AMD Eyefinity

[spikegifted]

Has anyone had experience in successfully setting up AMD Eyefinity using different monitor resolutions?

I'm looking to a 3-monitor display set up:
GPU: AMD HD7870 Eyefinity
Displays:
1920x1200 x 2 (Dell U2412M 24")
1600x1200 (ViewSonic VP2130b 21")

Can the GPU, and Eyefinity, handle these resolutions? Thanks.

 

[MeldarthX]

You're going to have to set two of your monitors to lower setting of 1600 by 1200; then it should work without issues.......at least in theory

 

[Deltaechoe]

I'm pretty sure you have to set them all to the same resolution

 

[aaksheytalwar]

The gpu is still not good enough.

 

[spikegifted]

Interesting...

For 3D gaming, I can live with just two screens (1920x1200 x 2) or even just one screen.

For 2D work (Office apps, e-mail, internet, etc.) I really like having three screens (desktop real estate).

Would it work better if I use the HD7870 to power the two 1920x1200 screens only and throw in a low-end Radeon card (like a HD66xx or HD77xx) for the 1600x1200 screen?

Thanks.

 

[MeldarthX]

It can push those three monitors for daily 2d work without major issue...gaming one one would be the best as it won't exactly have enough to fully push all three monitors....

But to run all three they will have to be at 1600 x 1200......far as I know you can't mix and max your screen res on the same card....all or nothing

 

[spikegifted]

But to run all three they will have to be at 1600 x 1200......far as I know you can't mix and max your screen res on the same card....all or nothing

That's my point: Do you think I can run a pair of 1920x1200 screens off the HD7870 and then one screen at 1600x1200 off the HD66XX/77XXX?

In this set up, I'd only play games using the pair of 1920x1200 screens.

 

[KingFatty]

Hey I did a very similar setup.

Mine was eyefinity with 2x 1600x1200 and 1x 1920x1200.

So what you should figure out is what resolutions does each monitor support?

For example, I'd guess that your 1920x1200 will also support some 16:9 resolutions, very likely 1920x1080, but also maybe 1600x900.

Then, will your 1600x1200 also support 1600x900? If so, you are golden because then you can have undistorted triple screen. Now granted, your 1600x1200 monitor will be letterboxing with black bars on the top and bottom, but that is very minor and you are probably already used to letterboxing on your 1920x1200 when you watch movies etc.

Anyway, eyefinity will look for a common resolution for all three monitors, and use that for all three at the same time. Hopefully you can find a resolution like 1600x900 where the picture will not be stretched or squeezed on any monitors. But think if you had to use 1600x1200 on the 1920x1200 display - that display would stretch it out and distort it, so not ideal.

Let's assume the worst and say you are stuck with a very poor choice of resolutions on the 1600x1200 display, e.g., it refuses to be run at any 16:9 or 16:10 resolutions. You still have two ways to solving this to avoid distortion:

1) play a game that lets you adjust the pixel size. One example would be Chronicles of Riddick. There is a menu option that would let you adjust the aspect ratio in the game and that would let you "undistort" a stretched screen. Maybe other games are like that too, I'm not sure.

2) add a desired resolution to the ones your 1600x1200 monitor will support. You do this by editing the EDID info. It's a rather easy process, you first obtain the info from the monitor using a first utility, then you edit it using a second utility (to add the desired resolution), and then you save it as a driver and install that and voila your monitor will support the new resolution.

Anyway, I say go for it, but keep in mind that you may be constrained by your "cheapest" monitor if it doesn't provide options for supported resolutions.

 

[MeldarthX]

That's my point: Do you think I can run a pair of 1920x1200 screens off the HD7870 and then one screen at 1600x1200 off the HD66XX/77XXX?

In this set up, I'd only play games using the pair of 1920x1200 screens.

King fatty said it nearly perfectly; you won't need another card to run all three; but you will have to running at the lowest screen res or a good common screen res

 

[spikegifted]

Would you guys thing a 2-card solution works better than a single-card (fiddling with resolutions)? Thanks.

 

[smithkt]

I think there is a misunderstanding here.

Eyefinity groups the monitors to create one large desktop which is why it forces all monitors to the lowest common denominator. You can still use different resolutions when using Extended Desktops. You can use the CCC to create an Eyfinity Group and Extended Desktop Group. You can assign hot keys to toggle between modes. You do not need to setup an Eyefinity group to use three monitors on one card. It is only required if you want to treat all three monitors as one large desktop.

 

[EXCellR8]

I have a eyefinity 3x1 at home with a single 7970. Great for gaming with the bezel corrected resolution of 6048 x 1080, at least that's what i think it is. You don't have to have more than one card to use higher visual settings but you will need one beefy one.

Also, it's best to have identical monitors but not required. 3x DisplayPort is recommended though. I have to use DVI + 2x mini DP with the 7970 and there is a bit of tearing on my center screen. Not terrible but I may switch over to the HDMI when I get a new switch.

Overall I'd give my experience with Eyefinity a 7/10... it's far from perfect but great with powerful hardware.

 

[spikegifted]

EXCellR8: Thanks for the answer.

Am I right with the following understanding - I can have different Eyefinity profiles, e.g. 3 screens 5440 (1920x2 + 1600) x 1200 for 2D and 3840 (1920x2) x 1200 for 3D?

Do you think a 7950 is sufficient to power a pair of 1920x1200 under 3D? (I don't really play FPS's). Thanks.