Widescreen Gaming Forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkwVw-azZ0M

Sweet! :D

Looks like its made private. Here's a picture:



Anandtechs review is up:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3635

That's six Dell 30" displays, each with an individual resolution of 2560 x 1600. The game is World of Warcraft and the man crouched in front of the setup is Carrell Killebrew, his name may sound familiar.

Driving all of this is AMD's next-generation GPU, which will be announced later this month. I didn't leave out any letters, there's a single GPU driving all of these panels. The actual resolution being rendered at is 7680 x 3200; WoW got over 80 fps with the details maxed.

Yeah, I noticed something like native triple screen support when looking for when the 5800 series will be released. But six!? Even more impressive :D

Not that I'll ever be using the feature, I barely have room for the two screens over here.


Btw, I already decided that the HD 5870 is first on my wishlist atm, for when I get a new pc.

I just wish ATI unlocked their catalyst AI internal profiles, so that users can build any profile they want ala nHancer

OH MY!!!!!!!!
If a game pulls its resolution list from Windows, it'll work perfectly with Eyefinity.
^ So basically all TH2G games will work with it. This is GREAT news for us.



AMAZING. AAMAZING.

I WANT THIS PROJECTOR.



http://hardocp.com/article/2009/09/09/amd_next_generation_ati_radeon_eyefinity_technology

The software layer makes it all seamless. The displays appear independent until you turn on SLS mode (Single Large Surface). When on, they'll appear to Windows and its applications as one large, high resolution display. There's no multimonitor mess to deal with, it just works. This is the way to do multi-monitor, both for work and games.

First person shooters pretty much dictate that you'll need an odd number of displays to avoid your crosshairs spanning multiple monitors. With three displays you can begin to get the immersion effect, but buy five and you'll be completely surrounded by your game. And as I mentioned before, it doesn't require any special application or OS support, the drivers take care of everything: it just appears as a single, large, surface.

LOL, ATI needs to sort out whether they want to fit the budget gaming market niche or the elite crowd, esp now that Intel has what appears to be a definitive Phenom killer in the i5.

I also feel AnandTech are not necessarily the go-to place for tech advice like many seem to think, esp concerning their recent glowing review on the new i5/i7 CPUs. They had this to say about the new 1156 CPUs...

"I'm going to go ahead and say it right now, there's no need for any LGA-1366 processors slower than a Core i7 965."

...but in reality this comment from a poster on Bjorn3D makes more sense...

"The i5 750 is a good CPU but all those charts show it barely topping a 965 running at stock 3.2 with turbo boost disabled.

920 can hit 3.2 without breaking a sweat, get it to about 3.4 3.6 and it's outrunning the i5 750 when the 750 is maxed out thermally speaking."

This was in answer to reviews showing the i5 benched at 3.85GHz, where it's thermally maxed. AnandTech doesn't seem to acknowledge that this AND the better upgrade path of socket 1366, which will fit the upcoming Hex Core i9s, indeed makes it still very worthwhile to purchase the 1366 i7s they so quickly dismiss as being obsolete.

More good info from our friends over at PCGames Hardware!

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,694855/Ati-Eyefinity-Extreme-gaming-with-24-displays-Crysis-and-WoW-at-7-680-x-3-200-pixels-246-megapixels/News/

LOL, ATI needs to sort out whether they want to fit the budget gaming market niche or the elite crowd, esp now that Intel has what appears to be a definitive Phenom killer in the i5.

Why are the two mutually exclusive? They've got both covered anyway.

Just because EyeFinity can do better than TH2Go without (apparently) too many problems, doesn't mean ATi are abandoning single monitor gaming, or the low end. GPU and CPU divisions are separate, don't forget. There is nothing stopping ATi from having these insane monitor count setups on an i7 system. I know I intend to do it with my X58 rig, rather than run a Phenom II. Although I'll admit it'll be likely they'll market it with the "Runs best on Phenom II" (probably when they get the hexacore CPUs to desktop, or possibly the 12-cores - some posts on XtremeSystems show a 2.2GHz 12-core Opteron hitting 3.2GHz without much trouble at all...)

Regardless of that, i5 is anything but a Phenom II killer for one reason very important reason: multi-GPU. The single PCI-E gen 1.1 16x lane that the onboard PCI-E controller can do will kill GPU bandwidth in any scenario where there is more than one GPU. Multi-GPU is a scenario where Phenom II is ahead of Core i5, and nagging at the heels of Core i7. Sure, i7 can encode a lot faster, but for pure gamers, there is no reason to avoid Phenom II.

But basically, anyone who wants this sort of ultra-high-end rig is going to buy it. It'll probably keep AMD alive if Bulldozer isn't the killer they're making it out to be. Anyone who doesn't want ridiculous numbers of screen is going to go to either ATi or nVidia, as they're not going to care.

