Is TripleHead2Go required?

[Dave1122]

Hello,
please forgive my ignorance, but I was unable to locate an answer to my question.

I presently have 1 GTX 460 card. I am interested in surround gaming. Please clarify something for me. Is TH2G required to play a game in surround gaming (3 monitors?).

I'm trying to calculate the cost required to make me 'surround gaming' ready - other than the obvious addition of 2 monitors.

Would I need 2 or 3 GTX running SLI in order to play surround gaming (assuming TH2G is not necessary)? Any, assuming a DVI connection on either monitor, how would I connect the monitors (e.g., with 3 GTX 460s, 1 monitor per video card?).

Any info or clarification on this would be helpful (new to the forum).
Thanks!

Dave

[g00seberry]

TH2Go and Nvidia Surround are two different technologies.

TH2Go can run off a single card, but you must purchase the TH2Go box - it is a hardware solution.

Nvidia Surround is a software solution, but you MUST run SLI - so you need 2 cards or more ... in your case, a second GTX 460.

Personally, I would say Nvidia Surround is your better option, as you already have one card - you can spend the money on a second GTX 460 and get a nice performance boost as well as surround enabling your rig. Buying a TH2Go will allow you to hook up 3 monitors, but offer no performance boost. So you're getting 2 in 1 with nVidia Surround, if you follow my train of thought.

[Dave1122]

EXCELLENT!

Thanks for the reply. I now have a clear mind on this! :)

I assume Nvidia Surround is software that comes with the GTX 460 card? Or do I need to download it elsewhere?

BTW, this forum is great! Looking forward to gaming in widescreen.
Dave

[tricky]

EXCELLENT!

Thanks for the reply. I now have a clear mind on this! :)

I assume Nvidia Surround is software that comes with the GTX 460 card? Or do I need to download it elsewhere?

BTW, this forum is great! Looking forward to gaming in widescreen.
Dave

Keep in mind for Nvidia Surround:

1) Need three monitors that can do same exact resolution and refresh rate and same connection method (e.g. all DVI)
2) Need Windows 7 (32 bit or 64 bit)
3) Need 2 or more Nvidia GTX 400 series cards in SLI mode (or 1 GTX 295)
4) Need motherboard that supports SLI and power supply 650W or better

Then install the latest drivers 258.69 or 258.96

Good luck! Getting another GTX460 is the way to go instead of a TH2Go.

[Honiara]

Hello,
please forgive my ignorance, but I was unable to locate an answer to my question.

I presently have 1 GTX 460 card. I am interested in surround gaming. Please clarify something for me. Is TH2G required to play a game in surround gaming (3 monitors?).

I'm trying to calculate the cost required to make me 'surround gaming' ready - other than the obvious addition of 2 monitors.

Would I need 2 or 3 GTX running SLI in order to play surround gaming (assuming TH2G is not necessary)? Any, assuming a DVI connection on either monitor, how would I connect the monitors (e.g., with 3 GTX 460s, 1 monitor per video card?).

Any info or clarification on this would be helpful (new to the forum).
Thanks!

Dave

1 more thing, the GTX460 does not allow tripple (3) card SLI, this card is limited to 2card SLI configurations, this is a hardware limit enforced by Nvidia

[thisizbrian]

actually need 2 gtx 295's

[Delphium]

actually need 2 gtx 295's

The only depends if the card is the single slot edition or the dual slot edition.
If single slot, then you require 2 as there is only 2 connectors in a single slot card.
If using the dual slot card then it has 3 outputs already so you only require a single gtx295.

[Ergonpandilus]

Greetings from Eyefinity owner...

:nudgenudge

[mattsimis]

1 more thing, the GTX460 does not allow tripple (3) card SLI, this card is limited to 2card SLI configurations, this is a hardware limit enforced by Nvidia

I think you got that way wrong!?

nVidia says 3 way SLI is supported: http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-surround-technology.html

Old Launch info (3way on GT400 only, maybe on all supported cards now?):
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3793/nvidia-launches-3d-vision-surround
And again, more old info: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/06/29/nvidia_3d_vision_surround_experience/

NVIDIA 3-Way SLI and NVIDIA Quad SLI are both supported in NV Surround and NV Vision Surround modes in this BETA driver with GTX 400 series cards; GTX 200 do not support 3-Way or Quad SLI in this BETA or first WHQL release, but seems like it will be added eventually.

It looks like right now 3way SLI is supported on GT200 and GT400.

3) Need 2 or more Nvidia GTX 400 series cards in SLI mode (or 1 GTX 295)

Thats incorrect, GTX260 and above are supported too, its not a GT400 series thing.

[Delphium]

No, the GTX460 DOES NOT support 3way SLI.
Here is why...


Notice at the top of the card there is only 1 SLI connector, 3 way SLI requires 2x SLI connectors, there for it is physicly impossible to run them in 3way SLI ;)

Here is a 3 way SLI connector compared to a normal 2 way SLI.


Also from the Nvidia site

[mattsimis]

No, the GTX460 DOES NOT support 3way SLI.
Here is why...

Ah crap, you got me back!
I read the title and the "3 way not supported" comment, I thought was referring to nvidia Surround in general, not the GTX460. I have 2x GTX460, clearly my 3way SLI bridge wont fit! :)

[Paradigm Shifter]

For software, you just need drivers - 258.96 are favoured as they have less bugs than the 258.69 drivers, although they still have a few odd ones. Like GRID not working with bezel correction...

[-Deckard-]

Im looking into this as well, as I will be getting a gtx 480 most probably.
I already have a gtx 295 in the system (running a TH2GO D Unit) so can I use these together ( without the TH2GO, just the 2 Gtx's) ?
Currently running 3 x 19" 5:4 panels, do all monitors need to be the same, as I'd quite like a widescreen as my middle monitor, keeping the 5:4's on the outside ?.
Any info appreciated :)
I think the gtx295 only has the 2 dvi's

[Paradigm Shifter]

You can't mix and match cards, unfortunately. They need to be able to SLI together. So a 295 and a 480 won't do it.

Get the 480 and keep using the TH2Go. :D

[-Deckard-]

Cheers for the speedy reply !
Will probably look at this again in the future, so if I did go this route would I have to sli with another 480 or would any 400 series do.

Is it worth keeping the 295 in the system as a physx card to take some strain from the other gpu and cpu ?
tia
Deck.

[Paradigm Shifter]

Dunno how the 295 does as a PhysX card, TBH. If you've got plenty of PCI-E connectors and PSU wattage/amperage free, go ahead... but so far I've hardly noticed a difference between using PhysX or not. Admittedly, I'm not playing the PhysX-obsessed titles, so my only real experience is Just Cause 2.

You have to SLI equivalent cards, unfortunately.

480 with 480, 470 with 470, etc. It becomes a bit of a grey area with the re-re-re-released G92 cards, where officially an 8800GT can't be paired with an 8800GTS, or a 9800GTX+ with a GTX250, for example... but if the cards can take being cross-flashed and not artefact, you can do it.