Not really surround, but anyone tried 6monitors with 2th2go?

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 18 Sep 2007, 19:16

IÂ´m thinking about purchasing a second th2go, with 3more tfts, mainly for watching films/tv and some older games with no support of extra FOV.

I know the theory: a single card, with a th2go in each output and vertical spanning, but I would like some photos if anyone tried before.

It would be about 52', a bit more than with only one th2go, but double the area, and I donÂ´t really mind about the gaps, they donÂ´t bother me at all.

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 18 Sep 2007, 22:27

Matrox of course says this won't work, and I've heard talk of a few people wanting to try it, but to date I know of no one who's actually seen if it works out all right.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 19 Sep 2007, 00:25

The most probable obstacle is the matrox software. How will it react with 2 usb devices to talk to. 2x the same driver is easy, 1 program, 2 devices? probably not.

Theoretically you should be able to get away with:

plug th2g no1, open software, configure, close software, unplug th2g no1.
plug th2g no2, open software, configure, close software, unplug th2g no2.

Software tends to not like 'more than one' like for example, nvdia's custom res. dialogs only save to the first of my 3 monitors, no matter what I do. That's because when I test a new res. before being allowed to save it, it resets to first monitor being selected.

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 19 Sep 2007, 00:55

First time I installed it, I did configure with matrox software and so on. Months later, I formatted my system and made a clean installation. This time I did not installed any Matrox software and th2go works just fine, windows simply see the th2go as a big plugÂ´n play monitor, not as a weird device with drivers needed.

I suppose I would have only to plug the second th2go, let windows see it as another plugÂ´n play big monitor, and then configure screen spanning in control panel.

I donÂ´t understand what do you mean when you talk about 2 usb devices. 2xth2go would be similar to have an extra monitor in the 2nd output. No drivers needed.

In fact, a couple weeks ago I had a fourth 7' touchscreen monitor attached to my second output. Only needed drivers to be able to use touchscreen (through usb), and did word just fine (even I installed a pivot software utility to use with the touchscreen).

My concerns are more on the side of the extreme resolution that is possible.

Software tends to not like 'more than one' like for example, nvdia's custom res. dialogs only save to the first of my 3 monitors, no matter what I do. That's because when I test a new res. before being allowed to save it, it resets to first monitor being selected.

IÂ´m not planning to use any custom res, so I dont see any problem here.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 19 Sep 2007, 02:01

Last part was an analogy, nothing to do with using th2g's.

I don't have a TH2G, from my understanding you plug it via usb to what configure it? or just for power?

If there's no config and it just takes whatever input you give it, how does it know to do 1280x800x3 or 1280x1024x3 etc?

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 19 Sep 2007, 09:30

I don't have a TH2G, from my understanding you plug it via usb to what configure it? or just for power?

Analog th2go has not usb at all, and digital th2go has an usb cord only for power (analog has a power brick).

If there's no config and it just takes whatever input you give it, how does it know to do 1280x800x3 or 1280x1024x3 etc?

Just like any monitor when you plug it the first time to windows. For windows there is only one monitor out there. It knows, after it detects it, what resolutions are supported and what resolutions not.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 19 Sep 2007, 12:49

Oh ok, sorry for misunderstanding it's usb use, that's what happens when you try to be too helpful ;).

Since there's not config related issue that I can tell, I don't see why using 2xTH2G wouldn't work, maybe ask matrox before though?

I asked them about using a DH2G with a horizontal span to get triple 1920x1080 out of 2 outputs, so far they don't seem to read the text you send em.

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 19 Sep 2007, 13:04

Oh ok, sorry for misunderstanding it's usb use, that's what happens when you try to be too helpful Wink.

No problem 8) . ItÂ´s great to find people willingly to help.

Since there's not config related issue that I can tell, I don't see why using 2xTH2G wouldn't work, maybe ask matrox before though?

In the old matrox forum, this question was asked many times, but asnwer was always Â´no tested & no supportÂ´ --> maybe works, maybe not. I think it should work but who knows...

I asked them about using a DH2G with a horizontal span to get triple 1920x1080 out of 2 outputs, so far they don't seem to read the text you send em.

I donÂ´t think that is possible. DTH2G only can manage 1 input at a time (analog or digital), it cannot mix two inputs and then split into three outputs.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 19 Sep 2007, 13:22

The TH2G can't do 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 times 3 because a dual-link just doesn't have the bandwitdh to do so.

I was thinking of the following config:
EN8800ULTRA dual-link output 1 -> directly to monitor 1 at 1920x1080
EN8800ULTRA dual-link output 2 -> DH2G, configured as 2x1920x1080 into monitor 2 and 3.

