New PC, Monitor advice wanted

[Gman]

I've been getting my components together for my new build, and I should be ready to proceed in the next week or so.

I have:
Rampage IV Formula Asus 2011 MB
Intel I7 3930k CPU
Corsair Hydro 100 cooler w/2 extra Noctua p14 flx fans.  I'll be going for a nice stable moderate o/c around 4.6 or so. I know everyone raves that I can go to 5.0 with this cooler/mb/cpu, but I'm not greedy for ghz, and I'd rather play it safe.
16 Gigs 4x4 GSkill PC3-14900 DDR3 1866 Ram - this came from a trade, I'd rather have bought a 32 gig setup, but this should work better than fine for the foreseeable future.
For the SSD Drive I'm either buying the Intel 520 ATA3 series, or the Crucial M4, as the Samsungs aren't carried at my supplier
For Storage I already have a Caviar Black 1tb Sata3 64mb/cache drive
I have 2 optical drives I'll mooch from my 1.5 year old system, one is a slot load DVD, the other some generic blue ray typical el-cheapo drive
Video Card I have, I traded some things and $$ for a eVga 690 4 gig card, which is one of the two best available next to the 7970 6 gig card, which was my other choice, but not available at the time.
Power supply I haven't bought yet either, but will get the Corsair TX850 V2 as my supplier doesn't carry Seasonic, but do carry the Thermaltake 850, the Cooler Master, OCZ, Silverstone, and the Antec 900w.  Any advice here?
Also, the case I can't really decide on, price isn't a huge consideration, but I'd rather stay around 250$ or so, and I THINK I am going to go with the ThermalTake Armor REVO, as it is nice and big with rubber feet etc, but I could use advice here as well, as long as it is USB 3.0 compatible.

I realize one can build an i5 3750k system, or a 2600k-even a 3770k,  with the same video card I have and be close in performance for less money, but I already had the socket 2011 board before getting anything else, and I'll also be able to plunk in the new IB stuff coming out in the new year with this board, where as a i5 socket board won't be compatible.  

I went with Win7 Pro, and bought a new OEM copy for 130$, and I realize that with 16 gigs memory it doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but if I need more RAM than 16 in the future, I'll just buy some more then, as my supplier makes you special order in the 32gig sets of RAM.

Now, the big question is monitors.  I'm currently running the Asus 247 23.whatever LED monitor that is around 160$ at my supplier after the mail in discounts etc.  Would I be better off going with a 3 monitor setup and buying 320$ worth of new matching monitors to my current one, and getting a bigger desk to mount them on, OR, should I go with plan A which is the new Asus 27" 2560x1440 super duper hirez monitor, which I have one reserved of the first batch coming in.  I've never tried a 3 monitor setup, only watched videos on utube of other guys' setups.  I don't fly with TrackIR, and I don't plan on ever trying it, so I'm not sure running a 3 monitor setup is even worth it without that thingamabob attached to your head.  It'll cost about 2x more to go with the 2560X monitor, but it'll be a LOT better then the cheap-o LED monitor I'm running now, but the 3 monitor idea does have me wondering.  Anyone with 3 monitor setups care to chime in on the pros/cons of that kind of setup?  A big CON for me is getting a new desk, as I JUST bought a new glass desk setup which can in no way shape or form hold 3 monitors, but if they are THAT great, I can spend the 300$ I save on the new 27" 2560x on a new desk, or some clampy type of job to hold the 3 together on what I'm using now.

[Noir]

3 monitors is great, especially if you don't plan on using TrackIR. The advantage is obvious and the time to adapt is minimal.
That said you need the desk space, monitors with the smallest "border" (can't recall the word) possible, and if possible with good stands so you can set up the monitors perfectly next to each other at eye level, perpendicular to the desk
Also, very important so you don't end up with money wasted, check with nvidia what type of connectors are needed to plug your 3 screens on your video card and play games. AMD requires to have one of the screens connected via displayport, because the cards only have two channels for hdmi and DVI screens.

I personally have a cheap setup with disparate screens (got the secondary ones for free) and with a bit of tuning and ingenuity, a lot of graphic cuts, it is still very enjoyable. The immersion, WOW effect is awesome, and it gives you a definite advantage in all first person games.

[gyrene81]

if you go triple monitors...which most anyone who has done it will tell you is the "only way to fly"...there is a good article on what's needed besides the monitors on the geforce site...
http://www.geforce.com/optimize/guides/how-to-correctly-configure-geforce-gtx-680-surround/#1

Noir, the word is "bezel"...    i think dell is supposed to release some bezel-less monitors next year.

[Noir]

bezel...sounds like its edible.

Also most games will display on 3 screens, but the interface will be corrupted or unusable, like Skyrim or CS:GO. I found a magical software that will fix most game very easily https://www.flawlesswidescreen.org/index.php/Flawless_Widescreen

[deadstikmac]

Google BenQ monitors... They are gaming monitors for great prices.

