Best multi-monitor 3D setup?

[Inaharry]

Hi,

I'm in a bit of a catch 22 situation at the moment and wondered whether anyone might have some suggestions...

My wife gave me the go-ahead to either get a graphics card or a multi-monitor setup at Christmas and said that she'd pay for some of it as a present, (I know, I thought she was having a laugh as well....either that or she wanted some expensive present in return). Anyway, at the time, the Radeon 7970 wasn't going to be released in time and Kepler was still a way off. I was going to go for a 3-way monitor setup, but was in the same situation as I'm in now, so ended up going for an i5 and SB upgrade instead.

As my birthday is coming up, she's just asked me if I still wanted a new graphics card or monitor(s) for my birthday and again she'll put money towards it. I know I'm lucky, but this is the first time she's ever bought me PC equipment in the 17 years we've been together, so maybe she's making up for it!

I'd like to upgrade from my 5870, but at the moment, I'm wondering whether to wait for GK110 rather than geting a 680 or 7970 and go for the monitors instead. I realise that a 1GB 5870 will struggle running them at the moment!

The problem is, I'd really like to get 3 x 23" or 24" screens that are 120hz and offer 3D, but without knowing which graphics card I'm going to end up with, (AMD or Nvidia), it's making it difficult to choose. That's why I waited at Christmas in the hopes of some new monitors being shown at CES with better compatibility.

In my ideal world, there would be a 27" 2560 x 1440, (or a 24" 1920 x 1080) IPS or OLED 120hz passive 3D screen that doesn't halve the resolution, but as that's very unlikely to happen, I'm trying to work out which make and model to go for.

Everything I've read still shows compatibility problems when using 3D. For example, the Samsungs seem better suited to AMD cards and the Asus and BenQs with Nvidia 3D vision for Nvidia cards. Without knowing which card I'll end up getting at this stage, would anyone have any suggestions as to which monitors to go for?

If I'm honest, although I can't wait to try the 3D modes, it'll probably end up being something I won't be using all the time, but I'd like the option to be there. It's more important having something that works well in a multi-monitor setup and at 120hz. It'll be difficult giving up my U2410 though...

Realistically, the budget would be around £4-500. If the monitor is really good and I couldn't get more than 1 or 2 at this price, I can always buy the second or third at a later date. I've been looking at the Samsung VAT back offer and this Eyefinity bundle from OcUK as it's a really good deal, but if I end up getting either the 680 or GK110, I won't be able to use 3D.

Thanks for taking the time to read such a long post and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Hi there,

It is indeed a tough one - as the monitor you chose will limit your graphics card choice if you want 3D.

Personally, I would go with the GTX 680 (or the GK110 card when it arrives) alongside three BenQ XL2420T monitors (or as many as you can afford initially).

I say this because these are some of the most highly regarded 120Hz/3D monitors currently available, the extra inch over the 23in 3D monitors is nice to have and Nvidia's 3D implementation is generally more polished - as it is Nvidia themselves that make the drivers and 3D profiles, not a separate middleware company (which is the case with AMD's 3D).

Also, with Nvidia's GTX 680 (and presumably the GK110) it can drive three 120Hz 3D monitors in a 3D Surround gaming arrangement - while also driving a fourth independently configured monitor via HDMI (which would be ideal for your U2410).

If you went for the AMD option and Samsung S23A700D monitors - they only do full-bandwidth 3D (and 120Hz 2D) via dual-link DVI (since they don't have a displayport input) and most modern AMD card only have a single dual-link DVI connection. Therefore, to get all three of these monitors running in 3D/120Hz you would need to buy two active displayport/mini-DP to dual-link DVI adapters - which cost ~£75 each.

 

[Inaharry]

Hi Andi, thanks very much for your suggestions and the info about the active adapters, I didn't realise that.

The BenQ was actually the monitor I was considering before Christmas, but was hoping that the TX version would be released with the built in emitter, (although I don't think it's going to be available in Europe or at least the UK now). The other monitor I considered if I wasn't going for a multi-display setup, because of the cost, was the Asus VG278H, but when I read about the amount of people getting the halo backlight problem, I decided against it until the problem was fixed.

I then started to look at the Samsungs because I thought I was going to get the 7970, but after seeing the Kepler results, I think I will end up going for an Nvidia card.

The only thing I need to consider now is whether I can run the displays on the 5870 long enough for the GK110 to be released because I don't really want to get the 680 with 2GB and the 4GB version seems too expensive when the GK110 is only (rumoured to be) a few months away. I've got a feeling it's going to be painfully slow in BF3, MW3 and Skyrim on more than one monitor.

It doesn't help now the 7970 has dropped in price and has 3GB with a 384-bit memory interface compared to the 680's 256-bit.

Why can't things be simple!

 

[cmndr_andi]

For running the XL2420T monitors on the HD 5870 - these BenQ monitors have displayport 1.2 inputs built-in as well as dual-link. So you could connect all three monitors using the the two dual-link DVI connections (assuming your model comes with two) and the one displayport connection.

As all of these connections can carry a 1080p@120Hz video signal then you can run all of these monitors off your HD 5870 at full resolution and 120Hz refresh rate - though as you may imagine you won't get great framerates in modern games when running three of these monitors of a HD 5870 card.

 

[Inaharry]

Thanks again for your help and advice Andi.

