Large Digital Signage Screen or Eyefinity?

[keefusm]

Hey gents,
I'm going to be plopping down some money on a new display setup soon, and I've narrowed it down to two options.

Either go with a larger display, such as the HP LD4200, or a 20-30-20 (Dell) eyefinity setup. I really don't want to make this purchase only to think that I should've went with the other option (in hindsight).
I have a good idea of how gaming on a large screen would be, however, I cannot seem to fathom how "breath taking" a 20-30-20 eyefinity setup would be as I've never observed one in person.

My first question, can anyone supply/post a picture of a 20-30-20 Dell setup with something in the picture to contrast the size? (I have looked through the Display post, but I can't seem to really get an idea of the size of the setup.)

Edit: After looking back over the display post, I'm not really looking for a picture, more so perhaps thoughts on the setup (from people who own one). Anyone who has experience with different eyefinity setups would be a plus.

Second, what else will I need for this setup as far as cable inputs go? Mini display port, etc.

Third, if I do ultimately go with the 20-30-20 setup, can anyone recommend a good tri-monitor stand? I have pretty bad OCD, so I like to keep my desk clean and minimalistic as possible. After perusing Amazon for a proper stand, it seems the strongest I could find was one which only held a maximum of 20 lbs. per monitor (I think the U3011 is around 31 lbs.) So, if anyone can provide any insight on that it would be great.

I apologize if anything in this post is rhetorical, and I appreciate the advice.

Thanks,
k

 

[cvgd]

This is a pretty simple decision, though not for good reasons. Eyefinity doesn't support different screen resolutions on the multiple monitors, so a 20-30-20 is not a viable gaming option. All three of your monitors need to be the same resolution.

 

[keefusm]

Ah, bummer, damn that guy with the F1 car wallpaper! Ha.

Enter 6 screen eyefinity (6x24")? I don't think I could get over the horizontal bezels though.,, Perhaps option #1 it will be then...

 

[Jared701]

After getting 3 23" monitors for eyefinity I would suggest one larger screen and you could go portrait on the sides if you needed more desktop area (nongaming). One large screen > 3 smaller. The bezels annoy me and if you do bezel correction then it sometimes covers up important information in the game which is annoying.

 

[Westernesse]

I think x-fire 6870 was a bit border line for Eyefinity on high quality graphics since it lacks the vram of the 69X0s. So I might go with one large screen if that is your gpu setup for better eyecandy/ease of use.

I'm using 3 23's in eyefinity, but the deciding factor was that I got them cheap so it was around half the cost of a good 30 inch screen and I already had one of them to begin with. I like the functionality of three screens, they can be combined in lots of different portrait/landscape combos to go from eyefinity games to playing two games simultaneously while watching a movie. There is some downtime when your rotating and aligning monitors though.

 

[keefusm]

Well, I'm going to upgrade to a 6990 if I go the eyefinity route, but I am leaning towards the larger screen still. If Dell U3011's weren't that expensive I would definitely purchase 3 of those...

Anyhow, thanks for the advice gents.

 

[Rokodo]

A large 1080p monitor/TV seems like a cheap (relative) and cheerful option if it's purely for gaming purposes. Should save you some money on gfx card upgrades too.

If I had the space, the cash and the means by which to do so I would mount one above my main desktop monitors for video and what little gaming I do.

 

[powruser]

A large 1080p monitor/TV seems like a cheap (relative) and cheerful option if it's purely for gaming purposes. Should save you some money on gfx card upgrades too.

If I had the space, the cash and the means by which to do so I would mount one above my main desktop monitors for video and what little gaming I do.

If you got a Dell 30" and two Hazro 30", then you got cash.

 

[Rokodo]

They were a gift from my parents for xmas and my 18th birthday.

 

[Anomlay]

I have the HP LD 4200 and it ROCKS for gaming...

No bezels...
No need for 2nd video card...
No need to upgrade PSU...

 

[Matrices]

Yeah, but it's also a mere 1080p stretched across a huge 42" display. Fine for TV, not so good as a monitor or at normal desk distance.

I run all the monitors in my sig, plus two 22" ones that are just lying around until I have a desk and apartment that accommodates six monitors.

