Hey guys, I have a problem here.

I recently purchased a computer that came with these 2 video cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102837
"Sapphire Radeon 4850 1GB"

The outputs on the back are 1x DVI, 1x HDMI and 1x VGA.

I know if I had gotten one with 2x dual link dvi I could just plug in both 30 inch monitors into 1 video card and get 2560x1600 resolution no problem.

My current monitor setup is 2x 30" monitors (which I run at max resolution) and 1x 20" monitor in portrait mode which I run at 1680x1050 resolution.

From what I understand I can't change the vga port to a dual link dvi one via an extra cable? Correct?

Would I be able to buy a cable that changes the HDMI port to a dual link dvi, or a single link dvi output so that I could plug the 20" monitor into it? Then plug the second 30" monitor into the dual link dvi output on my second video card?

Would this work?

From what I've read so far, they dont really make HDMI to Dual Link DVI cable, so this means that with these 2 video cards theres no way I would be able to run 3 or more 30" monitors at max resolution?

HDMI = DVI with audio. You can convert from dual link DVI to HDMI, the quality is the same. You can run both 30"s off of 1 HD 4850 card, sell the second card, and buy a cheap PCI card for the 3rd monitor. Get some $ back and less heat and noise

o wow seriously?
so I could just connect the second 30 inch monitor on the first using a HDMI cable? I never knew I was able to use both the DVI and the HDMI outputs simultanesously.

if this is the case, would I also be able to use the vga output, and use three monitors off 1 video card at the same time?

dang, I just checked my 30" monitor (its a samsung 305T) and realized it doesn't have a HDMI connection port at the back, only a dual link dvi one.

Is it possible to get a cable that converts a dual link dvi connection to HDMI? I've been lookin around, but haven't seen any vendors selling one?

edit: woops just realized u had answered my question in ur post, my bad.. i think i've found an adapter now that could save my problems. =)

So I guess this is what I would have to get? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812186019

its an HDMI -> DVI-D (24+1pin) adapter.

Can someone out there with a Radeon 4850 or something similar confirm that using this adapter via the HDMI output will work with my 30" monitor and have it be able to run at 2560x1600 resolution, simultaneously alongside using the dual link dvi output that is already on the video card?

I can confirm that that adapter will 100% not work. HDMI => dual-link DVI DOES NOT WORK! Sorry, but Isura is incorrect. I've posted this at least a dozen times now.

So you have two 4850s? The only way to use two 30s with that setup is to plug each 30 into the respective dual-link DVI slot.

thanks for the reply funky.. damn this really sucks..

So I guess I would have to plug the first 30" into the first dual dvi slot, then connect my 20" monitor to the vga port on the same video card?, then the second 30" monitor on the dual link dvi port on the second video card. Will I be able to use both the dual link dvi + the vga outputs like that at the same time on one card, or will there be conflicts?

VGA is capable of running 1680x1050 resolution right?

What about HDMI -> Single Link DVI? Will that work?

If thats the case, could I just use this cable?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812270115

The end of that would go into my 20inch monitor, can anyone confirm if this would work?

Hey Funky,

I had another question, will it work with a 30 inch monitor but just won't be able to display 2560x1600 resolution?

or does it just flat out not work at all, as in it won't recognize ur monitor?

Is there a difference? A 30" at anything but 2560x1600 is an abomination.

To answer your question yes it will work but at a max resolution of 1920x1200. Most likely it will be 1280x800. Either of those resolution will look terrible on a 30".