Wanting surround gaming

thegods13 · Post by **thegods13** » 10 Jul 2009, 06:24

I am new to building computers and am looking to build a surround gaming rig. I want games to run in single monitor, for example games such as COD 4 with ammo count radar and any info on the center monitor. Then run the other 2 monitors as peripherals. I know this is possible and I don't wanna shell out extra money above and beyond my rig for the Triple Head 2 Go being it is not what I want.

Butch_N · Post by **Butch_N** » 10 Jul 2009, 08:26

I imagine that 'some' games may let you move the hud stuff to the center screen with a edit in the config file.
I don't know how rFactor does it, but it works in it like you want, so I know it's possible. All hud stuff in it displays in their normal positions on the center screen.

Of all the games (not many really) that I have installed and working in TH, rFactor does the best job of implementation. They just really got it spot on, imo. The only thing that it doesn't do correctly is to display the replays in 3 screens. I can't get a answer to why that is, but I'm beginning to suspect it is because of the difficulty in trying to make a movie from a surround gaming aspect ratio. So I think ISI may have fixed it so replays play at normal 1 screen aspect for better use with FRAPS and Windows Movie Maker. I could be wrong though, that's only a guess.

Maybe check some fan sites that discuss tech issues with the games and somebody should know if the huds can be moved and how to do it.

Sorry I can't offer any other suggestions.

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 10 Jul 2009, 20:54

thegods13,

You are telling us that you want ideal triplehead games. Matrox works with developers to achieve this from Day 1, but it doesn't always happen. That's why forums like this exist.

What you should do is research the games you are interested in playing in triplehead. As Butch_N points out, rFactor is a racing sim that behaves about as good as it gets in triplehead (which is due the the excellent developer response to user input). There are other games and sims that are just as good, some that require you to make some tweaks, and some that no one has figured out how to modify to our liking yet.

You're not going to have to spend any money beyond a TripleHead2Go to get want you want - the tweaks and mods are all free. But you will need to spend some time researching to see what's possible.

thegods13 · Post by **thegods13** » 10 Jul 2009, 23:25

wow guys thanks for the quick responds. So basically if I read into that correctly you guys are saying its do-able without the triple head 2 go. which is really all I wanted to know. It may require more work getting everything to sync up okay well thanks for the help

Post by **BHawthorne** » 10 Jul 2009, 23:55

To get 3D gaming to be across all 3 screens you'll need to either use SoftTH, TH2G or run in windowed mode. Beings you don't want to buy a TH2G, you have SoftTH or windowed mode options. You're going to take a performance hit though. The TH2G was created for a reason. :wink:

thegods13 · Post by **thegods13** » 11 Jul 2009, 00:51

Well I understand that because 2 cards running a total of 3 monitors vs. sli running 3 but i am willing to take the little bit of a performance hit for now till i build another machine when i get some real money

Butch_N · Post by **Butch_N** » 11 Jul 2009, 16:44

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
I don't blame you a bit for trying SoftTH first. I mean if I thought I could do what I wanted with a freeware download vs a $300 box, I would certainly try the software.

I knew SoftTH wouldn't work for my needs, so I didn't mess with it all. I got the TH2Go and have had very few problems (most were my fault and lack of understanding, not hardware or software problems). It's pretty much plug and and play.

thegods13 · Post by **thegods13** » 11 Jul 2009, 18:04

Ya see that's another thing I don't like about TH2G is the fact it just stretches your screen because i also do a lot of stuff besides gaming. I built my brother a computer that runs dual monitors both off of a 512 mb built in video on a mother board and I love using it for the fact on how easy it is to do everything, such as music, IM, researching, everything.

Post by **BHawthorne** » 11 Jul 2009, 19:17

PowerDesk-SE puts in screen dividers, so nothing is stretched across multiple screens on the desktop unless you want it to be. I think you're confusing the lack of that with how horizontal-span mode behaves.

thegods13 · Post by **thegods13** » 11 Jul 2009, 19:39

Well that makes sense. Sorry I am new to all this and am trying to get as many answers as I can before I commit and order all the parts.

Butch_N · Post by **Butch_N** » 11 Jul 2009, 23:11

Hey again

Yeah, it is just like any single screen desktop. You can expand something all the way across it (all 3 screens), or full size windows in each screen, or any anyway you want with small windows.
You can watch a movie in one, have some web pages open in another and be looking at files or other work in the third.
It doesn't cause any kind of limit, really. It actually adds tremendously to you work area. It's not just for gaming ;)

Sir Drip · Post by **Sir Drip** » 11 Jul 2009, 23:59

It would be a good idea to try the softTH till the release of the new TH2GO "DP" model. There is no need to buy the older model with it's limitations.

Sir Drip · Post by **Sir Drip** » 12 Jul 2009, 09:38

Oh... nevermind that shit is brokin too. I have learned that they dont make a dual DVI to DP adapter for the input to the TH2Go "DP"! Looks like the DP model is for MAC users! That's a shame, FAILED again!

thegods13 · Post by **thegods13** » 13 Jul 2009, 22:17

I agree fail. Macs are for people who can't use PC or just don't game

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