XPS 8940, need 4 HDMI ports

Question

I have in my XPS 8940: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700 @ 2.50GHz, 2501 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)

Also: Adapter Description Intel(R) UHD Graphics 750

There are only two video ports on this system, HDMI and one Display Port.

I DO NOT have a graphics card installed. So I looked around and found this:

ASUS NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 730

See: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/graphics-cards/asus/gt730-4h-sl-2gd5/

Can someone advise that since this graphics card that has a PCIe 1 connector on it, will work on my XPS 8940 PCEi x1 port?

I'm also considering going with a Display Port to 3-port HDMI like this one: DP to 3-port HDMI and I wondered if this would be a better solution?

redxps630 · Accepted Answer

DP to hdmi splitter vendor small print: The total bandwidth of 21.6Gbps (100%), when connected to a DisplayPort 1.2 port, is shared among all attached monitors. Make sure the total combined resolution bandwidth between all displays does NOT exceed 100% || 3840x2160 @30Hz (40%) || 2560x1600 @60hz (38%) || 2560x1440 @60hz (35%) || 1920x1200 @60hz (30%) || 1920x1080 @60hz (22%)

not sure if I understand the above correctly, but it seems to say it does not support three 3820x2160 @ 30 hz as that would take up 120% bandwidth, meaning it cannot support three 4k monitors. two 4k is doable.

The ASUS gt730 w 4xhdmi appears to be single slot width, as this pic shows it can be stacked. If that is correct, can you try install in the lowest PCIe x4 slot?

ispalten · Accepted Answer

You didn't have to disable in the BIOS. That disabled the HD Intel ports. You could leave it on, and want to just in case the video card you put in failed/did not work. Then you could move to the HD port easily. By the way, if you DISABLE the Nvidia card in Device Manager the port on it would still work I found out. Seems doing so shuts the Nvidia Port to the HD interface.

Also, are you aware of the problems many 8940 users are having with Nvidia cards (search the forum)? I'd be looking for an AMD ATI card before using an Nvidia one.

sam55todd · Accepted Answer

Fortunately I did not have to make any changes on either BIOS level or Windows-side.
(have similar generation Dell platform to yours, same CPU, W580 chipset, but I'm quite sure what Optiplex 7090 with Q570 chipset will be the same).
Just plugged Quadro T-1000 into the empty slot (already had 3 DP from iGPU) and that totaled up monitor outputs to 7 (3 from iGPU +4 from T1000).
Using 5 monitors 32'' (three of 4K on Quadro, and two of 2K - one on each GPU) at the moment as pictured below (although it shows 7 - but 7,6,5 is the same 2K monitor {intel vs Windows control panels numbers those differently} just going via different connections: DP->DP, DP->HDMI, DP->DVI some using older lower quality cables, that's why resolution is detected as lower than 2K), plugged various connections on 5th monitor only for testing purposes.
For work using 4 monitors at desk, 5th on a wall for movies.

Cards used are visible on areas marked in RED as A, D, F, G, K, I and L.
Monitors areas: B, C, E, H, J (Nvidia' control panel doesn't show Intel-GPU attached displays).

Some video editing applications (including web-cam recording with source selection, I've two 4K webcams) do allow me to select encoder between Intel/NVidia (and consequently GPU to allocate relevant workload to) while displaying results on any of monitors (so - different GPU).

P.S. It's been a while but probably there's default adapter selected in BIOS as Quadro and multi-monitor feature enabled.

Adventurer2022 · Accepted Answer

@ispalten wrote:

You didn't have to disable in the BIOS. That disabled the HD Intel ports. You could leave it on, and want to just in case the video card you put in failed/did not work. Then you could move to the HD port easily. By the way, if you DISABLE the Nvidia card in Device Manager the port on it would still work I found out. Seems doing so shuts the Nvidia Port to the HD interface.

Also, are you aware of the problems many 8940 users are having with Nvidia cards (search the forum)? I'd be looking for an AMD ATI card before using an Nvidia one.

ispalten: Thanks very much for your response here! I did not actually disable any BIOS settings for the motherboard graphics. I merely changed from "Auto" to "NVIDIA" in an attempt to get the 730 card working. Sorry if I confused the issue here...

