Eyefinity Technology & SAPPHIRE Eyefinity Adapter Newsletter

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	EYEFINITY TECHNOLOGY & NEW SAPPHIRE EYEFINITY ADAPTER
Active DisplayPort adapter enables use of third DVI monitor
A feature of the latest SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series of graphics cards is the new ATI Eyefinity mode, which enables games and other applications to be run on three screens treated as one continuous display area. Now with the SAPPHIRE Eyefinity adapter, standard DVI monitors can be used for all three screens. In addition to spectacular image clarity, speed and visual effects, the SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series supports the new multi-monitor mode known as ATI Eyefinity. This allows a single GPU to display a choice of images over an array of several monitors. The cards in this series support up to three monitors, with a resolution of up to 7680 x 1600. This opens up exciting possibilities not just for multi-screen gaming, but also for information systems, multimedia systems and promotional displays. However, with this family of cards, although two of the screens can be connected directly to the DVI or HDMI outputs on the card, the third display has to be driven from the DisplayPort output. Some users have expressed concern about the cost or availability of DisplayPort compatible monitors, or a wish to match existing monitor styles. Now SAPPHIRE has introduced an active powered DisplayPort to DVI converter, which allows any standard DVI monitor to be used as the third screen and enabled in Eyefinity mode. This allows users to update their existing multi-monitor setup to use Eyefinity, or to add a lower cost DVI monitor to complete their Eyefinity system. The SAPPHIRE converter is simply plugged into the DisplayPort output of the graphics card, together with a standard USB connection to provide power. A standard DVI monitor cable can then be connected to the female DVI connector on the unit.
WHY DO YOU NEED AN ‘ACTIVE’ ADAPTER FOR EYEFINITY ON 3 x DVI MONITORS? Why SAPPHIRE’s Active DisplayPort adapter works and other passive adapters don’t
It’s important to remember that it’s not just the form factor (physical shape) of the DisplayPort (DP) and DVI connectors that are different, the electrical display signal is very different as well. The cheaper ‘passive’ adapters contain nothing but connectors and cables. They do not change the electrical format of the signal in any way, merely changing the physical form factor of the connecters from a display port shape to a DVI shape. These adapters are fine if the board is outputting a DVI signal from the DP connector. This is possible but the current GPU architecture can only generate 2 separate DVI compliant signals. In the case of Eyefinity across three monitors, all of the possible DVI signals are used up on the other two DVI or HDMI (HDMI video signals are the same as DVI signals) outputs so the board can only output a DP signal from the DP connector. Passing this signal to a DVI monitor (by using a cheap, passive adapter) will not work as the DVI monitor will not be able to interpret and decode the DP signal to create a picture. This is where our more expensive ‘active’ adapter comes in! The active adapter contains a microchip and various transmitters and receivers which is why it is more expensive and also why it requires a power supply (to drive the microchip, via a flying USB lead in our case). The active adapter receives the DP signal from the GPU, decodes it, then re-encodes it as a fully compliant DVI signal and sends it on it’s way out of the DVI connector to the monitor. In this case the DVI monitor is receiving a DVI signal and can decode and create the picture on the monitor. As an analogy, imagine our active adapter as a language translator and an Englishman and an Italian trying to talk to each other in their native tongues. If they had a cable that had an Italian phone connector on one end and an English connector on the other end (like a cheap passive adapter, just changing the form factor of the connectors), when they plugged the cable in at both ends they would be physically connected together but when the Italian spoke in one end of the phone the Englishman would hear Italian language at the other end. Yes, he could hear the words but he wouldn’t understand. Now replace the cable with an active adapter (one that contained a language translator so it would be more expensive). Now when the Italian spoke, the language translator would hear the Italian, understand what it meant, and then speak in English to the Englishman. In this scenario the Englishman would hear the English version of what was originally being said in Italian and therefore would be able to understand.
Eyefinity set up video by Bill Donnelly posted on YouTube:

If revealing video here is in trouble click HERE
Expand ATI Eyefinity technology maximizes your field of view across up to three displays, fully engaging your peripheral vision and putting you right IN the game. Help increase productivity by maximizing your visual workspace so you can see more Windows simultaneouslyThe perfect solution for your home or office, ATI Eyefinity technology makes multi-tasking a snap by eliminating the need to flip between windows. Surf the internet, do email, edit photos or videos, track your stocks and much more all at the same time. ATI Eyefinity technology is ideal for multimedia applications; it allows you to keep several ‘palettes’ or ‘panels’ open while you edit images or videos.

