Area 51m: Advice needed re 3 x external monitor setup

I would like to run a 3 monitor external display setup for gaming (flight sim) on my A51m but would REALLY appreciate some advice before I go any further.

My setup

• A51m (2070/9900k/16gb/SSD)
• CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3
• Alienware AW3418DW 34" monitor (VESA mounted to wall)

While I use this setup to work from home, I really want to add 2 extra monitors to help enhance my gaming (flight sim only) hobby.

I cant really stretch to buying an additional 2 x AW3418DW monitors so my queries are:

• What other monitors would complement the existing AW3418DW (Im happy to run the 3418 at a lower resolution to complement them in flight sim mode if necessary)?
• What is the best way to run 3 x external monitors from my setup given the A51m has a mini DisplayPort/HDMI/Thunderbolt ports and the CalDigit has a DisplayPort and Thunderbolt ports?
• Will my Nvidia 2070 be able to handle the job (I play DCS World and X-Pane 11 sims) or would it also benefit from adding an external GPU card to the mix?

Can I thank you all in advance for any advice you can give me because I don't want to go ahead with anything until i know the best way to go.

Bob9395 (the digits are my children's birth years who also love to sim).

Thanks again, Bob

 

This is a tough setup only because the Thunderbolt 3 is wired to the intel iGPU not the RTX 2070.

I think you will need something like this to connect all three displays to the RTX 2070: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matter...t+mst+1.4&qid=1571806917&s=electronics&sr=1-3

You can use that to connect two displays using the mini displayport on the back then plug the third monitor into the HDMI of the adapter OR the laptop's HDMI.

I recommend sticking to the same screen size and resolution for a better experience. Even doing two of these could work:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FBS36W2/ref=psdc_1292115011_t4_B078GSH1LV

The RTX 2080 would have been a better choice for this because you are driving 3x 3440x1440 monitors if you go my route. However, you can always lower the detail settings in game.

 

Thank you so much for your reply ssj92; that has helped clear thing up for me and I think that adding the two monitors and connector is the way to go too. One question though... would adding an Alienware Graphics Accelerator (eGPU) with another 2070 or 2080 help matters? I am not sure if the Alienware Graphics Accelerator complements the A51m internal graphics card in gaming or whether it replaces it completely?

 

Take a look at my youtube video from: 2:16 to 2:31

Spoiler

As you can see I am running a Graphics Amplifier using AMD Radeon VII connected to my 55" TCL 4K TV through my Alienware Area-51m.

Whether you use nVidia or AMD won't matter unless the game supports mGPU in DX12 mode which I don't think any games I know of do.

Basically your internal 2070 wouldn't be used if you went for a amplifier + external GPU.

Both GPUs will be visible but only 1 will be used unless the game specifically supports mGPU DX12 mode.

My Radeon VII + AMP is a perfect set-up for you because it has more power and the Radeon VII has 3x DP 1.4 ports and 1x HDMI 2.0 port. AMD also does better with multi monitor setups but trying out the adapter + internal 2070 may be a better place to start and add a eGPU from there if really needed.

 

Thanks for all your ssj92 .. that explains everything for me!!

I also had a look at your YT channel and it is excellent .. so I subscribed at hit that wee bell too!

Bob