Bald_Maggot 0 Posted October 20, 2006 Im sure that this has been answered before, but as i have returned from a long absence from these forums im sure that i will be excused! Is there going to be any support for dual monitors in AA? I appreciate for FPS and the like the prospect of having your crosshair in between the monitors is a stupid and pointless idea, but for AA having things like your map and compass and other bits would be just amazing! Any Replys would be greatly recieved Ta Morphine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmarkwick 261 Posted October 20, 2006 What you probably would need is a MS Flight Sim style method of playing with windows, so you can have a seperate window for each thing? I guess having the option would be good, but there's something to be said for making the player get into a safe position before pulling up the map But I understand that some scenarios (non combat or something) where you might like it as an option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bald_Maggot 0 Posted October 20, 2006 about getting to a safe position.....good call, I agree but there are other options....radio, inventory and squadmembers screen What do you think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coderdfox 0 Posted October 20, 2006 Hey buddie, I'm dual guys too, but I doubt it will support it. You CAN run it in dual mode but your center monitor borders get in the way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
--O'DAY-- 0 Posted October 21, 2006 I hope this helps abit, it looks like you would be able to split or add views if it has a window mode though i'v not read such a thing. if this dose not help sorry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaSquade 0 Posted October 21, 2006 Dual monitor user here aswell, but due to my current system and the fact dual screen doesn't really gives you a better game experience (board screen = aim point), i don't use the two to display during gaming (one shows the game..other TS etc). For normal use (model work, texture work and anything elseit is a dream and i couldn't go for less in the future). Anyway, ArmA is around the corner and i'm planning to buy me a new rig (once i have the demo or some test with the final product). Triple monitor, witch is still the ultimite experience (appart from virtual goggles and dome projections), is again on my dream list. Knowing ArmA uses DirectX9 and improved stuff, i was wondering if BIS or anybody else who is in the beta (whatever) testers already had some tests (->framerates etc) on an modern system in combination with a triple monitor setup. I haven't check the forums or review lately, but in the end it also depends on the game itself (supported etc). I' sure it is supported (maybe not fully as it was shown on VBS forums the GUI didn't got adjusted adn what streched). I remember SLI somehow didn't support the triple monitor, as it is more used for single high-def./big screen monitors with resolutions of 2500x1600 afaik. I could go for a single 22-24inch monitor that supports that, but still i think a triple monitor has more potentional (bigger view and in the end it is width view i want, i don't care about the sky. My TIR will take care of that). I know the current grafic cards don't support triple monitors (maybe SLI but afaik it wasn't perfect or fully supported). Matrox cards do support it, but as we know they can't match the current (mid-high end) cards. Matrox TripleHead2GO is a good alternative but like Shin said in the past it doesn't support DVI as it is VGA only. In the end that wouldn' be such a problem unless VGA isn't able to transfer all data and cause problems (afaik that is why DVI made the market..bigger transfer since higher res. brings higher data). Anyway, if anybody has experience with this (beta or even other games) i'm interested in your results and thoughts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andersson 285 Posted October 21, 2006 I think you can get away with dual if you use fresnel lenses. The border is there but should be much less intrusive. I havent tried it myself but that is the idea... Actually I`m thinking of buying 2 monitors and try. Depends on the money as allways........... 1 19" with fresnel or 2 17" with fresnels... I dont think I can afford 2 19" with fresnels... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bald_Maggot 0 Posted October 21, 2006 i have another question...... The Triple monitor setup....... what does everyone think of that little box called matrox triple head....how good is that thing? i mean ive got a Geforce 6800 with two outputs on it will that little box actually work for gaming? What are the pros and cons of it? Any Help would be appreciated anyone interested in this heres the linky: http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2go/home.php Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andersson 285 Posted October 21, 2006 This is a good read for you, I think 3d Guru review It seems like a expencive bottleneck... And Crossfire user, do not buy. But 3 screens... Â Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bald_Maggot 0 Posted October 21, 2006 thats it mate 3 screen gaming is SICK! im gonna have to have a think to see if i think my GPU can handle it! And if i think it can than what better way to see AA into my life than on a 3 monitor machine WOOO! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaSquade 0 Posted October 21, 2006 (after reading some reviews, forums). My conclusion so far is..correct me if i'm wrong: Atm there isn't a fix/driver whatever to run triple monitors with a bigger resolution of 1280x1024(x3). Since SLI or quad SLI doesn't support multiple (read: more then 2) monitor setups. From what i knew and read, you will only truley benefit from (quad) SLI if you go beyond 1280x1024 (one or more monitors). So SLI and triple monitors are atm a 'nono'. On the other hand you have the matrox TripleHead2GO, but like that review mentioned (good link by the way), it isn't the perfect solution. Depending on the grapic cards, you also won't be able to run higher resolutions then 3840x1024, PLUS it won't allow you to use SLI or quad SLI (afaik) as it only let you connect 1 monitor input on the TripleHead2GO box. I surely have it wrong (i hope ), but it looks we are still stuck where we were 5 years ago (no 'true' triple monitor support). In the end i would be more then happy to run it at max. 3840x1024 (currently i'm used of playing BIs/a products at 1024x768) but current hardware features doesn't benefit if you use triple monitors. Again, i hope i got it wrong...damn technology . