Discussion: WSGF Reviews of the ATI 5000-series

[skipclarke]

Crossfire works with DX9 titles!

I have validated this issue myself. CFX worked in the Unigine Heaven 2.0 demo in 3x1 Landscape under DX9. I got the logo on the CFX screen. However, I did not get the logo when I set the Eyefinity group to 3x1 Portrait. This would also explain some of the HL2 anomalies I saw in my data under portrait mode.

[AA8]

Dx10 + Xfire + Eyefinity + 3x1 Portrait mode = Perfect

Dx10 + Xfire + Eyefinity + 3x1 Landscape mode = Perfect

Dx9 + Xfire +Eyefinity + 3x1 Landscape mode = Perfect

Dx9 + Xfire + Eyefinity + 3x1 Portrait mode = No go


At least with a 5970 on my computer....


My thread on the topic at hardforum

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1506628

[AA8]

[quote]Crossfire works with DX9 titles!

I have validated this issue myself. CFX worked in the Unigine Heaven 2.0 demo in 3x1 Landscape under DX9. I got the logo on the CFX screen. However, I did not get the logo when I set the Eyefinity group to 3x1 Portrait. This would also explain some of the HL2 anomalies I saw in my data under portrait mode.


Woohoo I am not alone :)

[skipclarke]

Dave, looks like that was a documented issue in a previous driver release, though we've only just put the pieces together here. Looks like it was solved for DX10 and DX11, but not DX9. AA8 quoted from his thread on HardOCP:

This was at the time of 8.66 drivers, but I guess the 10.3 drivers don't fix crossfire in portrait mode yet
___________________________________

Radeon 5970 Eyefinity support

Right now ATI Eyefinity support with multiple displays is officially limited to single-GPU configs only. CrossFire doesn’t work just yet.

...

Now the Eyefinity support does come with a number of caveats. For starters, support is limited to the games listed above only. No other games are supported yet at this time. In addition, only landscape configurations scale properly. Running portrait mode will still function, but will rely on the primary GPU only. And again, Eyefinity support is limited to the 5970 card at this time.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/...view/page3.asp

[skipclarke]

I've added new info into the Review on how to hit 60fps (or as close as I could get in the games I tested). Also added several more pages of analysis highlighting CrossFireX scaling in Widescreen, 3x1 EF and 3x2 EF. Also added a page dealing with Aspect Ratio scaling.

[Dave Baumann]

Crossfire works in landscape irrespective of number of panels or API but not in portrait, irrespective of number of panels or API. This is actually a legacy notion from when Crossfire only operated in single panel mode and is being addressed for Eyefinity in the future.

If DX10 is therem I've no idea why.

[skipclarke]

I've just revalidated in Heaven 2.0. The CFX logo shows in DX10 and DX11, but not DX9.

[Dave Baumann]

Is that with Cat 10.3b preview or the recent leaked driver?

[skipclarke]

I believe it is Cat 10.3b. It's the "March 19th" driver I got as part of the Eyefinity6 testing. It also worked/scaled properly on the original 10.3 Preview driver that I initially used when I tested my original HD 5870

[skipclarke]

I added one last comment to the review:

I won't even mention that 7x1-Portrait would still get under the "8k limit" in Windows with 1920x1080 panels (7560x1920 with a 16:4 aspect ratio ^_^)

Discuss...

[Sideeffect]

Would the 8k limit prevent 5x1 Portrait 30" 8000 x 2560? Is it 7999 maximum or 8001? Even if it did work Bezel management wouldn't I guess.

I think using 16:10 or 4:3 monitors in portrait to increase the horizontal FOV makes more sence than using more 16:9 monitors.

In 5x1 Portrait a 16:10 setup would already provide 3.13:1 vs the 2.81:1 from 16:9 monitors. Or you could use portrait 5x1 4:3 monitors for an even wider 3.75:1 which is pretty much the same FOV as the proposed 16:9 7x1 setup.

[skipclarke]

The limit is 8,192px.

All of those are viable options. I did think about the 5x4:3 and even referenced it in the article. Issues there (at least for me) is the reduced vertical height. That would give the widest FOV.

[0utf0xZer0]

Well, the question is, what is the ideal aspect ratio?

I would have assumed that one you're above maybe 3:1 there would be little point to continuing to go wider, but you guys have more experience than me, what do you think?

I take it the bezels are more noticeable in portrait mode setups? Unlike in landscape mode setups, the bezels aren't going to be only in your peripheral vision?

[Sideeffect]

The limit is 8,192px.

All of those are viable options. I did think about the 5x4:3 and even referenced it in the article. Issues there (at least for me) is the reduced vertical height. That would give the widest FOV.

Cool.

Yes reduced vertical but a lot more screen space between the bezels which could make it more attractive.

The left 4 dead 2 shots from the link show the game zoomed out when in single monitor and tripple head but zoomed in when using 3x2 and 5x1 creating almost the same vertical view no matter what setup is used. Is that just because of the way it was edited?

[morfinx]

Well, the question is, what is the ideal aspect ratio?

I would have assumed that one you're above maybe 3:1 there would be little point to continuing to go wider, but you guys have more experience than me, what do you think?

