3 Monitors, was it worth it?

[Maniac]

Hey all.

Was getting 2 extra monitors and a extra graphics card to run them worth it in the long run? Would you put the money out there for the same setup again if you got the option to regret it?

Now after you had this setup for anwhile? do you find yourself only using one monitor and the other ones stay shut off?

[The Fugitive]

I had the option to go with the 3 monitor set-up, but after a lot of research I went with a single big screen instead. I use a 39" 1080p TV. I find that with everything "bigger" I find it much easier to see and line up shots as well as spotting dots long before most. I've kicked the FOV out to 125% and can see a generous portion in each view.

Personally I think one big screen is the better way to go.

[Noir]

3 screens all the way. 220 degrees field of view is nice for SA but the best part is the immersion it brings, making everything you do more impressive ingame. Notes that 3 screens can be a bit tricky to setup, and requires a big video card to support the huge total resolution, Id recommend a big 2gb video card.

There is other threads in here explaining the details, search for them.

[Bino]

While I still have an issue with DirectX seeing all the VRAM on my video card (see tech support forum), I am 100% sold on three monitors.  And not only in AH.  It's great for regular Windows use, too.  

Be aware, though, that not all programs support ultra-wide aspect ratios.  With my three ASUS VE258Q 1920 x 1080 screens, my desktop rez is 5760 x 1080 via the AMD "CCC" utility.  My son was seriously bummed that his beloved "Skyrim" got all wonky when he tried to run it on three screens.  The main walking-around part was fine, but all the pop-ups for weapon selection were badly distorted.

And the first time you hit the "maximize" button on something like Firefox is a little overwhelming.  

YMMV

[Warmongo]

I was using three monitors for a while. Sure it was pretty but I found myself admiring the view and getting shot down a lot more. Maybe that's just me ...

[1Cane]

 i have a single 6850 1gb running 3 Samsung SA350's "27 inch " and I am very happy with the results.There is a slight magnification in left and right sreen which is usefull, I am able to see type of aircraft that would be just a dot on main screen.
Don't make the mistake I made and get 2 cards that won't support three moniters together in crossfire but will run 3 screens as a single.

[Krusty]

I bought the card when I built the PC, but I was planning ahead with the high hopes of running multiple monitors eventually. I had a 1280x1024, which isn't very great by today's standards. It let me do my gaming, though.

Then I got 2 similar monitors, same brand, same native resolution, but other minor differences, off e-bay. Got them used for $20 each. One stand needed some work, they both had a scratch on the surface. Neither flaw limits my enjoyment of having 3 monitors in a row.

It's not just gaming. I use all 3 constantly. Multiple browswer windows, video editing, photoshop, you name it. It allows you to place things where you want/need. Even in a work environment, having that real estate to expand spreadsheets  and so-forth is invaluable.

One really big monitor is better than a standard monitor, but IMO having 3 standard monitors is better than one really big monitor.

[Bizman]

I'm currently testing a 30" monitor with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. After my 24" 1920 x 1200 this is HUGE. I can see much more both out- and inside the cockpit. With a wider monitor than this one I suppose my head would be turning like an owl's...

[Noir]

While I still have an issue with DirectX seeing all the VRAM on my video card (see tech support forum), I am 100% sold on three monitors.  And not only in AH.  It's great for regular Windows use, too.  

Be aware, though, that not all programs support ultra-wide aspect ratios.  With my three ASUS VE258Q 1920 x 1080 screens, my desktop rez is 5760 x 1080 via the AMD "CCC" utility.  My son was seriously bummed that his beloved "Skyrim" got all wonky when he tried to run it on three screens.  The main walking-around part was fine, but all the pop-ups for weapon selection were badly distorted.

And the first time you hit the "maximize" button on something like Firefox is a little overwhelming.  

YMMV

Check out the "Flawless widescreen" application, it will memory hack most popular games to fix the display on 3 screens. Works great with Skyrim  

[Maniac]

Thanks for the feedback all, exactly what i was looking for. Well today i have a Gigabyte GTX 670 OC 2GB. But i can only connect two monitors to that one i think, only one dvi port and one hdmi. So i guess i have to get another GTX 670 and run them in SLI. Alltough i suspect that my current single card could push the 3 monitors by its own while playing AH atleast.

[ebfd11]

Maniac are you sure there is only 1 DVI port on the back?? Every one I saw has 2 with a HDMI port, and they all say you can run 3 monitors off it. The resolution may not be the best but you can run 3 from it.

I run 2 evga gtx 570's in sli and run triple 24's off them. I love the immersion of it and can't get enough of it.


Btw Noir I am gonna check out that app and see if it works with AH.

LawnDart

[Noir]

it doesn't work with aces high, there are profiles for each game and aces high is not one of them.

[ebfd11]

Well I play BF3 also and a couple of others in the list.

LawnDart

[Maniac]

Maniac are you sure there is only 1 DVI port on the back?? Every one I saw has 2 with a HDMI port, and they all say you can run 3 monitors off it. The resolution may not be the best but you can run 3 from it.

I run 2 evga gtx 570's in sli and run triple 24's off them. I love the immersion of it and can't get enough of it.


Btw Noir I am gonna check out that app and see if it works with AH.

LawnDart

Its like you say, the card actually supports 3 monitors allready, perhaps AH is the perfect game to try this setup out with aswell.

[ToeTag]

just get one really big screen 120" and a projector......if you have the room to dedicate to it.