Does eyefinity take some "getting used to"?

[LxMxFxD4]

I've been waiting on a deal on 3 new monitors for eyefinity. Well, yesterday it happened... $185 for the Asus ve248h monitor at newegg. So I call fry's, they have one on display. So I drive up there and lo and behold they have crysis 2 playable eyefinity on 3 samsung 23" md230s (tiny bezels).

All I can say is.. disappointed. They didn't have it configured 100% correctly, as they didn't configure for the "blank space" of the bezels so things lined up. But I don't think that really was that big of a deal. My issue was.. I just didn't find a use for the other 2 monitors. To all eyefinity users.. is this normal at first? Is eyefinity still as good as it looks in videos or are the two side monitors totally superfluous? The config was 3x1080p 23" monitors in standard landscape.

I'm bummed because im finally ready to buy but now it seems like a waste!

 

[AtenRa]

I have tried an eyefinity setup a few days ago with my sing config, i haven't put a lot of time and effort on to it but i have to say that i really had a problem playing FPS games like BFBC2.

It was ok in racing and flight sims but i will try again tomorrow and ill let you all know.

 

[Madcatatlas]

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/

latest news also points out Eyefinity/Surround support in BF3.

That same site also probably has alot of input regarding Eyefinity etc. fyvp

 

[LxMxFxD4]

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/

latest news also points out Eyefinity/Surround support in BF3.

That same site also probably has alot of input regarding Eyefinity etc. fyvp

I'll check it out and probably repost this there. Thanks for the info

 

[Bman123]

I think that eyefinity really shines in games that have open world designs. I played fallout 3 on a 3 monitor display once and it was nothing short of amazing...

On the other hand I really struggled playing call of duty, seemed like too much too keep a eye on since I am use to single monitor displays, I am sure I would get use to it tho....

 

[Bman123]

I think if you have a capable rig and have the cash to blow then why not try it for a while. If you dont like it then just sell the monitors or find other uses for them

 

[LxMxFxD4]

I think that eyefinity really shines in games that have open world designs. I played fallout 3 on a 3 monitor display once and it was nothing short of amazing...

On the other hand I really struggled playing call of duty, seemed like too much too keep a eye on since I am use to single monitor displays, I am sure I would get use to it tho....

I've never played fallout 3 but I do plan on playing crysis 2 now that the directx 11 port is out. I'm hoping that this was a "fluke" and I have till tomorrow to order my monitors (assuming they dont go out of stock) but like you said it was almost "too much to process" which is why im hoping to get an answer. As my girlfriend commented, "you're turning your head a ton, isn't that annoying?" and I had to agree with her, it was. However, that could have but been my inner eyefinity n00bness causting all the head turning. Perhaps 6000px is just too much in the horizontal? I really don't know......

 

[Bman123]

It's one of those things I think either you get use to it and love it or go back to a single monitor. If I personally had the money and capable rig I would do it in a heartbeat. Fallout 3 looked amazing and that's a older game.

 

[apoppin]

Does eyefinity take some "getting used to"?

It depends on the game. And issues are magnified in S3D (3D Vision Surround).

The best games for Super-widescreen are racing games; probably then action RPG games (DA:O was made to do 5x1 Eyefinity as is DiRT 3)

However, playing some FPS games makes it very distracting as too much is going on in the player's peripheral vision. Bulletstorm comes to mind as an example (and very confusing in S3D). OtOH, Duke Nukem Forever played very well in S3D and over 3 panels.

So i would say it depends on the game. Oblivion is incredible in 5760x1080 imo.

 

[Grooveriding]

AMD's Eyefinity and Nvidia's Surround are hit and miss.

I've tried it, it is okay, but the bezels and sheer width of the viewing area is not suited to a lot of games imo. There are some games where it shines, racing and flight simulators, also MMOs seem to do well with it.

FPS games are generally poor in my experience, particularly online shooters where it will hamper your performance. RPGs also seem to not be so great.

IMO get the biggest single monitor you can. I think eyefinity/surround will be proper when they release a single panoramic monitor supporting the resolution. Or some sort of frankencreation of three monitors fused together without bezels between them and with a slight arc to the display.

 

[digitaldurandal]

They have a curved panoramic monitor but they want like 1,500 for it and it is some stupid resolution not 5760x1080 or 5760x1200 it is 3xxx by 9xx.

It will take a little getting used to. You have to use the left and right monitors as peripheral vision. You don't want to actually take the time to glance left or right really as it will expose the fish eye effect at the edges. If you simply look straight though it looks fairly natural.

 

[Bman123]

It's up to you man what games do you play?

 

[LxMxFxD4]

They have a curved panoramic monitor but they want like 1,500 for it and it is some stupid resolution not 5760x1080 or 5760x1200 it is 3xxx by 9xx.

