Usability of Triple Standard V Triple Wide

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 28 Oct 2008, 06:53

@ JKeefe

Thanking you! It is amazing how talking things through, with those generous in sharing their knowledge, can uncover a critical aspect to a solution.

I now know that anyone who needs 3 monitors for general office work, in addition to gaming, needs, at least, a second graphics card and Ultramon.

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 28 Oct 2008, 07:03

I have a 3x 20" 4:3 setup(1600x1200) and just switch to a 3x24" widescreen. ....For work I would much perfer 3x 4:3 monitors. I wouldn't have got 24" if I wasn't a gamer looking for the next thrill. it is too bad that they [don't] really make 4:3 screen anymore.

Might 3 X 20", @ 3 x (1680 x 1050) [16:10] (widescreen), be the sweet spot compromise?

Or 3 X 22", @ 3 x (1680 x 1050) [16:10] (widescreen)?

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 28 Oct 2008, 16:21

[quote]Hope this helps someone in making their decision

Your comprehensive post has certainly helped me. Thanks.

I switch to single screen 4320x900 or 5040x1050 for gaming only. the rest of the time I switch to triple display mode 1920x1200 via dual videocard and use Ultra Mon to manage my multi monitor.

I presume this "switching" is a simple affair. That is, via a hot key or something.

If so, I imagine your set up is as follows.
1. Primary Card Head 1 -> TripleHeadToGo -> 3 monitors
2. Primary Card Head 2 -> spare port on monitor 1
3. Secondary Card Head 1 -> spare port on monitor 2
4. Secondary Card Head 2 - > spare port on monitor 3.

Is that right? Do monitors generally come with the 2 inputs needed for this?

If so could we also throw crossfire or SLI into the mix. Eg Use the two cards in SLI when using Th2Go, switch, turning SLI off in the process, to use the two cards independently. Is that kind of solution possible, usual, or desirable?

glad I can help, here's how my monitors are hooked up:

1st video card 9800GX2 nvidia (dual display)
2nd video card ATI FireMV 2400 (quad display)

Th2g is connect to DVI1 on my 9800gx2

-=-= MONITOR CONNECTIONS =-=-
Left monitor - DVI to port in FireMV
- Analog to Left output on TH2G

Center Monitor - DVI to center output on Th2g
- anaglog to 2nd output on 9800gx2

Right Monitor - DVI to port in FireMV
- Analog to Right output on Th2g

-=-=-= DISPLAY MODES/SETTINGS =--=-=-

I use UltraMon and have hotkey or 2 clicks to switching between screen setting. I mainly use two modes. this is in windows

1) Triple display: 3x 1920x1200 (for regular work)
- L and R monitors are run from the DVI port on the FireMV
- center is run form Th2g via DVI in 1920x1200 res.

2) Matrox Th2g: 3x 1440x900 (for gaming)
- disable DVI output from FireMV to L and R monitor
- th2g runs at 4320x900. Center monitor run by DVI. L & R run by
th2g but in analog mode and the monitor automatically switch to analog input since it autodetects and the DVI feed is stopped.

3) Analog gaming: Single 1920x1200 VGA Direct connection to center monitor
- I have to set SLI output from matrox dvi port to the other port on my 9800gx2 via Nvdia control panel
- I only use this when I need to play games that have to use pesky resolutions or when the game gets " blank screen but runs" because this direct connection to the monitor gives more usable resolution without bugs than say the th2go that only have a limited mode.

I'm surprised it worked out so well with no major bugs other than my Th2g not being able to use single 1920x1200 in games.

Th2g is only used when I game the rest of the time it's useless and my 2nd videocard + ultramon does a better job. and can use my monitor's full resolution.

Tyinsar · Post by **Tyinsar** » 28 Oct 2008, 19:44

One chunk of software I found indispensable with my TH2G is GridMove. It requires a bit of setup at first - though I posted my TH2G grid here: (Link)

The great thing is that (1) it's Free and (2) it's so simple to use once set up: [Win]-[1] resizes the active app to screen 1, [Win]-[2] resizes the active app to screen 1... [Win]-[6] sends the active app to zone 6 etc. (see link above for zones). For me this makes Windows and the TH2G so much easier to use well (productively) both in games as well as outside of games.

