Gaming on 3 monitors?

[SonicIce]

I already know that 2 is easy. But playing an FPS on 2 sucks because the crosshair is split between the 2 monitors. But my videocard only has 2 outputs. How do I add a third display? If I used a PCI videocard, would windows see them as 1 large monitor? Would games be processed on the AGP card and the PCI card used just for providing the 3rd output?

 

[StraightPipe]

if you want your desktop to span 3 monitors they will have to all be on the same vid card.

if you want them to display different things, or a clone they can be on different cards, but I believe that spanning must be on a single vid card.

Matrox makes some beast vid cards with 3 outputs.

 

[SonicIce]

oic. what did u mean if i want them to display differant things they can be on differant card?

 

[SonicIce]

queue!

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: SonicIce
oic. what did u mean if i want them to display differant things they can be on differant card?

If you want them to be independent desktops, or to just mirror what is on another desktop, your displays can be on as many video cards as you want. But this will not do what you want.

You can't run 'span' modes (ie, seeing one big desktop at 4800x1200 or whatever) or stretch 3D-accelerated windows across displays that are not on the same physical graphics card.

Matrox makes some triple-head (and quad-head!) 3D accelerator cards, but they are pretty slow compared to 'modern' ATI/NVIDIA cards.

 

[SonicIce]

so 2 is the limit for spanning i guess, except for the matrox solutions.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

if this worked for you id want to see picture sounds beastly 3 monitors

EDIT: what about a Y-Splitter for your video card to seperate the input would that work?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
EDIT: what about a Y-Splitter for your video card to seperate the input would that work?

Uh, no. Think about that one for a minute.

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
EDIT: what about a Y-Splitter for your video card to seperate the input would that work?

Uh, no. Think about that one for a minute.

I'm not too sure... How do these things work then?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Matrox-G200-Quad-mo...0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[1N0V471V]

Just game on one large 19-24" LCD.

 

[Zoinks]

Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
Just game on one large 19-24" LCD.

Why when you could game on 3 large 19-24" monitors?

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: SonicIce

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
EDIT: what about a Y-Splitter for your video card to seperate the input would that work?

Uh, no. Think about that one for a minute.

I'm not too sure... How do these things work then?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Matrox-G200-Quad-mo...0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The connectors on the back are 2 VGA's combined into one. Four won't physically fit.

 

[AzNPinkTuv]

It can be done.. 7800gt sli on a card from asus.. or if theres a 7900 sli on a card with 4 ports like the asus one

 

[1N0V471V]

Well sure, if you want your games to look like a slide show, go ahead. I think dual-monitors is pointless for gaming, but I'm 16 so what do I know.

 

[LiquidImpulse]

Originally posted by: SonicIce
I already know that 2 is easy. But playing an FPS on 2 sucks because the crosshair is split between the 2 monitors. But my videocard only has 2 outputs. How do I add a third display? If I used a PCI videocard, would windows see them as 1 large monitor? Would games be processed on the AGP card and the PCI card used just for providing the 3rd output?

IMO, i really dont think you would play any FPS with 3 monitors, i mean..it would kill your neck! The only thing i would recommended with 3+ monitors would be a flight sim.

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: Zoinks

Originally posted by: 1N0V471V
Just game on one large 19-24" LCD.

Why when you could game on 3 large 19-24" monitors?

I'll stick to one large 37"/42" 1920x1080 display

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: LiquidImpulse

Originally posted by: SonicIce
I already know that 2 is easy. But playing an FPS on 2 sucks because the crosshair is split between the 2 monitors. But my videocard only has 2 outputs. How do I add a third display? If I used a PCI videocard, would windows see them as 1 large monitor? Would games be processed on the AGP card and the PCI card used just for providing the 3rd output?

IMO, i really dont think you would play any FPS with 3 monitors, i mean..it would kill your neck! The only thing i would recommended with 3+ monitors would be a flight sim.

true. i would try a few differant games. its not practical with the bezel in between and all. but its just for fun, it'd be sweet.

here's some games for the matrox triple head