Slashdot Mirror
AMD Multi-Display Tech Has Problems, Potential
EconolineCrush writes "While AMD's Eyefinity multi-display gaming tech is undeniably impressive at first glance, digging deeper reveals key limitations. Some games work well, others not at all, and many are simply better suited to specific screen configurations. A three-way setup looks to be ideal from a compatibility perspective, and given current LCD prices, it's really not all that expensive. But would you take that over a single high-resolution display or a giant HDTV?"
The problem with a big TV is only 1920x1080 max, and pixels the size of my fingernail. (There's a recent "obligatory" xkcd about this, I'll let some karmawhore who cares dig up the link...)
The problem with single high-resolution displays is that, while they keep the pixel density sane, they stop at only 30" (without going insanely expensive) and 2560x1600. Even these are way pricier than the same number of pixels in two or three smaller monitors.
Multiple monitors (30" if you can afford them, more likely 21-24") get loads of pixels, big display, and useful density. Who wouldn't want?
FWIW, though, this is nothing new -- nvidia has been offering multiscreen openGL forever. But it doesn't work with either generic X setup (XRANDR or multi-screen); you have to use their custom extension that does exactly what XRANDR1.2 does. Let's hope this _isn't_ like that.
Doesn't Supreme Commander let you do that?
I haven't seen it I'm just sure I heard it did.
http://xkcd.com/732/
One that hath name thou can not otter
Yes, yes it does.
World in Conflict can put a map of second monitor.
There is some number of games which do allow changing their field of view, and work quite well...
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/surroundgaming/en/games/
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/Essential_Games_List
One that hath name thou can not otter
According to ATI, support for Eyefinity on Linux will be enabled by a 'future Catalyst release'. Three releases of the Catalyst driver have come and gone since I got my Radeon in February, and they still have zero support for Eyefinity on Linux. Which is irritating as hell, because the famed YouTube demo of Eyefinity running a flight sim on 24 screens was a Linux box.
Some days, it really sucks to be a Linux zealot. This is one of them.
I was excited for this (and still) for a digital signage setup, being that to drive 6 individual screens at native res from a PC source was a challenge without real expensive gear (like an NVidia QuadroPlex), so at $500 this would be a bargain for certain setups, but without DisplayPort the card can only drive 2 screens video DVI/HDMI, anything else you need active (not a dongle like for the MBP since the card only has 2 DACs) DisplayPort to DVI adapters, which run at $99 each and are in terribly short supply thanks to this card. So if you want to use 6 screens without DisplayPort tack on another $400.
Apparently you didn't understand. He said:
Even three low end 20 inch monitors will give a much higher resolution, and much, much higher DPI than I could get for the same amount of money spent on a single large display.
(emphasis mine)
One that hath name thou can not otter