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In a world where everyone is trying to get as much as they can done, in as little time as possible, running multiple monitors has become very popular.
Whether you’re a trader, gamer or even entrepreneur, there are many benefits of having dual screens.
As technology has advanced, HDMI has become the most common video interface.
Unfortunately even to this day, there are very few Dual HDMI Graphics Cards. Most of them have 1 HDMI, 1 DVA & 1 Display Port.
There are a handful of Dual HDMI graphics cards, however, the best and cheapest solution is being creative with adaptors and different types of cabling.
Dual HDMI Graphics Cards
As the generations keep coming, we’re seeing more and more Dual HDMI Graphics Cards.
This is a particularly good thing. It allows people to have a choice of the cards that they use, from different manufacturers and at many different price points.
Before, your only options were the really high-end cards, but now, you can get a card with 2 HDMI slots anywhere in-between $100-$1500.
VisionTek Radeon HD 7750
While at the time, the HD 7750 was a respectable option for budget builds, over time it has became seriously outdated.
Coming in as the cheapest card on the market with Dual HDMI capabilities, this VisionTek card has a very clear purpose.
If you’re looking for a Dual HDMI card, but don’t really care too much for performance this one will get the job done.
With 2x HDMI slots, you’ll be able to run a dual monitor setup. However, if you want to expand beyond that, you’ll need another card as this one only has 2 outputs.
This card can support up to 4k, meaning you can watch your favourite movies and youtube videos in the best quality possible. I wouldn’t attempt gaming in 4k though, it’s almost certainly going to be a horrible experience.
There is certainly some upside to this card other than the fact it’s cheap.
The fact that it’s one of the few graphics cards that requires no external power meaning that it fits into any PC without having to mess around with the power supply.
It’s also Short Form Factor, therefore it’ll fit into more compact PCs and Mini ATX builds.
If you’re looking at buying this card, it’s certainly not the worst decision. It can run lower end games relatively well, and will have no problem with most software.
Make sure that you buy the 2GB GDDR5 version. There is a 1GB DDR3 Version that costs more, but is a significantly worse card.
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB
If the 7750 seemed to budget for you, or maybe you just want a newer card, the GIGABYTE GTX 1650 OC is (in my opinion) a much better option.
Providing you’re willing to pay the extra $30-$60 for this card, you’ll be getting a card that was released within the last year, has double the Memory and 1 more video output.
Unlike the 7750, this card has 3 video outputs. 2 Of which are HDMI, the other is a Display Port.
When it comes to performance, the GTX 1650 is 400% faster. Just look at the benchmarks and see the difference!
Another thing that I like about this card, is that it also has the Windforce 2x cooling system. This system is designed with fans that spin in the opposite direction, in an effort to improve airflow.
The 4GB 1650 can support up to 8K resolution, however, I’d probably not even recommend it for 4K unless it was light entertainment.
It’s a rather impressive card and once again, doesn’t require any external power.
Unfortunately, it comes in much bigger than the 7750, meaning those with smaller builds may need to think about whether it fits before making a purchase.
I believe that paying the extra little bit of money is certainly worth it. This card performs much better than the 7750 and will continue to perform relatively well for at least another 4-5 years.
Sapphire Radeon RX 580 8GB
If you’re willing to buy an AMD instead of Nvidia, you can get yourself an RX 580 8GB.
This is a significant step up from the 1650 with 4GB extra RAM and up to 33% performance increase in games. It will cost you slightly more though.
Also, this card is slightly older than the 1650, but, that’s not too big a deal.
While yes, the 1650 will probably be better supported in some future games, the sheer gap in performance will make up for this.
Another bonus is the fact that it has 5 separate video outputs. This includes Dual HDMI’s, 2 DisplayPorts and 1 DVI-D.
AMD has picked up the pace recently and released a lot of great cards. However, Nvidia still own the market share.
Not everyone is going to be willing to try out this card and despite the insane price to performance ratio, there are some downsides.
The main issue is that most AMD cards, when under heavy load become unbelievably loud. This was the case back in the day, and it still seems to be a problem today.
