Help! Newbie First Build Skylake 2x1440p Monitors

[justaguymakingamac]

Hey guys, ideally this will be my first build! I'm following this build for the $682 Skylake Mac Mini. My question is, will the build support driving two 1440p monitors at 60Hz refresh while doing very basic tasks like checking email and watching movies with the integrated graphics card on the motherboard? Or will I need a dedicated graphics card even for these basic tasks? The monitors are the BenQ GW2765s and have HDMI, DVI, and (not useful in this case I feel) Display Port inputs.

I couldn't find the information on the website for the Gigabyte H-170 Motherboard on Gigabyte's home page, but it does say that the motherboard can drive a 4k display depending on the CPU installed, and it says that it can drive up to 3 monitors. I also read that the HDMI outputs support 4096x2160@24 Hz. The data rate required to drive a 1440p display at 60Hz should only theoretically be about 1.04x that required to drive a 4k at 24Hz. I know that's not the only factor at play of course. Sorry for the noob question, this is my first build and I wasn't sure where else to find this info. Also if you have any advice on how to find this information myself in the future, that would be great!

Thanks!

 

[jayzoom]

I'm with you on this, doing the same board and also have 2x 1440 displays. I'm not sure about refresh rate fine print, but I have 2x Acer 25" 1440s that run well off of my MBP via 2x DisplayPort, or 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI. So I'd think you'd be just fine with this board regardless of CPU choice.

However I just posted my first build thread and will be assembling as soon as a couple parts arrive - if you don't get a good answer let me know and I'll report my results. I'm pretty confident that you won't have any issues at all though. In fact I can run the native MBP display plus the 1440s so yeah think you're good to go.

 

[kiiroaka]

Chances are that no matter what mobo it is, if you're using on-board video, it will be limited to either resolution or refresh rate. Driving two monitors with on-board video may depend on the OS (after enabling in the BIOS).

BTW, that is not a noob question!

When it comes to driving two 2560x1440 dislays the bigger question is whether or not it can extend a second monitor versus cloning to a second monitor. Usually an external GPU is needed for that because they can use separate RAMDACs. Or it depends on the software, so OSX may default to lower resolution cloning.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19039?locale=en_US
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202351

2560x2=5120; that's more than 4096, so it may not be able to do it. At least not without some scaling/interpolation problems. Driving two 1920x1080 displays should not be a problem, though. You're going to have to try, and if doesn't work don't be too upset.

 

[justaguymakingamac]

Thank you kiiroaka, and jayzooom!

Thanks for the thorough answer, and clearing up what the likely bottlenecks are when it comes to display resolution and graphics cards kiiroaka. I found another board that has been used in the past for a hackintosh build in this thread, the ASUS H97I-Plus, that seems to clearly indicate that it can handle two monitors at this resolution at 60Hz refresh rate. So this may be exactly what I need if I'm building a minimalist machine.

If anyone has an opinion on the ASUS H97I-Plus when used with integrated graphics card I would be interested in hearing it.

 

[kiiroaka]

The ASUS H97I-Plus is an LGA 1150 mobo and the GA-H170N-WIFI is an LGA1151. They might be different animals:

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...97I-PLUS_Z97I-PLUS_New_Memory_test_report.pdf shows that the max amount of RAM you can install is 16GB of DDR3 1600

the GA-H170N-WIFI can use 16GB RAM sticks, but at DDR4 2133 speed. It will throttle it down to 2133 speed, but being able to have 32GB is more important. On that basis alone I would pick the GA-H170N-WIFi.

Three possibilities:
G.Skill F4-2400C15Q2-128GRK 15-15-15-35
Corsair BLS16G4D240FSB.16FAD 16-16-16-39
Corsair CMK128GX4M8A2400C14 14-16-16-31

The Corsair CMK128GX4M8A2400C14 would seem to be the fastest, having the fastest timings, starting with CAS 14.

But, and it's a very BIG but - the 128 in CMK128 means that it is a 128GB kit, the 128 in -128GRK means a 128GB kit. Both probably are 8 RAM stick kits (8x16=128). They therefore cannot be used. That leaves the BLS16G4D2FSB.16 - and surprise! it is a 4x8 kit - so it also cannot be used.

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=17314.0

So, let's try F4-2400C15Q-32GRR. The 32 in -32GRR would indicate that it is a 32GB kit. It is, unfortunately, a 4 stick kit, so you can't use it.

AX4U2400W8G16 is two sticks, but it costs $259. Ouch, ouch, ouch - darn that hurts! No way!
CMK32GX4M4A2400C14 - 4 sticks, $146.
CMD32GX4M4A2400C14 - 4 sticks, $220
BLS8G4D240FSA . The 8 in BLS8 says it's a 8GB stick. $40 single-ly. You're limited to 16GB total. You'll have to mix kits.
BLS16G4D240FSB.16FAD can't be found. Crucial has a compatible part, 16GB for $66, so $132 for 32GB. You'll have to mix kits.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ga-h170n-wifi/CT7854353

Of course, you may have problems since it's not an exact part.

I suggest you look at the certified memory list, copy/paste the part number into Google, Newegg and Amazon search, see how many modules the kit has and compare prices.

If you decide to go with a 4 RAM slot board instead, you'd head over to Newegg,com, select Components -> Motherboard -> Intel, then use the filters on the left side, selecting LGA 1151 or LGA1150 (depending on your preference), selecting 4 Memory slots and DP, Display Port. Once you have the list, see which ones have Intel NICs, clone the tab, download the certified memory list from every manufacturer and, going back to Newegg cloned tab, change to Components -> Memory -> Desktop Memory -> copy/paste memory part number into the search box and hit the Search button. Write down the prices for the kits with 4 modules. If wireless is a requisite, then filter by WiFI on the non-cloned Newegg tab.