I also use it on another system with only two screens and no TH2G / DH2G - though with a different "grid" file.

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 29 Oct 2008, 02:38

One chunk of software I found indispensable with my TH2G is GridMove. It requires a bit of setup at first - though I posted my TH2G grid here: (Link)

The great thing is that (1) it's Free and (2) it's so simple to use once set up: [Win]-[1] resizes the active app to screen 1, [Win]-[2] resizes the active app to screen 1... [Win]-[6] sends the active app to zone 6 etc. (see link above for zones). For me this makes Windows and the TH2G so much easier to use well (productively) both in games as well as outside of games.

I also use it on another system with only two screens and no TH2G / DH2G - though with a different "grid" file.

pretty cool. but the only thing is the th2g doesn't support triple 1920x1200 :(

Post by **Downtown1** » 29 Oct 2008, 03:14

Does nobody here use 3x24" (with 1920x1200 native and 1680x1050 under TH2GO)? I cannot stand the horrible TN panels that you get with <24" myself.

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 29 Oct 2008, 03:43

Does nobody here use 3x24" (with 1920x1200 native and 1680x1050 under TH2GO)? I cannot stand the horrible TN panels that you get with <24" myself.

thing is why would someone use lower than their native resolution?

as for TN panel. this is my first time getting one...
- it's cheaper I only paid $279 after tax for each of my 24" screen
- response time is faster mine is 2ms.

bad thing is:
- it don't fully display 24bit colors and when viewing photos the color reproduction is not as good. and u may notice some dittering.

I hardly do any video or photo editing and when I do it's for simple stuff so color fedility is not that important to me.

I do game tho so fast response time is a plus for me.

the rest of the time I'm doing office/email/internet type of thing and the colors are fine for me.

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 11 Dec 2008, 05:03

One chunk of software I found indispensable with my TH2G is GridMove.

I recently had a look at a few 22" monitors at 1680 x 1050. Opening up a browser to fill the whole screen was often too wide. Many web designers don't code for a liquid layout. Even when they do the text feels too stretched out. Opening another app to halve the screen meant that the browser was too narrow.

Gridmove will allow me to define a centre or side grid of any size I like. That makes me far less nervous about going widescreen (let alone triple widescreen). Gridmove looks like an essential piece of software.

Tyinsar, this really is a valuable piece of advice. Thanks.

Yui · Post by **Yui** » 12 Dec 2008, 06:07

Triple wide like triple 22" monitors is nice for gaming but may be stressful to your eyes when doing regular desktop tasks. Maybe you'll get used to it though. I've tried it before and it's just too much for my eyes. lol!

Maybe one advantage of triple wide is that if a game doesn't support TH2Go then you can still play on 1 widescreen monitor compared to just 1 standard monitor.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 12 Dec 2008, 07:31

Maybe one advantage of triple wide is that if a game doesn't support TH2Go then you can still play on 1 widescreen monitor compared to just 1 standard monitor.

BIG advantage...5040 for FO3, FC2 etc...1920x1200 for BF2, CoD4/WaW MP etc. Much better than 1280x1024 :)

geniv2 · Post by **geniv2** » 14 Dec 2008, 05:10

Triple wide like triple 22" monitors is nice for gaming but may be stressful to your eyes when doing regular desktop tasks. Maybe you'll get used to it though. I've tried it before and it's just too much for my eyes. lol!

Maybe one advantage of triple wide is that if a game doesn't support TH2Go then you can still play on 1 widescreen monitor compared to just 1 standard monitor.

I have to agree with you monitors being triple wides is kinda too much for the eyes.

I find myself MUCH more productive with my 3x 4:3 20" screen than my current
3x 24" at 16:10

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 14 Dec 2008, 05:49

... monitors being triple wides is kinda too much for the eyes.

