x6 46" LED t.vs for lrg computer monitor..Eyefinity? would appreciate help

[networx]

After I get the right active miniDP to DVI-D adapter will this work for the other adapter? I appreciate the link you gave me for it, but I have to order another HDMI cable, so......Monoprice can't be beat on the cable prices and they are right up there in quality with Monster

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041902&p_id=...seq=1&format=2

[usually_quiet]

I did not know it will not work with 3 monitors. Maybe that's why ATI control panel picked up the 3rd ati monitor but the display stayed black. This is what I had going....at first x3 were external and x2 were the miniDP to HDMI, so I connected the miniDP to DVI (the type that came from ATI) and the ATI control panel picked up the 3rd miniDP monitor but the display stayed blacked out but I believe the t.v was receiving the signal ( it no longer said no signal) so that set-u did not work so I disconnected and added the 3rd external. Btw, the HDMI cables are 24 guage, thta should help with the 50' run, right? Ya know, I might just install another USB PCIe card and add the freaking externals. They will let me stretch windows across all screens like eyefinity and far less hassle. I'm starting to see why the quotes I got for this job were 30k. It's a pain in my arse.

Here is a pic from tonight.
[Attachment 8722 - Click to enlarge]

One of the user reviews I saw said a three monitor configuration did not work with this card, going back to that page again I see one from a different customer that says the card is being used in a tri-monitor configuration and it works fine. I forgot about the conflicting report. I guess I'm wrong. Three monitors can work with the Firepro 2460, at least for some people.

ATI only claims the Firepro 2460 is able run four monitors using four of the MiniDP to singlelink DVI adapters provided with it, or using 4 display ports. Perhaps installing the MiniDP to HDMI adapters prevents the Firepro 2460 from using the MiniDP to singlelink DVI adapters provided with the card on the remaining MiniDP ports.

Symmetry seems to be important with this card. The Firepro 2460's Datasheet http://www.amd.com/us/Documents/ATI_FireMV_2460_datasheet-LoRez_48119-D.pdf says this:

Important: When using Mini DisplayPort-to-singlelink DVI adapters, quad output is divided into two pairs (displays 1 and 2, and displays 3 and 4). The displays used in each pair must be identical (with the same manufacturer and model number) and must be identically configured (with the same resolution). The pairs do not have to be identical to each other, however.

Thicker gauge wire is better for longer cable runs (lower impedance). If 24AWG cables are working, then 24AWG cables are likely good enough. However 22AWG wire is thicker than 24AWG wire, which is why Monoprice suggests it for HDMI cables longer than 15 feet.

[usually_quiet]

After I get the right active miniDP to DVI-D adapter will this work for the other adapter? I appreciate the link you gave me for it, but I have to order another HDMI cable, so......Monoprice can't be beat on the cable prices and they are right up there in quality with Monster

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041902&p_id=...seq=1&format=2

I think ATI is the best source of information about whether the miniDP to DVI active adapters will help.

The small DVI to HDMI adapter was only provided as an example, and to illustrate that the price charged for them can be reasonable. It doesn't matter where you buy them as long as you are satisfied with the quality of the product.

[networx]

This is the DVI adapter that ATI sent me. Will these work with the single link DVI to HDMI adapters you were talking about? I'm getting ready to place the order so I hope so.

[usually_quiet]

This is the DVI adapter that ATI sent me. Will these work with the single link DVI to HDMI adapters you were talking about? I'm getting ready to place the order so I hope so.

The single link DVI to HDMI adapters should work fine, unless they are defective.

The FirePro 2460's data sheet says: "Important: When using Mini DisplayPort-to-singlelink DVI adapters, quad output is divided into two pairs (displays 1 and 2, and displays 3 and 4)..." So it seems certain ATI sent miniDP to DVI-D single link adapters. In spite of having all the pinholes needed for connecting a DVI-D dual-link cable, the only active pinholes will be the ones required for DVI-D single-link. The rest of the pinholes are only there so the miniDP to DVI-D single link adapters will work with the male end of the standard dual-link DVI cable that comes with many monitors.