[Orbitson]

I'm thinking about going to a 32" Sony HDTV as my AH monitor from my existing 24" Samsung computer monitor.  Any advice or opinions on that idea?  I have heard some good feedback on larger monitors regarding more FOV.

[gyrene81]

Google BenQ monitors... They are gaming monitors for great prices.

            

I'm thinking about going to a 32" Sony HDTV as my AH monitor from my existing 24" Samsung computer monitor.  Any advice or opinions on that idea?  I have heard some good feedback on larger monitors regarding more FOV.

as far as the fov is concerned, the only thing that will happen is the dots will be bigger than they are now. your fov won't change unless you change it, things will just be bigger.

input lag can be fierce with some hdtvs, even between models of the same brand. and when you connect via hdmi, which most people invariably do, the image processing system doesn't shut down automatically.

[Noir]

Input lag is unbearable on my tv, its a bad playing display

[Bino]

...
Now, the big question is monitors
...

Size matters.   

[ebfd11]

There are some benifits to a triple screen.. do you guys see???







Also if you do go triple screen you will have to make a resoulution for it to eliminate the bezels, if you need help to do that give me a holler..

LawnDart

[Krusty]

I don't mess with bezel compensation and it's not a major issue. Leave it as-is.

[Noir]

I don't mess with bezel compensation and it's not a major issue. Leave it as-is.

Putting in some compensation did improve immersion a LOT in my case..

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Putting in some compensation did improve immersion a LOT in my case..

Some guys need compensation, some don't... just saying. 

[Noir]

 

[TequilaChaser]

I've been getting my components together for my new build, and I should be ready to proceed in the next week or so.

I have:
~
~

For the SSD Drive I'm either buying the Intel 520 ATA3 series, or the Crucial M4, as the Samsungs aren't carried at my supplier

~
~

I recomend going with the Crucial M4 series SSD, myself, Gman

I have 4 seperate M4's and have had nothing but positive results from them regardless if I am on one of my Intel builds or one of my AMD builds............. I have had these installed for over a year with no noticable slow down on any of them
using my AIDA64 extreme utility programto monitor/test etc..... they are working just as good as the day I initially installed them, and seem to keep improving with each new firmware update that Crucial comes out with

I originally chose the Crucial M4 models based on the multiple positive reviews of their reliability verses other brands like the OCZ and others that seemed to have had multiple negative remarks regarding the sandforce controllers and other brands that used the sandforce controllers.......... although things have changed or should I say have improved over the past 6 to 8 months regarding.....

good luck on your build, that hirez ASUS monitor sounds like it would be a dream to have...... I use (2) different 28" & 27" monitors myself 

my 2 gaming rigs specs below:

PC Gaming Rig #1:
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
Thermaltake Level10-GT Case......................... .........................Ther maltake Black Widow TR2 RX 850W Modular PSU
AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE @ 3.6ghz cpu.......................... ..Corsair CAFA70 120mm A70 Dual-Fan CPU Cooler
ASUS M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 MB........................... ............Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600mhz (PC3 12800)
XFX HD-687A-ZDFC HD6870 1GB VideoCard.................... .......Crucial CT128M4SSD2 128GB SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD
Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Xtreme Gamer Pro ........................WD VelociRaptor WD4500HLHX 450GB 10000RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s HD
*Recently added --> Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS (CougarStick\Throttle\ProPedals all upgraded with HALL sensors)............Micro Visions Gaming Keyboard \ Lazer Gaming Mouse
ASUS VE278Q Black 27" 1920x1080 2ms Full HD HDMI LED Backlight 16:9 LCD Monitor w/Speakers 300 cd/m2 ASCR 10,000,000:1


PC Gaming Rig #2:
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
Thermaltake Level10-GT Case......................... .........Thermaltake Black Widow TR2 RX 850W Modular PSU
Intel i7-2600K 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) cpu...............Corsair CAFA70 120mm A70 Dual-Fan CPU Cooler
ASUS Intel P8Z68 Deluxe MB........................... ........Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600mhz (PC3 12800)
XFX HD-695X-CDDC HD6950 2GB VideoCard.................... ....(2)Crucial CT128M4SSD2 128GB SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD's in "RAID 0"  <--edit: not in "RAID 0" anymore, was overkill back to a single SSD now )
ASUS Xonar DS Soundcard.................... ..................HITACHI Deskstar 7K3000 1.5TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s HD
CHproducts HOTAS (FighterStick\ProThrottle\ProPedals)........Logitech G510 Gaming Keyboard \ Lazer Gaming Mouse
Hanns-G HZ281HPB 28'' 1920x1200 3ms Full HD 1080P HDMI WideScreen 16:10 LCD Monitor


I do prefer my HannsG monitor over my ASUS monitor, the extra screen area makes a world of difference to me.......


best of Luck to ya Gman, hope this is helpful

cheers

TC