I take it the bezels are more noticeable in portrait mode setups? Unlike in landscape mode setups, the bezels aren't going to be only in your peripheral vision?

I'm quite happy with 3x Portrait (3600x1920) which results in a 15:8 aspect ratio, which is slighter wider than 16:9 and 16:10.

If you are concerned about the bezels, let me tell you something: don't be. The brain is amazingly good at filtering things out. Your nose is in your field of view at all times. Tell me, do you notice it? ;)

[Magic Man]

Your nose is in your field of view at all times. Tell me, do you notice it? ;)

Try telling that to Pinocchio... :D

[duniek]

I have simple question

Can you turn 3 top monitors in 180* (physically) and in drivers as well and then make any eyefinity group?

I am asking bcoz temporary I dont have ANY ati card and when I try make in in windows XP @ nvidia gpus/nview panel after when I turn view in drivers (any angle 90 or 180) I cant make extended monitors group.

if this will be possible will be great bcoz some monitors like mine (samsung 226BW) are wider at bottom and have also white stripe

[skipclarke]

Well, the question is, what is the ideal aspect ratio?

I would have assumed that one you're above maybe 3:1 there would be little point to continuing to go wider, but you guys have more experience than me, what do you think?

I take it the bezels are more noticeable in portrait mode setups? Unlike in landscape mode setups, the bezels aren't going to be only in your peripheral vision?

It's really a preference thing, and that is what I was trying to highlight here - all the options, with all the gives and takes.

3x1-L has the wides FOV, but you get the most "stretching at the edges". It has the fewest bezels, but physically the monitors are the smallest installation. It's also the cheapest.

3x1-P is basically a 16:9 ratio with a super high res and the bezels in the middle. Same expense as above, but no increase in FOV.

3x2 and 5x1-P are both a bit wider than normal widescreen (though not as wide as 3x1-L), but avoid a lot of the stretching of 3x1-L (and not all games stretch badly). They physically fill your vision, but you have more bezels.

Decisions, decisions, decisions... :doh

Yes reduced vertical but a lot more screen space between the bezels which could make it more attractive.

The left 4 dead 2 shots from the link show the game zoomed out when in single monitor and tripple head but zoomed in when using 3x2 and 5x1 creating almost the same vertical view no matter what setup is used. Is that just because of the way it was edited?

Exactly right on the spacing of the bezels, so it becomes a preference thing. And, the bezels are just one piece of the entire puzzle. The bezel width on a 22" to 24" monitor is about what it was on a 19" 4x3 monitor. I was used to that on my TH2Go, so this doesn't bother me.

The FOV tool (which I used to grab the images) scales the image to the width of the tool, imitating the Hor+ behavior of L4D. That "zoom" is the actual increasing aspect ratio and FOV due to Eyefinity.

I used those samples for comparison shots as the "panels" in each image are roughly the same size. Was meant to show the balance between the FOV and the physical size.



Notice where the yellow pole is in each pic. That helps you compare the aspect ratio and FOV. The pole isn't even in the widescreen pic on top, and it's very near the center on the 3x1-L at the bottom (which has the widest aspect ratio) The positions are close on the 5x1-P and the 3x2. However, the cars are bigger on the 5x1-P and the 3x2 as those monitor setups are significantly larger. The car is rendered across far more pixels and screen inches.

I have simple question

Can you turn 3 top monitors in 180* (physically) and in drivers as well and then make any eyefinity group?

I am asking bcoz temporary I dont have ANY ati card and when I try make in in windows XP @ nvidia gpus/nview panel after when I turn view in drivers (any angle 90 or 180) I cant make extended monitors group.

if this will be possible will be great bcoz some monitors like mine (samsung 226BW) are wider at bottom and have also white stripe

No, with Eyefinity all the monitors have to be rotated all the same direction. I understand what you mean about putting the narrowest bezels in the middle, but that's a bit much for the driver to handle.

[skipclarke]

I'm quite happy with 3x Portrait (3600x1920) which results in a 15:8 aspect ratio, which is slighter wider than 16:9 and 16:10.

If you are concerned about the bezels, let me tell you something: don't be. The brain is amazingly good at filtering things out. Your nose is in your field of view at all times. Tell me, do you notice it? ;)

I'm happy with mine as well (while I wait for 5x1-P). I have to second the comment on the bezels. The bezel widths on a 22" to 24" monitor in portrait are close to a 19" 4x3 from the TH2Go days. The bezels didn't bother us back then...

[morfinx]

[quote]I'm quite happy with 3x Portrait (3600x1920) which results in a 15:8 aspect ratio, which is slighter wider than 16:9 and 16:10.

If you are concerned about the bezels, let me tell you something: don't be. The brain is amazingly good at filtering things out. Your nose is in your field of view at all times. Tell me, do you notice it? ;)

I'm happy with mine as well (while I wait for 5x1-P). I have to second the comment on the bezels. The bezel widths on a 22" to 24" monitor in portrait are close to a 19" 4x3 from the TH2Go days. The bezels didn't bother us back then...



I also posted a poll on [H], the result being that a significant percentage of people prefer 3x Portrait (about 1/3 of the people):

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1485380