So, is eyefinity actually cool or meh?

A

arachn1d

Gawd
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Building a new rig in January and I have the ability to use my current 2408WFP (taking it away from my macbook pro for web-development) or get a new display for my gaming rig.

If I don't use the 2408 for gaming, I was thinking of potentially getting an eyefinity setup (otherwise I'd just use the 1920x1200).

I think having a black line between my screen would get annoying while I game. Anyone else have comments on this? Did you have doubts? Do you love it? Is it worth it?

What displays would you recommend for it? Off newegg?

Does eyefinity hurt FPS performance? I love having high FPS and if it'll cause my game to lag I'm more hesitant.

p.s thinking about getting a 6970.
 
<3 my eyefinity setup, I'm sure you can pick up 2 additional 2408's or 2407's that will match up great ...and since you have a 2408 already and it as a display port, one less thing to worry about (buying an active adapter for <$30 )

go for it and I'm really enjoying my 6970 performance over my 5970 and 5850
 
Once you go multi-monitor you'll never go back. it's really badass when the games support it. Not all of them do, but it's awesome when they do. I'm running 3 Dell 3007WFP-HC's on dual GeForce GTX 580's. Obviously it's not "Eyefinity" but rather "NV Surround", but they are similar technologies. The end result is more or less the same.
 
arachn1d said:
I think having a black line between my screen would get annoying while I game. Anyone else have comments on this? Did you have doubts? Do you love it? Is it worth it?
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I've always thought it was just a cool party trick.
Apparently people game like that for regular sessions. I'll never understand.
 
Tried out Eyefinity at a local Fry's one day to see what all the hub bub was about. Walked out with 3 monitors and have not been happier. It honestly renewed my fading interest in PC gaming.
 
Like Dan_D said, you don't go back.

A few sessions of 3 monitor gaming, and when you "back" to using 1 screen (for some games)... it's... hmm.. awkward to say the least. Like staring at a little window instead of a whole screnery.

Just feels your missing a lot with periferal vision. Just try it for 10+ hours and then go back...


Y.
 
arachn1d said:
Building a new rig in January and I have the ability to use my current 2408WFP (taking it away from my macbook pro for web-development) or get a new display for my gaming rig.

If I don't use the 2408 for gaming, I was thinking of potentially getting an eyefinity setup (otherwise I'd just use the 1920x1200).

I think having a black line between my screen would get annoying while I game. Anyone else have comments on this? Did you have doubts? Do you love it? Is it worth it?

What displays would you recommend for it? Off newegg?

Does eyefinity hurt FPS performance? I love having high FPS and if it'll cause my game to lag I'm more hesitant.

p.s thinking about getting a 6970.
Click to expand...

Eyefinity resolutions do "hurt" performance. Unless you go for really large monitors though, higher end cards like the Radeon HD 6970 and GeForce GTX 580 have more than enough power to handle it. As for the bezels, it's not as bad as people think it is. It's just like the A-pillar on the sides of your cars windshield. You'll get used to it and block it out quickly. The only time they are really intrusive is when you take really small widescreen monitors and run them all in portrait mode, or you use two displays or six, in which case there is a bezel in the center of the action. Yeah all things being equal it would be nice to ditch the bezels but trust me, once you start gaming across three monitors you won't notice them anymore.
 
Going with an eyefinity setup was IMO the best computer purchase I have made. While the gaming is awesome, it is also nice to be able to spread work across three screens. I am running 3x HP ZR24w, which is a pretty nice setup that can be found for less than $1200 and have native display port.

As far as performance goes, it isn't any worse than it would be running one giant monitor of equal resolution. 3x19" at 1280x1024 (3932160 total pixels) would perform similarly to a single 30" at 2560x1600 (4096000 total pixels).
 
Ah, so not all games support it? If it doesn't support it, does it just use the middle display? I'll try to google to find a supported game list.

Do you guys find only a "few" games support it? Bummed out?

What would be the ideal 3 monitors used in your opinion? What has the least width between the bezel?
 
