an issue for you :)
 
Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
1,802 (0.32/day)
Location
ATL, GA
System Name My Rig
Processor AMD 3950X
Motherboard X570 TUFF GAMING PLUS
Cooling EKWB Custom Loop, Lian Li 011 G1 distroplate/DDC 3.1 combo
Memory 4x16GB Corsair DDR4-3466
Video Card(s) MSI Seahawk 2080 Ti EKWB block
Storage 2TB Auros NVMe Drive
Display(s) Asus P27UQ
Case Lian Li 011-Dynamic XL
Audio Device(s) JBL 30X
Power Supply Seasonic Titanium 1000W
Mouse Razer Lancehead
Keyboard Razer Widow Maker Keyboard
Software Window's 10 Pro
Ehh sorry, for some reason I thought the 6950 and 7950 were very similar, figured they wouldn't have a problem with most games on med at 4k. I was wayyy off base. A single R9 290, or 970/980 definitly, a single 4k monitor, 3 ..no.
 

OneMoar

There is Always Moar
Joined
Apr 9, 2010
Messages
8,741 (1.71/day)
Location
Rochester area
System Name RPC MK2.5
Processor Ryzen 5800x
Motherboard Gigabyte Aorus Pro V2
Cooling Enermax ETX-T50RGB
Memory CL16 BL2K16G36C16U4RL 3600 1:1 micron e-die
Video Card(s) GIGABYTE RTX 3070 Ti GAMING OC
Storage ADATA SX8200PRO NVME 512GB, Intel 545s 500GBSSD, ADATA SU800 SSD, 3TB Spinner
Display(s) LG Ultra Gear 32 1440p 165hz Dell 1440p 75hz
Case Phanteks P300 /w 300A front panel conversion
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply SeaSonic Focus+ Platinum 750W
Mouse Kone burst Pro
Keyboard EVGA Z15
Software Windows 11 +startisallback
Ehh sorry, for some reason I thought the 6950 and 7950 were very similar, figured they wouldn't have a problem with most games on med at 4k. I was wayyy off base. A single R9 290, or 970/980 definitly, a single 4k monitor, 3 ..no.
4K with a single gpu is simply not feasible yet even a 980 is gonna have a tough time with recent titles
 
Joined
Apr 16, 2011
Messages
719 (0.15/day)
Location
coventry UK
System Name Gwafwar
Processor Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard Msi MPG X570 Gaming Plus
Memory 16Gb Adata Spectrix 3600 Cl18
Video Card(s) Palit GTX970 SLI
Storage Adata 512Gb SX8200 pro
Display(s) 3x 27" 1080p Lg's
Case Coolermaster 690 II pure black
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Coolermaster 750W Masterwatt
Mouse Saitek X65-f HOTAS
Software Win10 Pro
I'd buy a GTX 970 or GTX 980. And run with DSR on. It'll let you play at 4K res on a single 1080p screen. And you'll still have enough power to be able to run 5760x1080 in games you want to triple monitor on with all the detail pretty high.

My current setup is a GTX970 and triple monitors. And it'll play FC4 at 5760x1080. Granted it needs some eye candy turning off but the game is still pretty and still playable. Trying to do the same thing on 3x 4K monitors would be impossible.

If you desperately need a monitor upgrade and you want the bigger resolution then do it, but if your monitors are fine matched and working then you can have the GPU upgrade for less than the cost of one of those monitors.

http://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00174316.html

http://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00176098.html
 

Aquinus

Resident Wat-man
Joined
Jan 28, 2012
Messages
13,147 (2.96/day)
Location
Concord, NH, USA
System Name Apollo
Processor Intel Core i9 9880H
Motherboard Some proprietary Apple thing.
Memory 64GB DDR4-2667
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, 8GB HBM2
Storage 1TB Apple NVMe, 4TB External
Display(s) Laptop @ 3072x1920 + 2x LG 5k Ultrafine TB3 displays
Case MacBook Pro (16", 2019)
Audio Device(s) AirPods Pro, Sennheiser HD 380s w/ FIIO Alpen 2, or Logitech 2.1 Speakers
Power Supply 96w Power Adapter
Mouse Logitech MX Master 3
Keyboard Logitech G915, GL Clicky
Software MacOS 12.1
4K alone has trouble running on a single GPU and you're talking about running 3 displays? Just getting one 4k display working well is a trick in and of itself, so maybe you should start there because to do 3x4k you're talking about thousands of dollars of hardware just to probably run it on medium graphics with plenty of bugs to boot, I'm sure. It's not exactly feasible, so I would recommending sticking with one for the time being.
Yeah, a 6950 is not enough for 4k except on lows. He would want a 290 or 970/980 for one 4k screen, with a 280x or 780/ti as a minimum. To even consider triple 4k you need something crazy like an 8GB 290x triple cf or a TITAN class card. You're going to shoot past 4GB VRAM very quick.
This. Very quickly you'll find that your GPU's memory is full and performance will plummet. This happens on my 6870s in CFX even with more recent titles at 1080p at full graphics.
 
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
223 (0.06/day)
Thanks for your replies.

First, I forgot to mention that it's not a "gamer" setup. I'm not searching for a rig that can run GTA V on a Triple 4K setup. I only play in my main screen ; I tried triple screen playing, but I didn't liked that. The test was with Crysis 2 running on full details at 21-23 FPS.
Anyway, I think I'll pass until i get a brand new card, which is not now cause of HBM coming on both AMD and nVidia cards (Pascal for nVidia) to get a triple screen setup.
I don't want to go under 30FPS in my game even for my work.
 
Top