nview and surroundview: how do they work?

[ltwentoncha]

Hi all,

I've got two monitors, and I'm probably going to get another. If I wanted to use just one for gaming, and the other for TV (I'm going to get a TV tuner...recommendations?) and web, do I have to setup nview for SLI boards or surroundview for p35 boards?

I was leaning towards SLI; the IP35pro I just got isn't crossfire certified yet and even then I don't know if it's worth getting 2x 2900s (the 1GB ones) if one of those PCIe ports is 4x.

But, do I need to get two of the same cards? Can I get a 8800GTS/X to drive the game and web and a cheapo 8600 to drive the TV (or 2900/2600 if I go with the IP35 pro)? Or do I really need two cards of the same type for nview/crossfire?

Let me put it this way...does anyone else have a triple monitor setup? If so, what kind of configurations do ya'll have? I'm a little bummed out about space...I don't think I have room for 2x gfx cards, tv tuner, and soundcard.

TYIA for reading and replying.

 

[aka1nas]

It's a function of the graphics card drivers, not the motherboard. So you would be using Nview for Nvidia cards and the CCC for ATI cards.

SLI and Crossfire only allow you to have a single display while enabled, so that's not the route you probably want to go just for multi-display support. Just get a cheap secondary card (PCI-E or PCI) for the third display. For best results, especially under Vista, make sure they are both Nvidia or both ATI cards as they need to use the same WDDM driver to run Aero or take advantage of any of the other graphical advantages in Vista.

 

[ltwentoncha]

Oh, so I don't really need to go with a nvidia chipset...and I don't need 2x of the same card to enable CCC or nview?

I don't plan to go SLI or crossfire. I was going to get a 680i board because I thought I needed 2x of the same card (again, avoiding p35 boards because of the 16x/4x limitation and some 680i boards are 16x/16x) but if I can get a cheapo card to drive my third monitor (TV) I'll keep the IP35pro I have now (and probably get a 2900XT and a 2600). I'll hopefully have room for a TV tuner and sound card (maybe wireless NIC)

Thanks again.

 

[ltwentoncha]

Well, which is better, surroundview with ATI or nview with nvidia? In terms of compatibility and stability?