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bald_Maggot 0 Posted October 21, 2006 agreed. (if i fully understood what you say! there is no support from 3 monitors directly from a GPU unit What i really want to know is how much lag/mental stuttering you would get from the ripleHead2GO with say a GeForce 6800 setup playing AA in that resolution because im guessing that although it would be able to handle desktop pretty well, im guessing there would be lag issues with it.....I may be completly wrong but we can all dream! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andersson 285 Posted October 21, 2006 On the other hand you have the matrox TripleHead2GO, but like that review mentioned (good link by the way), it isn't the perfect solution. Depending on the grapic cards, you also won't be able to run higher resolutions then 3840x1024, PLUS it won't allow you to use SLI or quad SLI (afaik) as it only let you connect 1 monitor input on the TripleHead2GO box.I surely have it wrong (i hope  ), but it looks we are still stuck where we were 5 years ago (no 'true' triple monitor support). Yes, SLI doesnt support more than 2 monitors. But you have it wrong with tripplehead2go as you can have 3 monitors with SLI. You just connect the tripplehead2go to your SLI-master (or whatever that card is called that you normally connect your monitor/LCD to). That is also the way to do it with one monitor, you dont need to monitors to benefit from SLI. But crossfire is not compatible because of the ATI-drivers.. If I understand it right... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaSquade 0 Posted October 22, 2006 Hm yes and no i guess. You can connect SLI (master) to the tripplehead2go, BUT i don't see the benefit of it as you can max. put 3840x1024 through it (if SLI config allows that kind of resolution, witch i dought) and VGA only. I read about some render problems etc...maybe because 'that' game didn't supported that resolution directly (tripplehead2go modifiys the game, so in some games you have problems). Since ArmA will support SLI there might me some hope it allows that kind of resolution and support. In the end that 3840x1024 resolution is more then enough i guess, as it already will out max any high end system, unless BIS made the 7th world wonder...or are we at 8,9,10.. But again, there is not much info to find to make decent conclusions imho regarding multiple monitors in or without SLI. I guess SLI can have it benefits as it was made for high resolutions, where the tripplehead2go would be handy to split it up again for each monitor...compaired to 3 individual cards where you probebly have 1 (of the 4) doing nothing when you turn of SLI and feed the seperate monitors directly. Oh well, guess time will tell . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_eyeball 16 Posted October 22, 2006 Try running the triple head graphics card with this triple width LCD screen. Could be good, except poor response time of 16ms. Resolution: 4800x1200 LCD Image Seamless Display site Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 6 0 Posted October 22, 2006 sounds expensive, very expensive Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-ZG-BUZZARD 0 Posted October 22, 2006 OFP: Resistance is on the list of games that support the Tripplehead2go from Matrox. Though to run it well at that resolution, and if you don't want to go for an SLI, you could always go for a Geforce 7950 GX2... Two GPU's on one card!!! Â I'm going to get one when I finally decide to build a new rig around an Intel Quadcore CPU... Â Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaSquade 0 Posted October 22, 2006 That LCD is nice, but it isn't perfect and meant for games plus it is bloody expensive. Better go for the normal LCD with (narrow) bezer witch i don't mind. digitaltigers->zenview-trio20x The extra software is nice, but i guess a normal triple with your own selection of LCDs is a better option (read: cheaper). Anyway, i was planning to buy the XfX 7950GX2 (maybe even two, but i read the quad setup is buggy atm :s). AFAIK you won't gain anything with the Intel Quadcore CPU at least for games. It will take an other few years until developers integrate the full use of them...at least what i think or read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbsmac 0 Posted October 22, 2006 ..and look what Maruk just added to the Biki Quote[/b] ] Comprehensive support for wide-screen and triple monitor configurations for extended field of view. http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Unique_Features_of_ArmA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaSquade 0 Posted October 22, 2006 Thanks sbsmac (and maruk) for the update. I guess this support means GUI support aswell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PitViper 0 Posted October 23, 2006 Flashpoint:Resistance had Matrox multiple head support since 1.40 I believe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaSquade 0 Posted October 23, 2006 True, but was it ever really possible to run it with the hardware (in those days) and get a reasonable FPS? The only grapic card that trully supported (and still the only one afaik) was the Matrox Parhelia, witch now a days isn't one of the greatest. Anyway, there seams to be good news on its way as i received a pm of Placebo regarding a testsetup using something simular (triple monitor i guess) witch will soon test AmrA (latest build i suppose). I hope we will be able to see those reviews/test results in the comming weeks. Last thingy, i did some search regarding surround gaming last night and apperently it is pretty possible with these days hardware to run games on triple monitors. A good SLI system together with the Matrox TripleHead2Go is possible to provide the power to give you the needed resolution (max. 1280x1024 per monitor). Widescreen seams to be supported by Matrox box aswell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scruffy 22 Posted October 23, 2006 Kegetys posted this here some time ago, looks interesting too: SoftTH Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
