Curse

Painbringer · Aug 15, 2011, 04:46 PM // 16:46

Basic things to know up front on a basic 3 to 1 setup

Just an example not mine

1. Matching Monitors- Although this is not required you get the best setup with same screen size and models. Using monitors of different make or size and even model numbers will through off the illusion of perfect scale. (But if you have only a mix matched set monitors TV etc... by all means use it) Eyefinity does not care what monitors you use.

2. Graphic card (or 2 cards in crossfire) that support ATI Eyefinity (Some being 5750 5670 5570 6850 6950 5770 6970 6870 5970) If your card is not Eyefinity approved you will not be able to set the resolution to godly proportions.

3. Eyefinity requires a port for each monitor DVI, HDMI, Mini Display Port, Display Port and even VGA Please note the graphic card MUST HAVE – 2 qty of any combo of a DVI, HDMI, VGA connections and 1 qty of Mini Display Port Port or Display Port connections. (Yes even if you have 2 qty DVI connections and an open HDMI on your Video card you still must use a mini display port or a display port connection for one of the monitors.) From what I read the DVI port next to the HDMI port shares the same port so they will not work together at the same time.

4. All connections to monitors must be made to the same graphic card. This is from what I have read. Personally I do have crossfire and many more ports available, but for standard 3 to 1 they need to be setup on the same card.

5. For the 95 % of you out there that do not have a Mini DP or Display port monitor jack on your monitor you will need an adaptor to convert the Mini Display Port or Display Port. (Please note this converter HAS TO BE ACTIVE) Unfortunately active means it is expensive. You can find them to convert from Mini DP or DP to DVI or HDMI or even VGA. Please note there are many non active cables out there they will allow a monitor to work but not in Eyefinity. So save yourself the headache and spend the $30 plus on the right cable right away. Some cables scale different so if you are using jumbo monitors check to make sure the cable will cover its max resolution.

6. You must have Vista or Windows 7 and the updated ATI catalyst ~ they are making changes to support different games all the time so keep your system up to date.

2 to 1 experience

1. Yes you can Eyefinity with only 2 monitors. The 2 to 1 requires no special connection besides what is on your video card. (DVI x 2 or DVI and HDMI or DVI VGA for example) BUT if you play any shooter games your Crosshairs will line up right where the screens meet in the middle making aiming a horrific experience. In Guild wars it cuts your character in 2 half’s one ½ on one monitor and half on the other. For me GW was fine like this since it is all auto target and button mashing. To others they may not like it.

2. I highly recommend giving it a try since it is much cheaper. You got an extra old VGA monitor sitting around don’t you?

Nice thing about Eyefinity is that when you turn down the screen resolution it will not just spread it across all screens and ruin the image quality. It actually will shut down the unused screen.

Example = you have 2 x 1920 x 1080 monitors in Eyefinity it looks at it as 3840 x 1080. So when you turn down the resolution to 1920 x 1080 it recognizes this as the max setting for just one monitor. The unused monitor goes to standby. So in my 2 to 1 set up I can play Guild wars in 3840 x 1080 then switch to a shooter game set at 1920 x 1080 and play uninterrupted and have my crosshairs where they should be in the middle of the one screen.

Pros and cons for the 2 to 1 or 3 to1 setup

Pros
1. Eyefinity is a massive E-Peen experience
2. Gigantic Screen Resolutions – Maxed eye candy
3. In some supported games it gives extra peripheral vision that would be missed on a single monitor. Shooter games this is an extra edge.
4. The ease of changing settings is a plus
5. Overall set up is not too difficult (less the cable fiasco that many forget you need)

Cons
1. Its expensive the monitors cost money not to mention the special cable
2. You need some desk space, and man does three monitors take a lot of space. (You can wall mount if you wish but the brackets cost money as well)
3. Not seamless you will have borders on each monitor. (But to be honest you get use to it very quickly)
4. More wires if you are a neat freak you will have a lot of cable hiding and binding to do.
5. Since you have three monitors you probably need another power strip just to plug the three in.
6. On the power consumption it’s not too extensive but should be noted. (I have three 23.6” monitors max wattage is 55 watts each and only 2 watts each when off.)
7. Will not work on old operating systems

Last of all telling your wife that you will be saving up over the next year, so you have enough hobby money to buy the monitors and cable involved then having her reply just buy it now I don’t care ~ I must say priceless

Can’t wait for the release of GW2 should be amazing.