Best Video Card Solution for the New Dell 30" LCD

[vaccarjm]

Right now i run 2 7800gts SLI on my 24" dell running 1920x1200. Should this setup be fine for the new Dell 30" lcd or should i look into buying a 7800gtx 512 or x1800xt?

I noticed that the max resolution for a 7800gt is less than the native resolution of the 30". Im not sure if SLI changes that. I just wanna ready when this lcd comes out. Thanks!

 

[Matthias99]

A 7800GT SLI should be faster than either a (single) 7800GTX"Ultra" or an X1800XT.

I know there were historically some issues with SLI and widescreen resolutions, but I thought I heard those had been resolved. You might need the latest/beta drivers to make it work. I don't know if you can run higher than 1920x1200 on single-link DVI; you might need a card with dual-link (like an X1800XL/XT) to be able to output at the ~2400x1400 native of those 30" monitors.

 

[vaccarjm]

What nvidia cards offer Dual link?

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
A 7800GT SLI should be faster than either a (single) 7800GTX"Ultra" or an X1800XT.

I know there were historically some issues with SLI and widescreen resolutions, but I thought I heard those had been resolved. You might need the latest/beta drivers to make it work. I don't know if you can run higher than 1920x1200 on single-link DVI; you might need a card with dual-link (like an X1800XL/XT) to be able to output at the ~2400x1400 native of those 30" monitors.

I believe it is 2560x1600

And it definitely needs to be dual link.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: vaccarjm
What nvidia cards offer Dual link?

7800 series.. x1800 offers dual link as well..

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: bjc112

Originally posted by: vaccarjm
What nvidia cards offer Dual link?

7800 series.. x1800 offers dual link as well..

I didn't think all the 7800s had it (though the Quadros based off them do).

NVIDIA's website on the GF7 series lists:

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs
Blazing-fast RAMDACs support dual QXGA displays with ultra-high, ergonomic refresh rates?up to 2048x1536@85Hz.

Dual DVI Support
Able to drive the industry?s largest and highest resolution flat-panel displays.

Advanced Display Functionality

* Dual integrated 400MHz RAMDACs for display resolutions up to and including 2048x1536 at 85Hz
* Dual DVO ports for interfacing to external TMDS transmitters and external TV encoders
* Full NVIDIA® nView® multi-display technology capability

It doesn't actually list a maximum resolution for the DVI. Or are they all off-chip in the GF7 line (in which case it would completely depend on which model of card)?

Edit: based on some reviews, it looks like the 7800GT/GTX supports a single dual-link DVI output (although it's not clear from what I've found if they can drive a dual-link and single-link simultaneously). X1800XL and X1800XT cards have two dual-link DVI outputs, and can use them both at once.

 

[Eureka]

Hmm... 30" LCD... isn't that a bit insane? My TV is 30".

Norm

 

[Keeir]

The problem may with SLI support

from
nVidia SLI FAQ

How many monitors are supported with SLI in Multi-GPU mode?
When in Multi-GPU mode, SLI currently supports one monitor. When in Single-GPU mode, users have the ability to use up to 4 monitors using nView Multi-Display Technology and Windows XP Dualview.

Note: The GeForce 6800 Ultra 512MB works in single card mode with Apple 30 inch HD Cinema panel. However, an issue has been discovered when running the GeForce 6800 Ultra 512MB card in SLI mode with an Apple 30 inch HD Cinema display. This is due to an interaction between the GPU, the application, and the ability to scale to nonnative panel resolutions of the Apple display. All GeForce 6 series GPUs will work with Apple 23 and 20 inch HD Cinema displays in single GPU mode.

Note: The GeForce 6800 Ultra 512MB works in single card mode ONLY with a limited number of widescreen displays. This is due to an interaction between the GPU, the application, and the ability to scale to nonnative panel resolutions.

NVIDIA recommends using single card mode for the GeForce 6800 Ultra 512MB when combined with the Apple 30 inch Display or the HP L2035 Display.

Maybe this has been fixed with SLI on the 7 series? Or fixed in general? You may want to contact Nvidia directly about it since 7800GT SLI really gives you some great performance...

 

[JackBurton]

As long as your GTs have dual-link, you should be good to go even in SLI. Just note, people are running the 30" ACD with 2 7800GTXs in SLI and they have commented that using a single GTX may give borderline performance when playing newer games at the LCD's native resolution. The reason I bring this up is, 2 GTs in SLI are just a little faster than one single GTX. So you might take a good hit running at 2560x1600.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: vaccarjm
Right now i run 2 7800gts SLI on my 24" dell running 1920x1200. Should this setup be fine for the new Dell 30" lcd or should i look into buying a 7800gtx 512 or x1800xt?

I noticed that the max resolution for a 7800gt is less than the native resolution of the 30". Im not sure if SLI changes that. I just wanna ready when this lcd comes out. Thanks!

The GTXs say the same thing, "maximum resolution 2048x1536." But that is for an analog signal (VGA). If you have a dual-link DVI connection, you should be able to run that panel at 2560x1600 with no problem. Now gaming at that res may be a different story.

Here is a glimps of your future when you get your Dell 30".

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
The reason I bring this up is, 2 GTs in SLI are just a little faster than one single GTX.

Umm, a single 7800 GT isn't that much slower than a single GTX. Overclocked GTs can easily match the performance of a stock GTX.

Edit: Hell, I've even considered dumping my GTX and picking up a 7800 GT CO.

 

[moonboy403]

is widescreen lcds that good?

howcome people don't try plasma tvs?

 

[acx]

Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: moonboy403
is widescreen lcds that good?

howcome people don't try plasma tvs?

because they ussually have a much lower resolution.
~1280x720 though some might be 1920x1080.
1080P isn't a bad res for a monitor but 720p isn't great for PC use with such a large screen.

 

[Acanthus]

Dual link DVI and SLI are not officially supported by Nvidia, and ive seen problems cropping up for some configurations.

Do some research because you shell out big for that kind of a display setup, at least try to match someone with "working" setups. Some people experience flickering and artifacts when running in SLI mode on ultra high resolution displays.

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: JackBurton
The reason I bring this up is, 2 GTs in SLI are just a little faster than one single GTX.

Umm, a single 7800 GT isn't that much slower than a single GTX. Overclocked GTs can easily match the performance of a stock GTX.

Edit: Hell, I've even considered dumping my GTX and picking up a 7800 GT CO.

I think he was talking about the 512mb version, where two gts are about 10-20 percent faster.

 

[grahamh]

your Gt's have one Dual link port each. X1800XT's have two

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
Dual link DVI and SLI are not officially supported by Nvidia, and ive seen problems cropping up for some configurations.

Do some research because you shell out big for that kind of a display setup, at least try to match someone with "working" setups. Some people experience flickering and artifacts when running in SLI mode on ultra high resolution displays.

Umm, we've been through this already. The flickering was more than likely attributed to the Apple LCD, NOT the SLI configuration.

 

[killershroom1985]

Originally posted by: grahamh
your Gt's have one Dual link port each. X1800XT's have two

7800GT has 2.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: killershroom1985

Originally posted by: grahamh
your Gt's have one Dual link port each. X1800XT's have two

7800GT has 2.

You sure about that? Everything I can find says it has two DVI outputs, but can only run one dual-link DVI connection.