Then in nvidia's control box span horizontally between output1(monitor1) and output2(monitor2+3). To get 1920x1080+3840x1080 = 5760x1080.

I've played around with it, and about the only problem I'd encounter is nvidia's software only allows up to 2560x1024 for a horizontal span. Anyone know how to add other resolutions to that list?

I wish they made a TH2G v2 that uses 2 ports to each send 2880x1080 to the box, stitches em together for 5760x1080 and splits it 3 ways to the 3 connected monitors. They of course would have to talk to ati and nvidia for allowing horizontal spans of that size though.

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 19 Sep 2007, 21:52

The Digital TripleHead2Go does not just use the USB cable for power. It also uses it for device detection and configuration. You can change the 4 available modes (resolutions and refresh rates) available, activate/deactivate bezel management, etc., with the USB connection.

Because of the USB issues, this might work out better with 2 analogue units.

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 19 Sep 2007, 23:21

The Digital TripleHead2Go does not just use the USB cable for power. It also uses it for device detection and configuration. You can change the 4 available modes (resolutions and refresh rates) available, activate/deactivate bezel management, etc., with the USB connection.

Ouch, youÂ´re right :) . I forgot bezel management and custom res. But anyway you donÂ´t need to install anything with d-th2go, same as analog version. A friend of mine has d-th2go and heÂ´s pretty sure it donÂ´t need to install anything to get it work. Later, he did install all the matrox stuff and so, but first time works without any problem (and drivers) in windows.

And by the way, d-th2go can work in analog mode too.

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 21 Sep 2007, 16:49

True, you don't need to install software for the Digital TripleHead2Go. If you don't, the 4 resolutions that Matrox pre-loaded on the device will be available in Windows, and you'll never be able to get to the 15 or 20 other choices.

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 21 Sep 2007, 18:17

But the preloaded are the most useful for typical th2go configurations (3x19'' tft no widescreen): 1024x768, 1280x1024, 3072x768 and 3840x1024.

Some custom resolutions can be incompatible with some tfts and only works under windows. While above resolutions works under any os and any normal tft.

Edit: not sure if custom resolutions only refers to multiscreen resolutions

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 21 Sep 2007, 23:09

Once the custom configs are set you don't need it again right? it's saved in the box?

And also about those custom res. can you make any you want or only pre-sets?

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 22 Sep 2007, 02:47

Once the custom configs are set you don't need it again right? it's saved in the box?

Yes.

And also about those custom res. can you make any you want or only pre-sets?

Only the pre-sets.

Post by **BHawthorne** » 21 Oct 2007, 21:41

My assumption is that it "might" work with a two 8800 setup. My current "theory" is that anything equalling less than 8192 width will work. Don't quote me on that unless you wanna shell out for a second TH2G with no guarantees. :wink:

I've got TH2G+SoftTH working in another thread here running 5 monitors. 6400x1024 5 monitors works at least. Really, 5 monitors is much better than 6 as far as bezels and pixels to push. I'd recommend this hybrid setup over 2x TH2G. Only situation I'd do 2x TH2G over this setup would be a circular simulator projection setup where there would be no bezels in impare your view. I'm posting from the machine I got it working on. :wink:

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/node/8299

Matrox PowerDesk-SE works like a champ with this hybrid setup.
Configure Desktop Divider:
Display 1: Width: 1, Height: 1
Display 2: Width: 3, Height: 1
Display 3: Width: 1, Height: 1

BTW, not sure what you mean about "not really surround" in your title. IMHO, that's extreme surround. :lol:

MrCrowley · Post by **MrCrowley** » 21 Oct 2007, 22:28

BTW, not sure what you mean about "not really surround" in your title. IMHO, that's extreme surround

I mean spanning them 3+3 vertically, not 6 for ultra surround. I think about three main configurations:
- 3 for surround gaming and 3 as secondary display (internet, lots of other windows)
- 3+3 in vertical span. For games with bad support of surround resolutions and watching films.
- 3+2+1. Th2go + 2 monitor with softth for older games (lower req) with good fov support as your solution + 1 monitor for secondary display.

Post by **BHawthorne** » 21 Oct 2007, 22:38

Ah, I misread. I see no reason why it shouldn't work if you have an 8800 series card. It's under the 8192x8192 texture size limit regardless of horizontal or vertical span. One thing I'm not sure of yet is if there is a max total pixel limit in the 8800 card hardware that would be different than the 8192x8192 total. Or, if there is some quirk in the nVidia span modes that might exclude 3840x2048. That would be something left to find for whoever tries it I guess. :wink:

I didn't realize you were shooting for 3x2 setup. I just saw 2xTH2G mentioned. It would be defintely a sure fire way to tax the latest generation of video card hardware. 3840x2048 does sound interesting though. :D

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