737-GPU-7: How to configure multiple monitors when using ATI CrossFireX technology

Support & Drivers

GPU-7: How to configure multiple monitors when using ATI CrossFireX technology		Back
Last Updated 5/27/2009

Article Number GPU-7

This article provides information on the different ATI CrossFireX™ technologies and the display modes available when configuring multiple monitors with ATI CrossFireX™ technology enabled. Table of Contents Click a topic below to go to the relevant section within this page: A. What is ATI CrossFireX™ and ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ B. How to Configure Multiple Monitors C. Available Display Configurations When Using Multiple Monitors D. Applicable Products A. What is ATI CrossFireX™ and ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ ATI CrossFireX™ technology enables two or more discrete ATI Radeon™ graphics processors to work together to improve system performance. Requirements for ATI CrossFireX™ systems: ATI CrossFireX™ Ready Certified Motherboard 2 or more ATI Radeon™ and ATI CrossFireX™ Ready Certified Graphics Cards ATI CrossFireX™ Certified Memory Certified ATI CrossFireX™ Power Supply is recommended ATI CrossFireX™ Bridge Interconnect For an up to date list of ATI CrossFireX™ Certified Configurations, Certified Components and Compatibility Chart, please visit: Certified Configurations Certified Components Compatibility Chart ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ enhances the user experience by combining an AMD 780G Chipset with integrated graphics and a discrete ATI Radeon™ HD 2400 or 3400 series cards to bring enhanced system performance to budget PC’s. Requirements for Hybrid ATI CrossFireX™ system: Motherboard based on the AMD 780G Chipset ATI Radeon™ HD 2400 or 3400 series of products Windows Vista® Return to Table of Contents B. How to Configure Multiple Monitors Use the Displays Manager of the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center to enable multiple displays. The Displays Manager is available in both Standard and Advanced views of the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center. A secondary display device can be a flat panel LCD display, CRT monitor, projector, HDTV, TV, etc. Click on the Display Manager in Advance View. Click on the number "2" display icon in the right-hand box. Click "Yes" to the Enable this display dialog. Repeat steps 2 and 3 above for each additional connected device. The number on the display icon will increase as more displays are added. Multiple Monitors with ATI CrossFireX™ Configuration When ATI CrossFireX™ is active other display devices other than the primary and secondary monitor connected to the Digital Video Interface (DVI) or Video Graphics Array (VGA) are rendered inactive. It is possible to drive multiple monitors using the ATI CrossFireX™ configuration when ATI CrossFireX™ is not enabled through the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center software. Depending on the ATI CrossFireX™ configuration and ATI Radeon™ graphics cards used, it can support up to 8 independent displays and up to 4 independent displays for Hybrid ATI CrossfireX™ systems. Multiple Monitors Configuration Examples: Up to 4 monitors can be connected with Hybrid CrossFireX™ configuration (ATI Radeon™ graphics card and a motherboard with an AMD 780G Chipset with integrated graphics processor). 4 monitors can be connected with 2 ATI Radeon™ graphics cards, each card having 2 output ports or 1 ATI Radeon™ graphics card with 4 output ports. 8 monitors can be connected with 4 ATI Radeon™ graphics cards, each card having 2 output ports or 2 ATI Radeon™ graphics cards with 4 output ports. Return to Table of Contents C. Available Display Configurations When Using Multiple Monitors Extended Mode – Each monitor can be used with separate settings (resolution, refresh rates, color quality). The desktop is extended across the monitors (except for the task bar). Stretched Mode (Horizontal) – The Windows desktop is horizontally stretched between the monitors. It is treated as one larger desktop and as such the resolution can be thought of as the horizontal sum of the individual monitors. Example: Monitor 1 is running at 1280x1024; Monitor 2 is running at 1280x1024 Note! stretch mode (Widescreen) - is not supported by the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center software Stretched Mode (Vertical) – The Windows desktop is vertically stretched between the monitors. It is treated as one larger desktop and as such the resolution can be thought of as the vertical sum of the individual monitors. Example: Monitor 1 is running at 1024x1280; Monitor 2 is running at 1024x1280 Note! Horizontal & Vertical Stretched mode is not available in the Catalyst™ Control Center when using Windows Vista®. For more information, refer to Knowledge Base article 737-26771: ATI Radeon™ Series: Stretched Desktop or Spanning Mode Not Available in the ATI Catalyst™ Control Center under Windows Vista® Clone Mode – This mode simply shows the same image on both displays. Both monitors will run at the same resolution and refresh rate. Note! Cloning the primary display to more than 2 monitors is not supported by the Catalyst™ Control Center. Return to Table of Contents D. Applicable Products: Hardware ATI Radeon™ HD 4000 series of products ATI Radeon™ HD 3000 series of products ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series of products Software Windows Vista® 32-bit Edition Windows Vista® 64-bit Edition


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