And to clarify, one 6970 can run 3 monitors? Two would be display port, one would be DVI? Does the card come w/ all cables? I guess monitor does.
 
arachn1d said:
Ah, so not all games support it? If it doesn't support it, does it just use the middle display? I'll try to google to find a supported game list.

Do you guys find only a "few" games support it? Bummed out?

What would be the ideal 3 monitors used in your opinion? What has the least width between the bezel?
Click to expand...

I've only run into one game that doesn't really support it at all, and that is Starcraft 2. Other games have problems, I understand Fallout New Vegas requires a registry alteration, and cod requires the widescreen fixer.

Ideally 3 monitors with the least bezel would be best, but I don't have the cash for that so I have 3 syncmaster's with large bezels, but honestly I don't really notice them. My mind basically just ignores them.

Never going back to single monitor. Ever. If anything I want 3 30 inch monitors, but I don't have 3 grand.
 
arachn1d said:
Ah, so not all games support it? If it doesn't support it, does it just use the middle display? I'll try to google to find a supported game list.

Do you guys find only a "few" games support it? Bummed out?
Click to expand...
I've found most games support it (either out of the box, or with a small tweak). There's the odd one here and there that has issues with the super wide aspect ratio, but you can just run those on the middle monitor.
 
I've only run into one game that doesn't really support it at all, and that is Starcraft 2.
Click to expand...

What? SC2 has worked perfectly fine for me in Eyefinity from day 1.

Battlefield 1942>BF2 however CTD in Eyefinity.

If you're looking for quality picture but don't want to spend over $1000 grab some NEC EA231WMi or Dell U2311 monitors.
 
Unknown-One said:
+1 for Eyefinity. I'll never go back to gaming on a single screen.
Click to expand...

sure you will.

surround gaming looks cool for the first month you use it. then the realization will set in that the peformance hit at such resolutions is simply not worth. you will also start to realize that some games can be a real pain because you will be straining your neck looking at the left or right monitors to get vital game info at all times.

unless you are mainly a sim racer or flight sim fan then surround gaming really has no added value besides the inital immersion which fades off you quickly.

been there done that.
 
Would a single 6970 be better for eyefinity or 2x 6950's? Perhaps 6970 for now and add another later?

*I'm googling around for the slimmest bezels*

Which do you recommend 3x of?
http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/Store...x1200_max_resolution_black?offset=&isLaptop=N

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

Would I need to buy anything else to make it work?

Also a few $200 24" dell monitors here (http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...d=222806&c=us&cs=22&l=en&MODEL_DESC=ALL&s=dfh) which is better?
 
arachn1d said:
Why did you hate it?
Click to expand...

Lack of supporting games. having to spend hours cracking and hacking games isn't my idea of fun... I want to load up a game and play it
Lack of Ati/Amd keeping up with their drivers
Lack of Crossfire support while using eyefinity if the game even has support for either.
Lack of...

it was cool, for about two games, then it just got really annoying. was a complete waste of money imo.
 
arachn1d said:
Would a single 6970 be better for eyefinity or 2x 6950's? Perhaps 6970 for now and add another later?
Click to expand...
Dual 6950's would definitely be better.
I would say if you're going to be gaming across 3 1920x1200 panels, you're really going to want a CrossFire setup of some kind. 6950's or 6970's, but one 6970 wouldn't be enough performance imo.
 
Nickbaldwin86 said:
Lack of supporting games. having to spend hours cracking and hacking games isn't my idea of fun... I want to load up a game and play i
Click to expand...

Such as... I have exactly one game I have bought in the last 4 months give me fits. Fallout New Vegas. I don't play the craptacular CoD series. I did stupidly buy MoH, but didn't have any issues. Can you list the games rather than just make a blanket statement? It would be more helpful.


Lack of Ati/Amd keeping up with their drivers
Click to expand...

What does this mean?

Lack of Crossfire support while using eyefinity if the game even has support for either.
Lack of...
Click to expand...

Huh? Never seen this one.

it was cool, for about two games, then it just got really annoying. was a complete waste of money imo.
Click to expand...

It isn't for everybody that is for sure. I'll never go back. Racing games are beyond worth it.
 
