Multi-monitor setup options for 24"?

[33Vortex]

Ok here's my problem. The Matrox triplehead does not support 3 displays at 1920x1200 resolution afaik, so what options are there?

I've seen software solutions that is compatible with various games but it seems they can't fully take advantage of a SLI setup. I have 2 x GTX280 cards in SLI and it would be a shame if that computing power went to waste.

Since my 30" 2560x1600 panel broke and Samsung can neither repair nor replace it within their own warranty I'm looking at getting 3x24" panels instead, but need to know how to set it up before spending. Anyone got experience with multi-monitor setups beyond the specs of the matrox hardware, and if it's capable of taking advantage of SLI/Crossfire?

[Eagler]

I use 3 24" monitors in AH using softTH. I have two ati 4850's pushing it.
no sli/crossfire but it works great. Wraith_TMS helped me set it up by supplying info and the original AH config file.

[Skuzzy]

Or you can use ATI's new Eyeinfinity configuration with thier new cards.  It does not require any software.  It does require monitiors with a "display port" connector.  I think they support up to 6 monitors now.

Side note:  I thought Matrox had released an update to theTriplehead2Go to support the higher resolutions.

[33Vortex]

Eagler: Can SoftTH make us of two gfx cards though?

Skuzzy: There maximum resolution listed on Matrox' site is 3x1680x1050 or 2x1920x1200. If Matrox indeed do support 3x1920x1200 I think that's the route I'll go. But do they???  


Edit: I see I'm starting to spell like an american now as well... 

[gyrene81]

I'm just wondering why 1920x1200 is such a significant spec... 

[Eagler]

As long as you can hook three monitors up to the two cards I do not see why they would not work.
I run the 3 monitors at 1920 x 1200 each I think. Let me double check when I get home.

[Eagler]

I'm just wondering why 1920x1200 is such a significant spec... 

It is the default res for the two ASUS 23.5" monitors I have. The center 24" Dell goes 1920 x 1280 but I lower that one to match the other two.

[33Vortex]

I'm just wondering why 1920x1200 is such a significant spec... 

1920x1200 is the standard resolution for 24" 16:10 panels today, and some 26-27" panels too. Although they are moving toward the cinema aspect of 16:9 with the HD standard. I don't like how they push the HD standard into PC monitors, it's a ripoff. The 30" panels at 2560x1600 is such a small market it's probably not even profitable, which must be why most manufacturers are not making them anymore. They're just pushing for the HD standard for profits and people don't seem to know any better.

[gyrene81]

Ah, so you're worried about running the monitors in "native resolution"...I wouldn't sweat it...that resolution is simply the "max spec" and it's not necessary to run at that level as long as when you run the lower levels you don't push the refresh rates too high.

[33Vortex]

Native resolution has nothing to do with it, it's simply a matter of getting the most out of the setup. And if you lower the resolution the image will lose quality because the pixels aren't working optimally. When lowering the res the pixels will group up and form bigger pixels together, which will significantly lower image quality. So you shouldn't run a panel at less than optimal resolution if you can avoid it.

I'm wondering about your setup though Eagler. Are you using SoftTH on two cards but not running them in SLI/Crossfire mode?

[Eagler]

I'm wondering about your setup though Eagler. Are you using SoftTH on two cards but not running them in SLI/Crossfire mode?

that is correct

[33Vortex]

Is it capable of taking advantage of the power in both cards, or does it rely on just one???

[Krusty]

NVidia's newer drivers have an option with monitor setup to horizontally spread the desktop across my 2 monitors. I'd imagine the same works with 2 vid cards and 3 monitors (2 are just not helpful for gaming).

I don't always do this. I'll give an example, though. When I don't do it, AH Film viewer has to be on my primary display. If I stretch it onto the secondary or move it there, it'll chug and slow down. If I use the nvidia settings to create 1 big desktop, it does something different with the way the video card processes things, and I can run across both monitors (in AH Film viewer) without the stutters. It does impact fps, though, the larger I make it.

Might try doing that before going for any expensive alternative. It's free (built-in).

EDIT: I looked it up. Right click desktop, "NVIDIA control manager" which I have in advanced mode, "display" tab on the side, "set up multiple displays" sub-section, and it's the option that says "As one large horizontal desktop"

[33Vortex]

Krusty anyone who's poked around Windows settings should know about that basic stuff. Thanks for trying to help though. 

[Eagler]

Not sure if you can use crossfire - think you'd need 3 slots if they were individual cards are a double for the Xfire in one slot and another card in the 2nd slot.
I have AH setup at 6010 x 1080 (not 1200 like i thought). The extra width is for the monitor bezels.
My cpu is an E8400 stock with 4 gb of ram.

Here's the main site .. it is free .. check out its forum:
http://www.kegetys.net/SoftTH/

It isn't perfect but it's allot of fun. Don't think I could go back to one monitor.