Building It: 3D Vision Surround And Surround 2D
Putting The Pieces Together: Displays
There are a handful of requirements you’ll need to satisfy prior to using any 3D Vision Surround configuration, the first of which is getting your hands on compatible displays. Because there are only eight desktop displays on Nvidia’s list (five 1920x1080 LCDs and three 1680x1050 models), it’s probable that you don’t have one, much less three of these things.
| 1920x1080 Desktop Displays | |
|---|---|
| Acer GD245HQ | |
| Acer GD235HZ | |
| Alienware OptX AW2310 | |
| Asus VG236 | |
| LG W2363D | |
| 1680x1050 Desktop Displays | |
| Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ | |
| ViewSonic FuHzion VX2265wm | |
| ViewSonic FuHzion VX2268wm | |
| Projectors | |
| Acer X1130P | |
| Acer X1261 | |
| Acer H5360 | |
| Lightspeed Design DepthQ HD 3D Projector | |
| ViewSonic PJD6220-3D | |
| ViewSonic PJD6210-3D | |
| ViewSonic PJD5351 | |
| ViewSonic PJD5111 | |
| ViewSonic PJD6381 | |
| ViewSonic PJD6211 | |
| ViewSonic PJD6221 | |
| ViewSonic PJD6241 | |
| ViewSonic PJD5112 | |
| ViewSonic PJD6251 | |
| ViewSonic PJD6531w | |
Beyond the handful of LCDs imbued with Nvidia’s patented technology, 120 Hz 3D Vision-capable projectors also do the trick here (and can even be used in portrait mode, unlike the polarized LCDs). There are twice as many projectors on the approved list, 11 of them from ViewSonic. If you have lots of room to play and hate the idea of bezels, a projector-based setup might be the way to go.
DLP HDTVs, which worked with the original 3D Vision launch, are synched from the display, and cannot be used in multi-monitor configurations. That’s fine, though. Who wants a trio of DLPs stacked side-by-side, anyway?
GPUs And Physical Connections
With its first 3D Vision Surround-enabled driver release, Nvidia is supporting GeForce GTX 400-series (480, 470, and 465) and 200-series (295, 285, 280, 275, and 260) cards. The specific configurations and connectors supported get to be a little complex though, so you’ll need to pay close attention when you’re mixing and matching GPUs to displays.
Two-way SLI is perhaps the most straightforward (and luckily, the most common). You can use any two 400- or 200-series cards to turn on Surround or 3D Vision Surround. For Surround mode, use any three matching digital or analog connectors. In 3D Vision Surround mode, you have to use a trio of dual-link DVI connectors—no HDMI allowed.
| Surround (2D) | 3D Vision Surround | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | SLI Mode | Supported | GPU Connector | Supported | GPU Connector |
| GeForce GTX 480, 470, 465 GeForce GTX 285, 280, 275, 260 | 2-way SLI | Yes | Any three matching digital or analog connectors. | Yes | 3D LCDs: 3 x Dual-Link DVI 3D Projectors: all connectors |
| GeForce GTX 480, 470, 465 | 3-way SLI | Yes | Any three matching digital or analog connectors. | Yes | 3D LCDs: 3 x Dual-Link DVI 3D Projectors: all connectors |
| GeForce GTX 295 (2 x DVI, 1 x HDMI) | Multi-GPU | Yes | Any three matching digital or analog connectors. | Yes | 3D Projectors: all connectors |
| Quad-SLI | Yes | Any three matching digital or analog connectors. | Yes | 3D LCDs: 3 x Dual-Link DVI 3D Projectors: all connectors | |
| GeForce GTX 295 (2 x DVI) | Multi-GPU | No | No | ||
| Quad-SLI | Yes | Any three matching digital or analog connectors. | Yes | 3D LCDs: 3 x Dual-Link DVI 3D Projectors: all connectors | |
If you’d like to go 3-way (and who wouldn’t?), you’re limited to the 400-series cards. GeForce GTX 200s aren’t enabled in this driver release. The display requirements are similar. Use any three matching digital/analog connectors for Surround, and three dual-link DVI outputs for 3D Vision Surround.
The GeForce GTX 295 is a special case. There exists two versions of the board—one with 2 DVI and an HDMI connector, and one with just two DVI connectors.
If you have the DVI/HDMI version, you can use a single 295 or a pair in Quad-SLI mode to enable Surround (2D) mode. From one card, you can even do 3D Vision Surround, so long as you’re using projectors (LCDs aren’t supported). Using two, you can task three DVI outputs between the two cards with 3D Vision Surround, too.
The version of the GTX 295 with DVI ports obviously can’t do Surround or 3D Vision Surround. It simply doesn’t have the requisite outputs. Using two in Quad-SLI, however, you have the ability to game in Surround or 3D Vision Surround.
As far as motherboards go, obviously you need an SLI-capable platform to do any of this.
