TripleHead2Go/3 Monitors-Approximate specs?

LiamSteve · Post by **LiamSteve** » 12 Oct 2007, 21:15

Greetings--

Can anyone give a rough idea of the computer specs (processor, RAM, video card) needed to run a setup with the Matrox TripleHead2Go, 3-19" monitors (at 3840 x 1024) with auto racing games like rFactor with graphic options on full or high?

Thanks very much in advance.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 12 Oct 2007, 23:44

I don't know about rfactor but to run all the screen real estate on max with most new games will need at least a 8800GTS 640MB or preferably a GTX, It has a similar number of pixels to a 30 inch 3.9Mpixels vs 4.1 for the 30 inch
A decent core 2 duo and 2GB RAM is pretty standard but the GPU is most important
Hope that helps
M1.9P

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 13 Oct 2007, 20:02

I run on AMD Athlon 64 3400+ @2400 MHz, 1024 MD SDRAM, and a 7800 GS AGP graphics card.

People seriously overestimate how hard it is to run 3840x1024 resolution. It isn't really that demanding. I mean, I'll eventually be upgrading to a 8000 series card or better, but there's no rush.

Post by **skipclarke** » 13 Oct 2007, 20:40

You can see my specs below. I'm running fine in everything except Overlord. Guild Wars, LOTRO, HL2 and TF2 all run fine.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 13 Oct 2007, 22:16

I don't want to argue but IF you want to play all the new games at highest settings you'll need the 8800 series. STALKER, ArmA, Oblivion, MOHA, Bioshock, CoH, all run very nice on my system towards the highest of settings including AA/AF. However on ArmA I cannot have full view distance, CoH (DX10) I have to lower AA/AF, etc. So IME for the newest games you need 8800, I want to play them at the highest settings, thats what they are made for. Crysis, without violating the NDA, is testing to say the least (insiders can check it out in the insiders forums). If NVidia put out a '8900GTX' which significantly outperformed the 8800GTX (not the Ultra, which is not a huge difference) I would buy 2 today ;) But with older games or engines (e.g. source) you are OK
Look at some of the 30' screen numbers for the ATi crossfire here
or a NVidia example here

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 14 Oct 2007, 04:52

It heavily depends on the game, easy example, need for speed most wanted, circa 2004, still run like slag at only 1920x1080 using systems that make their recommended specs look like a dinosaur. Recently made UT3 Demo, runs at 60 solid, fsaa is crippled but even NFS:MW doesn't get this quick when I disable AA.

Same system runs Morrowind at that res with 32fsaa and 16x aniso no prob.

Depends on the game, by the way anyone clue me in on a guide to finding what causes could not be read/write errors? they pop up all over the place not always as often or at the same time, and heat doesn't seem to be the cause.

starfighter · Post by **starfighter** » 14 Oct 2007, 13:23

I don't know about rfactor but to run all the screen real estate on max with most new games will need at least a 8800GTS 640MB or preferably a GTX, It has a similar number of pixels to a 30 inch 3.9Mpixels vs 4.1 for the 30 inch
A decent core 2 duo and 2GB RAM is pretty standard but the GPU is most important
Hope that helps
M1.9P

I agrre with mach's recommendation, but also a ATI 2900Pro should be an alternative.
The new upcoming 8900gts is not so good with its only 320bit mem interface so you can buy a 8800gtx now without regretting it.

LiamSteve · Post by **LiamSteve** » 14 Oct 2007, 15:15

Great info--thanks very much all.

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 14 Oct 2007, 19:33

I agrre with mach's recommendation, but also a ATI 2900Pro should be an alternative.
The new upcoming 8900gts is not so good with its only 320bit mem interface so you can buy a 8800gtx now without regretting it.

True about the ATi, the '8900GTS' (by which I assume you mean the new G92 architecture) is now th 8800GT with lower die size and the 8800GTS 320MB is probably EOL. The 8800GT maybe be upto the job with 512MB RAM, and it is single slot- tri/quad SLI anyone :roll: See here for some early looks VRZone

starfighter · Post by **starfighter** » 14 Oct 2007, 22:19

the '8900GTS' (by which I assume you mean the new G92 architecture) is now th 8800GT

No I meant the upcoming 8900gts with 128 shaders and 640mb 320bit linked.
But is not coming, right?

Post by **Mach1.9pants** » 14 Oct 2007, 22:36

yeah no such thing, the next card is the 8800GT which is better than the 8800GTS 320MB with 512MB, smaller die etc. To increase the gap new 8800GTS with 640MB are getting more shaders, I dunno how many. In my opinion for most gamers (non huge screenies) the 8800GT will be awesome value and thankfully single slot.
I cannot put my PhysiX card and my X-Fi in together at the mo cos of double slot coolers and no PCIe add in cards! curse and grumble :x

starfighter · Post by **starfighter** » 15 Oct 2007, 10:50

yeah no such thing, the next card is the 8800GT which is better than the 8800GTS 320MB with 512MB, smaller die etc

I am not a fan of card with 256 bit linked memory. I think their time should be over in the performance segment, so it is / was a great thing with the 320bit interface of the 8800gts.

JKeefe · Post by **JKeefe** » 15 Oct 2007, 16:58

Shooter-style games are typically GPU-limited out of the box, and hitting them with 3840x1024 with antialiasing is asking for trouble. So yes, these games typically require an 8800GTS or GTX to run with full details.

Racing sims like rFactor are CPU-limited out of the box. Depending on the rFactor mod you are driving, things may or may not become GPU-limited on the track. Formula 1 mods in particular use high poly car models and textures, and can eat your frames quickly. The track affects things as well; running on a track with night lighting can also take its toll on the framerate.

I run rFactor 3072x768, at 4xAA, on a 7900GT. For some mods/tracks I can keep all of the graphics sliders at their highest positions. For others I need to move things down to medium or high from the highest position available.

Rockn-Roll · Post by **Rockn-Roll** » 20 Nov 2007, 21:57

I notice that you asked a question in the forum about a month ago and didn't get the answer you needed. I run rFactor with a DTH2GO on 3 x 1280 x 800 and it runs just fine most of the time with all the effects on high.

My system is a Pent D 830 @ 3.0Ghz with 2GB RAM running Vista 32-bit Business through a 8800GTS 320MB and DTH2GO. I've found that it's crucial that you have 2GB...1.5GB just doesn't hack it because you need 1GB just for graphics. You definitely need a dual core to get smooth driving. And, rFactor has a built-in MultiView selection which provides side views on the other two monitors...you will never have to do the dangerous side view keystrokes ever again.

Duke · Post by **Duke** » 27 Nov 2007, 11:46

My system is an Athlon 6000+, 2 Gigs PC6400 and an 8800 GTX. I run RFactor, L4S, Race and GTR2 on my TH2G setup all at max settings and all at 3840 X 1024 and they run smooth as silk.
The only issue I have had so far is that GTR2 will not run at 3840 X 1024 online for whatever reason (Matrox were helpful, SimBin/10tacle were not) so you have to run at 2400 X 600 if you plan to race online with GTR2

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