Graphics cards (GPUs) that support six (and more) outputs (2024)

I was recently delighted to receive my desktop back from Machshefon (מחשפון) — a computer repair shop near where I live in Jerusalem.

With the wind of the Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti Windforce OC, 4G in my sails, I can move beyond the primitive three monitor setup I have been slumming it with for years.

I’m planning on using my new single and dual-vertical VESA mounts from Amazon to set up a fourth and possibly fifth display.

But when it comes time to embark upon my next build, and I have lugged in a hex stand, this is going to be my next project!

As I mentioned in my guide to VESA monitor mounts which I posted here, six (or “hex”) monitor configurations are really towards the top end of what it’s “easy” to configure.

Trying to set up more screens than that (say eight) is almost past the boundaries of human ergonomics — and you need to start buying from specialist ergonomic suppliers to even get stands that support that many screens!

But let’s run through what you’d need to do to get a six / hex stand set up for your home office — whether you’re a day trader, a gamer, a multi-monitor obsessive like me, or just plain curious about what one could do with that many screens.

To get that going for yourself, you’ll need:

• A six / hex VESA mount. Because they require a fair amount of steel, these are both heavy and (relatively) pricey compared to single or dual mounts. This VIVO bracket, for instance, comes in at $109.99 — but its shipping weight is listed at 32.7 pound (14.8 KG). I live in Israel so my best Amazon option would be to go for this EZM Deluxe Hex Monitor Mount — but the shipping costs almost $200! (There are a few domestic options, if you are also in Israel, but, of course, they cost a multiple of what they do in the US. RSM, for instance, sells one for 1,135 NIS = $329.16 at today’s rate — more than three times the price of the Amazon.com mount!)
• A decent PSU: You’re going to need a Power Supply Unit (PSU) that meets or exceeds the minimum wattage requirement of your graphics card. Because graphics card that can handle six monitors don’t tend to economize on resource usage, these cards can require as much as 700W-1000W. If your PSU doesn’t meet that spec, or support the right power cable that the GPU needs, it’s time for an upgrade. I’ve priced an option in the ‘shopping cart’ later.
• A six output capable GPU. You’ve actually got a few options here. You can go with a card that has six or more native outputs (as in, one output per monitor); opt for a dual GPU install (putting in two graphics cards — a bit more complicated); or you can go with a card that has as few DisplayLink outputs and daisychain a few monitors together. Personally, I think that the first option is the cleanest technically and therefore the ‘best’ (it poses the fewest technical challenges).

So without further a-do, here are a few of the GPUs I have found so far that can drive six or more outputs.

(This article is for the interest of the multi-monitor-using community. None of these links are affiliate links! If daisy-chaining DP outputs sounds better to you, then check out this guide from MultiMonitorComputer.com).

Matrox is kind of the king of serious high-performance multi-monitor GPUs.

This card can drive six displays with a maximum resolution of up to 4096 x 2160 px. And it’s going to be out of production within the next six months, so get it quick!

Outputs: 6 x MiniDP, 1.2

Technical Specifications: Full user guide

Downside: Being mostly targeted at the industrial / enterprise market, Matrox cards can be hard to source for the average consumer.

This card is actually unusual in the six discrete output category in that it doesn’t feature exclusively Mini-DP ports.

Nevertheless, as can be seen below, this Radeon card offers:

• 4 x full Display Port (DP) outputs
• 2 x HDMI outputs

Outputs: 4 x DP (full, 1.4 with DSC 1.2a), 2 x HDMI

Recommended PSU: 700W

Power connector: 2 x 8-pin

Full technical specifications

Outputs:

This Radeon card also has six Mini-DP outputs.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, it’s Out of Stock on NewEgg.com and I couldn’t find any new sellers on any Amazon marketplace. The Amazon listing shows that the card was first listed almost seven years ago — so my bet is that it’s out of production.

Like the Matrox option, this card from PNY is a little long in the tooth, but it’s the top dog in the list for unique outputs.

It sports no less than eight mini-DP outputs (1.2), each of which is capable of driving a 4,096 x 2,160 px display — which would be enough to drive two 1080p (1920x1080) displays using a Multi Stream Technology (MST) hub. The maximum power draw, at just 68W, is also quite modest.

Unfortunately, the list of places to buy this is getting smaller, but I managed to find a few vendors on Amazon.co.uk. These were the prices at the time of writing.

This card definitely isn’t cheap, but it would be a great choice for a video editing and rendering workstation — or any other use-case that might benefit from an enormous eight or even sixteen screen display!

All rounder: Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi X 8G OC ($439.99, NewEgg.com)

Most displays: NVIDIA NVS 810 (8 x DP 1.2; max resolution per display 4096 x 2160) ($1,100+ — if you can find a stockist!)

• My current card, the GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti Windforce OC 4G (still amazed this only has a 300W recommended PSU requirement!)
• EVGA GeForce GT 730 4GB DDR3 128bit Dual DVI mHDMI Graphics Cards 04G-P3–2739-KR
• ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1060 AMP!, ZT-P10600B-10M, 6GB GDDR5 (Out of Stock)

How much will this all cost, you might be wondering?

Assuming you already have a functional desktop computer, and that you’re based in the US (so don’t have to deal with obscene international shipping and customs problems!) here’s a credible costing for all required components:

GPU — Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi X 8G OC+ ($439.99 from NewEgg.com)

PSU — 1000W should be comfortable, even for high-end cards. EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G5, 80 Plus Gold 1000W ($159.99 from NewEgg.com)

Stand — VIVO Steel Hex LED LCD Computer Monitor Heavy Duty Desk Mount ($109.99 from Amazon.com with free shipping in the US)

TOTAL: $709.97