DisplayPort multi-monitor setup

[Doc+Com]

Hi guys, I'm looking for some advice with setting up at least 3 dell P2317H on older OptiPlex desktops and the scenario goes like this;
Accounting Co wants to upgrade to larger monitors for up to 30 of their workstations. They Currentlyhave 2 or 3 monitors at each station connected via DVI cables from the monitors which run into DVI/DisplayPort adaptors and connect to the 2 DisplayPort sockets on the motherboard. Third monitors attach via VGA.

My original idea was to add an additional DisplayPort card due to the fact that they wanted to use Dells P series monitors but this does not appear to function as easily as I thought as the add-in graphics card is then designated at the DisplayPort adaptor and the onboard ports don't function. Just having the PCI card in place gives a boot warning that the installed graphics card needs to be connected to the monitor(s).

I played around with BIOS settings but nothing in there allows for switching graphics.

Being that theyeventually want to swap all stations to Multiple P2317H (up to 4 maybe!) I wondered if anyone has a workaround for this scenario or have used an adaptor solution that would allow them to extend across 3-4 screens (something like this maybe https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JLRBB8I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Any input/advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Unfortunately I am not experienced in this particular scenario but based on past experiences with display adapters and splitters I would strongly recommend you only buy 1 and have them test it for a while to confirm they aren't running into any issues with it before buying several.

 

[ccritchie]

What's up Doc,

I work at a mid-sized (150 users) accounting firm as my day job, and most of our tax staff have 4 monitors, and a few even have 5. Our standard issue desktops have 2 dual (read - matching) video cards which can support 4 monitors, either with DVI cables or Displayport. I can share a few lessons learned over the past few years:

• Whenever possible, don't mix and match add-in video cards (e.g. one AMD & one NVidia), as the drivers often seem to have conflicts with one another. It's been much easier to have matching video cards (e.g. AMD Radeon R5 240) which use the same driver. That way, when an update for that video driver comes out, you only have to update 1 driver as opposed to 2 different drivers.
• We primarily use the OS to monitor video settings (resolution, orientation, etc.) rather than the software supplied with the video cards. Much easier to deal with, especially for end users.
• Add-in cards will give you much better performance than trying to use the onboard cards. Accountants often use software that uses up a lot of resources and do a LOT of multitasking. It's better not to soak up system memory for video.
• If you need to expand the current boxes so that they support a 3rd monitor, an option is some kind of Displaylink USB to DVI (or Displayport) adapter. Though I know this kind of contradicts what I said about mixing video cards/drivers, this has worked on several of our computers (especially laptops) to give them an extra monitor. Here's one with which we've had success: https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Gra...1487339395&sr=1-3&keywords=dvi+to+usb+adapter.
• You could also explore displayport daisy chaining, depending on what monitors you are using. We've done some of that.

If you have any questions or want to discuss ideas further, please feel free to PM me.

 

[Doc+Com]

Unfortunately I am not experienced in this particular scenario but based on past experiences with display adapters and splitters I would strongly recommend you only buy 1 and have them test it for a while to confirm they aren't running into any issues with it before buying several.

Yep, I have to say those thoughts went through my mind when I committed to 4 displayport cards but being that their location is quite a trek from my shop, I wanted to get as much done in a day as I could and 'bit the bullet'. Live and learn!

 

[Doc+Com]

What's up Doc,

I work at a mid-sized (150 users) accounting firm as my day job, and most of our tax staff have 4 monitors, and a few even have 5. Our standard issue desktops have 2 dual (read - matching) video cards which can support 4 monitors, either with DVI cables or Displayport. I can share a few lessons learned over the past few years:

• Whenever possible, don't mix and match add-in video cards (e.g. one AMD & one NVidia), as the drivers often seem to have conflicts with one another. It's been much easier to have matching video cards (e.g. AMD Radeon R5 240) which use the same driver. That way, when an update for that video driver comes out, you only have to update 1 driver as opposed to 2 different drivers.
• We primarily use the OS to monitor video settings (resolution, orientation, etc.) rather than the software supplied with the video cards. Much easier to deal with, especially for end users.
• Add-in cards will give you much better performance than trying to use the onboard cards. Accountants often use software that uses up a lot of resources and do a LOT of multitasking. It's better not to soak up system memory for video.
• If you need to expand the current boxes so that they support a 3rd monitor, an option is some kind of Displaylink USB to DVI (or Displayport) adapter. Though I know this kind of contradicts what I said about mixing video cards/drivers, this has worked on several of our computers (especially laptops) to give them an extra monitor. Here's one with which we've had success: https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Gra...1487339395&sr=1-3&keywords=dvi+to+usb+adapter.
• You could also explore displayport daisy chaining, depending on what monitors you are using. We've done some of that.

