Matrox Graphics launches TripleHead2Go Digital Edition

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 07 Mar 2007, 17:42

Press release emailed to me:

Montreal, Canada, March 7th, 2007 Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, unveils the TripleHead2Go Digital Edition, the latest addition to the Matrox line of Graphics eXpansion Modules (GXM) featuring digital output support for a stretched desktop of up to 3840x1024 (triple 1280 x 1024)1 across three screens. The all-encompassing TripleHead2Go Digital Edition offers a truly digital-to-digital data path by connecting to the dual-link DVI output of a compatible notebook, desktop or workstation to three digital monitorsÃ¢â‚¬â€

Post by **Paddy the Wak** » 07 Mar 2007, 18:08

I was just going to post this ... you beat me to it ... :D
It's great news isn't it !

... I'll be getting one or two ASAP ! ... :mrgreen:

RichieG · Post by **RichieG** » 07 Mar 2007, 19:01

Glad you guys like it :-)

MatroxRulez · Post by **MatroxRulez** » 07 Mar 2007, 19:38

Nice job, Matrox! :D

Bennamin · Post by **Bennamin** » 07 Mar 2007, 23:04

I don't really get the excitement, I was hoping a DVI version would increase resolutions, say triple 1600x1200(4800x1200)......
I'm a bit disappointed to see the same res as the older model..... Sorry to rain on the parade.....
Edit: Would like to have seen support for a widescreen monitor in the middle eg: 20.1" @1600x1200, 24" @1920x1200 and 20.1" @1600x1200 making 5120x1200.....

Magic Man · Post by **Magic Man** » 07 Mar 2007, 23:05

Nice job. Jut in time for my next build - knew there was a reason I was waiting :D

See they've included the bezel handling - pity they took their support site down, that's exactly how I told them to do it...
...shame they didn't also include my suggestion for the ability to specify where to make the splits though so that you could have put a widescreen in the middle.

Also, looks like they've rearranged the layout so that the three outputs are on the one side (which seemed more logical to me before rather than one on the same side as the input) to allow a DVI input together with the analgoue input on the other.

As for the outputs, since it says they support both analogue and digital, I assume they will be DVI-I, i.e. both analogue and digital through the same DVi connector ---- OR, are they just providing digital input but still outputting in analogue?

Also noticed they've ditched the external power and gone with USB powered - would of been even better if they allowed two way comms via the USB to set things (or perhaps they do and this is how the bezel management is switched on and off - also my suggestion...)

Good stuff...

Waiting to buy... :D

JohnnyWakko · Post by **JohnnyWakko** » 07 Mar 2007, 23:17

WAAHT! Still no support for widescreen in the middle ???? :x :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Magic Man · Post by **Magic Man** » 08 Mar 2007, 00:05

Looking at the big image http://www.matrox.com/graphics/media/common/th2go/Digital/jpeg/th2go_top.jpg you can see that the outputs are DVI connectors.

Bennamin · Post by **Bennamin** » 08 Mar 2007, 03:42

Looking at the big image http://www.matrox.com/graphics/media/common/th2go/Digital/jpeg/th2go_top.jpg you can see that the outputs are DVI connectors.

.....and.....

The moral of the story is that its the same res as the older model....

Post by **skipclarke** » 08 Mar 2007, 06:00

I don't really get the excitement, I was hoping a DVI version would increase resolutions, say triple 1600x1200(4800x1200)......
I'm a bit disappointed to see the same res as the older model..... Sorry to rain on the parade.....
Edit: Would like to have seen support for a widescreen monitor in the middle eg: 20.1" @1600x1200, 24" @1920x1200 and 20.1" @1600x1200 making 5120x1200.....

This is a limitation of DX9, not the box. I know they can add additional resolutions to the box firmware, once they are properly tested. DX9 only allows for 4k x 4k (4,096 x 4,096) pixels for 3D acceleration. DX10 allows for 8k x 8k (8,192 x 8,192) pixels. This would allow for 4800x1200, or even 3x1920x1200 (5,760 x 1200). Hell, it would even allow for 3x2560x1600 (7,680 x 1600), if the GFX card and cable bandwidth could handle it.

Hopefully Matrox will release a Vista/DX10 update. For me, this would be the reason to really consider Vista. But, with how long it's taken for people to get Vista drivers out, I'm not sure how long it would take something special like this. And, would it only work with a DX10 game?

Bennamin · Post by **Bennamin** » 08 Mar 2007, 07:54

[quote]I don't really get the excitement, I was hoping a DVI version would increase resolutions, say triple 1600x1200(4800x1200)......
I'm a bit disappointed to see the same res as the older model..... Sorry to rain on the parade.....
Edit: Would like to have seen support for a widescreen monitor in the middle eg: 20.1" @1600x1200, 24" @1920x1200 and 20.1" @1600x1200 making 5120x1200.....

