Sunday, December 20th 2009
SAPPHIRE Solves Eyefinity Issue with Active DisplayPort Adapter
A feature of the latest SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series of graphics cards is the new ATI Eyefinity mode, which enables games and other applications to be run on three screens treated as one continuous display area. Now with the SAPPHIRE Eyefinity adapter, standard DVI monitors can be used for all three screens.
In addition to spectacular image clarity, speed and visual effects, the SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series supports the new multi-monitor mode known as ATI Eyefinity. This allows a single GPU to display a choice of images over an array of several monitors. The cards in this series support up to three monitors, with a resolution of up to 7680 x 1600. This opens up exciting possibilities not just for multi-screen gaming, but also for information systems, multimedia systems and promotional displays.
However, with this family of cards, although two of the screens can be connected directly to the DVI or HDMI outputs on the card, the third display has to be driven from the DisplayPort output. Some users have expressed concern about the cost or availability of DisplayPort compatible monitors, or a wish to match existing monitor styles.
Now SAPPHIRE has introduced an active powered DisplayPort to DVI converter, which allows any standard DVI monitor to be used as the third screen and enabled in Eyefinity mode. This allows users to update their existing multi-monitor setup to use Eyefinity, or to add a lower cost DVI monitor to complete their Eyefinity system. The SAPPHIRE converter is simply plugged into the DisplayPort output of the graphics card, together with a standard USB connection to provide power. A standard DVI monitor cable can then be connected to the female DVI connector on the unit.
This series of cards is supported by AMD's DirectX 11 WHQL certified graphics driver which delivers support for all of the key DirectX 11 level features required for new gaming experiences and acceleration of next generation high performance applications.
In addition to spectacular image clarity, speed and visual effects, the SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series supports the new multi-monitor mode known as ATI Eyefinity. This allows a single GPU to display a choice of images over an array of several monitors. The cards in this series support up to three monitors, with a resolution of up to 7680 x 1600. This opens up exciting possibilities not just for multi-screen gaming, but also for information systems, multimedia systems and promotional displays.
Now SAPPHIRE has introduced an active powered DisplayPort to DVI converter, which allows any standard DVI monitor to be used as the third screen and enabled in Eyefinity mode. This allows users to update their existing multi-monitor setup to use Eyefinity, or to add a lower cost DVI monitor to complete their Eyefinity system. The SAPPHIRE converter is simply plugged into the DisplayPort output of the graphics card, together with a standard USB connection to provide power. A standard DVI monitor cable can then be connected to the female DVI connector on the unit.
This series of cards is supported by AMD's DirectX 11 WHQL certified graphics driver which delivers support for all of the key DirectX 11 level features required for new gaming experiences and acceleration of next generation high performance applications.
79 Comments on SAPPHIRE Solves Eyefinity Issue with Active DisplayPort Adapter
Many thanks to jagd for sending this in.
GO figure what a Display Port is before the driver bashing.
The problem with DisplayPort -> DVI signaling is that they have different communication standards. Still, I'm sure it is not impossible to engineer a chip that would perform the conversion in a time frame that it can't be detected by human senses. It just cost more--a lot more than just rearranging a few pins into a different arrangement.
The point being is that AMD made a bad call. They should have taken a hint from Apple users with all their DisplayPort connectivity issues. Truth be told, I'm as bitter with DisplayPort as I am with ATSC -> NTSC. In fact, I am more so bitter about DisplayPort than anything else. Simply put, it is a bad standard (very limited backwards compatibility, limited cable length, introduces a new form of DRM: DPCP, very little bandwidth gain compared to dual-link DVI, and the list goes on). DisplayPort is "replacing" DVI because industry leaders (HP, Dell, Apple, Intel, to name a few) insist, not because it makes any sense. If it were up to me, we'd be talking about Unified Display Interface (the true successor to DVI), not DisplayPort.
Since DP and DVI arent compatible, you need a special adaptor - this adaptor lets you use three DVI (or HDMI screens with further adaptors) for eyefinity
To be honest, this does confuse me.
With 2x DVI, 1x HDMI and 1x DP, i dont see why users cant use a HDMI to DVI adaptor/cable for eyefinity without needing this expensive adaptor.
Is there some limitation with one of those DVI ports not working if the HDMI port is in use?
This is really a bummer TBH.
So your combinations for eyefinity are:
DVI, HDMI, DP
DVI, DVI, DP
DVI, DVI, DVI (with this fancy adaptor)
I'm pretty embarassed, because somewhere else in this forum I might have even recommended someone to swap out an asymmetric GPU setup for a single 5770 solution to drive 3 monitors. Man, ATI made some bad decisions there. Any why? ALL FOR BLXXDY BLU-RAY DRM. ATI are giant tits, because people that would find eyefinity a feature...e.g. workstation use... do not want DRM or bluray compatibility. Big boyzTM dont do bluray on their workstations. They got a home cinema for that...
i hope.
IF you have a monitor with DP you are ok and dont need adapter but they are limited and not wide spread .
Then at your stupidity. Display port is a display output, what's it got to do with drivers? (no ' this time).
btw, Display port also comes with copy protection.
There is a version using mini display ports that will support up to 6, yes 6, monitors!
However, you can hook up a displayport device using a passive dp to dvi adaptor.
DAMNIT! I would have gladly given up a DAC or two for a third "clock signal", you know, a feature that would have made it easy to utilize Eyefinity. Or at least allow the use of ports/signals on other cards. More cards = more money for your greedy black hearts!