GPU help

Philmccrackin

I’m a pc building noob. I’m trying to build a pc for day trading stocks. The machine will be running a couple of charting programs along with discord, streaming zoom meeting, excell and normal things like a browser, email, YouTube or Spotify all at the same time. I have Ryzen 3700x, 32gb RAM and motherboard picked out. I’m having trouble deciding on a gpu. I may dabble in games but it’s on the bottom of the priority list. I need to be able to run 4 monitors with at least 1 being 4k. Would prefer not to spend more than $500.  If I could run as many as 6 monitors in the future, that would be great. Please help. Thanks

TSTonyV

Hello @Philmccrackin! Welcome to the Community. 

If you're okay with just sticking to four monitors, we have a wide variety of options available. This link will show you all our new cards that can support up to four monitors in total, most all of these will support the resolution you need: https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntk=all&sortby=pricelow&N=4294966937+4294818690+4294822454&myStore=true

The most budget option will be the Radeon RX570 at $130-150, with an RX 5700XT or RTX 2060 Super being at the top of your price range. 

However, once you're past four monitors our options are extremely limited. This is the only card we carry that can support six monitors: https://www.microcenter.com/product/462021/visiontek-radeon-hd-7750-low-profile-single-fan-2gb-gddr5-pcie-30-graphics-card

But depending on your local store it may not be available. You could go with something like this RX 580 which supports five monitors: https://www.microcenter.com/product/479525/powercolor-radeon-rx-580-red-dragon-dual-fan-8gb-gddr5-pcie-30-graphics-card

And then use something like a USB to HDMI adapter for your sixth. 

Philmccrackin

Thanks for the reply. If I got one of the newer cards that only support 4, could use a USB adapter or somehow daisy chain from that one gpu to view 6? Also, would a 3700x be a waste if I’m only using a 2060 or even a RX 580? I want this to run fast with no lags

TSTonyV

The 3700X is only a waste in the sense that if you're not doing anything that can fully utilize all its cores and threads, you just have extra headroom. In my opinion, the 3700X is an incredibly strong value for a CPU and will have a lot of longevity. I don't think you can really go wrong with it. 

A GPU can only support up to its specified maximum, so you wouldn't be able to daisy-chain more monitors in and run them off the GPU.

Things like USB to HDMI adapters can be used to add more monitors to your system because they'll circumvent the GPU entirely if you go that route. 

Philmccrackin

So with the usb to HDMI adaptor it would be using the mother board? 

Philmccrackin

If I ran a 2070 super I could run 4 monitors off the gpu plus another monitor with a usb to HDMI adaptor? Could you give me an example of an adaptor that would work?

TSTonyV

These are the kind of adapters I'm referring to:

https://www.microcenter.com/product/485475/inland-usb-31-(type-c)-male-to-hdmi-female-adapter
https://www.microcenter.com/product/612959/j5create-usb-31-(gen-1-type-a)-male-to-hdmi-female-display-adapter-31-in---white

These adapters would be running off the motherboard, so you can use them in addition to the monitors running off the GPU. 

Philmccrackin

Ok. I already have one of those usb-c to HDMI adaptors. So that plus running 2070 super would give me 5 displays? Doesn’t the motherboards already have an HDMI port? I couldn’t just use that? Sorry for all the questions. Just want to make sure I’m thinking correctly

TSTonyV

Not with a 3700X. The 3700X does not include integrated graphics so the port on the motherboard won't work. You'd need one of the "G" processors like a 3400G which includes integrated graphics, but you'll be taking a step down in performance otherwise as it's less cores, less threads, and low single-core performance. 

Philmccrackin

Ok. So what’s an option with 3700x? Could I eventually add another 2070 super?

TSTonyV

You could go with two lower powered GPUs, or have on 2070 Super then slot in a lower powered one. You would only need duplicate 2070 Supers if you wanted to run them in SLI. If you do want to do that, make sure your PSU has enough power to drive two of them. 

Philmccrackin

Awesome. Thanks for your help