[networx]

Yea, but what I'm saying is that the adapters ATI sent me are dual link DVI-D not single, so can you connect these miniDP to dual link DVI-D adapters (the ones ATI sent)to another adapter that is DVI-D single link > HDMI? I've been trying to find the answer on the net but cannot find a definitive answer.

Also, looking at your reply above. What I should do is take the passive miniDP to HDMI adapters out of the Firepro #3 & #4 output and put the miniDP to DVI-D adapters in #3 & #4 while leaving the miniDP to HDMI passive adapters in #1 & #2 rather than doing what I did yesterday ( miniDP to HDMI adapters in #1, #2 & #4 and had #3 with the adapters ATI sent) so baiscally I had x3 miniDP to HDMI adapters in x3 of them and x1 with the adpater ATI sent. Maybe this is why #3 monitor was detected in the ATI control panel but the t.v was black(obviously was receiving signal but no pic)

I'm def. going to hook you up somehow for all the help you have been giving. Def. been driving up your post count. Got super busy with work and school today so I missed the call to AMD.

[networx]

Neve rmind, re-read your reply. I see they will work and they just will not use the extra pins and they will be split in two pairs. All the t.v's are the same model and brand so that will be helpful.

[usually_quiet]

My advice is to try to get the FirePro 2460 working by itself using the miniDP to DVI adapters ATI provided with it. Connect the four MiniDP to DVI adapters to four DVI to HDMI adapters, then use four HDMI cables to complete the connections to the TVs. Do not use the miniDP to HDMI adapters or the USB video devices.

The DVI to HDMI adapters do not convert the signal. All they do is connect the pins on the DVI end that carry a signal to the correct pins on the HDMI end. The HDMI spec includes single-linked DVI for backwards compatiblility.

If you get all four connections from the FirePro 2460 working, then try adding two USB video devices one at a time to see if you can get all six monitors going.

Don't invest in miniDP to DVI active adapters until you are sure that the adapters that ATI sent can't do the job they are intended to do.

[networx]

Talked with AMD tech and didn't hear wanted I wanted to hear. He said never should have gone with the 2460. First of all, even with x2 2460's I can only eyefinity with x1 group of four and then another so it would be x2 desktops. Second, he said the adapters that were sent with the cards are passive single link. and that they would not work with the dvi to hdmi adapters or the cables. Man, I have been told so so many diffrent things by those guys, I have no clue anymore! I cannot believe this thing is this hard. I'm a network guy not an A/V guy but damn, this is just getting silly. I cannot believe there isn't anyone out there that has not done this type of thing with HDTV's. Everyone says that if it were displays then there wouldn't be a problem, but what is driving me crazy is that it is pretty damn easy to connect one and two hdtv's to one computer so why and hell is it so hard to connect a few more if you have the power supply??????

I'm ordering the adapters and the dvi to hdmi cables and I guess I'll just see. The AMD tech did say that there would be zero "noticeable" difference in using VGA cables as opposed to HDMI cables unless watching movies.

[usually_quiet]

Talked with AMD tech and didn't hear wanted I wanted to hear. He said never should have gone with the 2460. First of all, even with x2 2460's I can only eyefinity with x1 group of four and then another so it would be x2 desktops. Second, he said the adapters that were sent with the cards are passive single link. and that they would not work with the dvi to hdmi adapters or the cables. Man, I have been told so so many diffrent things by those guys, I have no clue anymore! I cannot believe this thing is this hard. I'm a network guy not an A/V guy but damn, this is just getting silly. I cannot believe there isn't anyone out there that has not done this type of thing with HDTV's. Everyone says that if it were displays then there wouldn't be a problem, but what is driving me crazy is that it is pretty damn easy to connect one and two hdtv's to one computer so why and hell is it so hard to connect a few more if you have the power supply??????

I'm ordering the adapters and the dvi to hdmi cables and I guess I'll just see. The AMD tech did say that there would be zero "noticeable" difference in using VGA cables as opposed to HDMI cables unless watching movies.

