3d Surround display port cable

[skrilla316]

Do I really need a $100 cable to complete the setup or is there a cheaper alternative? I keep finding monitors and wanted to try 4320x900 before I think about shelling out for a larger setup (if I do).

Thanks.

[hostage67]

It depends on your goals.

There are certainly cheaper cables, but they are more limited by resolution and refresh rate. So if you are planning to do a 3d setup or 120hz then Yes, you will need a more expensive cable. However, if you are planning on running 1920x1080 or smaller at 60hz then you can get away with the cheaper cables.

That being said there are numerous issues reported with the various cheaper cables that seem to be resolved or at least less common with some of the higher quality cables.

The main key is that you must get an "active" adapter, it cannot be one of the passive adapters. But these can range in price from around $20 up to $100. I went with the best cable I could find for several reasons and spent around $100 on mine. I just think after spending so much on monitors and video cards why would I want to limit what I can do for $100 on a cable.

[skrilla316]

Thanks hostage, good info there.

I realized 2 things I was doing wrong. 1st I meant 2d Surround, and second I needed Windows 7 instead of Vista(I still like some things in vista-like search). I was able to use the hdmi slot and am running 3840x1024 atm but still need to try a game


Edit- Played Just Cause 2 for a few hours. FPS went from a steady 58-60 with vsync on@1920-1080, to 40 avg with dips into the high 20's with vsync off (everything maxed). not unplayable but definitely noticeable. The coolest bonus I saw was when I was looking at a radar (view blocked) I could turn slightly and see a guy around a pipe on the roof that was pretty far away. Also, seeing stray bullets on the peripheral monitors was helpful to pinpointing enemy locations.

[hostage67]

Ya, I really love surround video for gaming. After playing it the first time I can't imagine going back to a single monitor for games like BF3 . But it is expensive to get enough video power to really push a triple monitor setup like that. Still trying to debate how I want to handle that myself. I currently have a GTX 670 SC 4gb which is working great and allows me to play BF3 on Ultra settings with about 30-40fps. But I'd really like to get more FPS out of it, so at this point I just have to decide if I want to put a second card in, or wait for the GK110 later this year.

[skrilla316]

Since it's in the Googles, I wanted to add that I'm using these 3 monitors:

Asus 23" 1920x1080

Samsung 22" 1680x1050
and
HP 20" 1600x900

Oddly, they work together at 3840x1024. I figured 900 would be the best Horizontal. Other resolutions that work are 3072x768 and 2400x600. So completely different monitors can work for 2d surround (not 3d I understand).