Frankenfinity

[gamerguy2]

I was considering using some monitors for an Eyefinity set up.

I have a 26 Inch KDS 1900 x 1200 TN panel. A 24 inch Soyo 1900 x 1200 MVA panel.

The 3rd monitor that would be added would probably be 24 1900 x 1200 TN panel. (The KDS would be the center display.)

For the Eyefinity a 5850 card would run all three. The configuration would NOT be used for any competitive gaming. Just recreational single player games and maybe some LAN gaming within my apartment.

Any advice on whether this is worth the purchase of a $200 24 inch TN panel? Will there be any problems while running this Frankenfinity configuration?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Personally I fail to see benefits of Eyefinity. Sure you have more real estate and higher resolution but that doesn't really = better.

Personally I don't like to have the separation between monitors and prefer a big screen.

For example, I would take 1 40" or 46" LCD over 3 24" or 27". And 40-46" LCD TV set up would also be cheaper.

Of course one can say that 3x 40" would be even better.....

But in your case, since you already have 2 monitors, I guess it makes sense. I just think it would be awkward with mismatched monitors.

Personally I would use 2 monitors for multitasking and just forget about paying more money for 3rd just for eyefinity (unless $ is no object)

 

[apoppin]

i have a 30" 2560x1600 LCD and there are times that Eyefinity (or 2D Surround) are just more immerse especially for racing games.

You can use 24"+26"+24" .. heck, i reviewed a Frankenfinity setup with 22" (16x10) + 24" (19x12) + 24" (19x10)
- the only common denominator was 1680x1050 and it was still decent.

The only thing you will probably lose with your setup is the bezel management.

 

[fffblackmage]

I'm not sure the 5850 alone is enough to drive three 1920x1200 displays with a decent framerate. Well, depends on which game I guess.

 

[Zargon]

on most new games like BC2, it isnt really.

you would want the 5870

vdubchaos: you are failing to account for the added width and FOV benefits, of essentialy a real FOV instead of a parascope view

 

[Vdubchaos]

vdubchaos: you are failing to account for the added width and FOV benefits, of essentialy a real FOV instead of a parascope view

I understand it completely, I just don't think it's worth the price of 2 extra monitors.

We are talking good $300-500+ for 2 extra monitors.

Also bezel just bothers me (even though it "disappears" as your eyes adjust).

Would prefer a nice big screen or better yet projector.

 

[Skurge]

I understand it completely, I just don't think it's worth the price of 2 extra monitors.

We are talking good $300-500+ for 2 extra monitors.

Also bezel just bothers me (even though it "disappears" as your eyes adjust).

Would prefer a nice big screen or better yet projector.

How about 3 projectors?

Im planning on getting eyefinity with these new cards coming out.

 

[gorobei]

OP: no real problems with the eyefinity setup you are planning. Bezel management is per border so mixed bezel compensation isnt a problem.
some games dont tax cypress even with the extra res(no significant drop in fps), but others do. you may want to look up some reviews of 5850 vs 5870 for your preferred game to figure out if you need to upgrade your purchase.

 

[gorobei]

crap, forgot the last point.

TN is fine in landscape eyefinity. But if you try portrait span eyefinity, the really annoying limitations of TN panels will stick out like a red headed step child.(color shift and inversion) Not to mention finding a tn stand with pivot.

 

[jackstar7]

I'm replaying HL2 and frequently play other Valve games (L4D2 and TF2) on my eyefinity setup using the bezel management and running on a 5850.

I haven't played more taxing games just because they're not my kind of fun. You mentioned mostly single-player games. Is there a specific game for yourself or your lans that you want to have some idea about?

I enjoy eyefinity a lot. I thought that I would also be "big monitor only", but having it set up and seeing how it plays... it's nice. Having more room for work isn't too bad either.