I suppose it is possible ATI tech support knows something I don't, but I still think you will be OK working with a single-link DVI signal, not HDMI. The difference is you will have an HDMI cable supplying a DVI signal to the TV, instead of a DVI cable.

I'm not sure why ATI tech support thinks this method of connecting a TV won't work. I know ATI and Nvidia both have cards capable of sending an true HDMI signal, including audio, out of a DVI port. These cards use proprietary DVI to HDMI adapters, which would not work as intended with the FirePro 2460 and its miniDP to single-link DVI adapters. Maybe the tech thought you were intending to use those proprietary DVI to HDMI adapters. ...or maybe he thought you were expecting audio or HDCP.

The Monoprice single-link DVI to HDMI adapters only provide a DVI video signal to the HDMI port on the TV. If the HDMI implimentation used by the TV adheres to the HDMI spec, the TV should be able to use a DVI signal sent over an HDMI connection without any problems.

There will be no audio because DVI doesn't carry audio, and probably no HDCP, since I saw no mention of HDCP in the FirePro 2460 spec. Audio will have to be provided via the PC's speaker jacks, or the S/PDIF port if it has one. HDCP would be needed for playing Blu-Ray discs on the PC, but since the FirePro 2460 can't handle Blu-Ray video playback either, and your boss isn't going to do that anyway, HDCP doesn't matter much.

I suspected (but did not know for certain) there would be two separate desktops using two FirePro 2460s, or one FirePro 2460 and the USB video adapters. That's one of the reasons why I suggested an Eyefinity card with six ports earlier. A unified desktop would be nice, but maybe two desktops is not a dealbreaker.

[networx]

Two desktops=two keyboards & two mice. Not interested in getting a kvm or yet another piece of equipment. It would be silly to get x2 desktops for this situation where the boss only wants to use it for URL stuff. Barely needs x1. I ordered the adapters and the cables so we'll see.

[usually_quiet]

Two desktops=two keyboards & two mice. Not interested in getting a kvm or yet another piece of equipment. It would be silly to get x2 desktops for this situation where the boss only wants to use it for URL stuff. Barely needs x1. I ordered the adapters and the cables so we'll see.

Are you certain ATI tech support meant two desktop PCs? I was thinking they meant desktop in the sense of the main screen in MS Windows that contains icons, windows, taskbars, background wallpaper, etc. You would only need a KVM for two PCs.

[networx]

I got all the material in today and came up here tonight to try it out and guess what....? Neither solution works!!!
Oh well, what's another 400.00, right? Anyone have a clue how to do this?

[usually_quiet]

I got all the material in today and came up here tonight to try it out and guess what....? Neither solution works!!!
Oh well, what's another 400.00, right? Anyone have a clue how to do this?

Too many possible options have been discussed in the course of this thread. Which solutions did you try tonight that failed to work?

[networx]

The DVI to hdmi adapters and the dvi to hdmi cables. Only x2 display come up the other x2 are receiveing signals but are black and have question marks in the ATI control panel

I got all the material in today and came up here tonight to try it out and guess what....? Neither solution works!!!
Oh well, what's another 400.00, right? Anyone have a clue how to do this?

Too many possible options have been discussed in the course of this thread. Which solutions did you try tonight that failed to work?

[usually_quiet]

The DVI to hdmi adapters and the dvi to hdmi cables. Only x2 display come up the other x2 are receiveing signals but are black and have question marks in the ATI control panel

I got all the material in today and came up here tonight to try it out and guess what....? Neither solution works!!!
Oh well, what's another 400.00, right? Anyone have a clue how to do this?

Too many possible options have been discussed in the course of this thread. Which solutions did you try tonight that failed to work?

That is very surprising.

Is there any way you could borrow 4 identical computer monitors with DVI inputs and use DVI cables to connect the monitors to the FirePro 2460 and the four miniDP to DVI adapters that came with it? That is the way the FirePro 2460 and its adapters are supposed to be used.

