9 Monitors, 1 computer?

[Franklinwallbrown]

My wife is working on a project: she wants to display her photography work on a series of 9 monitors, and I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to do this. I know there are splitters, but I'm pretty sure you can't just keep putting splitters together and expect the monitors to work. I know that they make these adapters, and they say you can hook up 6 to one windows PC. These lead me to believe that I could buy 9 of them and use two computers. Anyone have any experience with them?

 

[lyndonguitar]

what are you gonna do exactly? display different outputs?, display one big pic across 9 screens?, or just mirror the same output to all 9 monitors?

 

[PLSG08]

I'm not quite sure but aren't cards nowadays can only accommodate up to 6 monitors? (Oh sorry, kinda late in reading that)

Does it really have to be 9 monitors?

 

[Jetster]

same image on all 9?
no you can display more then 6

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

9 monitors, each switching between two pictures each

 

[Mathragh]

Should be doable with two amd cards(non-crossfired) which both support 6 screens?

It'll be quite expensive though, you will either need a displayport splitter, or displays which support daisy chaining.

 

[Jetster]

Does it have to be from a Laptop?

 

[Xenturion]

An intriguing problem. I suspect it'll end up being fairly expensive. Maybe three of these?

Saphire Flex HD 6450
SAPPHIRE FleX 100322FLEX Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit...

These allow you to do 3 display EyeFinity without the need for a Active Display Port adapter. But honestly, having never tried making an array larger than 4 monitors, I'm not sure if AMD's drivers will allow you to create a 3x3 display array.

An Eyefinity 6 edition card would at least give you 6 displays, but not without either 4 native display port monitors, or 4 active display port adapters.

That's a tough one.

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

Does it have to be from a Laptop?

It would be nice if we could do it from our laptops, yes.

An intriguing problem. I suspect it'll end up being fairly expensive. Maybe three of these?

Saphire Flex HD 6450
SAPPHIRE FleX 100322FLEX Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit...

These allow you to do 3 display EyeFinity without the need for a Active Display Port adapter. But honestly, having never tried making an array larger than 4 monitors, I'm not sure if AMD's drivers will allow you to create a 3x3 display array.

An Eyefinity 6 edition card would at least give you 6 displays, but not without either 4 native display port monitors, or 4 active display port adapters.

That's a tough one.

Sapphire Flex tech looks good...but that would mean a whole new machine.

 

[lyndonguitar]

if you're gonna do it for the purpose of displaying pictures only, I think the cheapest and easiest way, at least for me, is to use three PCs,

put in each one the cheapest AMD eyefinity card like the 6450 above and connect 3 monitors per PC.

 

[Mathragh]

if you're gonna do it for the purpose of displaying pictures only, I think the cheapest and easiest way, at least for me, is to use three PCs,

put in each one the cheapest AMD eyefinity card like the 6450 above and connect 3 monitors per PC.

Why wouldnt you put those 3 cards in one PC if you're gonna do that? Just curious.

 

[Jetster]

How about this

http://www.startech.com/AV/USB-Video-Adapters

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

Why wouldnt you put those 3 cards in one PC if you're gonna do that? Just curious.

That's what I was thinking...

How about this

http://www.startech.com/AV/USB-Video-Adapters

That's what I was thinking...

 

[Jetster]

I couldnt find what the limit was though. As far as how far you can expand your desktop

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

I couldnt find what the limit was though. As far as how far you can expand your desktop

I've found 6 to be the max on all of the ones that I've seen.

 

[3870x2]

Monitors: http://www.multiplexpc.com/nine-monitor-display-s/95.htm

You said that 2 will display the same thing, so that means you only need four unique displays, what about the final 1? (9/4= 4 and 1)

A laptop will not be able to do this however, you will need a desktop. I'm not sure if one desktop can have two eyefinity (2x3) displays, but if it does, you only need one computer with two low-end (6450) eyefinity cards, and splitters at the end of those (it is possible that you might need powered splitters).

Your budget for what I posted would be about $3500-$3700. From what I understand, it would be better to purchase the stand separately from the monitors, thereby reducing the cost significantly.

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

Monitors: http://www.multiplexpc.com/nine-monitor-display-s/95.htm

She would display them on the wall, hanging.

You said that 2 will display the same thing, so that means you only need four unique displays, what about the final 1? (9/4= 4 and 1)

She wants each of the 9 monitors to display two images switching back and forth.

A laptop will not be able to do this however, you will need a desktop. I'm not sure if one desktop can have two eyefinity (2x3) displays, but if it does, you only need one computer with two low-end (6450) eyefinity cards, and splitters at the end of those (it is possible that you might need powered splitters).

That's not what I was hoping to hear...I wonder where I could find out if I computer can support 2xeyefinity.

Your budget for what I posted would be about $3500-$3700. From what I understand, it would be better to purchase the stand separately from the monitors, thereby reducing the cost significantly.

I think the budget would change (for the better) once you took that huge display off and replaced it with 9 regular monitors.

 

[Norton]

This splitter will run 16 displays (VGA output) from a single source:

http://www.startech.com/AV/Splitter...deo-Splitter-Distribution-Amplifier~ST1216PRO

Not sure if this is what you need?

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

This splitter will run 16 displays (VGA output) from a single source:

http://www.startech.com/AV/Splitter...deo-Splitter-Distribution-Amplifier~ST1216PRO

Not sure if this is what you need?

I believe that only mirrors...I would need more of an extended desktop.

 

[zsolt_93]

Just an idea.. Does it have to be a pc or laptop? Probably would be easier setting up some monitors with HDMI in with some little media players that can play the pictures, one for each. I have no idea about the costs though. Probably cheap solutions will do it just as fine as the android based mini pcs, but i think android would be more flexible for the future. And you could manage them through network. Basically some large photo frames.

 

[MT Alex]

How large do the monitors have to be, and do you already have them? They make digital frames that maybe the same cost and size of a monitor.

 

[de.das.dude]

Why wouldnt you put those 3 cards in one PC if you're gonna do that? Just curious.

because a tri crossfire mobo will cost almost more than the cards put together

 

[Franklinwallbrown]

Just an idea.. Does it have to be a pc or laptop? Probably would be easier setting up some monitors with HDMI in with some little media players that can play the pictures, one for each. I have no idea about the costs though. Probably cheap solutions will do it just as fine as the android based mini pcs, but i think android would be more flexible for the future. And you could manage them through network. Basically some large photo frames.

These would be a good alternative...I believe.

Now...I just need to find cheap monitors that display pictures well...

How large do the monitors have to be, and do you already have them? They make digital frames that maybe the same cost and size of a monitor.

She was wanting them to be at least 21.5"


These look suspicious, but they are cheap.