Best monitors / Card / Opinions for a new eyefinity setup

[LxMxFxD4]

I've decided to pull the trigger on buying an eyefinity setup, up to $1000 total to upgrade my gaming. I have an odd situation in that I use my computer for work, for games and as an HTPC. What this currently means is:

Video cards:
MSI 5750 x2 OC to 5770s (roughly) that I software crossfire when needed
NOTE: These cards are NOT eyefinity edition.
Also: My motherboard is Crossfire so I have to go that route

Monitors:
DVI: Dell 2405FPW 24" 1920x1200 2405FPW which is 8 bit color and still looks pretty good (where I game)
DVI (card2): Samnsung 19" legacy LCD (1280x1024) that I like to use for work and when im dead in WoW
HDMI (card2): 46" Samsung 1920x1080p for watching blurays / media

Now fortunately for me, my 5750s in crossfire can basically play every game in the highest settings at 1920x1200 except crysis 2 which I have to play on "very high" or medium. So I realize a new eyefinity setup is going to require a new video card.. or 2.

I've decided that 1920x1080 monitors are probably what im going to go for here, along with at least one 6850 or 6870, maybe 2. Here is where my setup gets wonky:

1. I will need to connect at least 4 monitors to this setup. If only 4, all 4 will be 1920x1080 (3 new monitors and my 1080p 46"). If 5 (I keep my dell 2405) the 5th monitor would be 1920x1200 (different resolution).
2. Since passive display ports are cheap on monoprice ($7 each or so), connectivity doesn't seem to be a problem. 1920x1080 can all be connected via passive displayports right?
3. This is my big question: If I'm playing WoW for example and want to alt+tab out to check email or something on my 5th monitor (the 1920x1200), is that possible while running the eyefinity setup?
4. Is #3 possible while in crossfire eyefinity?
5. I know there are some eyefinity cards that can do up to 6 monitors. Is that the card I need? That is, all 6 plugged into the same card, or if i get crossfire, can some of them be plugged into card #2?
6. What video card(s) would you suggest for this kind of setup? I'll be playing MOSTLY WoW (which is pretty easy to render) but also some LFD2, some Crysis2 (when directx11 port is released) and possibly BF3 all hopefully in eyefinity. I am thinking a 6870 but that may not be enough for decent quality settings?
7. New monitors. I'm thinking, maybe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=LG-E2370V-BF 23" but obviously the thinner bezels the better. Any suggestions welcome. I've already accepted that they'll have to be 6bit panels for my cost limitation.

Thanks for reading this all the way through! And thanks in advance to all.

 

[LxMxFxD4]

Man, anandtech is dead. Where does everyone post now? This is a half hearted hope a bump will get a quality response.

 

[Blitz KriegeR]

There are still readers here, but sadly I don't know how to answer most of your questions! :S

 

[dac7nco]

3. This is my big question: If I'm playing WoW for example and want to alt+tab out to check email or something on my 5th monitor (the 1920x1200), is that possible while running the eyefinity setup?
4. Is #3 possible while in crossfire eyefinity?
5. I know there are some eyefinity cards that can do up to 6 monitors. Is that the card I need? That is, all 6 plugged into the same card, or if i get crossfire, can some of them be plugged into card #2?
6. What video card(s) would you suggest for this kind of setup? I'll be playing MOSTLY WoW (which is pretty easy to render) but also some LFD2, some Crysis2 (when directx11 port is released) and possibly BF3 all hopefully in eyefinity. I am thinking a 6870 but that may not be enough for decent quality settings?
7. New monitors. I'm thinking, maybe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=LG-E2370V-BF 23" but obviously the thinner bezels the better. Any suggestions welcome. I've already accepted that they'll have to be 6bit panels for my cost limitation.