Another issue may be the aesthetics.
I personally like how it looks, it’s blocky and sturdy. However, I’m sure others would prefer something a little more streamlined or maybe even some RGB features.
If you’re purely looking at buying a card for performance and value. You can’t go wrong with the RX580. It’s a great budget-mid card that allows up to 5 displays at once.
If you’re looking for the complete package, it may be worth trying to find an alternative within the Nvidia range.
Asus GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB
For an extra $100, you can take another significant step up the ladder. It’s the first GDDR6 GPU to be included on this list and has 6GB of memory.
The Asus GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB has 2 HDMI Ports and 2 Display Ports. That means you can use up to 4 monitors!
This card offers a significant step up from any of the before mentioned GPUs.
It absolutely destroys the 7750 & 1650. It is also significantly better than a regular 1660, producing up to 19% better FPS in games such as GTA V, Overwatch & PUBG.
This Asus ROG card is designed for gamers that demand every last bit of performance out of their card.
With DirectCU II, you’re able to take full control of the cooling. The card also comes with Asus’s Trademarked Wing-Blade fans that are designed to increase airflow.
You’ll also gain access to GPU Tweak II which makes monitoring performance and streaming much easier, including additional software such as Game Booster & Xsplit.
The max resolution of this card is 8k, though, it’d probably struggle with any meaningful task at such a high resolution.
That being said, at 4K it’s more than capable of holding its own and for the price, you’ll struggle to find much better.
Yes, It is the most expensive ASUS 1660 Super, but if you want a card with Dual HDMI’s you’re going to have to pay for it.
Asus GeForce RTX 2060 Super 8GB
Working our way through the price points, the RTX 2060 Super is the next card on the list. It’s the first 8GB+ Nvidia card to be included, and it’s a very in-demand product.
Just like the Sapphire Radeon RX580, this card also has 2x HDMI slots, 2x DisplayPort Ports & 1 DVI-D output.
5 outputs is way more than most people will ever need, I’m sure most of you reading this article are using a maximum of 3 monitors.
If you’re a gamer and you’re considering making the step up from 1080p to 2K or even 4K, this is the card you want.
It’ll completely blow away any game in 1440p. You’ll also manage to get 30FPS+ while playing the newest releases in 4K with Ultra settings.
For more in-depth benchmarks, check this euro gamer article.
This card oozes quality with a protective back plate that prevents flex and trace damage.
It also has as an enlarged heatsink that expands the cooling surface area, making the most of the two fans built into the GPU.
Thanks to this and the “axial-tech” fan design, you’ll be able to enjoy silence while performing light tasks.
Whatever your needs, be it 1080p, 4K or even 8K resolution, this card dominate anything in its path.
So it should though, it’s almost half a grand!
Asus GeForce RTX 2080 TI 11GB
You’re probably bored of the asus cards by now, however, they’re incredible manufacturers of graphics cards.
The Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI is considered to be the top dog. It’s the best card available on the market today and completely destroys any application thrown at it.
Despite it being the most powerful and most expensive card on the market, it only has 2 Display Ports & 2 HDMIs. It also has a USB Type C I/O slot, which is the first I’ve seen.
Because 4K Gaming is still relatively new, playing games on Ultra settings at 60FPS while in 4K resolution is a pretty unrealistic expectation.
However, for a lot of titles, the RTX 2080 TI makes it reality.
I’ll admit it does struggle on some of the newer titles, however, if you drop the settings a little you’ll get that 60 FPS without issue.
The build quality of this card is incredible. Not only will the performance hold up, the components are made of aerospace grade and the card itself has a reinforced frame to prevent flexing and bending.
You’ll also find no issue in the cooling department. Using the 2.7-slot design, the area that the heatsink covers is 20% bigger than last gen and it also uses MaxContact Technology for improved thermal transfer.
Because it’s the best card on the market, you should expect the world. Especially when you’re paying over $1000 for a GPU.
I’m not sure if it will meet your expectations, but I believe it will come pretty damn close.