If it doesn't work when configured exactly as it was intended to be used, then you will know that something is wrong beyond using TVs, HDMI cables, and the DVI to HDMI adapters. Possibly something went awry when the FirePro 2460's drivers were installed, or when Catalyst/AMD Vision Engine Control Center was installed.

[networx]

re-installed drivers already. It's the same as using the x4 minidp to hdmi, only x2 working

This damn thing actually worked better with the external cards, and I had 400.00 more $$ in my pocket

[networx]

I think now that =I should have just got x6 vga cables and a couple of quad + vga cards
screw the slight video diff. not worth all the headache and late nights at the office.

[usually_quiet]

I think I have given you all the help I am capable of providing. If you get this working using VGA, then maybe you could post the equipment list. It might help someone else in the future. Good luck with your new approach.

[Edit] One last thought... Did you use the latest drivers package from AMD's website, let Windows 7 find them, or use the disk that came with the FirePro 2460? If you did not find the drivers at AMD's website, and Windows 7 64 bit is installed on the computer, here is a link for the latest 64-bit package: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/fire/fire-2d/Pages/fire2d_win7-64.aspx

[networx]

I do, but I don't have DVI cables cause we use vga at the office and I cannot go buy anything else just to test.. I need definitive solutions.

[networx]

Man, I know your trying to help and I greatly appreciaTE YOUR TIME. This thing is just about to break me. It just blows me away that this is this difficult. I just figured someone on a A/V forum would know how to accomplish this.

[usually_quiet]

I do, but I don't have DVI cables cause we use vga at the office and I cannot go buy anything else just to test.. I need definitive solutions.

Do you have 4 DVI to HDMI cables and 4 Monoprice HDMI to DVI adapters? Putting those together might work as a substitute for DVI cables. Make one of these Frankenstein DVI cables to try with one monitor to see if it works as a DVI cable. Sometimes adapters are unidirectional, and the substitute cable would not work in that case.

[networx]

Yea, I'll give that a try tomorrow when I go to the office. I'm also ordering x4 "active" "AMD approved" miniDP to DVI adapters. Ya know, if it can work with x2 of the adapters that came with the card , then what the hexx; is the deal with getting the other x2 to work?...lol...and why & the hexx, do you send x4 in the first $#@blankin#@ place? (they confirmed this would work)
AMD tech support is closed on weekends, so I'm calling them Mon. morning to jam them a new one for their bullshi! When I bought the t.v's I had no clue that the HDMI inputs were going to be useless and (until a solution is found) not work!
Again, I do appreciate your help and won't hold it against you to bail out of this pain in the a@@. lo

[usually_quiet]

Yea, I'll give that a try tomorrow when I go to the office. I'm also ordering x4 "active" "AMD approved" miniDP to DVI adapters. Ya know, if it can work with x2 of the adapters that came with the card , then what the hexx; is the deal with getting the other x2 to work?...lol...and why & the hexx, do you send x4 in the first $#@blankin#@ place? (they confirmed this would work)
AMD tech support is closed on weekends, so I'm calling them Mon. morning to jam them a new one for their bullshi! When I bought the t.v's I had no clue that the HDMI inputs were going to be useless and (until a solution is found) not work!
Again, I do appreciate your help and won't hold it against you to bail out of this pain in the a@@. lo

I feel the same about the four MiniDP to DVI adapters provided with the Firepro 2460. It should be possible to use all 4 at the same time and have all four of them work. Otherwise, why send four? Hopefully the active adapters will work.

I keep coming back to the hardware requirements for using this card and driver issues as possible reasons for why only two monitors work when using all four of the the included MiniDP to DVI adapters.

The Firepro 2460 requires 2 pairs of identical monitors to output video to four monitors, and all four TVs are identical. The EDID data for this should be available to the FirePro 2450 and should indicate the Toshiba TVs you are using are the same. New LCD TVs should supply EDID data using a DVI or HDMI connection via the DDC data pin, for identification and to provide whatever data the graphics card needs to know how to use them as displays.

I remember a recent thread where the OP had to install drivers 3 times for another ATI video card to get them working properly, so getting the correct drivers installed is sometimes not an easy task.