5x1 eyefinity 2.0 & nvidia sorround 2.0

[leaderface]

I´ve been out out of the Pc gaming world for a few years and want a decent return. So I´m starting to design a new gaming rig with a few months ahead timeframe in mind.

A tri monitor setup inspired my comeback, but the more i think of it, the more i want a 5x1 setup. (for the added vertical space).

But I´ll want to play missed games, like the original Crisys, half life 2, etc (sounds good to play them at max settings for first time! 😉 ) and want to know if anyone knows when eyefinity 2.0 will be released (i think AMD will be first here), and the posible compatibility of a 5x1 configuration with old games (without changing the central monitor in a landscape configuration).

(I hope it will be great if i could use the 3 central monitors with black borders up and down for the games that won´t use the full space)

Do you think i´m wasting time waiting for a 5x1 setup?:
(For example, now i can´t find a perfect monitor for that, but expect to be resolved by the time).......

I want an impressive comeback, and have an empty room, so.....

 

[tynopik]

could you be a bit more specific about the resolution and orientation of the monitors in this setup?

 

[bystander36]

I would think in landscape mode, 3 larger monitors would give you the same height and width as 5x1 would with smaller monitors, but with fewer bezels. The power needed for 3x1 1440p monitors might even be similar to 5x1 1080p. Though I've never actually used them, these 5x1 portrait seem like they have a lot of bezels to ignore.

 

[Headfoot]

I think Bystander has it right here. It might give you similarly large amounts of space to do 3 1440p monitors and it will surely be easier than trying to get the mounting hardware to get 5 panels perfectly lined up. Not to mention, less bezels and you can know for sure it will be working just fine. The amount of GPU power to run 5x1080p would be enormous, even 3x1440p will be horrendous. But you'll have tons of screen space!

If you set the monitors up in portrait mode you will have lots of vertical space

 

[leaderface]

could you be a bit more specific about the resolution and orientation of the monitors in this setup?

(First of all, excuse my sintaxis. I´m not native english)

Yes, the idea come to me in the form of the Samsung MD230, that have less of 8 m/m of bezel (now there is a 24" version but have its faults).

So i took the sizes of a few monitors (27" / 24" & 23") and drawed them in hard paper to see the effect and... wow!... if you can put all the 5 monitors aligned verticall.... there is no comparision. (5.400x1.920 resolution with standard 1080p monitors), but thin bezels are mandatory there.

In the begining i didn´t want to move so much pixels; i was thinking in a 5760x1200 tri 24" horizontal configuration, but the thinest bezels come in the standard HD resolution monitors and don´t want to lose those vertical pixels, so i thought of a tri 27" 2560x1440 horizontally aligned setup (that´s 11.059.200 pixels to be moved..... 67% more pixels than a 3x 1920x1080 setup and 50% more than a 3x 1920x1200 setup), and... wow!, i know it´s very demanding to move that.
Then i look at the prizes of a good 2560x1440 27" and....
Make your counts.
It´s a little less demanding to move a 5x1 vertical setup (10.368.000 pixels vs 11.059.200) and cheaper too.
Let´s not talk about the look... (it´s impressive!): take a look at the amd site: http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/amd-eyefinity-technology/Pages/eyefinity.aspx (and think in the 5x DP exits that appears in the back of a 7990).
They are preparing that. It will be the next big setup.... and you will want it!

The only downside of that 5x1 setup i can see is in the compatibility side of things, and so was asking.
I supose in a 3x setup you can always turn off the side monitors and play normally, but in a 5x1......

Also, i´m suposing eyefinity 2.0 will be ready for the next "volcanic islands" release, but haven´t read a word of it, and so was asking too.

(Anyone knows if a tri monitor setup can be used in a non native resolution during games?) (AMD or Nvidia for that?)

 

[Micrornd]

I use a 3x1 landscape setup daily, both as an eyefinity setup for game playing and as an extended desktop. (presets allow switching with a mouse click or hot-key)
I can tell you that once you start using it you will not want to go back.

