EIGHT MONITORS on one PC!!!!!!!!

[AndyT]

8 monitors =
2 dual head vid cards + two 3HTgo

You really NEED a multi core machine to run this kind of setup.
I suggest a Quad core with as much memory as you can afford.

This one is a bit pricey but it will handle 16 cores. Of course, you will need a 64 bit OS for that many cores...
http://www.supermicro.com/products/m...7300/X7QC3.cfm

[manhattan]

For those that are interested, I have heard from "PC Pilot" here in the UK concerning the 8 monitor setup -
The computer was a demo system from AMD showing off the new quad core chip. The motherboard had four PCi Rxpress slots allowing four dual output graphics cards to function. These cards were ATI 2900, running on a quad core CPU.
The crappy demo video found on Utube does show it working - but is NOT an official promo!

This could be put together for £1000.00, with everything "under one roof" - but no doubt the die hards will still spend twice this much buying extra computers and putting up with "Wideview", and all the hassles that go with it!!


TONY.

[Matt Olieman]

- but no doubt the die hards will still spend twice this much buying extra computers and putting up with "Wideview", and all the hassles that go with it!!
TONY.

Interesting information, thanks for the input and research...

In defense of us die hards Please don't forget the limitations of MSFS. The most wide view you can get out of MSFS is 103 degrees. So a couple more computers would be needed using "Wideview." That's if you want to go beyond 103 degrees

[manhattan]

Interesting information, thanks for the input and research...

In defense of us die hards Please don't forget the limitations of MSFS. The most wide view you can get out of MSFS is 103 degrees. So a couple more computers would be needed using "Wideview." That's if you want to go beyond 103 degrees

Not entirely sure what you mean by a limitation of 103 degrees? Probably me being a bit thick - but if the view (further round) is available, then surely it can be displayed? Can WideView "create" these extra views when MSFS can't? According to my research, any view available - be it left, right, front, back or points in between, can be displayed using the system mentioned. Unless MSFS refuses to send the views to the graphics cards?
This is an area that I know little about and presumed that if a view is in MSFS, it can be displayed on a monitor?

TONY.

[Prof Bill]

I would really like to know what the impact is on frame rates!!

I have done considerable development work in this area using QuadCore systems and the "hit" on framerates with just four monitors is really serious in FSX.

I have tried two triplehead2go with top of the range Gainward graphic cards in the two PCIe slots of a very high spec QuadCore with six monitors and for well understood technical reasons performance is unacceptable!!

I would indeed welcome some information on the simulator performance settings and screen resolutions and the resultant impact of using eight monitors.

In terms of enviornmental efficiency I agree with David Rogers and it would be "good for the planet" if we could crack this one!!

Bill.

[Matt Olieman]

Assumption in my part, using a single view, the front view. Setting it back as far as you can. Which give you a 103 degree view. Which is quite a bit, and satisfying to most.

BUT, you CAN use multiple windows, and suppose, go all the way around. But then you would have to play with those messy window frames

So Tony, you are correct it can be done with one machine...

Love to have someone else jump in here and share some of their experiences doing this

[manhattan]

I would really like to know what the impact is on frame rates!!

I have done considerable development work in this area using QuadCore systems and the "hit" on framerates with just four monitors is really serious in FSX.

I have tried two triplehead2go with top of the range Gainward graphic cards in the two PCIe slots of a very high spec QuadCore with six monitors and for well understood technical reasons performance is unacceptable!!

I would indeed welcome some information on the simulator performance settings and screen resolutions and the resultant impact of using eight monitors.

In terms of enviornmental efficiency I agree with David Rogers and it would be "good for the planet" if we could crack this one!!

Bill.

I'm not too technical in this area, but the demo shown on Utube (not a professional video) appears to be 'judder' free when the aircraft changes attitude, and the speed brake operation is smooth as shown on a right hand view monitor. If you can find it on Utube under flight simulation, the builder is available to email for information. I saw the info in PC Pilot, and they wrote to me directly. I think that the exact specification would need to be followed to achieve the correct results.
I already have seven totally trouble free monitors on one PC with 50/60 frame rates, but the 8 monitor article interested me. I think it's only a matter of time before one PC will be able to handle a number of monitors as a matter of course. Who will change over when this happens?

TONY (twin otter)

[BHawthorne]

I have the ASUS 790FX mobo and run 3 video cards on it atm. If I had the cash to spare I'd sell my 3 2-slot video cards and go with 4 1-slot 8800GT 256. I will be posting soon my experiences with 6 monitors.



BTW: 1000W+ PSUs are overkill. I'm running a 580W just fine.

[Matt Olieman]

I want to know what that center monitor is..... it's awfully bright....

[Bob Reed]

I want to know what that center monitor is..... it's awfully bright....

Um...Matt..... That is a window.... Silly.....