Triple monitor 2d or 3d?

[nastymatt]

So the dream crusher (wife) has agreed that I can upgrade to a triple screen set up (currently running a single 24"). Would it be worth going 3x 3D screens? Or will the peripheral screens simply not look 3D as I am going to mainly stare at the middle screen?

I am thinking 3x 24" regardless of 2D or 3D, I mainly play mmo's.

 

[atticus14]

How much GPU power are you packing?

 

[nastymatt]

2x 295 gtx so quad sli.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Be aware that 3D requires 120hz, that means 120fps, so you're increasing your frame rate by 2x and your resolution by 3x, for a total of needing 6x more power.

You need a LOT of GPU horsepower that, quite a lot more than 295 quad SLI. You'd probably want at least 2x 780 for smooth fps in all games maxed out, I'm not even sure how well 3D works into the peripheral vision.

 

[omeds]

3dvision doesn't work beyond 2 GPU's last I heard, not sure if that's changed recently. Might want to look into it before investing.

 

[bystander36]

3dvision doesn't work beyond 2 GPU's last I heard, not sure if that's changed recently. Might want to look into it before investing.

Every search I've done on the subject has said the same. 3-way forces 1 to work on physx if available. I imagine they dedicate one GPU per eye.

 

[lehtv]

GTX 295 Quad SLI? Holy crap, that is a lot of watts per frame. The sooner you upgrade the more you will save in electricity.

Also, your 295's can't handle a large resolution like 5760x1080 with only 896mb of usable VRAM. That resolution requires 2GB minimum, preferably 3GB.

In terms of pure GPU power, one GTX 295 (dual GPU) is quite a bit slower than a GTX 660 (single GPU), and a GTX 770 about 50% faster than GTX 660. By extrapolation, you should see similar maximum framerates with a GTX 770 2GB as with 295 Quad SLI, and much better minimums and much more stable performance across different games and situations... at a third of the wattage.

If your CPU is as old as your graphics cards, it won't handle a GTX 770 well, however (nor a 7970 or 280x).

Regarding just the monitor setup... I would not even consider 3D. I would choose between a single 24" 1080p 120hz display (with a setup to go 100+ fps), a single 27" 1440p display (with a setup for smooth 60 fps with vsync), or triple 120hz 1080p (with a setup to handle 60+ fps, no vsync).

 

[bystander36]

Why debate between 60hz 2D and 3D? Just get 120hz monitors and run them in 2D for maximum smoothness.

60hz 3D will also come with 120hz 2D. 60hz in 3D requires a 120hz monitor if you use an active setup.

 

[lehtv]

Edited my post, sorry... In any case though, I know a 120hz 2D monitor handles 60hz 3D. I just don't see the point of running 60hz 3D when you can run 120hz 2D.

 

[bystander36]

Edited my post, sorry... In any case though, I know a 120hz 2D monitor handles 60hz 3D. I just don't see the point of running 60hz 3D when you can run 120hz 2D.

In a competitive game, you'll likely want 120hz 2D, but when playing single player, 120hz gives you a little smoother game play, but 3D gives you a completely new level of immersion with binocular vision.

When a game supports 3D well, 3D is pretty amazing.

 

[lehtv]

For me, switching between 60hz in some and 120hz in other games would make it extremely difficult to not get distracted by the lack of smoothness in 60hz, 3D or not. I've owned a 120hz monitor which I then switched to a bigger 60hz one, it took some time getting used to and it was fine, but then I switched back to 120hz and now I don't even know how I could stand looking at the 60hz monitor earlier. Thus if I had both modes available I would always choose 120hz over 60hz, 3D or not.

 

[bystander36]

For me, switching between 60hz in some and 120hz in other games would make it extremely difficult to not get distracted by the lack of smoothness in 60hz, 3D or not. I've owned a 120hz monitor which I then switched to a bigger 60hz one, it took some time getting used to and it was fine, but then I switched back to 120hz and now I don't even know how I could stand looking at the 60hz monitor earlier. Thus if I had both modes available I would always choose 120hz over 60hz, 3D or not.

