Need info from 3DV surround owners before pulling the trigger

[samssf]

Hi all,

I'm strongly considering buying a 3DV setup with three Alienware AW2310 monitors and three nvidia GTX 580 cards.

However, what I'm pretty concerned about is the 3D glasses blocking my peripheral vision so that I'm unable to see the side monitors without fulling rotating my head. Or at the very least, images from those monitors won't be of any use since the 3D glasses will only help my eyes process images from the center monitor.

I don't have anywhere nearby where I can test a 3DV surround setup, so I need to hear thoughts of someone who has one or at least has used one.

Please note that I want to be able to angle my side monitors inward and use a high FOV on games to make sure that the image isn't distorted with this configuration. And I don't want to see back *too* far, since this would make having the wide screen pointless. I've always thought the main reason to have a three-screen surround setup was to have side monitors that create more immersion and allow you to pick up peripheral cues. But, it seems the 3D glasses would nullify that benefit?

 

[cybereality]

The Nvidia glasses do block some of the peripheral vision, but its not horrible. Keep in mind, I do not have a 3DVS setup, I have a dual monitor setup (main monitor is 23" 3D just like the Alienware). So I just put on the Nvidia glasses and eyeballed it. Basically if you want to see all 3 monitors, all in 3D, no blockage, you have to sit about 3 feet away. If you sit at a normal distance (1.5 feet) you will lose about half of each side monitor. I made a picture to illustrate this, the center striped area is what will be visible in 3D (the left and right areas are visible, but 2D only).

 

[samssf]

Awesome, thanks for the help! I don't actually see the photo, but I understand what you're describing.

So I guess then the question is... does this effect make it not worth having 3DVS? I don't know if I'll actually be getting this setup anyway because of the insane cost, but I'm just wondering what others think.