If I had to choose between the 30" and the 24+27+24, I'd choose the 30". The Eyefinity is nice for a few games - which is why I have it - but most kinds of games don't actually look better in Eyefinity. Just FPS and simulators.

 

[Anomlay]

Yeah, but it's also a mere 1080p stretched across a huge 42" display. Fine for TV, not so good as a monitor or at normal desk distance.

I run all the monitors in my sig, plus two 22" ones that are just lying around until I have a desk and apartment that accommodates six monitors.

If I had to choose between the 30" and the 24+27+24, I'd choose the 30". The Eyefinity is nice for a few games - which is why I have it - but most kinds of games don't actually look better in Eyefinity. Just FPS and simulators.

I have it 3 feet away and its FINE...

And for me, that argument don't fly (I know you aren't literally arguing); measure from the top left corner of the monitor on the left and to the bottom right corner of the monitor on the right of the three total monitors set up in Surround Gaming, I bet it's more than 42"...

 

[Matrices]

But that's where you miss the point. If I measure the *pixels* of an Eyefinity setup, it's going to be 5760x1080, whereas the pixels of a 42" LCD are going to be 1920x1080. It's a question of pixel density here, i.e., pixels per square inch. In other words, detail. And since you're comparing to Eyefinity there, it's also a question of FOV. 1080p on a 42" screen is still just the same picture you'd be looking at on a 14" 720p screen because it's the same aspect ratio. Eyefinity gives you a huge FOV.

Glad it works for you, but it'd be inconceivable for me. 1080p on a 27" looks slightly tacky to me at 2.5 feet, I can't imagine it on 42" up close.

I'd prefer either a single 30" or 3x24" to a single large 1080P HDTV.

 

[Anomlay]

But that's where you miss the point. If I measure the *pixels* of an Eyefinity setup, it's going to be 5760x1080, whereas the pixels of a 42" LCD are going to be 1920x1080. It's a question of pixel density here, i.e., pixels per square inch. In other words, detail. And since you're comparing to Eyefinity there, it's also a question of FOV. 1080p on a 42" screen is still just the same picture you'd be looking at on a 14" 720p screen because it's the same aspect ratio. Eyefinity gives you a huge FOV.

Glad it works for you, but it'd be inconceivable for me. 1080p on a 27" looks slightly tacky to me at 2.5 feet, I can't imagine it on 42" up close.

I'd prefer either a single 30" or 3x24" to a single large 1080P HDTV.

Yeah, it's all about what "feels right personally." I can play every game out at 1920x1080, graphics options MAXED out, I didn't have to get a 2nd GPU or upgrade my PSU...

The other thing I notices when looking at Surround Gaming (and confirmed this with others), 90% of the time your eyes are on the CENTER monitor, seems like a LOT of $$$ for 10% peripheral investment.

When I was comparing, I hooked up a NEC 30" monitor and for the MONEY it would cost to go that route ($1100 for the monitor, $359 for 2nd GTX 570 and $99 for new 800W PSU = $1558), the WOW factor even at 2560x1440 just was not what I got when I hooked up the 42" HP. When gaming, and there is no reason to lie, I notice NO pixelation from even 3 feet away...

BTW my system is i2500k, Hyper 212+ HS/FAN, 8GB RAM, 120 GB SSD, 1TB HDD, Optical drive, EVGA 570 OC, Coolermaster HAF 932

 

[keefusm]

This is good to see arguments from both sides of the fence, but I still think I am set on the larger screen. Personally, I really appreciate good looking games, but I think the 1920x1080 @ 42" will suit me just fine.

I'm still considering a Dell U3011 with a monitor off to the side, but I think inevitably I'll go with the HP. My biggest fear is purchasing the U3011 and feeling that it just isn't big enough.

 

[NCX]

One other thing to consider is the aggressive AG coating the 30" IPS displays have, any sort of light color will look very grainy, especially light blues and whites=fail for gaming, they also have medicore contrast ratios. The Digital Signage Displays are matte as well, so the AG severity is something to consider.

For the record I used to sit about 3.5ft away from a 46" 1080p Local Dimming Samsung A950 with an Ultra Clear Panel (Glossy), text looked brilliant (all the reviews said it worked perfectly with a PC).

