Eyefinity = awesome.

[-silencer-]

For a couple years now, I've multiboxed with 2x 24" LCDs. One for the main, and the other for the 4 alts. Last week I purchased a Sapphire 5870 Vapor-X videocard to try out Eyefinity with 3x 24" LCDs.

The result is badass.

I have an old Dell 2405 on a DVI, a newer Dell 2408 on a DVI, and another 2408 on the DisplayPort. The 2405 doesn't have DisplayPort, so DVI is the only option. The 2408 does have DisplayPort, so I didn't need an active DisplayPort-DVI adapter (around $100!)

Setup was easy:
- Remove old nVidia 8800GTX drivers.
- Power down and remove 8800GTX.
- Install 5870.. don't forget to plug in the 2x 6-pin power cables! Plug in one DVI cable for now.
- Power on and download Catalyst drivers (version 9.11 for me right now).
- Install drivers & reboot.
- Once Windows loads, plug in 2nd DVI cable and DisplayPort cable. (Found out that the DisplayPort didn't want to work at first - needed to unplug and reconnect while Windows was already up.)
- In Catalyst Control Center, configure monitor positions. Keep the display cloned on all 3 until everything is positioned correctly.
- Now expand the desktop onto the other 2 monitors.
- Enjoy 5760x1200 gaming. (I did have to adjust my WoW Maximizer device & resolution margin settings.. the OS just sees this desktop as one device, instead of the two separate devices on the 8800GTX.)

WoW soloing was immersive across 3 screens. In fact, it may be too wide as I have to turn my head to see the far left or far right of the side displays. This is definitely where a custom UI comes into play to bring things like the map and party health back on to the center display. I keep the same setup as before with multiboxing (1 on main, 4 on right screen), but now I can also have a browser/vent/whatever visible on the left display. I tried having 2x on left screen, main on center, and 2x on right screen, but everything is too far apart for my taste to really focus on the action when I'm switching between alts. Perhaps I'm just not used to it yet..

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has locked aspect ratios, so you don't want to stretch that across 5760x1200. I just play in cloned mode - all 3 screens show the same thing.

The next step is to get an EK 5870 waterblock and add the videocard to the cooling system for some overclocking.

Even with a Core i7 965 oc'd to 4.0GHz, 12GB ram, RAID0 Velociraptors as OS drive, Intel X25-M G2 hosting WoW, and now the 5870.. Dalaran still has some lag to it when 5-boxing. Again, I believe this is due more to hard drive access than graphics performance..

[Fursphere]

Its cool idea, except when you consider you have to buy new monitors - that are on a shaky standard right now (Display Port).

I half expect Display Port to die, since HDMI is already 100x more widely used and accepted.

Glad you're having fun with it though. I was ready to jump in head first until I researched Display Port - until they figure that shit out, I'm not going anywhere near it (HDMI vs. DP)

[Sajuuk]

My desk isn't big enough for landscape eyefinity without mounting monitors on my mount, and I still need to cut my desk to let it move a couple inches, so I'm playing in portrait mode.

I'll get a screenshot/pictures up shortly.


Re: Displayport: Yeah, it's kind of annoying that you can't use the HDMI port for eyefinity as it shares resources with a DVI port, but if you have the monitors an active adaptor does work.

On the plus side, going from my two monitors to my three new ones I reduced power consumption by 1/3rd. (went from 100W usage to 66W)

EditEdit: My setup

Wow at 3240x1920

[-silencer-]

Its cool idea, except when you consider you have to buy new monitors - that are on a shaky standard right now (Display Port).

I half expect Display Port to die, since HDMI is already 100x more widely used and accepted.

Glad you're having fun with it though. I was ready to jump in head first until I researched Display Port - until they figure that shit out, I'm not going anywhere near it (HDMI vs. DP)

Well, I already had the 3x Dell monitors, and since two of them (2408's) already have about 7 different inputs each (RGB, DVI, HDMI, DP, Component, S-video, Composite), I wasn't going to need to spend anything to get it all working beyond the price of the card. Definitely fun though.. (plus, you could just use the DP->DVI converters if you don't want to upgrade monitors)

[Knytestorme]

Mit's kind of annoying that you can't use the HDMI port for eyefinity as it shares resources with a DVI port

Damn, was going to ask if it was possible to run HDMI + 2 x DVI on these.....there goes that plan for a cheap work around then

[-silencer-]

Damn, was going to ask if it was possible to run HDMI + 2 x DVI on these.....there goes that plan for a cheap work around then

Nope. The HDMI signal uses the same output as one of the DVI ports. Think of these cards as:
DVI + DVI/HDMI + DisplayPort.

[Bollwerk]

Shouldn't be difficult or expensive to change between DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort. They all can pass the same digital signal. There are plenty of places online that sell adapters/converters/dongles for FAR cheaper than retail stores.

[-silencer-]

Shouldn't be difficult or expensive to change between DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort. They all can pass the same digital signal. There are plenty of places online that sell adapters/converters/dongles for FAR cheaper than retail stores.

Exactly. Try monoprice.com - tons of cable options there for great prices. Keep in mind that you'll need an active adapter (not passive) to go DP->DVI.

[Knytestorme]

Exactly. Try monoprice.com - tons of cable options there for great prices. Keep in mind that you'll need an active adapter (not passive) to go DP->DVI.

The issue is that it's actually a powered adapter needed, not just active. The good thing is that Saphire will be releasing one in the next few days so that makes pulling the trigger a lot easier.

Have also found that running 2 of these won't work in X-Fire mode but I wonder if I can still run 2 5770's for the 6 display option as long as it's not in X-Fire mode. I know I could go for a 5870+ card, but they are like double the price of 2 5770's here and also require buying 6 adapters rather than only 2.

[Sajuuk]

The issue is that it's actually a powered adapter needed, not just active. The good thing is that Saphire will be releasing one in the next few days so that makes pulling the trigger a lot easier.

Have also found that running 2 of these won't work in X-Fire mode but I wonder if I can still run 2 5770's for the 6 display option as long as it's not in X-Fire mode. I know I could go for a 5870+ card, but they are like double the price of 2 5770's here and also require buying 6 adapters rather than only 2.

Actually crossfire in eyefinity mode is now "supported" in the latest 9.12 hotfix drivers. And what makes you say you'd need six adaptors for two 5870s? Unless you decided to run with the six-monitor eyefinity edition card you'd only need two.