It definitely shouldn't be allowed in StarCraft 2, that's for sure.
Ultimate cheat.

Unless expanding resolution doesn't expand the view distance...
 
arachn1d said:
Would a single 6970 be better for eyefinity or 2x 6950's? Perhaps 6970 for now and add another later?

*I'm googling around for the slimmest bezels*

Which do you recommend 3x of?
http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/Store...x1200_max_resolution_black?offset=&isLaptop=N

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

Would I need to buy anything else to make it work?

Also a few $200 24" dell monitors here (http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...d=222806&c=us&cs=22&l=en&MODEL_DESC=ALL&s=dfh) which is better?
Click to expand...

Quoting because it got lost in the replies...
 
so 3 cheap, crappy monitor's versus 1 really high end 26" or 30" LCD?...I'll take the single high end monitor...I agree with the folks who said that the novelty will wear off quick...plus the fact that the middle monitor is where 95% of the action is taking place...the sides are for immersion but do they provide any actual use or advantage in games?...staring at the side walls is great if you're into that sort of thing

also what happens when you don't game?...switch back to the 1 middle LCD?...surround gaming is fun but not the huge leap forward others make it out to be...and yes many people have gone back to single from multiple LCD setups
 
polonyc2 said:
so 3 cheap, crappy monitor's versus 1 really high end 26" or 30" LCD?...I'll take the single high end monitor...
Click to expand...
Buying three highend monitors is an option too, you know...

polonyc2 said:
also what happens when you don't game?...switch back to the 1 middle LCD?
Click to expand...
Extended desktop mode, all three screens stay enabled and extend your Windows desktop. The OS is aware of all three monitors and individual windows can maximize accordingly to individual displays. The added desktop real-estate is a huge productivity enhancer.



ARGH_SLI said:
Unknown-One said:
+1 for Eyefinity. I'll never go back to gaming on a single screen.
Click to expand...
sure you will.

surround gaming looks cool for the first month you use it. then the realization will set in that the performance hit at such resolutions is simply not worth. you will also start to realize that some games can be a real pain because you will be straining your neck looking at the left or right monitors to get vital game info at all times.
Click to expand...
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.

I've been gaming across three monitors since before ATi Eyefinity or Nvidia Surround existed, back when you had to use SoftTH or a Matrox TripleHead2Go in order to get games to span. I still love it, and I will not be going back to a single monitor unless someone comes out with a single monitor with a 48:10 aspect ratio :p

As for the performance hit...this should be pretty obvious, but you can get bigger and faster video cards to offset that. When my HD5850 stops being adequate, I'll get a couple GTX460's and put them in SLI.

Also, you think you're supposed to look left and right on an Eyefinity rig? Directly at the side monitors? That's not how game cameras are set up, you're supposed to look straight ahead and allow the sides to fill in your peripheral vision. Are you saying you can't use your peripherals, and have to look directly at something to see it? If so, I feel rather sorry for you...

Human peripheral vision actually has faster reaction time than central vision. Ever notice that you can see the flicker of a CRT or florescent lights when you don't look directly at them? That's the higher motion sensitivity of your peripherals at work, and you can put that to use in games if you have an Eyefinity setup.

ARGH_SLI said:
unless you are mainly a sim racer or flight sim fan then surround gaming really has no added value besides the inital immersion which fades off you quickly.
Click to expand...
While I do play a lot of racers, I mostly play first person shooters. The huge field of vision you get from triple-monitor is extremely immersive (like taking blinders off, really) while also giving me a bit of a gameplay advantage. I can see more without having to spin my camera around, and I can catch people moving in from my peripherals FAR sooner than I could with a single screen.
 
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polonyc2 said:
so 3 cheap, crappy monitor's versus 1 really high end 26" or 30" LCD?...I'll take the single high end monitor...I agree with the folks who said that the novelty will wear off quick...plus the fact that the middle monitor is where 95% of the action is taking place...the sides are for immersion but do they provide any actual use or advantage in games?...staring at the side walls is great if you're into that sort of thing

also what happens when you don't game?...switch back to the 1 middle LCD?...surround gaming is fun but not the huge leap forward others make it out to be...and yes many people have gone back to single from multiple LCD setups
Click to expand...
What would be a good 3 monitor system in your opinion then?