As an aside, I thought all the graphics on the motherboard were automatically disabled when a video adapter card was installed, thus the reason I thought I'd try making changes to the BIOS. That did nothing to get the GT-730 card to work in the x16 PCIe port.

Also thanks for the tip on the NVIDIA boards. Considering the cost of these boards (around $300), I'm thinking going with the DP to 3-port HDMI (or DP) would be the cheapest way to go and I eliminate another heat generator inside the box if I were to install a graphics card. Again, my requirement is to power four VGA / RGB monitors at 1920 x 1080 / 60 Hz.

Adventurer2022 · Accepted Answer

@sam55todd wrote:

... (have similar generation Dell platform to yours, same CPU, W580 chipset, but I'm quite sure what Optiplex 7090 with Q570 chipset will be the same).Just plugged Quadro T-1000 into the empty slot (already had 3 DP from iGPU) and that totaled up monitor outputs to 7 (3 from iGPU +4 from T1000).

Sam55todd: Thanks so much for your reply here and a very good description of your multi-monitor configuration! The T1000 cost is about $300 that's a heck of a lot more than a $69 DP to HDMI (or DP to multi-DP) adapter, but I do appreciate knowing your setup. I have no clue if the Optiplex 7090 is that same as an XPS 8940. My XPS 8940 does not have 3 DP ports on the motherboard, it only has one DP and on HDMI port. This tells me our systems are very different. What do you mean by the term "iGPU"? Is that the motherboard internal graphics unit?

Adventurer2022 · Accepted Answer

@redxps630 wrote:

DP to hdmi splitter vendor small print: The total bandwidth of 21.6Gbps (100%), when connected to a DisplayPort 1.2 port, is shared among all attached monitors. Make sure the total combined resolution bandwidth between all displays does NOT exceed 100% || 3840x2160 @30Hz (40%) || 2560x1600 @60hz (38%) || 2560x1440 @60hz (35%) || 1920x1200 @60hz (30%) || 1920x1080 @60hz (22%)

not sure if I understand the above correctly, but it seems to say it does not support three 3820x2160 @ 30 hz as that would take up 120% bandwidth, meaning it cannot support three 4k monitors. two 4k is doable.

The ASUS gt730 w 4xhdmi appears to be single slot width, as this pic shows it can be stacked. If that is correct, can you try install in the lowest PCIe x4 slot?

redxps630: Thanks for your input here! I did not try the NVIDIA GT-730 card in the x4 slot as I didn't want to have to remove (break out) the factory expansion slot covers from the chassis only to find out the GT-370 wouldn't work in that port either, so I returned the NVIDIA card thinking I'd rather employ an external DP to 3-port HDMI (or DP) adapter because there would be less heat generated if I did not use an expansion slot type graphics card.

As far as the supported graphics is concerned, like you, I don't understand the fine print you've posted here but I do not have major requirements for very high end graphics like gamers might need for their video games. I use this system for doing database work so the requirement comes down to running four monitors which are all VGA / RGB monitors at 1920x1080. 60 Hz. I do realize I will need the appropriate HDMI (or DP) to VGA adapters. I can get the DP to 3-port HDMI (or DP) for $69 and the adaptors to go to VGA monitors for less than $90. Much cheaper than the $300 video card many have installed in these systems. I thought the $89 GT-730 would be a cost-effective solution, but I couldn't fi it in the x1 PCEi slot because Dell put the SSD M2 card port way too close to the x1 port.

sam55todd · Answer

Yes, this GPU does have x1 PCIe connector.
The top x1 PCIe slot you have on motherboard is going via chipset, not directly into CPU, therefore there will be adverse performance effect due to additional data transfer steps from CPU to PCH to GPU via DMI 3.0 channel (but with this card it won't be constrained because of low requirements).
You can also plug this card into Blue x16 PCIe slot for better results if it is compatible.

The integrated GPU (iGPU) UHD 750 coming with your 11th gen 11700 CPU is 50% to 100% (twice) better in accordance (and depending on) to benchmarks. But you can render (encode/decode) on one and display on another anyways as most professional applications do allow these settings.