After showing the OH the price of the 4GB 680 and seeing her expression, I think I'll be going for the monitor(s).

As she had around £300-350 in mind, I'll probably go for one BenQ initially. As I don't have an Nvidia card yet and the BenQ's 3D won't work with my AMD card, I could always get the one without the 3D Vision bundle now it's on TWO.

Does anyone know whether, with a triple 3D monitor setup, will I only need to buy 1 3D Vision kit? In other words, will one emitter allow the glasses to function on all three screens or do I need 3 kits, one emitter for each screen? I know it's probably a stupid question, but I didn't know whether the emitters connect via a passthrough cable between the card and the monitor in which case that would sound like you'd need three of them.

One other thing, if I just get one XL2420T for now, will I be disappointed with the display after using an IPS screen, (a U2410)? Before the Dell, I had an NEC 20WGX2 and a Mitsubishi 930SB CRT before that, so I've not had any TN screens, although I use a Hanns-G 19" TN screen at work. I don't use any professional or photography software at home, mainly general use, browsing and FPS gaming.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Sounds like a good plan going for a single XL2420T now and getting the GPU and extra monitors later on.

With 3D vision you only need one 3D vision kit (even if you have three screens)- as the IR emitter plugs directly into the PC via USB and ensures all the displays are synced up.

As you say, the XL2420T without the 3D vision kit is quite a bit cheaper now, so may be worth going for if you want to spread the cost. The 3D vision2 kit on it's own costs £125, but you could buy the second monitor to be the one with kit bundled with it.

As for the image quality question, it's a tough one. I think the general consensus is that the XL2420T is a really good TN panel monitor, with pretty decent colours and wider viewing angles than many other TNs. Therefore, it shouldn't be much of a step down, but I wouldn't expect it to match your U2410 for image quality.

 

[aln]

Sounds like a good plan going for a single XL2420T now and getting the GPU and extra monitors later on.

With 3D vision you only need one 3D vision kit (even if you have three screens)- as the IR emitter plugs directly into the PC via USB and ensures all the displays are synced up.

As you say, the XL2420T without the 3D vision kit is quite a bit cheaper now, so may be worth going for if you want to spread the cost. The 3D vision2 kit on it's own costs £125, but you could buy the second monitor to be the one with kit bundled with it.

As for the image quality question, it's a tough one. I think the general consensus is that the XL2420T is a really good TN panel monitor, with pretty decent colours and wider viewing angles than many other TNs. Therefore, it shouldn't be much of a step down, but I wouldn't expect it to match your U2410 for image quality.

I have a u2410 next to a XL2420T. , and I agree.

The u2410 is the nicer monitor overall, but it takes a little while to warm up.
The XL2420T is bright as soon as you turn it on, and it actually looks pretty good once setup but vertical viewing angles are a bit meh. This means if I recline too much, the screen semi dissapears, but then I don't do that when gaming.

I'd have two u2410's if I wasn't a gamer, but I am, so the XL2420T sratches the itch. First LCD monitor I've had that I felt could replace my CRT.

 

[Inaharry]

Great, thanks for your suggestions andi and aln, I'll go for 1 x XL2420T for the time being then.

Also, thanks for clarifying the 3D Vision question Andi, at least that'll keep the cost down a bit.

 

[Inaharry]

Unfortunately, my situation has changed a bit and now I'd be looking at a budget of around £500 in total. I can't see I'd be able to get a new graphics card anytime soon like I was originally planning, so...

I'm a bit stuck on what to do again . Bearing in mind I've got a 1GB 5870, should I go for the eyefinity bundle with the 3 x S23A700D screens while the VAT back offer is on to get them for £499, go for a larger screen like the S27A950D at the same price or stick with the BenQ XL2420T?

The main problem I've got is that the Samsungs will work with my 5870 now for 120Hz and 3D, (which are the main reasons for changing from my U2410), but if at some point in the future, maybe at the end of this year / beginning of next, I can afford to get a 680 or GK110, the 3D won't be compatible any more.

If I go for the BenQ now, I won't be able to use the 3D functionality at all until I can get an Nvidia card.

In addition to this, I know that the 5870 will struggle with a multiple monitor setup, (even though I think I'd prefer surround gaming over a single 27"). I had considered getting one of the S23A700Ds and using the rest of the money to buy a 7950 or 7970 now the prices have dropped, which would keep it relatively close to the £500 budget and going from there with the view to get other monitors in the future, but there seems to be a lot of negative feedback now the 680 is out with regards to the spec and price of the 79xx cards.

None of this would be a problem if 3D was standardised. It reminds of the HD-DVD and BluRay battle.

So, in summary, should I take advantage of the Samsungs now or would the 5870 struggle so badly it would make games unplayable, (especially in 3D)? Or, consider a way of compromising between the amount of monitors I get as Andi suggested with the BenQ and put the money towards another graphics card, which opens up a whole load of other issues because if I decide on the GTX 680 in the view of having multiple monitors in the future, I'd want to get the 4GB version and currently they're between £550 and £600 just for the card, let alone problems with availability?

It's a shame I missed the 10% Facebook promotion because that would've helped at this level.

Is multi-monitor surround gaming, especially in 3D worth all this hassle? I've never had the opportunity to experience it, but looking at some of the pictures posted on these forums and videos on Youtube, it looks great. I blame Vega myself .

Again, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!