Monitors Need help for a 8 screen [maybe more] setup

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deepakvrao

Galvanizer
Hi Guys,

For my flight sim planning the following

3 55" 4K TVs as main displays all connected to my GPU
1 22" for airport charts and maps etc
4 14" touchscreens for instrument panels

I want the 4 non main displays connected to integrated GPU so following questions

1. If I plug them into MB ports I presume they will not load the discrete GPU?
2. Which of these USB ports will support video out?

USB Ports.jpg


MB Back Plate.jpg


3. If I use this it shows a USB A port. Will a USB A port actually support 4 extended [not mirrored] displays?

USB to HDMI Splitter.jpg


 
>1. If I plug them into MB ports I presume they will not load the discrete GPU?

Not always. Depends on the motherboard. I have tried with B450s and Z490s both don't allow the iGPU to be used for displays if discrete GPU is connected.

>2. Which of these USB ports will support video out?
The sole USB port with the DP label below should allow video out via DisplayPort Alt Mode. Reconfirm from the manual of the motherboard.

>3. If I use this it shows a USB A port. Will a USB A port actually support 4 extended [not mirrored] displays?
Unlikely. USB A ports, IIRC, max out at 10 Gbps. That is woefully inadequate for 4 extended displays.
 
Last edited:
inapis said:
>1. If I plug them into MB ports I presume they will not load the discrete GPU?

Not always. Depends on the motherboard. I have tried with B450s and Z490s both don't allow the iGPU to be used for displays if discrete GPU is connected.

>2. Which of these USB ports will support video out?
The sole USB port with the DP label below should allow video out via DisplayPort Alt Mode. Reconfirm from the manual of the motherboard.

>3. If I use this it shows a USB A port. Will a USB A port actually support 4 extended [not mirrored] displays?
Unlikely. USB A ports, IIRC, max out at 10 Gbps. That is woefully inadequate for 4 extended displays.
Click to expand...
So,

1.How can I test which monitor is being run by which GPU?

2. If only the USB C supports the video, then the splitter has a USB A port. It must be for a reason right? USB A must be supporting video?
 
deepakvrao said:
1.How can I test which monitor is being run by which GPU?
Click to expand...
Not sure how to check this on Windows. I am only familiar with ways on mac and linux.

deepakvrao said:
2. If only the USB C supports the video, then the splitter has a USB A port. It must be for a reason right? USB A must be supporting video?
Click to expand...
Not exactly. USB C port has special modes (such as DisplayPort/HDMI Alt mode) where the port reconfigures itself as a displayport/hdmi port etc and not just a usb port. It can also be both. There are quite a bit of permutations and combinations which can happen on a USB C port. But it requires the same chip capabilities on the other side for the feature to work.

USB A does not have any such modes. It is effectively a data port (at least as seen in commercially available implementations). The startech dongle is using some sofware vodoo to deliver on its promise and as such it should work on the normal USB A ports as well. The USB C port having video capabilities has no bearance on the capabilities or usage of the startech dongle. Your best bet would be to read the startech specs page/manual to figure out how it works.
 
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inapis said:
Not sure how to check this on Windows. I am only familiar with ways on mac and linux.


Not exactly. USB C port has special modes (such as DisplayPort/HDMI Alt mode) where the port reconfigures itself as a displayport/hdmi port etc and not just a usb port. It can also be both. There are quite a bit of permutations and combinations which can happen on a USB C port. But it requires the same chip capabilities on the other side for the feature to work.

USB A does not have any such modes. It is effectively a data port (at least as seen in commercially available implementations). The startech dongle is using some sofware vodoo to deliver on its promise and as such it should work on the normal USB A ports as well. The USB C port having video capabilities has no bearance on the capabilities or usage of the startech dongle. Your best bet would be to read the startech specs page/manual to figure out how it works.
Click to expand...
There were two separate questions.

You said only the hdmi would give a video out. My first question was won't the usb c also do video out as it is labeled as dp port.

Second if usb a can't do video why does that splitter exist?

Sorry, I'm a dumb shit.
 
inapis said:
Not always. Depends on the motherboard. I have tried with B450s and Z490s both don't allow the iGPU to be used for displays if discrete GPU is connected.
Click to expand...
It should, once you have iGPU enabled in bios with the discrete GPU, the motherboard display ports should also be working.

I am surprised that it doesn't work on your end, or in particular new motherboards?
 
deepakvrao said:
There were two separate questions.

You said only the hdmi would give a video out. My first question was won't the usb c also do video out as it is labeled as dp port.
Click to expand...
Not sure where I said that but to clear up the confusion, the motherboard would output video over usb c port if you use a usb-c to displayport cable or a usb-c to display port dongle. Depending on the motherboard you might be forced to choose between hdmi/usb c video. Read the manual for correct info on how the motherboard behaves.

deepakvrao said:
Second if usb a can't do video why does that splitter exist?
Click to expand...
As I said, that splitter is doing software vodoo to allow that feature. Nothing to do with usb a port as such. Technologies like DisplayLink exist which are not dependent on hardware functionalities. Not sure if startech adapter is also using displaylink

Heisen said:
I am surprised that it doesn't work on your end, or in particular new motherboards?
Click to expand...
As I said, depends on the motherboard. Both B450 and Z490 are now 4-5 year old chipsets.
 
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