I do have a 120hz 3D Vision monitor and do the same. While switching back to 60hz 3D from 120hz can look a bit choppy, 3D is a whole new level of immersion. For me at least, it is definitely worth it. Switching to 2D in a game you play in 3D is extremely distracting and hurts the eyes. That is right, it hurts the eyes to play a game you are used to playing in 3D, when in 2D, because your eyes constantly refocus for different depths, because you are used to stereoscopic 3D, and your mind expects to have to refocus for different depths, but without the different depths, your eyes have to refocus back all the time.

 

[Elixer]

IMO, 3D TV/monitors are mainly a fad, and will go away until we can see prices come way down, and video cards much, much faster than the highest end one we have now.
It does have the wow factor at first, but then it gets old, and not everyone can handle the 3D effect very well.
If you noticed, lots of companies are dumping 3D displays now.

I would go with a couple of nice big 24" or higher monitor, and maybe IPS, depending on the price point your looking at.

 

[BrightCandle]

I actually think the primary reason to get a Lightboost 2 monitor these days is more about the blur reduction. These monitors are much better in motion than a high quality IPS and it shows in everything you do. 3D Vision does work in 3 monitors according to NVidia (I have never tried that) but while I think 3D isn't necessarily that great the 120/144Hz is especially with the strobed backlight for a gamer.

 

[nastymatt]

Thanks for the advice guys. I am very much leaning towards a triple 2D set up. A couple of reasons why - I play mmo's 98% of the time, they are notoriously bad at 3D but even if they were done well I really want the triple screen set up for PV, immersion and extra info ie for pvp awareness.

I'll stick with the quad SLi for the time being because mmo's generally cpu bottle neck causing lag etc not gpu's (generally not always) and hitting 120fps in an mmo is near on impossible in open world big fights. Wattage?? I am used to the electricity bill FYI - I am running Intel i5 k2500 clocked at 4.5ghz with 8gb ram.

Yes the rig (at triple screens) might not hit huge frames seen for competitive FPS etc on the plus side I feel triple screens will add to the immersion.

I'll report back when I finally get it (hopefully end of year) and I might be asking for advice on what gpu runs triple screens the best

 

[Galatian]

Have you actually tried out 3DVision or any 3D at all? I'm one for the 60% of people who can't perceive stereoscopic 3D well. For me effects like "coming out" of the screen never worked. I'm in the process of selling my 3DVision set up and instead settle on a nice 2560x1440 IPS panel.

 

[nastymatt]

I have a 55" Samsung TV that I watch a lot of 3D on and I am one of the (few) people who love it. Given the choice I'll watch a film in 3D over 2D, plus, I love watching football on it in 3D. So I do "get" the effect it's more like looking into a box of objects rather than the objects popping out at me - if that makes and sense.

When I say mmo's don't "do" 3D well, generally it's things like chat bubbles or hit/heal points not being at the correct depth or appearing as above the correct object. Or worse, objects far away having a huge bubble/points above them.

It's a tricky one as I love 3D but the cost of 3x 3D v 3x 2D screens is quite significant and a risk it won't work (PV etc) as expected.

 

[bystander36]

I have a 55" Samsung TV that I watch a lot of 3D on and I am one of the (few) people who love it. Given the choice I'll watch a film in 3D over 2D, plus, I love watching football on it in 3D. So I do "get" the effect it's more like looking into a box of objects rather than the objects popping out at me - if that makes and sense.

When I say mmo's don't "do" 3D well, generally it's things like chat bubbles or hit/heal points not being at the correct depth or appearing as above the correct object. Or worse, objects far away having a huge bubble/points above them.

It's a tricky one as I love 3D but the cost of 3x 3D v 3x 2D screens is quite significant and a risk it won't work (PV etc) as expected.

If you do any 3D vision now, you should check out this site: http://helixmod.blogspot.com/2013/07/game-list-full.html

Some of the problems you have in games are fixed with their mod. That said, MMO's probably aren't the best venue for 3D, but in 1st person shooters and RPG's it is pretty awesome.