Graphics card for mixed monitor resolution

[CageyH]

Hello all,

Yet another question - I am looking at upgrading my graphics card - currently I have an AMD 6070 based card running the centre monitor (max resolution of 1920 x 1200) and two outer monitors, one either side (max resolution of 1920 x 1080). My max resolution is 5760 x 1080 and the AMD is happy to put black bars at the top and bottom to give me a nice continuous image.

If I were to switch to an NVidia based card, would this still be possible or should I stick with AMD and get something like an R9 Fury (I need to check it fits the case)?

 

[Calabi]

Why would you want black bars? A Geforce depending on power should be be able to output to all monitors at their native resolutions(although it will run hotter).

 

[meldarthx]

Why would you want black bars? A Geforce depending on power should be be able to output to all monitors at their native resolutions(although it will run hotter).

will it? didn't think GeForce cards liked mixed monitors resolutions where AMD would be fine.......

 

[CageyH]

Why would you want black bars? A Geforce depending on power should be be able to output to all monitors at their native resolutions(although it will run hotter).

I can live with the 60 pixel bar top and bottom when gaming. As a confirmed petrol head I mainly play rFactor 2.

Without the bars, the image on the centre screen is stretched - which I dislike more than the bars.

 

[Calabi]

will it? didn't think GeForce cards liked mixed monitors resolutions where AMD would be fine.......

Well when I did it years ago it worked fine except the card did run hotter due to having to run in 3D mode. I'm pretty sure that still applies, if it hasnt been fixed now then theirs no way around it.

I can live with the 60 pixel bar top and bottom when gaming. As a confirmed petrol head I mainly play rFactor 2.

Without the bars, the image on the centre screen is stretched - which I dislike more than the bars.

I guess you mean in games when you output them to all three monitors, I dont know but I'm guessing you should be able to adjust it how you want, it wouldn't be like nvidia to give away ground to AMD like this.

 

[Brun]

For regular desktop use there's no issue but I think the consensus is that nvidia surround can be kinda fussy when mixing monitors. You definitely have to run them at the same resolution, but even then whether it works can be dependent on weird things like sync polarity. Unfortunately I don't know if there's any way to confirm without simply trying it.

 

[Confused Stu]

Why would you want black bars? A Geforce depending on power should be be able to output to all monitors at their native resolutions(although it will run hotter).

If you're running the screens as separate extended desktops, both AMD and Nvidia will be quite happy running them at 1920x1080, 1920x1200 and 1920x1080. The issue comes when you merge them to make one big screen as far as Windows/games are concerned (called Eyefinity for AMD, 2D Surround for Nvidia). AMD give you the option of running at 5760x1080 and having black bars at the top and bottom of the 1200 high screen, or stretching the 1080 high picture across the full 1200 screen (so no bars, but a stretched image), or running at 5760x1200 and simply having the top bits of the right and left screens off not being drawn as they're off-screen.

This page shows it better than I'm describing:
http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/amd-eyefinity-3-panel-mixed-resolution-review,5.html

Unfortunately OP, I can't offer any assistance. Although I've been multi-monitor for many years, it's only ever been AMD cards in this PC, and my Nvidia GPUs have only ever been used for single screen setups, so I don't know how well Nvidia plays with mixed resolution monitors.

 

[Brun]

Just realised I should add that I'm pretty sure nvidia surround won't do the black bars on the centre screen. Displaying the 1920x1080 image at the correct aspect ratio rather than stretching it to fit would have to be done by the monitor.

 

[CageyH]

Thanks gents.
I think I will stick with AMD, as I know it will do what I want.