3: Yes, Eyefinity looks like a single separate monitor
4: Yes, see above
5: I don't know; I've used nV for surround... I don't think it matters?
6: A pair of 6870s will be completely inadequate for modern FPS games. At a minimum you should be using 6970s. I used to use 2x580s @ 3x 19x12 LCDs, on a pair of Xeons, and there were several games which would lag.
7: No... you want three of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005234 at minimum, in portrait mode (unless you like your head constantly spinning)... the IPS panel is the same, but with a thin bezel and pivot adjustment on a VESA mount. IPS is great in portrait. Ignore the douche who complained about the blue-shift color balance.

Daimon

 

[LxMxFxD4]

3: Yes, Eyefinity looks like a single separate monitor
4: Yes, see above
5: I don't know; I've used nV for surround... I don't think it matters?
6: A pair of 6870s will be completely inadequate for modern FPS games. At a minimum you should be using 6970s. I used to use 2x580s @ 3x 19x12 LCDs, on a pair of Xeons, and there were several games which would lag.
7: No... you want three of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824005234 at minimum, in portrait mode (unless you like your head constantly spinning)... the IPS panel is the same, but with a thin bezel and pivot adjustment on a VESA mount. IPS is great in portrait. Ignore the douche who complained about the blue-shift color balance.

Daimon

Ahh, thank you for this information! I've been looking at 6950s which are the only thing that will not exceed my $1000 budget with 3x$200 monitors.

Do want to clarify: Regular video cards only allow TWO monitors that have differing resolution. I'll be running 4 monitors at 1920x1080 and ONE monitor at 19x12. Assuming for a moment that I only buy one 6970, must it be an eyefinity 6 edition or can I buy one with 5 ports?

As for portrait mode vs. landscape for these monitors and "head turning".. frankly I can't comment. I've never actually played with an eyefinity setup, only seen the youtube vids and drooled. Can anyone comment on whether 1920pixels vertically is really advantageous? Most games are played on a single physical level and rendering an extra 1000px of sky seems.. not like i'tll be of any help. I mostly play WoW which is almost entirely horizontal. In addition, the monitor you linked has a pretty wide bottom bezel. If I rotated that, i'd have "huge" black bezel gaps. Thoughts?

 

[Mistwalker]

I'm running three 1920x1200 monitors and a single 1920x1080 off of one standard 6950 (but you need Display Port capable monitors to do this if I'm not mistaken). I do have a second 6950 for gaming but nothing is connected to it.

I wouldn't run 1920x1080 monitors in portrait Eyefinity as that's really skimpy horizontal resolution between bezels, maybe for productivity/web surfing but definitely not for gaming and it of course kills any video watching.

 

[deimos3428]

5. I know there are some eyefinity cards that can do up to 6 monitors. Is that the card I need? That is, all 6 plugged into the same card, or if i get crossfire, can some of them be plugged into card #2?

This one I can answer. Crossfire disables all the outputs on the secondary card, regardless of whether Eyefinity is used or not.

Eyefinity is going to get expensive with all those new monitors, etc, so while you're sorting your hardware requirements and saving up, take a look at SoftTH. This is a free tool for multi-display PC gaming that supports multiple monitors of different resolutions. You'll be able to have a sort-of Eyefinity experience with existing hardware while you wait. Not as elegant, but the price is right. Works on L4D2/TF2/Dirt 2/TDU2. (I haven't tried anything that doesn't end in a 2. Weird.)

 

[LxMxFxD4]

This one I can answer. Crossfire disables all the outputs on the secondary card, regardless of whether Eyefinity is used or not.

Eyefinity is going to get expensive with all those new monitors, etc, so while you're sorting your hardware requirements and saving up, take a look at SoftTH. This is a free tool for multi-display PC gaming that supports multiple monitors of different resolutions. You'll be able to have a sort-of Eyefinity experience with existing hardware while you wait. Not as elegant, but the price is right. Works on L4D2/TF2/Dirt 2/TDU2. (I haven't tried anything that doesn't end in a 2. Weird.)

