Eyefinity / multi-monitor - will I get used to it?

[Inaharry]

Hi,

I've just added 2 x BenQ XL2420T monitors to my Dell U2410, (until I can afford another BenQ so they're all the same) and set up Eyefinity in portrait mode (3240 x 1920) until I can clear enough space to try landscape.

It took a while to get some games going in the right resolution and while it looks impressive, (a bit like having a 42"+ TV on my desk), I'm really struggling with the bezels. They're not particularly big on their own, in fact the U2410 and XL2420T bezels are a similar size all the way around, it's just that when they're together and double the thickness, it cuts out quite a chunk of the viewing area.

I've done the bezel adjustment through CCC, but this now means that I can't read a lot of menus or text in games or in Windows. For example, I couldn't read information on a web page where the text was placed in the middle of the screen because the left and right margins of the text were under the bezels between the middle screen and the two outside ones.

Also, I noticed that the viewing angle of the BenQ is really bad when viewing from below the screen, (the one on the right in portrait mode). It's so bad that I have to sit in front of it to see the screen properly. Viewing from above, (or the screen on the left in portrait mode) is nowhere near as bad.

I know that Nvidia have a hotkey that will take off bezel adjustment and place text and menus either side of the bezel, does anyone know if the same can be done with CCC?

It took ages to decide whether to go for a multi-monitor setup or whether to upgrade my 5870 to a GTX 680, but as the 4GB models aren't available yet, I went for the monitors instead and I'm wondering whether I've done the right thing....

I'll try it in landscape mode tonight to see if it looks any better, but does it take time to get used a multi-monitor setup? I'm trying not to notice the bezels, but at around 4cm thick when they're together and not being able to see what's behind them in normal use is making it difficult.

Any suggestions or comments from other Eyefinity / multi-monitor users would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[whitestar85]

Maybe over lap them if your brave de bezel them, I want to do a portrait eyefinity myself and was looking at 3x u2412hms, how long have you had them ? Maybe after a while you get used to it ?

Wsg forum generally know there stuff on eyefinity could ask on there if get no luck

 

[FlyingPig]

This is probably not much help, but I think there is a reason why a lot of eyefinity users are turning back to a single monitor (27") setup. Too much hassle for too little reward.

 

[glenimp617]

surely you only want to enable bezel adjustment before playing a game?

During windows use, just use the standard multi-monitor setup. Have web browing on the centre screen, and whatever else you want on the other two

I'm thinking about changing my 27" IPS to three 23" IPS ones for eyefinity. Games look amazing on it IMHO

 

[Axeia]

This is probably not much help, but I think there is a reason why a lot of eyefinity users are turning back to a single monitor (27") setup. Too much hassle for too little reward.

Human vision also isn't made to have such wide viewing angles, you basically cannot see properly what's happening on the side screens. (if the monitors aren't tiny and/or you aren't sitting a mile away)

 

[Inaharry]

Thanks for your suggestions.

Maybe over lap them if your brave de bezel them, I want to do a portrait eyefinity myself and was looking at 3x u2412hms, how long have you had them ? Maybe after a while you get used to it ?

Wsg forum generally know there stuff on eyefinity could ask on there if get no luck

I forgot about WSGF, I'll have a look, thanks. I've only had the monitors since last weekend. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be easy to overlap them because the screens are quite thick and in portrait, it looks better when they're almost straight rather than heavily angled. It may look better in landscape where I can angle the screens a lot further, although there are USB ports on the side of each monitor making that part of the bezel quite thick.

I'd never be brave enough to de-bezel them like Vega's setups. His portrait monitors are amazing! I think we'll have to wait for bezels like the ones on the LG DM92 monitors to get anywhere close....

This is probably not much help, but I think there is a reason why a lot of eyefinity users are turning back to a single monitor (27") setup. Too much hassle for too little reward.

At some points I've been thinking about this too because for the same money, I could've got a very nice 27" monitor. The problem is that I wanted 120Hz and 3D and as I'm planning to get a GTX 680, I'd need a Lightboost monitor, but both the Acer and Asus 27" 3D Vision monitors have disappeared from OcUK. Apart from this, I've read quite a few comments saying that 1920 x 1080 on a 27" screen doesn't look very good and there aren't any 120Hz 3D screens with 2560 x 1440....not yet anyway.

surely you only want to enable bezel adjustment before playing a game?

During windows use, just use the standard multi-monitor setup. Have web browing on the centre screen, and whatever else you want on the other two

I agree, the problem is that to change from individual screens, (for Windows use) to one large 3240 x 1920 desktop for gaming means I have to go and change the settings within CCC and likewise for bezel adjustment. Surely there must be a way of allocating hotkeys to do both of these things otherwise it would mean having to go into CCC and reconfiguring settings every time you start a game or go back to Windows. I must be missing something....it wouldn't be the first time!

 

[whitestar85]

I'm sure you set up profiles for easy switching ? I remember reading it when I was looking through it.
Vegas set ups look sweet altho a little to brave for me,

 

[IronWarrior]

I use Eyefinity, never use bezel adjustment since I don't see the point, when I did test it out, it made things look pretty bad.

Bezels are not a problem for me, didn't need any time to get used to it.

About 80% of the time, am looking at the center screen which leaves about 20% when am looking at the others, the Japanese have a saying and it's related to Kendo and it goes like this "Look at a far away mountain" what it means, is that you look at the whole picture and not one part of it, just like how human vision works.

Our eyes see everything, it's our mind that chooses to "select" what we want to see, you have to train that so you see more.

Don't know how many times my side monitors have saved me or shown me enemy to shoot at in BFBC2/BF3..

 

[glenimp617]

You are not meant to see everything. The side monitors are to give a more immersive experience. It's like when a spider crawls up the wall and you see it in your peripheral vision.

 

[Inaharry]

Thanks for all of your comments and the suggestion of setting up profiles, I'll look into that. It's given me a few things to think about.

I'll also try a landscape setup tonight to see what that's like.

Thanks again for your help.