The monitors I use have 16mm and 15mm bezels (combined to 32mm in landscape, 30 in portrait), and once you start playing (or working) on a regular basis, you automatically ignore them.
The eyefinity bezel compensation helps greatly with this.
Think of it as playing football with a faceguard, when you first put it on, you notice the bars, but when the action starts they "disappear".
But, yes, thinner bezels are better.

I do have the monitors to move to a 5x1 portrait setup and will try it out as soon as I find a MST hub that is reasonably priced and available.
And, yes, you can setup eyefinity to use however many of the monitors you want, from 1-5, and switch between the setups using hot-key or mouse.

I'm not sure what you mean by -

Also, i´m suposing eyefinity 2.0 will be ready for the next "volcanic islands" release, but haven´t read a word of it, and so was asking too.

Eyefinity 2.0 was launched Oct. 2011, AMD steadily adding and improving in each driver release.

 

[leaderface]

Eyefinity 2.0 was launched Oct. 2011, AMD steadily adding and improving in each driver release.

Sorry, and thanks trully for your help.
I´ve read from the AMD site that eyefinity 2.0 will bring diferent resolutions between monitors, etc., etc....... when aviable, and that confused me.

Do you know what happens when you play an old game (even an emulated old game) in a 5x1 portrait config?

Now on the search for the perfect panel and stand for a 5x1 portrait setup. (It seems you can debezel them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxp2Y_FISoI )
And i think it have to be IPS (or in Samsung PLS) for the vertical distortion of other technologies.
It will be ideal in 24", standar full HD, DP entrie, debelizable, 5-6 msg. fast response time and with soft AR coating. (No 120 hz on IPS yet, no?)

 

[Micrornd]

Sorry, and thanks trully for your help.
I´ve read from the AMD site that eyefinity 2.0 will bring diferent resolutions between monitors, etc., etc....... when aviable, and that confused me.

The AMD eyefinity site is rarely up to date.

Do you know what happens when you play an old game (even an emulated old game) in a 5x1 portrait config?

No, I haven't stepped from 3x1 landscape to 5x1 portrait, but I assume it would depend on what you set the resolution to.

Now on the search for the perfect panel and stand for a 5x1 portrait setup. (It seems you can debezel them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxp2Y_FISoI )
And i think it have to be IPS (or in Samsung PLS) for the vertical distortion of other technologies.
It will be ideal in 24", standar full HD, DP entrie, debelizable, 5-6 msg. fast response time and with soft AR coating. (No 120 hz on IPS yet, no?)

As I said once you start playing or using, you don't notice the bezels, your mind just seems to ignore their presence.
I use NEC LCD2490WUXi monitors which are H-IPS panels, 1920x1200, 8ms G2G or 5ms G2G in overdrive.
They do up to 85hz in landscape and up to 85hz and 120hz in portrait mode. (although I don't currently have any way to verify the 120hz)
While many folks claim they are no good for gaming, I have yet to find a current game that they have any problem with.
I believe it all depends on what cards you drive them with.
I currently use 2x6950s for the 3x1 landscape and will be using 2x7950s for the 5x1 portrait, to make use of the PCI-E gen3 bandwidth.
As for a stand, I use a corner desk and "float" the monitors above it on a wooden triangular frame bolted into the wall studs.
It will easily handle the 5x1 setup, (about 100lbs of monitors) :biggrin:

 

[leaderface]

Thanks all.
(Micrornd, it seems like your monitors can be easily debelized, i liked them) and i also think it won´t be necesary for me the 120 hz thing, but still think IPS is important in a 5X1 configuration for the angle of view, i´ll look for something similar.
Have you looked at the link?, it´s incredible how many spare time (and money) some people have! (now that guy have changed to a tri monitor and 4 Titans. Too much for me, but it rocks!.

By the time i´ll build my setup i expect the new Volcanic Island will be ready, so, posibly, i´ll start with a one GPU configuration and one monitor to test it.
Then 3 monitors and then...
I deserve the best of luck on your new setup.

For the rest, i think we could leave this thread closed.

Thanks.