Some of the Sharp TV's are supposed to work well with PC and some sport a Glossy panel, maybe take a look at those? There should be reviews of their 2011 Quatron line-up soon, never know they might work perfectly with PC's and Sharps typically have low lag.

 

[TTsar562]

SAMSUNG MD230X3 ultra thin bezel. But in case you go with a 20-30-20, ergo tech Triple monitor stand would go perfect. Mountedconcepts.com have them going for 265, use wsgf10 for a 10% discount, don't know if the code still work or not.

 

[cvgd]

If you go the LFD route, I'm very interested in hearing/seeing your experience. It seems like the prices have come down a bit on these monitors, to the point that I'm considering going with one as my next television. I don't care for 3D, don't watch OTA, and basically just want a reliable screen with clean lines and a decent set of connectors.

The NEC p401 and p461 look good to me, come with displayport, and can be purchased with a tuner (which I'm not sure is necessary). Some of the Samsung's look good as well.

I've never been able to see one of these in a home-like setting though, and have concerns about:

1. Heat
2. Fan noise
3. Brightness management

 

[rrahim3]

I just switched over to eyefinity. the great thing about it is when your not gaming and just using windows to watch movies and chat. u can put a movie on teh right screen and still use the pc on ur middle monitor. plus u have a third for whatever else. I haven't tried gaming on it yet getting my cards on monday. then im gonna do a big review on it and put up a youtube video of the whole setup using my video camera. ill probably do some benchmarks but im leaving everything stock to avoid problems

 

[Anomlay]

This is good to see arguments from both sides of the fence, but I still think I am set on the larger screen. Personally, I really appreciate good looking games, but I think the 1920x1080 @ 42" will suit me just fine.

I'm still considering a Dell U3011 with a monitor off to the side, but I think inevitably I'll go with the HP. My biggest fear is purchasing the U3011 and feeling that it just isn't big enough.

I had a 28" i-Inc iH282 and it seems TINY now...

...although my son was happy to inherit it!

 

[powruser]

They were a gift from my parents for xmas and my 18th birthday.

You got awesome parents! How did they know to get the Hazro monitor? Did you tell them? Because not many people even know who Hazro is. When its my birthday I always drop notes with model numbers or direct links to the specific stuff so they know exactly what to get.

 

[Rokodo]

I tell them exactly what I want and they try to fund it if they can. For the U3011 I just gave an amazon screen capture to mother. For the Hazros I took care of the actual ordering myself via dad's card.

 

[keefusm]

One other thing to consider is the aggressive AG coating the 30" IPS displays have, any sort of light color will look very grainy, especially light blues and whites=fail for gaming, they also have medicore contrast ratios. The Digital Signage Displays are matte as well, so the AG severity is something to consider.

For the record I used to sit about 3.5ft away from a 46" 1080p Local Dimming Samsung A950 with an Ultra Clear Panel (Glossy), text looked brilliant (all the reviews said it worked perfectly with a PC).

Some of the Sharp TV's are supposed to work well with PC and some sport a Glossy panel, maybe take a look at those? There should be reviews of their 2011 Quatron line-up soon, never know they might work perfectly with PC's and Sharps typically have low lag.

Noted. I actually was looking at a 1920x1080 47" which looked as if it would be a feasible option. I'm still waiting on funds to become available, so I have some time to do additional research...

 

[Anomlay]

Noted. I actually was looking at a 1920x1080 47" which looked as if it would be a feasible option. I'm still waiting on funds to become available, so I have some time to do additional research...

Will 47" even fit on your desk?

 

[keefusm]

Will 47" even fit on your desk?

The monitor is actually going to be mounted to the wall. I think I'm going to have to move my tower to the floor to view it properly... I'm going to be taking a trip to Ikea soon to hopefully piece together a new stainless steel desk.

This is my setup as it is now:

 

[Anomlay]

The monitor is actually going to be mounted to the wall. I think I'm going to have to move my tower to the floor to view it properly... I'm going to be taking a trip to Ikea soon to hopefully piece together a new stainless steel desk.

This is my setup as it is now:

That is what I did, put my tower on the floor...

I got an Ikea desk too...

My set up...

