Minerealm Community Forums

I am looking to upgrade my PC setup currently I have a dell XPS and 32" LG HD TV.

PC specs:
Intel Core I5 3.1ghz
1TB harddrive
8gb ram
AMD Radeon HD 7570


Basically what I want to have is 2 approx 22" monitors and the 32" tv, the graphics card I have can support the TV on hdmi and one monitor on VGA. The 2nd 22" monitor I want to get another graphics card for on HDMI, does anyone have any recommendations on good monitors and good graphics cards, I'm not looking to spend a huge amount of money so bare that in mind.

You're very close to the line where things go from moderate price to crazy expensive high end gear. If you can figure out how to run two graphics cards, practically anything will run the third monitor. The question is, can your CPU and motherboard support another card. If it can't you will literally need to upgrade your entire system. Motherboard, a better GPU and maybe even CPU and by that stage were talking about a LOT of money.

Because I'm not a computer expert, I'm just going off personal knowledge, I can't tell you exactly what you need to do to be able to support a 5760 x 1080 display. I believe more graphics memory makes multiple monitors run better, which is why the Nvidia Titan runs multimonitors so well.

Anyway, if you can get a cheap card to run your third monitor I reccomend Samsung and BenQ for screens. I got my two samsung 24 inch's for only about 140 AUD each.

Good luck, sounds like you'll have a wicked setup when you get this working.

I know a fair amount about computers, just graphics cards and monitors I don't know a lot about XD

Something to think about - your box will change over the years, but your monitor will probably stay. I think that the monitors, speakers, mouse and keyboard are actually the most important parts in a good long-term build and are worth investing in if you can afford it.

My setup below is a Dell 3007 (30") centre with a Dell 2005 (20") either side in a PLP configuration. It cost me $1800 six years ago - the centre screen was new, and the side screens were second hand. The centre screen is 2560x1600 and the side screens are 1200x1600, so perfect match in terms of their vertical pixel count. There's nothing worse than having mis-matching vertical pixel count between screens, as you then have a 'step' that your mouse can snag against as you move between monitors.

They are also very close in physical vertical size in this configuration - there is about a 3mm vertical difference top and bottom between the 3007 and the two 2005's. That is imperceptible in practice and gives a seamless transition between the screens.

Also consider the graphics card outputs carefully. I'm running a 7970 and using DVI-DL for the 3007, HDMI for one 2005 and Mini-HDMI with an adaptor for the other 2005. It's easy to find that you simply can't physically connect 3 monitors to a particular graphics card if you don't check the input / output config first.

The alternative is of course to run a second graphics card which will give you at least another DVI-SL/DL plus probably an extra HDMI or similar.

If you're just looking to do a cheap and cheerful setup then I suggest a couple of Benq or Samsung 22/24" screens per mitchie's post, preferably IPS panels for viewing angle and colour reproduction. Use your existing 7570 for the two side-screens and buy a 7770 or similar to drive the 32" HDTV as your primary gaming monitor. You could probably do this setup for about AU$400 for the 2x screens and 7770 ... I don't think you would want to go much cheaper.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-7770-Radeo ... B0081LDXW2 <-- that graphics card?

Something like that, yes. Doesn't have to be that card - I just picked a low-end current generation card that is an upgrade on your 7550 but not too expensive.

That card isn't bad though. Has 2x DVI ports (one DL - can run up to 2560x1600; one SL - can run up to 1920x1200) plus HDMI and Display Port. You'll need to check but that should give you the connectivity you need for all three monitors on the one card ... DVI to each of the side monitors and HDMI to your 32" HDTV.

You would be limited though to at least one of your side monitors being limited to 1920x1200 max res though as it would be using the DVI-SL port.

What are some of the main things you do with your computer?

TechnoProdigy wrote:What are some of the main things you do with your computer?

Currently minecraft, fl studio, couple other games but I no longer play console so will be buying games for PC in the future. Battlefield, COD, GTA etc etc

You'll want to do some research on the graphics card then - you'll likely want a midrange card like a 7950 to play BF / COD at 1920x1080 and reasonable framerates. That won't be with full eye-candy either.

I haven't researched graphics cards for that res though, so can't really tell you what would suit best.

A 7950 will run Battlefield 3 completely maxed out at 1920x1080. I had one for ~half a year before trading it for this 670.