PCI-E allow for better surround gaming?

[Chameleoki]

I am really interested in having triple monitors for gaming and other things, mostly for gaming though . Do you think PCI-E will allow Nvidia / ATI to let you have multiple video cards in a system with acceleration for games on all cards? Basically a better/unlimited "Horizontal Span Mode" (on Nvidia)?

I can see Nvidia doing this because they seem to support the smaller things (mode mentioned above, stereo glasses, etc).

I want to have 3 monitors (or more!) so bad but the matrox Parhelia seems to be a waste for the performance/price.

I thought I'd ask here because I respect this board's opinions. (First time poster but long time lurker. You guys are pretty technical for me!)

 

[Bad_Boy]

hmm
i think your referring to the alienware alx double video card thing...

 

[jvd]

Well if u go intel u can get the ati board. Get a x800xt and have 3 monitors. I don't think it works in games though.

I wouldn't mind being able to use two monitors with my x800xt on games .

In a mmorpg it would be nice. Put maps and invintory on one screen and clear up clutter on the main.

But with the breaks in the monitors it wont be great to play a game on all 3 .

 

[trinibwoy]

But with the breaks in the monitors it wont be great to play a game on all 3 .

True but three identical LCD's with narrow borders might be playable. But who's going to put out for three LCD's

 

[Heathen]

But who's going to put out for three LCD's

Me if I could ever find a really good gaming carc with three outputs.

 

[Chameleoki]

I don't think the borders would be that bad, especially for racing games. You are mainly looking at the first monitor with the others as peripheral views.

Yes, if Alienware can do it, don't you think the major video card manufacturers could do it?

 

[AlNom]

no market for it really I guess....

 

[trinibwoy]

But who's going to put out for three LCD's

Me if I could ever find a really good gaming carc with three outputs.

I'll join you when I win the lotto this weekend

 

[Helevitia]

Unfortunately, I don't think Nvidia or ATI will be supporting "surround gaming". I would say you are better off buying a widescreen display and changin the FOV to support the resolution. That said, check out the Matroxusers site for some pictures on surround gaming.

Here is one pic:

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[zeejay]

hmm
i think your referring to the alienware alx double video card thing...

AFAIK thats only for 2 cards rendering to one monitor for more performance.

 

[3dcgi]

PCI-E is not beneficial from a performance standpoint, but if motherboards with multiple PCI-E slots start showing up maybe someone will make a driver that supports three monitors from two cards. Ati supports three monitors with their integrated chipset graphics combined with an Ati AGP card. I haven't used it though so I don't know how well this works. It seems like supporting two PCI-E cards wouldn't be much different.

 

[Chameleoki]

Yes, I believe the Alienware is one monitor. I want multiple monitors (3 to be exact). I know Nvidia with their "Horizontal Span Mode" lets you do two (off the same card) and I believe each one has hardware acceleration for games. I guess I'll have to ask Nvidia if they plan on supporting more than two.

Thanks everyone.

BTW- I was wondering because I'm building a type of sit-down arcade game box (all contained) for racing and flight sims. Looks like for now if I want 3 monitors I'd have to go with Parhelia. I'll probably go with one and hope for the future. (I'll post pictures when I'm done).

 

[Nappe1]

BTW- I was wondering because I'm building a type of sit-down arcade game box (all contained) for racing and flight sims. Looks like for now if I want 3 monitors I'd have to go with Parhelia. I'll probably go with one and hope for the future. (I'll post pictures when I'm done).

when getting a Parhelia, check that you get the new revision one. (product code: PHA8x-128) it's a bit faster, has modified FAA algorithm, new memory controller (or fixes on it.) and AGP 8x support. Chip is also now in FCBGA package.
It also overclocks way better than the original. thanks new package and faster memories. in MatroxUsers, few owners have reported that they reached 300MHz with stock cooling. (core is 250MHz by default in new revision.)

I am waiting your pictures. I actually have been thinking buying a one too, because now it can run most games in 3072x768 and whole bunch of games that I play actually supports surround gaming.

 

[Chameleoki]

Thanks Nappe1. That's really good to know. I'll make sure to get that one!