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Help on System build for 6-8 monitor setup

S

sjuliani

Junior Member
Im trying to build a new system that will be predominantly used for:
visualizing multiple molecular simulations for work (i have a 3 monitor system at work but would like to have the same sort of setup at home). ONE monitor would be a 3d monitor the rest will be regular 23" lcds.
i would also be using it for gaming (crysis 3, possibly gtaV in future).
I also have friends and my kids who like to come into my room while im working and i want to keep them entertained by having a few of the monitors designated to showing them movies/videos.

I will also be going with a audio card that would allow me to have multiple audio outputs (so the kids can watch their videos with headphones while i can listen to my own music with my own headphones)

I believe i would have to go with watercooling and had my eye on the asus P9X79 WS mainly because of its 4 PCI Express slots) but im really unsure and open to suggestions on motherboard, power supply and gpus. I'm also unsure on what, if any, software's i would need to manage the system.

I have a budget of $3000 set for my system excluding monitors (one monitor would be a 3D monitor, the rest will be Asus 23" LCDs). Looking to start the build within a month or two. All parts will be purchased in the US. I will overclock the cpu. Monitors would be running at 1920x1080. I have no brand loyalty.
 
A few thoughts:

1. How much space do you have? 8 monitors and the associated cabling takes a lot of space. Not to mention the multiple seating positions. I'd estimate that you need a 8' desk minimum, 10' would be preferable.

2. What specific monitors are you going to be using? DisplayPort is preferable so that you can keep the number of GPUs reasonable.

3. Windows multi-source, multi-sink audio quite frankly, sucks. You'll need separate audio devices such as USB sound cards as well as a media player that can direct sound to a non-default device (MPC-HC can, most web browsers cannot) in order to separate the streams.
 
1.I was thinking of having 4 monitors on the desk and the other 4 mounted to the wall to the corner of the room closest to the tower.
2.Asus VG23AH 23" 3d monitor on the desk with all the others being the Asus VH238H 23".
3. A pcie sound card should be able to do the job coupled with the appropriate software but an external card would be a better choice?
 
mfenn said:
A few thoughts:

1. How much space do you have? 8 monitors and the associated cabling takes a lot of space. Not to mention the multiple seating positions. I'd estimate that you need a 8' desk minimum, 10' would be preferable.

2. What specific monitors are you going to be using? DisplayPort is preferable so that you can keep the number of GPUs reasonable.

3. Windows multi-source, multi-sink audio quite frankly, sucks. You'll need separate audio devices such as USB sound cards as well as a media player that can direct sound to a non-default device (MPC-HC can, most web browsers cannot) in order to separate the streams.
Click to expand...

3: I thought that nVidia or AMD was working on tech that would allow each HDMI monitor to have its own dedicated audio stream, is that not out yet?
 
I suspect a $35 chromeplug (plus tablet or cellphone) or a Roku would be a much better solution for displaying videos to friends / children rather than trying to run everything from one computer. A multiuser workstation is possible in linux, but that would even be a bit of a project to set up and maintain.
 
sjuliani said:
1.I was thinking of having 4 monitors on the desk and the other 4 mounted to the wall to the corner of the room closest to the tower.
Click to expand...

The density of a computer monitor is going to be wasted if the viewers are going to be relatively far away. Why not just get a TV?

sjuliani said:
2.Asus VG23AH 23" 3d monitor on the desk with all the others being the Asus VH238H 23".
Click to expand...

Both of those monitors are bad choices for their intended purposes IMHO. The VG23AH is a passive monitor which means you get only half the vertical resolution in 3D mode. This means severe aliasing when viewing 3D content. You're better off spending more on an active panel like the VG248QE.

The VH238H is a bad choice for a multi-monitor and distance viewing setup because they are cheap TN panels. This means bad viewing angles (especially in the vertical). Even if you get the angles right, severe contrast shifts from one side to another due to the size of the logical screen. Secondly, they have no DisplayPort input, which means you're stuck getting a ton of otherwise useless video cards just to have enough TMDS transmitters. You're better off with DisplayPort-capable IPS monitors like the Dell U2312HM.

sjuliani said:
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16824236313&user=u00000687 3. A pcie sound card should be able to do the job coupled with the appropriate software but an external card would be a better choice?
Click to expand...

Two PCIe sound cards would do it, but you're already running low on slots as it is.
 
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