SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100351VXSR Radeon HD 7970 run three monitors? NOT at the same time

Yes.

The only thing you need to look at is the ability to run the 2 27" monitors at the same time, I'm assuming both at once. Since you won't run all 3 in tandem.

But why do you need this particular card if you aren't going to game? It seems like a heaping helping of overkill. For an HTPC, there's no reason to spend over $150 for a video card.


Feel free to send me those 3 free games you won't be using.



OK now that I look at the rest of your gear, what the heck do you do for work? Because that's a lot of PC going in there.
Edited by Yrd - 12/15/12 at 11:55pm

I assume that means CAD. I don't know anything about that software and how it might use the hardware on a gaming graphics card. But something like a quadro or firepro are the types of cards designed to run software like CAD. But every one of those cards I've seen in a picture has only a single DVI and multiple display port. If your monitors can use display port or you are willing to use display port to DVI, I think you would probably be better off with one of those. But then again, I also don't know how those pro cards handle every day stuff a HTPC would run. My best guess would say that it's not going to be a problem at all. All this to say, I'm probably not the best person to guide you in this endeavor.

AMD Firepro graphics cards Eyefinity is their term for the tech that drives multiple monitors.

What I do know, is for a HTPC, that's beyond overkill. It's like taking an Indy car into pit lane. You could build a HTPC for well under $1000.

I don't know what other restrictions you have, budget, space, energy. Your double duty requirements are wildly different, and you might be better served building a much cheaper system dedicated to HTPC duties. While pumping all that heavy hardware into a workstation.


HTPC only has to run 1080p video and possibly some visual GUI. Those things are not that demanding. You can get 1080p video on tiny tablets now. The hardware required to run it is pretty cheap. You can get a card capable of producing 1080p for under $100, even. I've never had a need for one so I'm not totally informed on the lower end of the video card lines.

I would recommend a graphics card with at least two DP (Displayport) your priority.

It might be helpful if you said what type of software/work you're doing. If you are doing specific CAD work, then GPU memory size won't matter nearly as much as the type of GPU. A 1GB professional series GPU like the Quadro/FirePro/FireStream line will run circles around the highest end consumer (gaming) card with 3GB. (GPU memory matters, but only if the underlying hardware/software can use it effectively). While they usually have identical hardware, the firmware and driver optimizations of the professional cards allows for significant gains with CAD/CAM visualization and precision while sacrificing gaming abilities. In addition to that, some advanced features of CAD/CAM software simply won't be useable without a professional card. Check with the software company to see which cards they recommend.

For the price you're willing to spend on the 7970, I would recommend you get a FirePro V5900 or the newer W5000. Both are Eyefinity capable and have two DP and one DVI. You can use adapters to connect all three displays however you like.

Depending upon the application, it's possible that NVIDIA has a superior card - different apps respond differently to the hardware you use.