I find myself MUCH more productive with my 3x 4:3 20" screen than my current
3x 24" at 16:10

Maybe 3 x 16:10 @ 20" each is the ideal compromise.

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 14 Dec 2008, 06:40

An separate issue has arisen out of this thread. When setting up DTH2G with your two graphics cards, where should the digital connections go versus the analog connections go?

I explain what I mean by that in DTH2G and Direct-to-Card setup. Digital V Analog connections

I'm posting here in case some of you are watching this thread and maybe interested in this issue. Especially, geniv2, JKeefe, and Tyinsar, since I quote you.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 14 Dec 2008, 07:13

Um John Bentley why do you need to bypass TH to use your three monitors independently? PowerDesk SE allows you to maximise windows in each display, e.g. I normally run email (LH), web browsing (centre) and miscellaneous(RH) when I am mucking about on my pc. With PD-SE it is the same as having 3 independent monitors for all intents and purposes, well to me anyway!

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 14 Dec 2008, 07:21

Um John Bentley why do you need to bypass TH to use your three monitors independently?

I'll quote you and respond in DTH2G and Direct-to-Card setup. Digital V Analog connections

Tyinsar · Post by **Tyinsar** » 24 Dec 2008, 06:11

[quote]One chunk of software I found indispensable with my TH2G is GridMove.

I recently had a look at a few 22" monitors at 1680 x 1050. Opening up a browser to fill the whole screen was often too wide. Many web designers don't code for a liquid layout. Even when they do the text feels too stretched out. Opening another app to halve the screen meant that the browser was too narrow.

Gridmove will allow me to define a centre or side grid of any size I like. That makes me far less nervous about going widescreen (let alone triple widescreen). Gridmove looks like an essential piece of software.

Tyinsar, this really is a valuable piece of advice. Thanks.Glad to help :cheers

john bentley · Post by **john bentley** » 10 Sep 2009, 06:27

I having been meaning to post for a while. I got my rig (see my signature) about 6 months ago.

Now that I have my 3 X 22" monitors I am very glad I did not go for 3 X 20". I was worried that 3 X 22" would be too wide, requiring too much head turning. This turned out to be nothing to worry about, under my current setup. I enjoy using every part of the three screens. Mind you my (alas costly) independent monitor arms allow me to position the monitors at exactly my preferred angle (and height, and depth) and I consider these arms an important part of the solution. The angle between the center monitor and side monitors is about 145°. That might be too sharp for a lift stand with a single supporting cross beam like the Ergotron LX Triple Lift (?).

As planned I operate two modes:
* Independent monitors, for use when working. I use Ultramon's smart taskbar feature to know which minimized windows belong to which monitor. I have the main task bar (with the start button, resident program icons, date/time, etc) on the central monitor; and
* Triple Head mode, for gaming.

I can switch between the two modes in about 30 seconds, without rebooting, using a combination of Matrox Powerdesk, two DVI switch boxes, and manually changing some settings in Nvidia Desktop Manager and Nvidia Control panel.

When working I also use Gridmove, as suggested by Tyinsar. I have to concur. Gridmove is absolutely essential to an efficient use of three screens. It can do more than NVida Gridlines, or Matrox Powerdesk. I have created my own custom grids which I hope to share soon.

For those that are permanently in Triple Head mode, and work in addition to game in this mode, Gridmove is as valuable to those that work in Independent mode.

Post by **suiken_2mieu** » 11 Sep 2009, 02:50

I use 3 widescreen 19"rs, The last square monitor (yes i said square) i used was during the age of the crt. I kinda eased my way into the lcd era when 19" widescreens were $200 - $250. Then later I bought two more of the same type, 1 for 80 and the other for 100. So Point is, I like Triplewide, and I'm really mad when I have to play a game that's only 4:3 (I'm looking at you sega). So yeah, Go with Triplewide. I do have to move my head a bit, but i only put things i'm not really monitoring or working on the left and right monitors and keep things important in the center. It's rather useful to have the bigger workspace.

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