The Accell UltraAV DisplayPort to DVI Multi-Monitor Adapter (Hereafter known simply as "the adapter") is a product released by Accell that is meant to serve a multitude of purposes. Basically, it allows you to connect multiple monitors through only one input on your computer. By plugging the adapter into a single DisplayPort slot on your graphics card, as well as a powered USB port to convert the signal, you can plug in three DVI monitors at the same time! While this is a great concept, upon pondering the matter and evaluating the product it does not really seem to offer much in the overall package. What the product does offer however, it offers flawlessly.

There are two main supported features of the adapter, the first of which is the ability to split a single image onto three screens. You simply plug the adapter in, and by default it will split the image to any and all monitors plugged into it. This is a great tool if you only have a DisplayPort output and need to connect to some sort of projector and/or other devices at the same time. It is like using any old sort of cable splitter, but since it is a powered splitter it does not allow for signal degradation. While this feature works great, when you look at how many devices out there actually support DisplayPort, and then factor in how many of those devices would be in a situation that would require such a device, it seem it would fill only a very niche’d market.

The other main advertised feature was the ability to support three monitors at once, yet not splitting the image between them. Instead each of the three monitors would make up third of one really long desktop. While this feature works great, similar to ATI’s Eyefinity Technology, the resolution supported on each monitor ended up being 1280 by 1024. For comparison, the average monitor sold now supports 1920 by 1080. What ends up happening is you get a slightly lower quality picture than what you would normally get without the adapter. Another problem that arises is that since the computer regards it as one desktop, whenever you put any sort of window into fullscreen it spreads across all three monitors. Webpages will become stretched, menu options will be well off the screen, and it just complicates matters so much more so than one would assume. This is infact the weakest part of the product, but this is more of a problem with how it tricks the computer into thinking it’s a single desktop more than the product itself. Still, losing such a basic feature and resolution quality is a hard sell.

An unintended purpose of the device is the capability of using it with Eyefinity. Eyefinity is ATI’s creation which allows you to stitch multiple monitors together to create one desktop (Similar to the above feature). It requires specific graphics cards, and requires atleast one monitor that supports DisplayPort. Using the adapter, we are able to achieve the desired three monitor affect by only using a single connection, instead of three, to convert a full 1920 by 1080 signal to the DVI Monitor while plugging in the other monitors with available ports on the card. Using this, one is able to obtain three monitors at full 1920 by 1080, with the stitched desktop effect.

The difference is that with Eyefinity is that video games behave quite cleverly with the system. Games that support it will have the center monitor behave exactly as it would normally, with the HUD and all information present on that one screen. The gameplay is then extended to the other monitors, giving quite a large field of vision while playing said games. While the adapter worked well, it sometimes crashed when a computer would come back from sleep; however it was only temporary and soon fixed itself after roughly fifteen seconds. Once set up, this device actually ran a lot better than most other DisplayPort to DVI/VGA converters out there; it did not overheat and rarely caused any problems once it was fully set up. While it is an unintentional use of the device, it adds value to this product. A fringe benefit of playing games on three monitors is really good for most people.

The adapter delivers on all its promises, but when you look at the raw functionality it doesn’t really serve much of a purpose compared to most other methods out there. Most laptops have a VGA port, with newer laptops having an HDMI port in conjunction or just replacing it entirely. For such computers, all you need to do is plug the monitor into one of those slots. DisplayPort is still pretty rare and not widely used, so only a few devices or adopters of the technology will find full value in the product instead of investing in a very expensive new monitor. As a fringe benefit, it works well with the Eyefinity cards and has a multitude of values, especially if you need to split displays to many, many monitors. Overall, it’s hard to recommend the product unless you are in desperate need for a splitter, or a device confirmed to work as an active adapter for the Eyefinity technology and is very reliable at doing so. If you need it for either of those purposes, go ahead and buy it immediately. It won’t let you down.

This product was reviewed using a Gateway DX4300-05C replacing the Radeon HD 4350 with a Radeon HD 5770. Monitors used in testing were three Gateway FHX2300 monitors using the standard single link DVI cables supplied in the box. Adapter was connected via DisplayPort on the Radeon HD 5770, with the USB cable plugged into a spare USB port. All three monitors were plugged into the device at all times, for the exception of Eyefinity, in which one DVI connection remained connected to the DisplayPort adapter, while the other two were directly plugged into the card. No installation software was necessary for the adapter. Software installed for Radeon HD 5770.