I will not use this computer for *anything* other than games.
 
Unknown-One said:
Buying three highend monitors is an option too, you know...


Extended desktop mode, all three screens stay enabled and extend your Windows desktop. The OS is aware of all three monitors and individual windows can maximize accordingly to individual displays. The added desktop real-estate is a huge productivity enhancer.




Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.

I've been gaming across three monitors since before ATi Eyefinity or Nvidia Surround existed, back when you had to use SoftTH or a Matrox TripleHead2Go in order to get games to span. I still love it, and I will not be going back to a single monitor unless someone comes out with a single monitor with a 48:10 aspect ratio :p

As for the performance hit...this should be pretty obvious, but you can get bigger and faster video cards to offset that. When my HD5850 stops being adequate, I'll get a couple GTX460's and put them in SLI.

Also, you think you're supposed to look left and right on an Eyefinity rig? Directly at the side monitors? That's not how game cameras are set up, you're supposed to look straight ahead and allow the sides to fill in your peripheral vision. Are you saying you can't use your peripherals, and have to look directly at something to see it? If so, I feel rather sorry for you...

Human peripheral vision actually has faster reaction time than central vision. Ever notice that you can see the flicker of a CRT or florescent lights when you don't look directly at them? That's the higher motion sensitivity of your peripherals at work, and you can put that to use in games if you have an Eyefinity setup.


While I do play a lot of racers, I mostly play first person shooters. The huge field of vision you get from triple-monitor is extremely immersive (like taking blinders off, really) while also giving me a bit of a gameplay advantage. I can see more without having to spin my camera around, and I can catch people moving in from my peripherals FAR sooner than I could with a single screen.
Click to expand...
Have any recommendations for which monitor to use 3x?
 
arachn1d said:
What would be a good 3 monitor system in your opinion then?

I will not use this computer for *anything* other than games.
Click to expand...

arachn1d said:
Have any recommendations for which monitor to use 3x?
Click to expand...
Get 3 Dell U2311H 23" monitors. They are IPS panels for great color, they have low input lag (almost as good as a cheap TN panel), and they also have displayport input so you don't have to use adapters. A set of 3 will run you just under $900.

My friend got 3 of these exact same monitors and will never go back. If you don't believe me on how awesome these monitors are, just check out the gigantic thread in the monitor section on these forums.

The Dell U2410's 24" monitors are also awesome, however they are more expensive and have higher input lag...and you only gain an inch in size.
 
Unknown-One said:
The Dell U2311H does look nice, but that price tag...ouch... Each monitor would be about $300 after tax and shipping.
Click to expand...

They are expensive, but they are so worth it. Another small benefit is the stands on them are really adjustable, the bezels are smaller than most monitors, and when you place them next to eachother their perfectly square edges leave no gaps between the monitors.
 
FaRKle0079 said:
What? SC2 has worked perfectly fine for me in Eyefinity from day 1.

Battlefield 1942>BF2 however CTD in Eyefinity.

If you're looking for quality picture but don't want to spend over $1000 grab some NEC EA231WMi or Dell U2311 monitors.
Click to expand...

In Nvidia Surround it is forced to single screen.
 
CaptNumbNutz said:
They are expensive, but they are so worth it. Another small benefit is the stands on them are really adjustable, the bezels are smaller than most monitors, and when you place them next to eachother their perfectly square edges leave no gaps between the monitors.
Click to expand...
I guess they're altogether still cheaper than a single 30" monitor, and you get WAY more total pixels / area / aspect ratio
 
What kind of framerates am I looking at on games being released in 2011 with eyefinity and 3 monitors, or a single 30"?

If it's going to suffer to the point where I notice lag I rather have pure smooth FPS... I can't stand video lag *at all*.

Perhaps I'll just buy one of those dell monitors and add more down the line? Are those good single monitors too?
 
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