BEFORE 42":

After 42":

I did wind up taking it off the stand because it put the monitor above my "comfortable, looking straight ahead" eye level...

Not on the towel now, LOL. I bought two mouse pads and cut them longways and the monitor is sitting on them, no slippage!

 

[keefusm]

Oddly enough, that screen doesn't look overly big at all. It looks rather fitting.

I think your first photo has put me one step closer to buying that screen. Second looks nice as well (I've seen it previously). What is the actual width on that, about 44"? If that is the case I can hang it on the wall and leave my tower on my desk..

 

[Anomlay]

Oddly enough, that screen doesn't look overly big at all. It looks rather fitting.

I think your first photo has put me one step closer to buying that screen. Second looks nice as well (I've seen it previously). What is the actual width on that, about 44"? If that is the case I can hang it on the wall and leave my tower on my desk..

It is 39" wide x 23 1/4" tall...

 

[FrozenLiquidity]

As someone who has a setup which allows me to experience the best of both worlds in this scenario; it can really depend on what you use your computer for, and what games you intend to play on it.

First of all, a good, big display for gaming is IMO, one of the best things you can do for yourself to increase the amount of enjoyment you get from a game. Of course, not all large displays are created equal, and one that isn't cut out for the task can make for a pretty bad experience. If you go with one large display, it is important to do your research and ensure that you'll have options in case you don't like what you end up seeing.

As for eyefinity itself, the games which are making it totally worth it are all Sims. If you're not a sim-type guy, it may be worth checking out the eyefinity effect for your favorite FPS on a different system, to see if that suits you. There aren't many FPS games that I'm playing right now, but I will say that the effect is very appreciated in a game like Oblivion, where one can take in some very scenic vistas with a good setup. As for the twitch games, I haven't been playing any of those recently, so I can't comment on them in an eyefinity setup.

What I can comment on is that for the games I play, I have a hard time imagining an unmatched size monitor setup. At least for the Sims, I think it would just throw me off when I am trying to manuver towards something on a different screen during a dogfight or something. As for Oblivion or something like that, it may only serve as an interruption to the atmospheric effect that I get when playing on displays of the same size. As for CoD or something, you'll have to ask someone else, as that's just not my type of game.

Finally, if you're more of an RTS guy or something, your best bet is the one large screen, since there are very few RTS games which support multiple monitors, and frankly most of them are easier to play on one screen anyway (unless you want to go portrait eyefinity style with the screens). Other games may be hit or miss, but if you're in doubt, it's my opinion that the biggest bang for your buck is going with one nice large display that has the picture quality that you're looking for. Eyefinity is great, especially if you enjoy the sims, but it's a lot of extra money for something that isn't going to be the primary focus of your vision - I think it makes much more sense getting whatever you're going to be focued on the most, the best it can be, and then branching out from there. Though if you're doing a ton of productivy stuff too, having multiple monitors is essential. So it could be a real toss-up.

Feel free to ask me about my setup, but in general my computing philosphy when it comes to displays is, you'll be looking at it 99% of the time you're using your computer, and generally they stay useful long after other components have been retired, so don't skimp!

 

[keefusm]

Cool. I mainly play BFBC2 and Rift. Starting to play Rift is actually what enticed me into thinking about purchasing a large monitor. After this semester is complete, which is not far off, I will have no need for two monitors. Although I may keep a smaller monitor on the side for minimal browsing.

Which large monitor do you currently own?

I have thought about it quite a bit, and I am definitely going to go the large screen route. Which screen I am not sure, but the HP above looks pretty nice.

As someone who has a setup which allows me to experience the best of both worlds in this scenario; it can really depend on what you use your computer for, and what games you intend to play on it.

First of all, a good, big display for gaming is IMO, one of the best things you can do for yourself to increase the amount of enjoyment you get from a game. Of course, not all large displays are created equal, and one that isn't cut out for the task can make for a pretty bad experience. If you go with one large display, it is important to do your research and ensure that you'll have options in case you don't like what you end up seeing.

As for eyefinity itself, the games which are making it totally worth it are all Sims. If you're not a sim-type guy, it may be worth checking out the eyefinity effect for your favorite FPS on a different system, to see if that suits you. There aren't many FPS games that I'm playing right now, but I will say that the effect is very appreciated in a game like Oblivion, where one can take in some very scenic vistas with a good setup. As for the twitch games, I haven't been playing any of those recently, so I can't comment on them in an eyefinity setup.