The fact that a single 5870 can drive six screens and apparently have the framerates playable is going to make nVidia nervous, I bet. If RV870/890 is as good as that, GT300 is going to have to be stormingly good, or nVidia are going to have to cut their own throats to get them to sell (I can't see a huge monolithic die like GT300 being cheap to make, nor can I see yields being good) much like the huge price cuts shortly after GT200 launch, when ATi's cards were 90% of the speed for 50-60% of the price.

That being said, ATi sure are gonna have to get their drivers 100% sorted out... I'd hate to try troubleshooting driver issues for 6 to 24 screens. Further more... that six screen 5870 better come with all six of those mini-display port to DVI adaptors in the box, or there's gonna be trouble. If that 24 screen four 5870 monster can be run off of a 1200w PSU, that says good things for the power draw of RV870, too - maybe they finally got that GDDR5 idle power draw issue more under control. Especially if the card is supposed to draw <190w loaded and <30w idle. That'll be really amazing. Now, if Stanford could get Folding to run well on ATi hardware again (remember, with the X1900 series it would run on ATi cards at the time when it wouldn't run on nVidia cards) then this gets (again) even more exciting.

EyeFinity will be amazing for lots of things other than games, though... I think nVidia's screen spanning SLI on their Quadro cards just got a serious competitor for CAD/CAM and medical fields. This EyeFinity might just force nVidia to unlock their Quadro spanning SLI tech on normal cards as well, rather than making people buy crazily priced cards.

where is Nvidia when all this has been happening... lol...

And also is that display port they are using?

Mini Display Port, yeah.

nVidia seem to have been arguing with Intel about QPI licensing and worrying about GT300.

To be fair, though... ATi kept EyeFinity damned quiet until a very short time ago. It seems they've managed to put a lid on the leaks they used to have...

Just because EyeFinity can do better than TH2Go without (apparently) too many problems, doesn't mean ATi are abandoning single monitor gaming, or the low end.

Myself having an X1950Pro that they recently dropped from support to focus on other GPUs, I definitely am not seeing it as you do. It's apparent to me they have their priorities out of whack. I suspect they got some investment money from corporations wanting them to make this Eyefinity tech because it is near useless to their consumer base, nor do I see their corporate base making them any more money long term than their consumer base does as some have implied. What's worse is consumers are being easily impressed with this tech, even though the vast majority will never be able to afford such a setup. I say spend time/money making something most consumer gamers can actually use, esp when they're dropping support in some places.

So where is Nvidia in all this? They're probably seeing it as an even bigger waste of R&D than their acquiring and pushing PhysX was. Low and behold the much maligned MS will come along with DX11 and set things back on the path of practicality, because that and W7 are what is going to help consumer gaming most in the months to come. DX11 and W7 will do far more for multi threading than either camp's CPUs, but I think you seriously understated the i5, even though I am passing it over for a 920 (they can be had for $200 now).

Benches show the i5 beating even a stock 965 when OCed. Most reviewers are garnering it as trouble for AMD's Phenom. Also, the onchip Pci-Ex controller can run two Pci-Ex slots at 8x each simultaneously. That is easily enough to power two top shelf single GPU cards to their fullest with NO CPU/GPU lag.

In reality though, the onchip Pci-Ex controller and P55's PCH are really just cheaper ways to build in speed than QPI, HyperThreading and D0 stepping, all of which keep the i7 900 series well ahead of the new 1156 chips when it comes to thermal threshold, OCing and overall speed potential. The truth is you have to push an i5 to it's thermal limit, which is much lower than the 920s, just to beat the 3.2GHz 965. A 920 could do that without breaking a sweat.

There's also the fact that the 900 series, being on socket 1366, is a much more future ready platform, as the i9 Hex Cores are being slated for it. So the i5 and new 800 series can easily compete with and outdo the Phenoms in a similar price range, and Intel has their top flight platform which is miles ahead too, no competition.

So where is Nvidia in all this? They're probably seeing it as an even bigger waste of R&D than their acquiring and pushing PhysX was. Low and behold the much maligned MS will come along with DX11 and set things back on the path of practicality, because that and W7 are what is going to help consumer gaming most in the months to come. DX11 and W7 will do far more for multi threading than either camp's CPUs, but I think you seriously understated the i5, even though I am passing it over for a 920 (they can be had for $200 now).

DX11 and Opencl will do more for multithreaded gaming then CPU's. I believe this too. We'll have a pool of resources then that the games can benifit from.

This is a bit off topic though. You can run any processor you like with any GFX you like. Things are not limited there. Speaking of processors of AMD and Intel when this is about GFX and triplehead gaming is kinda derailing.

