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Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 — Gaming On Six Panels
MojoKid writes "AMD's 6-output Radeon has been seen in action at a number of events, but today the ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition is being officially launched. HotHardware paired the card up with six 22" Dell LCD panels in a 3x2 configuration — with a max resolution of 5760x2160 — and ran it through a number of popular titles including Dirt 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and Crysis. For specialized, high-end graphics cards like this, the market potential may be relatively small. If, however, the idea of multi-monitor gaming is appealing to you and you've got the means to score one of these cards (along with multiple displays), you won't be disappointed."
Reader Vigile adds a different analysis of the card's six-monitor gaming: "PC Perspective found FPS games were basically unplayable because of the bezel through the middle of their vision while RTS and racing games like StarCraft 2 and DiRT 2 were spectacular."
6 is stupid.
Either go for 3 or 9.
Well the next step is off course to remove the casing from the screens. At least, that would be my mod numero uno. But I can image this setup (more screens, setup as a 180 degree panorama) being more 'realistic' and immersive(?) than one flat screen.
Most TVs can only handle resolutions of up to 1920x1080, as they're made for HD video, so there is a slight advantage to the multiple monitor layout. However, the frames between the monitors would drive me insane.
Disagree != mod troll.
Do the frames between windows of a car also drive you insane? Likewise when you wear glasses? (you might not need corrective ones but sunglasses are common enough) And those two translucent outlines of your nose, that you see all the time, must be really tormenting...
Seriously, it works rather fine (well, 6 monitors, with frame right in the center, is a poor choice...but not the only one)
One that hath name thou can not otter
Do the frames between windows of a car also drive you insane? Likewise when you wear glasses?
Those are all on the periphery of your vision. Would you wear glasses that had an opaque cross on the lens centered directly over your iris?
Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
Looking at the videos, I can confidently say that yes, it'd be better to get a large TV.
One thing to point out with those videos and the review is that the FOV is like a typical monitor. He goes on to mention how great it is, but its really just him sitting 3 feet in front of a 66" display. Anyone will say the same thing playing a game on a typical 40-50" display running at a much lower 1080p resolution.
The key to playing in such an array is to get immersion in games. You're much better off making a configuration of 1x3 displays so that you get a very high FOV and not just a glorified big screen TV. Hell you can save yourself more than $1200 in monitors (assuming you go for 22" each at $250 each) by getting a nice HD projector and a screen (or wall). It eliminates the heat and power consumption and not to mention there are no gaps. Sit up close and there you go, a fake 2x3 Eyefinity.
In addition to the 6 screen setup acting at one unit, the screens will, I assume, be able to act independently of one another for 6 separate screens, or possibly even 2 or 4 combined with 4 or 2 staying independent, respectively. This would allow for imaging-types of applications (MRI's, Digital X-Rays, CAD) be displayed on a large surface while having a few separate screens for applications that do not require visuals - all on the same machine. I can totally see this being used is hospitals and graphics design studios where large resolution is crucial, while allowing lower resolution apps open at the same time to prevent alt-tabbing between and thus increasing efficiency.
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Really need some list like http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/Essential_Games_List
to add some extra "scale" info.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"