What I can comment on is that for the games I play, I have a hard time imagining an unmatched size monitor setup. At least for the Sims, I think it would just throw me off when I am trying to manuver towards something on a different screen during a dogfight or something. As for Oblivion or something like that, it may only serve as an interruption to the atmospheric effect that I get when playing on displays of the same size. As for CoD or something, you'll have to ask someone else, as that's just not my type of game.

Finally, if you're more of an RTS guy or something, your best bet is the one large screen, since there are very few RTS games which support multiple monitors, and frankly most of them are easier to play on one screen anyway (unless you want to go portrait eyefinity style with the screens). Other games may be hit or miss, but if you're in doubt, it's my opinion that the biggest bang for your buck is going with one nice large display that has the picture quality that you're looking for. Eyefinity is great, especially if you enjoy the sims, but it's a lot of extra money for something that isn't going to be the primary focus of your vision - I think it makes much more sense getting whatever you're going to be focued on the most, the best it can be, and then branching out from there. Though if you're doing a ton of productivy stuff too, having multiple monitors is essential. So it could be a real toss-up.

Feel free to ask me about my setup, but in general my computing philosphy when it comes to displays is, you'll be looking at it 99% of the time you're using your computer, and generally they stay useful long after other components have been retired, so don't skimp!

 

[Matrices]

Rift has the most customizable UI of any game in existence, so it's excellent for Eyefinity. That said, I find that I prefer gaming on my 30" more than my Eyefinity setup. The combination of high visual quality of the monitor, the size of the uninterrupted screen, and the detail of the high resolution make it attractive across the board.

Eyefinity on the other hand only becomes immersive with specific types of games (sims and some FPS). And then you have to find sims and FPS that are actually compatible. Bad Company 2, for instance, was a great candidate, then the idiots at DICE fucked it up with a patch 6 months back and never fixed it, so many people can't do Eyefinity on BC2 anymore (though it does work in Vietnam still).

I also have a 54" Plasma I used to use for PC gaming on the couch. I guess I can see a 42" TV being cool for gaming at a closer distance, assuming you use a lot of AA to hide the poor pixel density, but it must still be awful for looking at fonts, which is 90% of my overall PC experience: browsing, reading, and writing.

 

[Anomlay]

I'm telling you games look great on the HP LD 4200. If.....................I get like an INCH from the screen I see pixels...otherwise no.

 

[FrozenLiquidity]

Cool. I mainly play BFBC2 and Rift. Starting to play Rift is actually what enticed me into thinking about purchasing a large monitor. After this semester is complete, which is not far off, I will have no need for two monitors. Although I may keep a smaller monitor on the side for minimal browsing.

Which large monitor do you currently own?

I have thought about it quite a bit, and I am definitely going to go the large screen route. Which screen I am not sure, but the HP above looks pretty nice.

I own (3) Westinghouse 37W3's, and an LG LD450 37". Run the westy's in eyefinity for the games I currently play.

I can definitely attest to the PQ on the westy's, but finding them these days is akin to a needle in a haystack. I will echo the advice that others have given me though. Don't expect to be happy with the first large screen you get (this is mostly for the HDTV's for use as monitors). Try to get it from a place that will make it easy to return if necessary and do your research! Shop around for the best potential models for your particular needs and do your best to try them out and see which ones suit you the most.

 

[rrahim3]

Well I got all my stuff today and I realized everything I bought was crap. Eyefinity sucks. Mechanical Keyboards suck. Graphics cards in SLI with fans suck cuz then one of them gets extremely hot. So dissapointing. In my opinion the only thing you need is a GTX 280 and a 3d 24" monitor and your set to play games in 3d. 3d is much cooler than 2d gaming. u gota try it out to see cuz its like it goes into your monitor its pretty fun and better than 2d. But eyefinity is not fun and sli is stupid lolol

 

[Matrices]

Uh, what? If your motherboard isn't shit, you can space out your video cards. Bottom one should run maybe 5-10C hotter than the top, but that's about it.