Anyhow:
Having the option to connect 3x 1920x1200 screens and run them in a game is something everyone can benifit from. Even if you can't afford 3 screens and neither of your friends can, you all might have one screen each and can combine them for a weekend of triplehead pleasure!

http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/eyefinity/Pages/eyefinity.aspx

ATI Eyefinity is TH2G going mainstream. Everyone with that tech is a potential tripleheader. If it be with their own screens or with borrowed screens from friends. People don't have to buy a $300 TH box to try it out and people can try it before they buy 3 screens this way.

ATI Eyefinity is TH2G going mainstream. Everyone with that tech is a potential tripleheader. If it be with their own screens or with borrowed screens from friends. People don't have to buy a $300 TH box to try it out and people can try it before they buy 3 screens this way.

This is an amazing point. You really just blew my mind with that.

Something that Ive been wondering is if it will work with CRT's at all, and with that on monitors with VGA input only. I remember seeing something like "If your monitor has DVI it will work with Eyefinity", I dont really see why It would not work with a VGA > DVI converter.

And I just have to say, this is one of the best things to ever happen to WSGF. I mean, the recent changes to the certification to include triple head is really great.

Edit: Tamlin could you move this thread to the new Eyefinity forum?

Looks like PS already moved it! :)

Yeah, for WSGF its huge IMHO. Everyone (who has friends with their own screens) can now try it without buying an expensive setup. Should give a huge boost to the TH community. :D

I doubt it will work with analoge settings though, so CRT's won't be an option unfortunately. A VGA to DVI converter is the same as regular VGA input, since the signal still will be the same as on a VGA cable, only that the cable interface will differ.

I see no reason for it not to work with mini-DisplayPort to DVI, or mini-DisP to DVI to VGA if that was needed.

Unless the link needs to be HDCP negotiated. Then VGA will be in trouble. DVI might be too, depending on the monitor.

The ability to run TripleHead... but better... and without a hardware box and the double bothers of hardware/firmware and software/driver issues... is amazing.

If they can get CrossFire working quickly for it in Windows (or better yet, one card per screen EyeFinity) then a 5870 and a 2409 are going on my Christmas list. ;)

Myself having an X1950Pro that they recently dropped from support to focus on other GPUs, I definitely am not seeing it as you do. It's apparent to me they have their priorities out of whack.

Hm. The X1950 was a mid-high end card. In no way, shape or form was it 'low end'. Low end is the x3xx series cards - which even now are less powerful than an X1950. Also, now that the 5000 series has been demonstrated, it's four generations old. Their priority will always be to make money. nVidia thought they could do that with buying PhysX, ATi seem to think that there is money to be made in what is essentially a software equivalent of TripleHead. Given that TH is a small but significant market, it doesn't seem like a bad idea to me. To each their own, though. :)

If they can get CrossFire working quickly for it in Windows (or better yet, one card per screen EyeFinity) then a 5870 and a 2409 are going on my Christmas list. ;)

Ill buy the 5870 2 Gb asap, im tired of the 5040x1050 57Hz + DX 9 limit of matrox, even that chinese adapter can run DX 10 at 5040x1050 60 Hz, and eyefinity supports DX 9, DX 10 and DX 11 at any resolution.

I see no reason for it not to work with mini-DisplayPort to DVI, or mini-DisP to DVI to VGA if that was needed.

Unless the link needs to be HDCP negotiated. Then VGA will be in trouble. DVI might be too, depending on the monitor.

The ability to run TripleHead... but better... and without a hardware box and the double bothers of hardware/firmware and software/driver issues... is amazing.

If they can get CrossFire working quickly for it in Windows (or better yet, one card per screen EyeFinity) then a 5870 and a 2409 are going on my Christmas list. ;)

DP has HDMI/DVI cable pass through support (therefore a simple adapter will do).

If the DP has VGA pass through, then you'll need a DP to VGA adapter.

You'll (should) not be able to go by DP to DVI-I to VGA...

DP needs a simple adapter for HDMI & DVI Single Link
for DVI Dual Link & VGA, DP needs an active adapter
source: the french wikipedia article

I agree that eyefinity has the potential to really boost our community, it wont just be the rich kids toy anymore and flight sim fanatics, now higher end mainstream gamers may venture into ultra wide setups, plus it gives game developers a lot more reason to shoot for native ultra wide fov support.

here is hoping the $8 DP --> DVI adapter works otherwise shame on ATI for making the card in a way that we cant use the 2x DVI & 1x HDMI to run 3 normal monitors that do not have DP.

I'm hoping that they let AIB's customize the 5850, thats all I will be able to afford, and I would love to see a tri DVI card for nice and easy VGA compatibility. (not to mention cheap!)

I'm hoping that they let AIB's customize the 5850, thats all I will be able to afford, and I would love to see a tri DVI card for nice and easy VGA compatibility. (not to mention cheap!)

Looking at the pic of the regular port-out configuration, it looks like 3 DVI would definitely would be able to fit, just put the 3rd DVI where the dp and hdmi port is sitting on the faceplate.