This is a limitation of DX9, not the box. I know they can add additional resolutions to the box firmware, once they are properly tested. DX9 only allows for 4k x 4k (4,096 x 4,096) pixels for 3D acceleration. DX10 allows for 8k x 8k (8,192 x 8,192) pixels. This would allow for 4800x1200, or even 3x1920x1200 (5,760 x 1200). Hell, it would even allow for 3x2560x1600 (7,680 x 1600), if the GFX card and cable bandwidth could handle it.

Hopefully Matrox will release a Vista/DX10 update. For me, this would be the reason to really consider Vista. But, with how long it's taken for people to get Vista drivers out, I'm not sure how long it would take something special like this. And, would it only work with a DX10 game?

Now thats an answer!
Might work once a directx 10 solution for an older game is released......

Magic Man · Post by **Magic Man** » 08 Mar 2007, 13:48

You also need to be realistic with the GPU processing power requried to pump out that many pixels...

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 08 Mar 2007, 16:41

Resolutions greater than 4096 pixels would, I think, require a DX10 game. The reason I say this is that DX7 games (with a 2048-pixel limit) have that limit even when they are run on DX8 and DX9 hardware and software.

And therein lies the problem - a DX10 game is going to push hardware hard enough as it is even before insane resolutions are thrown at it.

DarKcyde · Post by **DarKcyde** » 08 Mar 2007, 17:26

Its not the version of directX that limits the resolution, its the hardware itself. Guys have already run games higher than 4096 on geforce 8800s using softTH. That was on dx9 games (one of the racing ones, LFS i think).

Shouldn't be any reason matrox can't do higher resolutions, you just need G80 or R600 videocards to drive it.

I'm also wondering about the monitor output... its DVI ports, but is it digital, analog, both? Hopefully its not ONLY analog (that would suck for you LCD ppl) but I also hope they didnt drop analog, cuz then it wont work with CRTs at all.

MatroxRulez · Post by **MatroxRulez** » 08 Mar 2007, 17:51

It supports both digital and analog monitors, but all monitors must be same type (DVI or VGA). A combination of analog and digital monitors is not supported.

If you want to use VGA monitors, then you'll have to buy three DVI-to-VGA adapters.

DarKcyde · Post by **DarKcyde** » 08 Mar 2007, 18:05

Yeah, i see that now:

1x HD-15 (analog) for input, 1x DVI-I (digital) for input, 3x DVI-I (digital) for output, 1x USB for power

DVI-I are analog or digital.

Now the problem is, all the resolutions are listed as 60Hz. If they dont add a 75Hz res (at least) its useless for CRTs, unless you really enjoy headaches and redeye.

MatroxRulez · Post by **MatroxRulez** » 08 Mar 2007, 18:10

Now the problem is, all the resolutions are listed as 60Hz. If they dont add a 75Hz res (at least) its useless for CRTs, unless you really enjoy headaches and redeye.

That's true, but if you really want to use CRT monitors, then you can use TripleHead2Go Analog Edition. This new product is clearly aimed for flat panel users only.

RW-1 · Post by **RW-1** » 08 Mar 2007, 19:09

Here's a thought:

If I have 3 flat panels that are analog, and use the 3 DVI/analog converters off of the TH2G, will I still be able to use the Bezel management that the unit is capable of?

The reason I say that, is that if it is a function of the TH2G itself, coupled with DVI output to the monitors, then I can see how this wouldn't have been available with a firmware or software change for the analog edition of the unit.

If not coupled to the fact that it is a digital unit, then one would think that Matrox could add bezel management to power desk for the analog unit, or a firmware upgrade, or just re-release the analog unit with that capability.

Am I making sense with my question?

Thinking this through because I wouldnt mind ditching the analog for the digital to obtain the bezel management, and the ability to replace the 3 flat screens I currently have with something DVI sometime down the line.

escrotumus · Post by **escrotumus** » 08 Mar 2007, 22:35

I sure hope they fixed the flickering problem with the dvi version. I'm kinda bummed that they dropped the ball on figuring that issue out on the vga model. I will be purchasing one as well when they are released since this vga quality is the pits. Love the gaming with it but strongly dislike the image quality and flickering in windows.

Tucson · Post by **Tucson** » 09 Mar 2007, 02:05

Ibrin, can you clear something for me. You say theres a limit of 4kx4k pixels in dx9, but i know theres actually a ?4 million pixel limit and not 16 milion. What am i missing? Are you sure about your statements?

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