Recommend me a good triple monitor setup.

[Headspace]

I need some suggestions for a gfx/motherboard combo that can support a triple-monitor setup that will run with an acceptable framerate. I'm exploring options here so cost isn't necessarily an issue. Is SLI recommended/required? I would prefer to stick with nvidia.

[Cali]

Don't do SLI and if you want to stay with nVidia then get a 680 4GB card. I have a 670 2GB card and it kicks butt, I'm running 2 screens on it. Look at my sig, add a 680 and you should be good to go!

[JG14_Smil]

+2 on the single 4G card.

 

I've got a monster big 4 monitor setup and so far, I am getting great performance. All info is in my thread about it, so I won't go over it again.

 

Both AMD and Nvidia worked great. I think vram is the key to making a large screen smooth.

 

I have same mobo as Cali and love it.

[Sov13t]

Running an EVGA 670 4GB with 3x 27" screens at 5900x1080 with no issues.

[SkateZilla]

running 3 screens on a 7950 OC (900Mhz), FrPS rises 33% when I OC to 1100MHz.

 

6048x1080

 

Specs in Sig.

[Slayer]

I can vouch for spending the extra for a 4GB card. 3 monitors at 1920 x 1080 maxes out a 2GB card unless you start turning stuff down. 2x2GB SLI is still only 2GB of usable memory so a 690 isn't worth it for DCS. Makes me wonder WTH Nvidia was even thinking with the 690, it should have had 6 or 8 GB....

[JaseGill]

I'm on a 670 2GB and almost same specification as Cali and I too have good performance.

It seems if you want to go above 2 screens ATI is the thing. I'm an Nvidia guy though and don't actually need more than 2 so more than happy with the 670 for that. I tried to find a 4GB card but it was out of my price bracket, in the UK anyway and quite difficult to find someone with one in stock anyway.

 

You however, requiring 3 screens I think need to go the ATI route and find someone here who knows them well. I'm afraid I don't.

J.

Edited November 22, 2012 by JaseGill

[Kuky]

I can only say, get as fast/best graphics card there is and make sure it has 2GB of vRAM at least... you will need it

 

I am running triple 27" (1920x1080 each) and use HD7970 3GB vRAM

[JG14_Smil]

I would say 3 gig is a minimum for multiple monitors. I am running 6000x1920. I saw the difference between 2G and 3G and it is noticable.

Edited November 23, 2012 by JG14_Smil

[Kuky]

I was running 1 main screen 1902x1200 and 2x 8" and 7" with HD5870 which haz 1GB of RAM and it ran just fine, so depends what type of monitors you have and use them for. With 3 27" screens now I don't go over 2GB of vRAM so I think 2GB is the min

[Kuky]

Check this post:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1613179&postcount=23

 

You can see my vRAM usage with 3x 27" (1920x1080) tops at 1670MB so really 2GB video card should be good enough

[WarthogSmurf]

http://techreport.com/review/23217/triple-screen-gaming-on-today-graphics-cards

 

Since i was looking into it also i found this. benchmarks with a gtx680 vs hd7970 in triple head. Both work perfectly and the writer was surprised the 2GB version of the 680 could get along with the HD7970 and even have somewhat better fps.

 

Very interesting article and i recommend the read. I was planning to get the GTX680 just because nvidia driver are slightly better. But the race is not won but both card are perfect for the job

[Cali]

The more and more I see video of multi-monitor set-ups the more I lean towards 1 bigger monitor. Maybe it's just the video, but it just doesn't look right to me. Maybe it's something I would just have to see for myself.

[nickmow]

I just swapped out my Triplehead for a a new ATI card and have gone the eyefinity route. I know that's not much help. Point is the Triplehead served me well for 3 years and if I hadn't decided to spend out a bit on a newer card, I would of stuck with it. The effect on my 3 screens is just the same, higher resolution with eyefinity. Plus if you went Triplehead , it only uses 1 output on your video card Leaving you spares for monitors with instruments etc.

 

Cali, I know what you mean, but the wide effect is great, you focus on the centre naturally, but your peripheral vision gets stimulated to, You sort of blank out the monitor bezels after a while. I've been running a 3 (well 4) screen rig for 3 years now and wouldn't be without it.

[Kuky]

This is a quite from that review on triple monitor:

 

The biggest endorsement I can give multi-screen gaming is the fact that I have little desire to return to a single screen. Now that I've experienced gaming in surround, it feels like something's missing when there's nothing in my peripheral vision—a wider perspective I no longer want to go without.

 

And reason I am quoting is because this is exactly how I feel now with my triple monitor setup, it is as addictive as TrackIR... once you try it and get used to it, that's it :smilewink:

[WarthogSmurf]

like nickmow says the two screens in the corner of your eyes gives you a wider view of things. Personanlly i would love to see 6-head setups but then you really need to have two GPU in there but then DCS will not work properly

 

 

and oh yeah how many time i turn my head in other sim-like game just to get a better view and not getting anything -.- i feel half a person then