Graphics Card With 3 HDMI Ports
If for some reason dual HDMI ports weren’t enough, you can actually get graphics cards with 3 HDMI ports.
These cards are few and far between, there’s only a couple of good ones to choose between.
If you really need 3+ HDMI ports, I’d recommend checking out other ways to setup multiple monitors. This will allow you to use almost any graphics card on the market.
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
Graphics cards with 3 HDMI outputs are pretty rare, let alone budget/mid range options.
This Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 card has 3 HDMI outputs, as well as a DisplayPort output. That means you can run up to 4 monitors at any one time.
I’m a big fan of gigabyte cards personally, I’ve had a few and they’ve always done me well. The build quality is outstanding with a metal backing plate and sturdy frame.
I also found the cooling to great. Gigabyte use the “windforce” cooling system on this card which makes the fans spin in an alternating direction.
The main downside of this card is the fact that it’s so rare. As a result, it commands a higher price than the other GTX 1650 editions.
If you can find this card at a competitive price it’s worth picking up, but, If you’re looking to pay $300+ for a card, there’s certainly better options.
Sure, 3 HDMI ports is pretty nice, but you can get a Gigabyte GTX 1650 with 2 HDMI’s for almost half the price.
How much value do you place on that 3rd HDMI slot?
Gigabyte Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB
As you’ve probably recognised, Gigabyte are the only manufacturers mad enough to put 3 HDMI’s on a single GPU.
The Gigabyte Radeon RX5700 XT is an incredible card with 3x HDMI slots & 3x Display ports. That’s 6 video outputs in total! What would you even need 6 outputs for?!
Similar to the 1650 I just mentioned, this card comes with a strong metal frame and back plate. This makes the card incredibly sturdy and helps to prevent any flex in the PCB.
To cool this beast, Gigabyte have added 3 fans that all spin in alternating directions, resulting in a much smoother air flow.
It also comes with direct touch copper heatpipes that ensures proper cooling for your card.
As well as the incredible number of video outputs and in-game performance, you’ll be able to customise the card and its RGB lighting in anyway that suits.
Overclocking is also made easy using the intuitive Aorus engine which allows you to set clock speeds, voltage, fan performance and more, all at the click of a button.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB
If you’re looking for a high-end card with multiple HDMI outputs that doesn’t break the bank, you may struggle.
Thankfully this Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super has 3 HDMI outputs, 3 Display Ports and costs nowhere near as much as a 2080. It also has a USB Type-C if you’re interested in that.
That’s 7 outputs in total.
Just like the other 2 gigabyte cards just mentioned, this has the same build quality.
Because it’s a high-end card that’s super demanding and generates a lot of heat, it comes with 3x100mm fans. These fans are fully customisation with crazy RGB lighting.
This card also uses the revolutionary Nvidia Turing Architecture that combines real-time ray tracing, AI & programmable shading, creating an experience like never before.
If you’re a gamer that’s looking for the best experience across many different monitors, the 2070 Super is among the best you’ll get while keeping it at a reasonable price.
Other Ways To Setup Dual Monitors
Just because you don’t have multiple HDMI outputs on your graphics card doesn’t mean you can’t use multiple HDMI cables.
All you need is a few special cables or adapters.
Use Adapters
Depending on the outputs your graphics card has, you could possibly use adapters to change the connection to HDMI.
I personally use a VGA to HDMI adapter, I’ve used it for many years now and never had a problem.
You can also get DVI to HDMI, Display Port to HDMI and even USB C to HDMI adapters.
The best time to buy adapters is if you already have a bunch of HDMI cables sat around ready to use.
Use Multi-Connection Cables
If you don’t already have a bunch of HDMI cables and are looking to buy new ones, you could buy multi-connection cables instead.
These are cables that have 2 different connections. Either a DVI & HDMI, Display Port & HDMI, VGA & HDMI or Type C & HDMI.
They work in the same way a normal cable would, but, instead you’ll be able to plug it straight from your GPU output into a HDMI monitor.