Thank you! Apparently ALL 6950s (with eyefinity, which I think is also every card) have 5 or 6 outputs. This would be sufficient., however I still have this question:

Can a single 6950 (eyefinity edition) display 3 DIFFERENT "groups"? I think the answer is no. This isn't a huge deal, as I can disable one monitor. The reason is this:

Group 1: 3 1920x1080 23" in eyefinity group 1 (for gaming, using DP, DP, DVI)
Group 2: 1 1920x1080 46" TV for watching movies on (connected via HDMI)
Group 3: 1 1920x1200 24" separate monitor for alt tabbing during gaming (DVI)

Now... groups 2 and 3 aren't really groups, just single monitors. If I have to disable my TV while gaming, thats okay with me, but I am not sure I have to. Can anyone confirm?

Also, for group one's display ports: Can I use the $7 monoprice PASSIVE adapters for 1080p connections? I think I can but i'd really like to confirm.

TIA to all once again!

 

[LxMxFxD4]

I'm running three 1920x1200 monitors and a single 1920x1080 off of one standard 6950 (but you need Display Port capable monitors to do this if I'm not mistaken). I do have a second 6950 for gaming but nothing is connected to it.

I wouldn't run 1920x1080 monitors in portrait Eyefinity as that's really skimpy horizontal resolution between bezels, maybe for productivity/web surfing but definitely not for gaming and it of course kills any video watching.

After reading some hardocp reviews of eyefinity I decided to go with a 6950 2GB. Apparently the 1GB verions choke up on AA with 1GB cards, even the 5970 in xfire with 1GB per card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4127555&cm_re=msi_6950-_-14-127-555-_-Product

I figure I'll start with this and go from there. As far as I recall I can always get another 6970 and xfire with it, just has to be a 69xx card, I think. Haven't decided on my monitors yet.

 

[Jacky60]

After reading some hardocp reviews of eyefinity I decided to go with a 6950 2GB. Apparently the 1GB verions choke up on AA with 1GB cards, even the 5970 in xfire with 1GB per card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-555-_-Product

I figure I'll start with this and go from there. As far as I recall I can always get another 6970 and xfire with it, just has to be a 69xx card, I think. Haven't decided on my monitors yet.

With only 1 6950 you're going to have a pretty poor eyefinity experience, didn't you read the post about the two 580's and dual xeons. A 6950 is fine for most games 1920/1200 with medium/high settings BUT you're dreaming if you think BF3 is going to look anything like a slide show with that many pixels to paint on anything other than minimum settings. I play Arma 2 which is of course very demanding but even with two 6990's I'm not even going to think about eyefinity for now. I'd say 3 6950's and you'll be getting goodish performance but I still think BF3 will bring that weedy rig to a halt.

 

[betasub]

Apparently ALL 6950s (with eyefinity, which I think is also every card) have 5 or 6 outputs. This would be sufficient., however I still have this question:

Can a single 6950 (eyefinity edition) display 3 DIFFERENT "groups"? I think the answer is no. This isn't a huge deal, as I can disable one monitor. The reason is this:

Group 1: 3 1920x1080 23" in eyefinity group 1 (for gaming, using DP, DP, DVI)
Group 2: 1 1920x1080 46" TV for watching movies on (connected via HDMI)
Group 3: 1 1920x1200 24" separate monitor for alt tabbing during gaming (DVI)

I'm sure you've noticed the major difference between most 6950 cards & the "Eyefinity Edition" cards.

The latter have six DP outputs, & can deliver directly to six monitors through DP or adaptors.

The former have a combination of DVI/HDMI/DP. Regular 6950 cards can only handle four displays directly (without getting into DP hubs / break-out boxes,) - despite having five outputs: 2x DP, 1x dual-link DVI, 1x single-link DVI, 1x HDMI. This is because the SL-DVI & HDMI outputs are share resources (RAMDAC etc). (With users getting so accustomed to adaptors, not sure why separate physical SL-DVI & HDMI outputs are necessary).

With enough adaptors, the "Eyefinity Edition" card should be able to handle your five monitors/three groups arrrangement (without commenting on gaming performance). A regular 6950 would require you to choose either Group2 (HDMI) or Group3 (SL-DVI): with one active & one disabled.