Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - Mulitple monitor setup advice

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support | Mulitple monitor setup advice

DVA9151
Captain, CRJ-200

Joined on October 09 2010

Midwestern United States

12 legs, 15.9 hours
10 legs, 13.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on November 12 2010 22:33 ET by Bryan Peabody

Hi all,

This is probably a newbie question but I'm hoping to get some feedback from the experts out there.

I've got 3 24" monitors. What is the best way to go about using all of them in FSX? I've considered grabbing a second video card but I've also been reading about the Matrox TripleHead2Go. What are the pros and cons of each?

I'm assuming if I were to do a second video card, I would need to open new window views in FSX for each monitor (I'm also assuming that would decrease overall frame rates) ? Whereas the TripleHead2Go is one big view spread over 3 monitors?

Thanks in advance!
Bryan

Bryan Peabody

Captain, CRJ-200

DVA7899
Captain, B737-800

Joined on October 29 2009
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Springfield, MO USA

304 legs, 743.8 hours
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303 legs, 740.0 hours ACARS
30 legs, 47.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on November 13 2010 01:52 ET by Skylar Macminn

Depends on the GPU's. I run two GTX460 1GB in SLI and play on three 22" screens in portrait mode at a resolution of 3450x1680. Of course a resolution hit, but it is so much fun smile

ATI cards can be ran via 1 card with a displayport adapter in "Eyefinity" the GTX200 and GTX400/500 series require two cards in SLI to run the NVIDIA SURROUND software. TH2GO is prob the best method, but I enjoy the software based option that nvidia supports smile

DVA3931
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
OLP, COMM

Joined on January 19 2007
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1,107 legs, 1,674.5 hours ACARS
55 legs, 114.8 hours event
195 legs dispatched, 134.4 hours

Posted onPost created on November 13 2010 08:35 ET by Andrew Kaufmann

For a cheaper solution, you can get a USB to Monitor adaptor. I have two of them that I use for three monitors that I use for display panels and kneeboard.

$79 http://us.kensington.com/html/17534.html

$45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158162&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Devices+++TV+Tuners-_-STARTECH-_-15158162

$67 http://www.amazon.com/USB-2-0-VGA-Display-Adapter/dp/B000WTI6CI

Andrew Kaufmann (DVA3931)

Posted onPost created on November 13 2010 10:04 ET by Skylar Macminn

I guess I should have specified -- TH2GO or the nVidia Surround software does this: http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7411/ssc0321.jpg

If you are looking to use them as 3 individual monitors, then andrew has some good suggestions smile

Posted onPost created on November 13 2010 10:51 ET by Andrew Kaufmann

You can also set them up with the Settings to make a giant resolution like Skylar's as well.

Andrew Kaufmann (DVA3931)

DVA7636
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
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Posted onPost created on November 13 2010 11:19 ET by Tracy Norris

In my 2x3 configuration (6 monitors total), I'm using the Matrox TripleHead2Go on my lower 3 monitors at a resolution of 5040x1080 (3 x 1680 x 1050) as a single display.

My top line of monitors are individually set to 1680x1050 and is where I keep my overhead panels, charts, ACARS, ActiveSkies, wx radar, GPS, etc.

Of the four outputs on the two nVidia 9800 cards, 3 outputs go to the top 3 displays and one is used for running the TripleHead2Go.

On my dual-core AMD Athalon 64 4100+ dual core I'm averaging about 30 frames per second with this setup so I'm pleased with it smile

Tracy Norris

Senior Captain, L-1011-100

DVA9151
Captain, CRJ-200

Joined on October 09 2010

Midwestern United States

12 legs, 15.9 hours
10 legs, 13.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on November 13 2010 21:10 ET by Bryan Peabody

Thanks guys!

Bryan Peabody

Captain, CRJ-200

DVA8830
Captain, B757-200

Joined on July 12 2010
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Posted onPost created on November 14 2010 11:14 ET by Tom Preziuso

I currently have 1 GTX460 1GB video card that I run FSX on. If I install a second GTX460 card, will it allow me to run the setting for FSX at Ultra High or will it still bog down with that setting?

Tom Preziuso

Captain, B757-200

Posted onPost created on November 14 2010 11:17 ET by Tom Preziuso

I forgot to add I also have a 650 Watt power supply. Is that enough powere for 2 of the GTX460 1GB cards?

Tom Preziuso

Captain, B757-200

Posted onPost created on November 14 2010 12:00 ET by Skylar Macminn

power supply should be fine. FS is very old and doesn't actually truly support SLI. SLI is really only utilized with FS when using 2d surround (spanning 3 screens) so it may not be worth the money.

Skylar Macminn (DVA7899)

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