The display port to x3 HDMI adapter suitability depends on your requirements, single DP version 1.4 on that CPU can feed two 4K monitors (with total for a port of up to 5120 x 3200 at 60Hz, which is close to 6K) via adapter, if you split it into 3 signals (multiscreen/extended) then resolution/frequency combination will be much lower than 4K. Your amazon link is preselected on DP v1.2 but there's v1.4 too for the same price (but with DP on another end, hence you'll need another set of adapters or cables for getting into HDMI).
You will also have to ensure what high-quality DP cable supporting 1.4 standard is used at least between XPS 8940 and adapter (to accommodate sufficient data bandwidth).

As a cheap option to have more outputs this might work but depending on a budget and graphics performance goals for better results it might be more advantageous to get a better card (e.g. NVidia 16xx , 20xx or 30xx generation, or Quadro Txxx/Axxx series).

On my Dell i7-11700 PC with multiple 4K monitors I'm using both: integrated GPU and the Quadro plugged into PCIe slot (with x4 display ports), so you probably don't necessarily have to get card with x4 ports but can get additional with less ports and use outputs from both cards to get your total to x4 at high resolutions.

I do agree with @redxps630 as these active DP convertors/adapters into 3 ports are too expensive relatively to just getting additional card (but is a good solution if you're out of PCIe slots or there's no space left inside PC even for a reasonable air exchange).

redxps630 · Answer

The ASUS gt730 will work. I do not recommend the DP to 3x hdmi adapter. It is less reliable and over costly.

NB: the ASUS gt730 w 4xhdmi is not a fast video card. It is PCIe gen2 x1, hdmi 1.4b good for multi monitor display only.
hdmi 1.4b: 4K support for 4096×2160 at 24 Hz

redxps630 · Answer

there is another 4xhdmi discrete video card option: Asus Gt710-Sl-2Gd5-Csm Graphics Card

ASUS GeForce GT 710 Fanless GDDR5 2GB Graphics Card, 4x HDMI The ASUS GeForce GT 710 is a passively-cooled single-slot graphics card that enables silent multi-monitor productivity.

Please note, this graphics card has a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 @60hz if just one monitor is connected. If you plan to use more than one monitor then the maximum resolution changes to 3840 x 2160 @30Hz for all connected monitors.

RoHe · Answer

If there video cards with 'acceptable' performance at reasonable price with 3 HDMI outputs, you could consider a USB3>HDMI dongle for 4th monitor...

Adventurer2022 · Answer

Sam55todd: Thanks for the find on the DP V1.4 to 3-port DP adapter. My monitors are all VGA so I will be using adapters from whatever I decide to use as a multi monitor graphics solution. However, I see you are using using both integrated GPU and the Quadro plugged into PCIe slot (with x4 display ports). I'm thinking that would be a better way to go but I thought adding a graphics adapter card disables the internal graphics. What is the specific model of the Quatro board you have? Also how did you configure BIOS to use both internal and expansion graphics card? My display requirement is 4 displays 1920x1080 60Hz

Adventurer2022 · Answer

Thanks, unfortunately I can't use a card in the PCIe X1 slot due to the heat sync on the SSD card getting in the way.

Adventurer2022 · Answer

Unfortunately, when I attempted to install this  ASUS GT-730 card in the PCIe X1 slot, it would not fit because the heat sink I installed on the 4TB SSD M.2 2230/2280 slot encroached into the area where the X1 port resides on the motherboard and the GT-730 card would not clear the SSD heat sink. I then tried to install GT-370 in the PCEIe x16, slot but that didn't work - only one HDMI port worked for some reason. I did attempt to change the BIOS from automatic to NVIDA for the graphics but that didn't help. Installing this card also eliminated the motherboard graphics (disabled the Display Port (DP) as well as the HDMI on the motherboard).

Adventurer2022 · Answer

Thanks Ron, I'll consider this as well!

Adventurer2022 · Answer

@redxps630 wrote:

The ASUS gt730 will work. I do not recommend the DP to 3x hdmi adapter. It is less reliable and over costly.

NB: the ASUS gt730 w 4xhdmi is not a fast video card. It is PCIe gen2 x1, hdmi 1.4b good for multi monitor display only.
hdmi 1.4b: 4K support for 4096×2160 at 24 Hz

The DP to 3-HDMI is $69. Not sure I understand how this would be "over costly" especially when comparing to a graphics card cost? Reliability would be a concern but I'd like to know why the DP to HDMI would not be reliable?

XPS Desktops

XPS 8940, need 4 HDMI ports

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