Max @ 1080p or Min @ 3 x 1080p

[cbrunny]

Just curious about what people's preferences are. Assume equal framerates in both cases.

What is your preference between:

1) Gaming maxed out at 1 x 1080p with full settings, high frame-rate
2) Gaming on minimum settings at 3 x 1080p in Eyefinity/Surround, high frame-rate

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Some additional context. I've just picked up AC4 and was really excited to play it in eyefinity, but I've found that because it is so poorly optimized for multi-threaded CPU that it's bound essentially by single-core performance. On my FX-8350, that's fairly poor, esp. relative to a 4770k. I run with 2 x 7970 OC'd to ~1050/1500, which (assuming no CPU bottleneck) should be able to drive the game in full eyefinity maxed out without problems. However, I'm getting a really poor frame-rate in this config due to the CPU bottleneck.

The result is that I can still play in eyefinity but only with minimum settings. On 1080p though I can max it out and have a high frame-rate fairly consistently.

Max settings and Eyefinity each have their advantages. Just curious what everyone's preferences are between the two.

 

[BrightCandle]

I used to have eyefinity/surround but I just had too many issues with games not working very well and it was a bit of a pita in general. Tried 144hz screen instead and I can't go back to the low FPS now.

 

[SMOGZINN]

While I like having multi-monitor setups, I prefer to game on one monitor while having other information up on a second or third.

Also, going to min settings often impacts view distance. Nothing sucks more then getting sniped by someone that your screen hasn't even drawn yet.

 

[Midwayman]

Depends. Single player I'll crank the graphics. Multi player I'll do what I need to to keep frame rate up. Honestly I'd rather do 1080p rock solid @ 120fps with strobing than 1080p x3. Playing with FOV usually gets me enough peripheral vision.

 

[moonbogg]

Uh oh. You just gave me an idea.

NM, its totally stupid. I've never tried multi monitor, but I suspect I'd prefer a single one.

 

[cbrunny]

haha I reeeeeally like Eyefinity. But, it takes so much horsepower to push games at triple-1080p that it often requires compromise. My wallet just can't afford a no-compromise system. Maybe someday....

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh, it depends a bit on the game.

I run 3 cheap 21.5 inch screens at 1080p each.
They are driven by a pair of Radeon 6870 cards in Crossfire.

I don't play too many "new" or "cutting edge" games. So, I can get away most of the time with maxed out setting on 5760x1080 resolution.

Sometimes I will play with medium settings on the 3 screens.

Pretty much, I only use 1 monitor for games that do not support three monitors.

 

[Attic]

Whatever gets me 60fps mins, but I'd prefer details cranked on single screen before compromsing graphics to go multi screen.

Of course i'd prefer no comprise 60fps min maxed quality on 1080 or 1440px3.

 

[Bateluer]

If you can afford 3 nice 1080p displays, just cough up and buy 1 or 2 decent 1440p displays.

 

[cbrunny]

If you can afford 3 nice 1080p displays, just cough up and buy 1 or 2 decent 1440p displays.

I thought about this too, but I am more likely to just wait for 4k displays and purchase new card(s) at the same time instead.

3 x 1080p = 6220800
1440p = 3686400
4k = 8294400 or 8847360, depending on your definition.

I'm a fan of the additional desktop/gaming real estate with three screens, but 4k may encourage me to upgrade.

 

[futurefields]

Definitely max @ 1080p here.

I've honestly no plans on going over 1080p in the near future as I find lighting/shadows and eye-candy fx to be much more important at that point. Ive got more than enough pixels.

 

[Wuzup101]

I have my gaming PC hooked up to a 1080p 65" plasma, so I game on that (same thing I play consoles on). I wouldn't mind getting 2 more of them... just don't know where I'd put them! In all honesty, I will probably buy a 4k set in the next 12-18 months. If I went back to using a single desktop monitor, it would probably be something in the 27" range at 1440p and not a multi-monitor setup. Maybe someday if I have a true man-cave setup!

 

[biostud]

If you can afford 3 nice 1080p displays, just cough up and buy 1 or 2 decent 1440p displays.

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