If you have any questions or want to discuss ideas further, please feel free to PM me.

Thanks very much for your input Chris. I have a 'Plugable' adaptor here that I've had for a year or so that I'll try next and I'm probably going to buy the adaptor I mentioned in my OP as a possible simpler fix. Daisy chaining isn't an option on the P2317H's so SOL on that idea.

I'll update again when I've tried these 2 adaptors.
Thanks

 

[ccritchie]

Thanks very much for your input Chris. I have a 'Plugable' adaptor here that I've had for a year or so that I'll try next and I'm probably going to buy the adaptor I mentioned in my OP as a possible simpler fix. Daisy chaining isn't an option on the P2317H's so SOL on that idea.

I'll update again when I've tried these 2 adaptors.
Thanks

Great! Just be sure to download & install the latest DisplayLink driver from their website. I've had issues with older drivers, especially on Windows 10 systems.

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

It sounds like it would be best to just purchase dual DisplayPort PCI cards and turn off the integrated ports

 

[Doc+Com]

It sounds like it would be best to just purchase dual DisplayPort PCI cards and turn off the integrated ports

Hi Roadie, I actually did this (as explained in my OP) which is what led me to start this thread. Adding a DP graphics card switches control to the card and turns off the DP ports on the MB. I looked for cards with 3 DP output but the ones I saw where as expensive as the monitors.

 

[mikeroq]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2F848R7803

 

[fencepost]

I'll note that those monitors do also support an HDMI input

 

[sapphirescales]

For my clients like this, I custom build systems with dedicated graphics cards that support multiple DisplayPort connections (and of course, decent power supplies to handle the load). I would never attempt this with standard Optiplex desktops. Don't get me wrong. Dells business grade computers are great quality and all, but they're not really performance systems. They're great for the average office worker, but if the client needs more power (in this case needing a computer that can support multiple DispayPort outputs), then a custom build is frequently the best option (and sometimes it's the ONLY option).

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

Hi Roadie, I actually did this (as explained in my OP) which is what led me to start this thread. Adding a DP graphics card switches control to the card and turns off the DP ports on the MB. I looked for cards with 3 DP output but the ones I saw where as expensive as the monitors.

The monitors you specified cost around $200 or less. Do you really think that paying around $200 for a card with 3-DisplayPort 1.4 outputs is too much? I found six cards that are under $200 each at Newegg.com and they all have 3 - DisplayPort outputs

 

[sapphirescales]

The monitors you specified cost around $200 or less. Do you really think that paying around $200 for a card with 3-DisplayPort 1.4 outputs is too much? I found six cards that are under $200 each at Newegg.com and they all have 3 - DisplayPort outputs

Yup. You've gotta pay to play. You should also upgrade the power supplies to at least a CX750M. That'll run an additional $100 even if you install it for free. If you didn't prepare your client for the real costs, then you should have. You can either string together something, do shoddy work, then get a terrible review/reputation, or you can do the job PROPERLY and charge accordingly.

If I had the job, they'd be paying $500/computer to upgrade them so they could handle the displays, plus the cost of the displays themselves, a trip charge, and labor. If you didn't prepare them for that then yes, there's going to be some sticker shock. Which is why you have to quote accurately. I can tell you this - if you have to raise your quote, you're pretty much guaranteed to lose the job. It's best to over quote, then lower it if you find that you've over budgeted.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

You should also upgrade the power supplies to at least a CX750M.

good god what kind of psu do you think he has in there? something involving a gerbil and an exercise wheel?

(im picking on the CX750M because so many failed reviews and issues with those PSUs)

Edit: ahh they made a CX750M v2 that seems more acceptable.

 

[sapphirescales]

good god what kind of psu do you think he has in there? something involving a gerbil and an exercise wheel?

(im picking on the CX750M because so many failed reviews and issues with those PSUs)

Edit: ahh they made a CX750M v2 that seems more acceptable.