If you can't visualize the newsletter click here

EYEFINITY TECHNOLOGY

NEW SAPPHIRE

EYEFINITY ADAPTER

Active DisplayPort adapter enables use of third DVI monitor

A feature of the latest SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series of graphics cards is the new ATI Eyefinity mode, which enables games and other applications to be run on three screens treated as one continuous display area. Now with the SAPPHIRE Eyefinity adapter, standard DVI monitors can be used for all three screens. In addition to spectacular image clarity, speed and visual effects, the SAPPHIRE HD 5000 series supports the new multi-monitor mode known as ATI Eyefinity. This allows a single GPU to display a choice of images over an array of several monitors. The cards in this series support up to three monitors, with a resolution of up to 7680 x 1600. This opens up exciting possibilities not just for multi-screen gaming, but also for information systems, multimedia systems and promotional displays. However, with this family of cards, although two of the screens can be connected directly to the DVI or HDMI outputs on the card, the third display has to be driven from the DisplayPort output. Some users have expressed concern about the cost or availability of DisplayPort compatible monitors, or a wish to match existing monitor styles. Now SAPPHIRE has introduced an active powered DisplayPort to DVI converter, which allows any standard DVI monitor to be used as the third screen and enabled in Eyefinity mode. This allows users to update their existing multi-monitor setup to use Eyefinity, or to add a lower cost DVI monitor to complete their Eyefinity system. The SAPPHIRE converter is simply plugged into the DisplayPort output of the graphics card, together with a standard USB connection to provide power. A standard DVI monitor cable can then be connected to the female DVI connector on the unit.

WHY DO YOU NEED AN ‘ACTIVE’ ADAPTER FOR EYEFINITY ON 3 x DVI MONITORS?
Why SAPPHIRE’s Active DisplayPort adapter works and other passive adapters don’t

It’s important to remember that it’s not just the form factor (physical shape) of the DisplayPort (DP) and DVI connectors that are different, the electrical display signal is very different as well.

The cheaper ‘passive’ adapters contain nothing but connectors and cables. They do not change the electrical format of the signal in any way, merely changing the physical form factor of the connecters from a display port shape to a DVI shape. These adapters are fine if the board is outputting a DVI signal from the DP connector. This is possible but the current GPU architecture can only generate 2 separate DVI compliant signals. In the case of Eyefinity across three monitors, all of the possible DVI signals are used up on the other two DVI or HDMI (HDMI video signals are the same as DVI signals) outputs so the board can only output a DP signal from the DP connector. Passing this signal to a DVI monitor (by using a cheap, passive adapter) will not work as the DVI monitor will not be able to interpret and decode the DP signal to create a picture.

This is where our more expensive ‘active’ adapter comes in! The active adapter contains a microchip and various transmitters and receivers which is why it is more expensive and also why it requires a power supply (to drive the microchip, via a flying USB lead in our case). The active adapter receives the DP signal from the GPU, decodes it, then re-encodes it as a fully compliant DVI signal and sends it on it’s way out of the DVI connector to the monitor. In this case the DVI monitor is receiving a DVI signal and can decode and create the picture on the monitor.

As an analogy, imagine our active adapter as a language translator and an Englishman and an Italian trying to talk to each other in their native tongues.

If they had a cable that had an Italian phone connector on one end and an English connector on the other end (like a cheap passive adapter, just changing the form factor of the connectors), when they plugged the cable in at both ends they would be physically connected together but when the Italian spoke in one end of the phone the Englishman would hear Italian language at the other end. Yes, he could hear the words but he wouldn’t understand.

Now replace the cable with an active adapter (one that contained a language translator so it would be more expensive). Now when the Italian spoke, the language translator would hear the Italian, understand what it meant, and then speak in English to the Englishman. In this scenario the Englishman would hear the English version of what was originally being said in Italian and therefore would be able to understand.

Eyefinity set up video by Bill Donnelly posted on YouTube:

If revealing video here is in trouble click HERE

Expand
ATI Eyefinity technology maximizes your field of view across up to three displays, fully engaging your peripheral vision and putting you right IN the game.
Help increase productivity by maximizing your visual workspace so you can see more Windows simultaneouslyThe perfect solution for your home or office, ATI Eyefinity technology makes multi-tasking a snap by eliminating the need to flip between windows. Surf the internet, do email, edit photos or videos, track your stocks and much more all at the same time.
ATI Eyefinity technology is ideal for multimedia applications; it allows you to keep several ‘palettes’ or ‘panels’ open while you edit images or videos.