It will take a little getting used to. You have to use the left and right monitors as peripheral vision. You don't want to actually take the time to glance left or right really as it will expose the fish eye effect at the edges. If you simply look straight though it looks fairly natural.

Yeah the problem with the crysis 2 setup was that the monitors were sooo wide that the stuff was actually kind of out of peripheral vision. This is what caused me to conclude "this is kind of pointless." That said, I thank those who posted here about FPS games - perhaps they really aren't suited for portrait eyefinity / surround. I can see how MMOs could really benefit because one is "zoomed out".. but I haven't tried it first hand yet.

As for the games I play in order of most to least (expected with eyefinity):

1. WoW Catalysm
2. Crysis 2 Campaign then multiplayer
3. Dirt 3
4. Team Fortress 2
5. LFD2
6. Bulletstorm online
7. Maybe Duke Nukem if i get around to buying it

Based on above posts, the consensus is that WoW and Dirt3 would be the only games that would really benefit from the eyefinity setup?

 

[theApp]

WoW I really like in eyefinity since I can fix UI issues with it. I haven't played Dirt 3, but most racing games seem to be really well suited to eyefinity. F1 2010 is awesome across 3 screens.

FPS games I haven't had much luck with since some do stupid UI things. Crysis 2 wanted to have my HUD on the sides and that made it hard to be able to sorta just glance at. Might be a way to fix that, but I never looked into it.

 

[Bman123]

If you do the eyefinity then try out the fallout games. I'll try to find this screenshot on [H] of fo3 and post it

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Based on above posts, the consensus is that WoW and Dirt3 would be the only games that would really benefit from the eyefinity setup?

I've heard people say good things about multi-monitor gaming in TF2. They say it helps prevent a few backstabs. And I've seen some videos of TF2 Eyefinity in action and I must say... I desire it. It looked pretty helpful.

 

[Bman123]

Figures now I can't find it

 

[LxMxFxD4]

ok you guys have convinced me that its worth a shot. Will order my monitors tomorrow and give it a go. I'll try the fallout games and see how it goes.

As for TF2, the vids I've seen of that are with 3 monitors in portrait mode instead of landscape. They did look pretty nifty, so maybe thats the way to go for FPS. Sadly my $185 monitors wont be able to rotate unless I get a separate stand. Oh well.

 

[badb0y]

I personally liked Eyefinity for FPS games when I tried it about a year ago. I don't have the luxury to have 3 monitors at home .

 

[NoQuarter]

After you get your Eyefinity setup you should head over to http://www.widescreengamingforum.com to get more info on getting certain games to run at the extra wide aspect ratio you'll need. Most of the games you listed actually have good support for Eyefinity, but Source games you do need to use custom UI settings to get the UI to be on the center screen instead of on the outer screens. Widescreengamingforum.com can automatically generate it for you.

Personally I love Eyefinity for most my games, the immersion in FPS games is great.

 

[kashwashwa]

I love my eyefinity setup - I use three 22" monitors (combined resolution is 5040x1050).

It's best with flight sims and racing games.

It's great with FPS' and 3rd person action games too, though I'll admit that for the first few days it was too distracting. Now though, when I play a game that doesn't support eyefinity (like Shattered Horizon, or Mass Effect 2), it feels like I'm wearing blinders, I can't stand playing without all the peripheral view.

 

[InfoTiger]

I setup my eyefinity in Portrait mode (3x1200 x 1600).
The view of BFBC2 is huge compare to my old 1920x1080.
But bezels are little annoying though.
Also my 5870 could not keep up with game in High settings.

 

[destrekor]

I setup my eyefinity in Portrait mode (3x1200 x 1600).
The view of BFBC2 is huge compare to my old 1920x1080.
But bezels are little annoying though.
Also my 5870 could not keep up with game in High settings.

I've thought about portrait, but the main intent for my Nvidia Surround setup is for racing sims, and I'll be testing it out with other games but imagine my 560 Ti's aren't going to like it all that much at 5760x1080 (higher w/correction, of course). But for racing sims, that landscape array is where it's at. And I don't want to hassle with rotating each display and adjusting things back and forth.
Though I do intend to rock at least one monitor in portrait from time to time.

 

[Via]

I didn't have any trouble getting adjusted. I loved it from the moment I set it up.

I run 3x1680x1050 in landscape. the bezels are off set enough to not be an issue. I barely notice them anymore when I game.

Try Grid - it's pretty awesome in eyefinity. The Hawx games are great.

Gothic 3 looks really good on three screens.

 

[SpicyTime]

Eyefinity does take some getting used to, depending on the setup. I didn't enjoy 3x1 landscape much with my games. It was a bit disorienting and I definitely had to turn my head way too much. On the other hand, 3x1 portrait is amazing. The bezels don't bother me at all in FPS games, and it feels incredibl immersive. If you decide to go eyefinity, I highly recommend you buy rotateable monitors. It's worth the extra cash.