Widescreen Gaming Forum

Hi all, I have been thinking about the triplehead2go as a replacement for my current setup but I have a few questions if you could help :)

I have 2xati 4870's crossfired running a dell 30" with trackir 4.

I mostly do sims, rfactor, gtr evo, IL2.

I really like the idea of the th2go but realise that if I go and buy 3x22" monitors I cant run them at full resolution with the ATI.

There must be a bunch of you that run at a lower resolution then the panel and let it scale. I figure I would need to run 1440x900 to work.

The question is this. Is scaling while you are in the game so bad? I can't try the setup before I buy unfortunately.. I dont care if its a bit softer but obvious artifacts may put me off..

Locally in New Zealand the samsung 2253bw seems to be an OK option so that would be the monitor chosen.

Any thoughts appreciated.. I hope it's another step up from my current set up. Only thing that worries me is will I miss the additional height I get on my 30"? I will certainly get more width though..

Thanks,
Jason

Haere Mai to the WSGF, mate.

You will def notice the lack of height, from 1600 to 900(ATi) is a big difference. But it will depend on game type with FPS being best (or over the shoulder type 3rd person) and sims second. So doing mostly sims I think you will absolutely love it, esp driving sims as there is not verticality to them. Flying means everything is 3d (and air combat is all about SA including in the vert) but it is not so much of a prob in sims compared to the real thing ;)

As for scaling wack a couple of games to 1920x1200 on your 30" and that is what it will be like. I use 3x24" scaled back and don't mind at all. The desktop (DT) is a little fuzzy but after literally a couple of minutes I didn't notice. I even find it odd now when I set the DT to 1920x1200 on the centre screen, I am used to the scaled back image so much!

If you are going to keep the 30" and use the 3x22 then you are in for win. You can run them both for DT use, I will think that if you use the triple head for DT (as much as I now HATE doing any work on just one monitor) I think that the 900 height wil annoy you...just IMHO obviously.

I use NV so get the full 5040 but still I have used lesser res on Dead Space ans still loved it. Nothing compares to gamin in TH IMO, I have never gamed on a 30" tho (I have used one for work) so maybe it might compare...

But for FPS and sims I reckon TH would wipe the floor with a 30"

Cheers

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Dipping bags at Mach1.9

Thanks for the reply..

Yes, I am very tempted... Obviously you scale to do the 24".. out of curiosity, what monitors are you using? I have a dell 24" 2405 and I could get two additional 24" monitors for about the same price as 3x22"

Hmm, perhaps this is an option as well.. I guess if I am going to scale 1440x900 to a 22" then whats the big deal doing it to a 24" for the bigger picture although I realise I don't have more resolution, yet..

I will keep my 30" although not sure it will continue to be used on the gaming pc..

Thanks,
Jason

Yeah I am happy single screen gaming on the 24" 1920x1200 so I think 3x24 is the best of both worlds.

I have a Dell 2407WFP in the centre and one of the cheapo E248's on each side, they were like 500 each on the 100 buck off deal, IIRC

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Dipping bags at Mach1.9

Hmm, it looks like NZ is out of 24" samsungs at around the $650NZ mark!

I have been told by my retailer that the LG 246wHX is a better buy but with the refresh rate problems at 57hz I havent been able to find out if they will handle it OK..

That seems to be the biggest issue for me with 24" monitors, getting two for about $1200NZD that are good and I know will work at 57hz.

Jason

2x600 (or wait for a 50/100 buck off) E248 dells are cool, they work and are cheap. The outer screens don't have to be the best just work IMO

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Dipping bags at Mach1.9

I take it that you are running it at 1680x1050 and the dell does handle it then..

Jason

Yep indeedy 3x1680x1050@57Hz no probs on both types of Dell I have

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Dipping bags at Mach1.9

I dragged my 24" dell from the arcade machine and put it on the desk..

I ran gtr evo and set it up for 1440x900 and 1680x1050, the latter I cannot get on my ATI but possibly sometime in the future..

First impression, geez I loose a lot as I was just racing on the 30" at 2560x1200..

At 1440x900 things were a lot softer, at 1680x1050 definitely sharper! Can I live with the softness of 1440 on the 24? dont know yet but being used to the 30 I dont want to go smaller.

The cars were smaller, the track was smaller, of cours I had the same FOV fitting on a much smaller screen..

Does anyone know what FOV I should set GTR to that would more match what I would eventually set it too with 3 screens?

I think I have read that the fov would be set to something more like 145 degrees with 3 screens which makes me think that I should set my single screen to 50 degrees to get an idea of what it would look like, at least on the center screen. I think there is something screwed up with my logic though and GTR evo only lets me adjust to 80 degrees..


Also I wonder if the picture, scaling technology in newer monitors is better now then on my dell 2405 I tried it on.. Will never know unless I try I guess.

Anyway, if anyone knows what I should set the fov on one monitor too then please let me know, I would like too see the size of things on at least one monitor!

Thanks,
Jason

While I am asking questions Mach1.9pants, how far away do you sit from your 24's?