How does SLI affect multiple monitor builds? Better, or worse?

[semisonic9]

A) Does SLI work on multiple monitors?
B) If so, how? Frame by frame alternation, or a top-half, bottom-half approach on each screen?
C) If I don't go SLI, how well can a 8800gts handle 2 different monitors?

Basicly, instead of getting 1x 24-inch monitor, I'm considering getting 2x 20/22-inch monitors and using one to game on, and the other for multi-tasking, etc. The second monitor probably wouldn't be very graphics intensive most of the time, but I might want to effectively dual-box some games (MMOs) later on down the road, if the mood strikes.

It doesn't have the benefits for watching movies and such that the 24-inch does, but I'm thinking about purchasing a projection tv soon enough, so I doubt I'd be watching too many movies on my desktop anyways.

I'm completely new to multiple monitors, so any guidance would be great.

~Semi

 

[Lithan]

I recall hearing that SLI doesnt work with multiple monitors. You can have multiple monitors but you wont have SLI performance while using them, and you can have sli performance but only the first monitor will output. I may be wrong here but that's what I've heard.

 

[sgrinavi]

A. Yes and No, You can disable SLI and get both monitors to work then when you are ready to play enable SLI, reboot and play on a single monitor.

Crossfire works on two monitors, but since that is outclassed (in most games) by a 8800 GTS/g92 what's the point?

C. An 8800GTS/g92 works great on dual view and will handle 95% of what you throw at it, maybe 99% of what you can run on a 20" LCD

 

[Lithan]

A. Yes and No, You can disable SLI and get both monitors to work then when you are ready to play enable SLI, reboot and play on a single monitor.


Yeah that's what I was trying to say.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Well you could always run SLI and use a splitter to get output on multiple monitors couldn't you?

 

[Lithan]

I dont think most guys on dual monitors use the monitors to generate identical displays, which is what a splitter would do.

 

[Sketcher]

Matrox DualHead2Go.
peeps over in widescreengamingforum.com are seeing success with SoftTH (Software TripleHead); depending on what you want to do.

 

[Throckmorton]

Is there any reason he can't use a PCI graphics card for the 2nd monitor and use SLI for the primary?

 

[Lithan]

Not sure how windows handles memory addressing these days, but my usage of it back in the old 3.1 and 95 days says that you cant due to memory addressing limitations.

 

[semisonic9]

Ok, so the consensus seems to be that, at the very least, SLI won't work on two screens.

It will either:
a) Only SLI one screen, but have the other one functional
b) or run 1 card per monitor

Either of which is probably adequate to my needs. I'm just pondering skipping a TV in the bedroom and using a dual-monitor setup on my desk for when I want to play games and watch tv/dvds at the same time. :-D

~Semi

 

[Seggybop]

Originally posted by: semisonic9It will either:
a) Only SLI one screen, but have the other one functional
b) or run 1 card per monitor

Neither;
If you have two cards hooked together in SLI, these will be your options:
a) SLI is enabled in nvidia control panel and all monitor outputs but #1 are disabled. Secondary monitors will not function at all; not even on the desktop.
b) SLI is disabled in nvidia control panel and all 4 monitor outputs can be used normally. You can even span games across multiple screens, though only the primary card will do the rendering work. The secondary card will be utilized only for its monitor outputs and no video processing will be done on it.

For what you described a single card would probably be best.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Seggybop

Originally posted by: semisonic9It will either:
a) Only SLI one screen, but have the other one functional
b) or run 1 card per monitor

Neither;
If you have two cards hooked together in SLI, these will be your options:
a) SLI is enabled in nvidia control panel and all monitor outputs but #1 are disabled. Secondary monitors will not function at all; not even on the desktop.
b) SLI is disabled in nvidia control panel and all 4 monitor outputs can be used normally. You can even span games across multiple screens, though only the primary card will do the rendering work. The secondary card will be utilized only for its monitor outputs and no video processing will be done on it.

For what you described a single card would probably be best.

That about sums it up.

I don't recommend SLI for you.

Keep in mind AMD's 4800s & nV's GT200s are very nigh, & those will negate the need for SLI/CF once again, aside from those wanting to spend a fortune.

 

[chizow]

Not being able to use multiple monitors has always been one of the main reasons I've stayed away from SLI/CF (along with OC'ing in Vista and rumors of microstutter) and it seems the problem has carried over to even their single card multi-GPU solutions. I recently saw an ad though for the new dual-GPU Quadro boasting multimonitor support and massive resolutions spanned across multiple monitors. This makes me think the lack of multi-GPU support may be an artificial software limitation, with NV purposely disabling it to prevent consumer products being used in SLI in place of their professional-level products. If anyone has experience with Quadro SLI and multimonitor support or know if there's any specific hardware or software limitation that'd be good to know.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

I dont think SLi works with multi setup but i have crossfire it works great "verygooood" the crossfire is working under XP with hacked crossfire drivers (3870 X2 and 2900 XT crossfireX)

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: chizow
Not being able to use multiple monitors has always been one of the main reasons I've stayed away from SLI/CF (along with OC'ing in Vista and rumors of microstutter) and it seems the problem has carried over to even their single card multi-GPU solutions. I recently saw an ad though for the new dual-GPU Quadro boasting multimonitor support and massive resolutions spanned across multiple monitors. This makes me think the lack of multi-GPU support may be an artificial software limitation, with NV purposely disabling it to prevent consumer products being used in SLI in place of their professional-level products. If anyone has experience with Quadro SLI and multimonitor support or know if there's any specific hardware or software limitation that'd be good to know.

It probably just means each card gets a monitor. That's the way my 7950gx2 was.