I'm not saying they're the best PSU out there, but they're as good as you're going to get for under $100. Note that I said at LEAST a CX750M. An RM or HX series would be better, but they're a lot more costly. Either that or something from Seasonic, but again, that's a lot more costly. The best option would be a Seasonic SSR-650TD, but it's only 650 watts and $160. Not exactly budget friendly and quite a bit overkill for just adding a decent graphics card to a Dell Optiplex. There are some people that think even a CX750M is overkill, but you really need to spend at least $100 to get a decent power supply, and I would NEVER buy a power supply for my personal use for less than $150. I put a AX860i even in my mothers computer. You really don't want to cheap out on a power supply, even for a basic system.

 

[4ycr]

Are the new cards display port 1.2 or newer? If so you can daisy chain them. I have just had a request in for a client to run 3 monitors from a laptop and this is on of the options.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I'm not saying they're the best PSU out there, but they're as good as you're going to get for under $100. Note that I said at LEAST a CX750M. An RM or HX series would be better, but they're a lot more costly. Either that or something from Seasonic, but again, that's a lot more costly. The best option would be a Seasonic SSR-650TD, but it's only 650 watts and $160. Not exactly budget friendly and quite a bit overkill for just adding a decent graphics card to a Dell Optiplex. There are some people that think even a CX750M is overkill, but you really need to spend at least $100 to get a decent power supply, and I would NEVER buy a power supply for my personal use for less than $150. I put a AX860i even in my mothers computer. You really don't want to cheap out on a power supply, even for a basic system.

The hydro-g series from FSP is very very nice 79.99 for 650w 99.99 for 750w

 

[sapphirescales]

The hydro-g series from FSP is very very nice 79.99 for 650w 99.99 for 750w

For a supposedly high quality product, a 2 year warranty is pitiful. When I think about high quality PSU's, FSP is not a name that comes to mind. Warranty length is a good way to judge how much faith a manufacturer places on their product. I'd take a 5 year warranty Corsair over a 2 year warranty FSP any day of the week. Seasonic has similar 5 year warranties on their comparable PSU's all the way up to 10 years and an 80 plus titanium rating for a slight premium. And seeing as the Corsair and the FSP are pretty much the same price, brand recognition and a longer warranty is what sets Corsair apart. And they're a bigger company and more likely to be around in a few years to honor their warranty if things turn sour. Warranty means jack squat if the company goes bankrupt.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

For a supposedly high quality product, a 2 year warranty is pitiful. When I think about high quality PSU's, FSP is not a name that comes to mind. Warranty length is a good way to judge how much faith a manufacturer places on their product. I'd take a 5 year warranty Corsair over a 2 year warranty FSP any day of the week. Seasonic has similar 5 year warranties on their comparable PSU's all the way up to 10 years and an 80 plus titanium rating for a slight premium. And seeing as the Corsair and the FSP are pretty much the same price, brand recognition and a longer warranty is what sets Corsair apart. And they're a bigger company and more likely to be around in a few years to honor their warranty if things turn sour. Warranty means jack squat if the company goes bankrupt.

Its a 5 year warranty and corsair has been going down hill, didn't someone recently here post about a corsair PSU where it actually allowed a PCI-E module to fit into one of the other modular plugs causing system damage? You mentioned the RM series but the RM750 was given a fail rating by hardocp just like the CX750. Seasonic PSUs are very nice but the hydro-g are the better deal.

 

[sapphirescales]

Its a 5 year warranty and corsair has been going down hill, didn't someone recently here post about a corsair PSU where it actually allowed a PCI-E module to fit into one of the other modular plugs causing system damage? You mentioned the RM series but the RM750 was given a fail rating by hardocp just like the CX750. Seasonic PSUs are very nice but the hydro-g are the better deal.

I've never personally seen that with a Corsair power supply. The PCI-E connections have an 8 pin going to the PSU and the peripheral and SATA connections have an 6 pin going to the PSU. The only way you could mess it up is by using an incompatible cable from another company.

I don't generally use any of the RM series PSU's. They just don't make sense price wise. I either go with the CX series or the AXi series, or if I want something in between I go with a Seasonic. EVGA is hit or miss, but I trust Corsair over EVGA. I trust Seasonic more than Corsair. My personal machines all have AX1500i's in them, but I've installed a lot of high end Seasonic's too and they're very nice power supplies.

But honestly, like I said before anything under $150 I would never personally use. I really want to hit the $200 mark if I can for my personal systems. The power supply is one thing which you do NOT want to cheap out on. I usually keep my power supplies for 10+ years so it's worth the investment.

Generally a PSU should make up at LEAST 20% of your budget. So even a $500 system should have a $100 PSU. Though generally I'd rather have 4GB of RAM and a small SSD and a $200 PSU and upgrade those components later.