Would this Desktop support 8 to 12 Monitors ?

Quote from silver914:

The BIOS does not determine the number of monitors your system can handle, the OS does. I can't remember the number exactly offhand, but a windows based OS can handle somewhere in the neighborhood of 24 monitors.

My immediate concern would be the expansion slot converter you plan on using in order to get the second video card to work. I have found such devices to be buggy at best. Then again, maybe yours will work great.

Have you looked at all of your options for using multiple displays, or are you simply trying to use what you already have?
More...

I am trying to run with what I have but I am also prepared to do whatever is needed to run 8 to 12 Monitors.
 
Quote from silver914:

On a system with on board video your statement is true....I looked at the specs for his 8300 and it does not use on board video graphics. On board or motherboard based graphics will conflict with any video card installed into any expansion slot. If the motherboard has no video capabilities in and of itself there is no limit placed on the video signal by the BIOS.
More...

This is not an issue. Any motherboard with on board video, can be disabled very easily in the bios to enable only the new card. No conflict.
 
Quote from kevinqc:

I am trying to run with what I have but I am also prepared to do whatever is needed to run 8 to 12 Monitors.
More...

It won't cost you too much to try. Buy 2, of those x1-x16 expansion boards and plug quad cards into them. If they work, you're golden. If not, you'll still use the quads in your new system with more x16 slots. You're risking only the $22 each on the expansion boards.

Go for it and please let us know how it works out.
 
Quote from rmorse:

This is not an issue. Any motherboard with on board video, can be disabled very easily in the bios to enable only the new card. No conflict.
More...

Partially true. Doesn't mean the BIOS will allow you to run multiple cards even with the onboard video disabled.
 
Quote from Scataphagos:

... and few video card makers produce them any more.
More...

Excuse me?

Again, in the case of a very cheaply manufactured system with on board graphics/video where the chipset handling the video signal is soldered directly on the motherboard you have severely restricted options and in many cases you do indeed have to go into the BIOS and change the video signal protocol. His motherboard does not process the video signal.

There are a plethora of graphics card makers. His only limitations are the available expansion slots.
 
Quote from kevinqc:

I am trying to run with what I have but I am also prepared to do whatever is needed to run 8 to 12 Monitors.
More...

I'm Googling info/images of your m/b. In order to make an informed decision you need to know exactly what is in the chassis. For example: do you have one PCIe x 16 slot or two? The computer is only sold with a video card installed, so do the specs on Dell's website mean that you have one PCIe x 16 slot in addition to the one used for the video card? Or is there only one slot and it's taken? As I said, an image of the board would be nice.

Or you could open it up and look.
 
Quote from silver914:

Excuse me?

Again, in the case of a very cheaply manufactured system with on board graphics/video where the chipset handling the video signal is soldered directly on the motherboard you have severely restricted options and in many cases you do indeed have to go into the BIOS and change the video signal protocol. His motherboard does not process the video signal.

There are a plethora of graphics card makers. His only limitations are the available expansion slots.
More...

There are still a few PCI cards out there.. but they're going away. PCIEx16 was designed for video... mobos with multiple x16 slots anticipated multi video card... many other combos work, some not.

Whether his mobo has onboard video or not isn't the only variable. The XPS 8300 was designed as a "general purpose, consumer" and/or "gamer" board... not anticipating to run more than 1 video card. Therefore, >1 video card is not a given.

I hope he tries the x1-x16 expansion slots and it works for him. Lots of ETers would love to buy a cheap computer and be able to run 8 monitors on it.
 
Quote from Scataphagos:

It won't cost you too much to try. Buy 2, of those x1-x16 expansion boards and plug quad cards into them. If they work, you're golden. If not, you'll still use the quads in your new system with more x16 slots. You're risking only the $22 each on the expansion boards.

Go for it and please let us know how it works out.
More...

I'm puzzled by this..what's a $22 "expansion board"? i can't figure what you're referring to here :confused:
 
Quote from Scataphagos:

I hope he tries the x1-x16 expansion slots and it works for him. Lots of ETers would love to buy a cheap computer and be able to run 8 monitors on it.
More...

I don't think it'll work. Besides the funky converter issue, he's processing video through two different avenues. Bill Gates wouldn't permit that. Hope I'm wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top