Matrox TH2G Update ? for better resolution on Widescreens?

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 03 Apr 2008, 19:22

So if the TripleHead2Go is made to be not compliant with VESA, but we get 5040x1080, what are the ramifications of that? I don't recall seeing any "VESA" labeling on my TripleHead2Go packaging...

So you are emphasizing the word "if" right?

The way I understand it, TH2G is compliant with VESA standards.

My question is why?

Because it is some kind of law?, or because it has to be regulated because of the hardware thats on the market that pushes the display? via computer hardware?

The technical answer is what I would like to be able to understand.

Who's baby is it? There must be a technical reason for VESA to allows a maximum of 4000 horizontal pixels? What is it?

?????????????????????

ithrial · Post by **ithrial** » 03 Apr 2008, 20:36

The maximum resolutions are largely determined by VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) compliance standards which dictate a maximum number of pixelsâ€”currently 4000 horizontallyâ€”which can be outputted per port. For this reason, Matrox does not know if or when higher maximum resolutions will be supported.

Like another post said, why dont they just make a matrox box that uses both ports to push three monitors...similar to how dual-link dvi use to be...before they started putting it into a single port...two cables go to a matrox box, stuff happens inside, out comes three monitors @ 5040x1050...sales rocket through the roof both in widescreen 22" monitors and in matrox boxes...everyones happy...

Oh to dream...

Billes · Post by **Billes** » 03 Apr 2008, 23:21

To me that sounds like they are using VESA as a scapegoat. We're not talking about a standard here, we're talking about A) can my video card push the resolution, B) can that resolution be pumped through a 2-foot Dual-Link DVI cable and C) can the TH2Go do something useful with said resolution.

DirectX10 Hardware is definitely capable of larger resolutions (8,000 x 8,000), so it doesn't make sense that they'd cripple the maximum output to 4,000x4,000 just to be VESA compliant. Does anyone want to check with NVidia to see what the maximum resolution a DirectX10 Card can push on a single port? Might be another good place to start.

If Graphic cards aren't able to physically push 5040x1050 out of a single port (even though the cable could handle it and the graphics card can render it), then looks like we're stuck with waiting for a new "2 input, 3 output" box.

tricky · Post by **tricky** » 04 Apr 2008, 03:34

Using SoftTH, I can output with 2x8800GT's 3 x 1680x1050 on some games.

That is 5040x1050. The image is generated on one video card, then split to pass to the second.

Probably could go higher but my monitors don't support any higher.

Mostly though I run 3840 x 1024.

I imagine in a year or so they will have a DTH2GOv2.

ithrial · Post by **ithrial** » 04 Apr 2008, 04:42

how did you get your rig to take a screen shot of the entire realestate. in WoW it takes a screen shot, but its all black. in Company of Heroes, it only takes a shot of the center monitor...Wanna post some pictures, but cant seem to take any...

thanks

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 04 Apr 2008, 15:48

[quote]So if the TripleHead2Go is made to be not compliant with VESA, but we get 5040x1080, what are the ramifications of that? I don't recall seeing any "VESA" labeling on my TripleHead2Go packaging...

So you are emphasizing the word "if" right?

The way I understand it, TH2G is compliant with VESA standards.

My question is why?

Because it is some kind of law?, or because it has to be regulated because of the hardware thats on the market that pushes the display? via computer hardware?

The technical answer is what I would like to be able to understand.

Who's baby is it? There must be a technical reason for VESA to allows a maximum of 4000 horizontal pixels? What is it?

?????????????????????
Yes, I am emphasizing the word "if". I'm sorry; my bad grammar wasn't clear. What I really meant was So if the TripleHead2Go were to be made to be not compliant with VESA, but we would get 5040x1080, what would be the ramifications of that?

Hopefully the conditional makes it clearer.

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 04 Apr 2008, 16:09

JKeefe,

yea, thats what I thought you meant :)

I e-mailed matrox asking these questions, I'll post there answers if they give me answers.

"S"

tricky · Post by **tricky** » 04 Apr 2008, 16:35

how did you get your rig to take a screen shot of the entire realestate. in WoW it takes a screen shot, but its all black. in Company of Heroes, it only takes a shot of the center monitor...Wanna post some pictures, but cant seem to take any...

thanks

If question was directed at me, SoftTH has a built-in screenshot feature, pressing PrintScreen saves a full resolution tga file to the game directory, then I just convert it to jpg.

When I tried FRAPS with SoftTH, only got the middle screen, but may work with TripleHead2Go hardware.

ithrial · Post by **ithrial** » 04 Apr 2008, 17:47

Awesome...Now I can take screen shots and post them...Thx

windturbin · Post by **windturbin** » 04 Apr 2008, 22:57

My e-mail to Matrox, (I added trickys input to my e-mail as well)

Why does Matrox have to abide by VESA 4000 pixel standards? Is this true?

What is the reason VESA has set the limit to 4000 horizontal pixels?

Is it possible that the current digital TH2G could have higher resolution capability in the future.

Using the free software "SoftTH", and two high end video cards, some games can be played @ 3x 1680x1050 resolution. That is 5040x1050.
The image is generated on one video card, then split to pass to the second.

Does TH2G have any intention of supporting this type of technology in the future?

Matrox Technical support response....

As for higher resolution support, there is something in the works but if that will be an upgrade for the existing unit or a next generation product I wouldnâ€™t be able to say.

Regards,

Trpimir
MGI Technical Support Representative

Matrox Graphics Inc.

Telephone: (514) 685-0270
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (UTC/GMT -5 hours)
URL:www.matrox.com/graphics

Billes · Post by **Billes** » 05 Apr 2008, 03:31

As for higher resolution support, there is something in the works

Well that's encouraging at least!

Tyinsar · Post by **Tyinsar** » 11 Apr 2008, 07:47

As an owner of two TH2G units & 6 19" monitors I can vouch for it being possible to have a 7680*1024 desktop from a single card - but that's using 2 dual-link connections off of one card then using span mode in the drivers. (Though I'm currently running in 3840*2048 because that makes more sense to me.) I even tested this on a 6600GT and the desktop at lest works. However, the only game I tried at 7680*1024 bluescreened - it could be hardware, drivers, the game, or even direct-x that caused the crash.

The problem with using two dual-link connections to power a single unit is that it would require driver level support (and Vista drivers don't even support span mode). I don't see that happening any time soon.

One thing I'd like to see in TH2G firmware is monitor rotation:
3 19"WS monitors in "tallscreen" mode would be 2700*1440,
3 20-22" monitors in "tallscreen" mode would be 3150*1680,
3 24-28" monitors in "tallscreen" mode would be 3600*1920,
2 30" monitors in "tallscreen" mode would be 3200*2560

The biggest issues I see are that usually only the more expensive monitors come with stands that allow rotation and many have buttons on the bottom bezel that would get in the way if rotated.

Widescreen Gaming Forum