6850 won't display to 3 monitors

My brother has an HP Desktop with a 6850. He hooked up 3 dell 23" monitors all 1920x1080. two are connected via DVI and the last is connected via displayport to DVI adapter.

Only 2 monitors will display an image, why can't it display 3?

In the catalyst center it shows 3 displays but only 2 are blue or active. There's no way to activate the 3rd display. If I disconnect the cable from the third display that's shown as black, it goes away completely. So the videoc ard knows there's 3 displays connected?

It sees the monitors but it just won't connect? No indication why other than it can't save it. If I disable one monitor it'll take 2 monitors no issues (doesn't matter what combination between DVI and displayport or all DVI)




This makes no sense....is this an HP ism? My brother called HP and they're worthless telling him to connect to VGA HDMI and DVI...really, the card doesn't even have a VGA port, let alone only 2 ports between the 2 DVI and HDMI can output at once.

Please help, this is a situation where money isn't an issue, getting it fixed is.

You need an active adapter

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815309008&Tpk=mini displayport to dvi

if it's not an active adapter wouldn't it still work just at a lower resolution? Even at 1920x1080....it;s working fine with one DVI ad the mini displayport to DVI adapter that he bought....

I can disable and enable any of the 3 monitors I want in any order and only 2 will ever work...i.e. it could be DVI port 1 and miniDP, DVI port 2 and mini DP, or DVI port 1 and port 2.....all those will work but when I enable the 3rd mionitor it won't accept.

You need an active adapter to enable all three. It has something to do with the number of clock generators that are on the card.

Any idea what this adapter is? I gave him a link to an active adapter but he decided to get one at Best Buy instead (I know, I know, save *ME* the lecture)


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Where in chicago can I buy an active miniDP to DVI adapter?

I just got the XFX Active minidp to dvi, works great.

Active adapters made by video card companies are the ones you want. PowerColor, Sapphire, and XFX all make them.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...rder=BESTMATCH&Description=active+displayport

Here's the specific one I have, I love it. But if you have a minidp you would need an additional adapter to use it. I'd choose one of the other ones from the above link if you only have minidp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814999030

I use this, DVI and the HDMI plugs. All monitors work great! Most adapters you buy from best buy or cheaper places like monoprice aren't actualy active and won't display the 3rd screen.

Really? I use 2 dvi and a vga. No prblem. Do it threw ccc not windows it will work.

hank123 said:

Really? I use 2 dvi and a vga. No prblem. Do it threw ccc not windows it will work.

Click to expand...

What is this "ccc" you speak off?

Pierre3400 said:

What is this "ccc" you speak off?

Click to expand...

CCC, AFAIK, refers to Catalyst Control Center.

JKessell said:

CCC, AFAIK, refers to Catalyst Control Center.

Click to expand...

Thats kinda what i figured, but its not possible to make 3 screens run without have at least one active adaptor. At least not with my Radeon.

Thats why i was curious to if he was on about somthing else.

hank123 said:

Really? I use 2 dvi and a vga. No prblem. Do it threw ccc not windows it will work.

Click to expand...

Wonder if its different for laptops since we've tried using the Laptop display &....
2x DVI
1x DVI & 1x VGA
2x VGA

No worky. Though its been mentioned time and time again that you need an active display port adaptor or at least a display port monitor.

hank123 -

How many monitors does your GFX card support? is it 4 or 6?

I have a 6970 (even tried with a 6950) and an ACTIVE USB displayport to DVI adapter... I have the same issues. It's BS...

I've been using displayport to analog on my 3rd monitor as it seems to work best, but what stinks is the first 5-10 min that I turn the computer on, the analog monitor wiggles... then eventually settles.

I'm running 1920x1200 x 3.