Going 2D
There’s a hefty premium on those 120 Hz displays, and the addition of a $200 3D Vision kit (plus $149 for each additional set of shades) makes 3D Vision Surround a pricey proposition. If you’re still onboard with widescreen gaming, but would prefer to stick with glasses-free 2D mode, Nvidia’s Surround capability enables that.
In Surround mode, gone is the 120 Hz requirement. You can use any three similar screens, right up to a trio of 30” 2560x1600 LCDs. The feature isn’t as flexible as Eyefinity—it still requires two cards with a cumulative four outputs. But when you’re talking about high-res widescreen gaming, you’ll probably want an SLI- or CrossFire-based configuration anyway.
Surround does support a wider array of output options. While you’re locked in to three LCDs in landscape mode by 3D Vision Surround, vanilla Surround allows for a trio in landscape, three in a portrait orientation, or four monitors—the fourth connected to the last available DVI port, separate from the primary display group.
A Stand: The Worthwhile Accessory
Having set up several multi-monitor machines, it’s worth noting that a stand goes a long way toward a clean installation. Three 24” displays take up a lot of room placed side-by-side, and if you’re short on desk space, you might find one monitor teetering on the edge. As part of this hardware package, Nvidia sent over an Ergotech Triple LCD desk stand, which I was able to configure in about 15 minutes.
If you have the money to spend on displays, graphics cards, and glasses, it’s absolutely worth considering the stand that de-clutters your desktop.
Related Stories :
- Nvidia 3D Vision Surround: Is This The Future Of Gaming?
- VIDEO: Nvidia's 3D Vision Surround Now Available
- Nvidia 3D Vision Surround: 3 Monitors With 3D
- Wall-Sized 3D Gaming With Nvidia 3D Vision
- 3D Vision Discover Provides Free 3D PC Gaming
- GeForce 3D Vision: Gaming Goes Stereo
- Nvidia 3D Vision Vs. AMD HD3D: 18 Games, Evaluated
- CES 2007: 3D gaming, surround sound, and waterproof accessories
- CES 2007: 3D gaming, surround sound, and waterproof accessories
- Rage, Doom 4 May Not Support Stereoscopic 3D
What are those lines between the screens? Oh yeah, it's the black plastic the monitors are made of! Three monitor gaming = FAIL.
Without sounding ignorant like killerclick, they do need to start producing mainstream monitors that have little to no bezel. If not then i might as well buy a 32-40 inch TV that does 120-240hz and go with that.
Hell you might as well go all out and connect 3 32 or 42 inch samsung series 6-8led tvs and tri sli or crossfire 5970's..... one would definitly need watercooling systems and core i7 6 core chips, with an ROG x58 board with ssd's max RAM, win 7 64bit, and 1000watts... this machine would then have to played in full airconditioning and with crazy sounds with some amps and extra lighting effects.....
You would then have total fun playing games like Crysis, Resident evil, left for dead, Dirt, and Cod MW2..... one can imagine
all for the cost of around $7500... this would last you for about 3years of fun.... then after, youd have to get rid of it
better yet, a single fold out (nearly bezel-less) display.
As the article says, this is all nice and dandy but the costs are high, to say the least. However as time passes this technology will be more affordable for us average joes. Good too see GRFX companines are pushing new toys
Hell you might as well go all out and connect 3 32 or 42 inch samsung series 6-8led tvs and tri sli or crossfire 5970's..... one would definitly need watercooling systems and core i7 6 core chips, with an ROG x58 board with ssd's max RAM, win 7 64bit, and 1000watts... this machine would then have to played in full airconditioning and with crazy sounds with some amps and extra lighting effects.....You would then have total fun playing games like Crysis, Resident evil, left for dead, Dirt, and Cod MW2..... one can imagine
And will cost as much in power to run that machine as an Air COnditioner during the Houston Summer.
The scales are way too big. Too much money, too much power needed (which means more money), and way too much physical space. Cost and power usage may come down, but space? In the mainstream, I'd sooner expect the VR headset to make a return.
I wish I could afford all of that hardware ... alas not.
The Samsung 120HZ 24" monitor, glasses and GTX card cost us arond $780.
Played it for a few days and got sore eyes.
Gave it to the kids.
They played with the glasses for a week.
Now the glasses are in a drawer.
Not much more to tell really.
The whole experience with the glasses reminded me of:
The yoyo
The pogo stick
The hat with the beer cans on top of it and the tubes
The Bling "Gaming" case with neons that I disconnected
The Superfloppy
The external CD Burner
The ex-wife
All terribly short experiences of delight (dynamic quality) followed by a feeling of bewilderment and a sense that I had been played by a consumerist market.
C Wright Mills please save me ... from myself.
Chris ... is there a cure ?
I have a question:
Could you explain how the bezels are compensated for in 3D Surround mode? I am trying to imagine how having 2-3 inch spaces in between each projected image would look in 3 dimensions... Having difficulty, but maybe a short explanation?
So long as there is a bezel, there is no point to having surround in games. None at all.
Well, racing games could get away with it.
The future of gaming maybe but at this point the cost to get into it is off the charts so yes maybe is a few years when the cost of entry is about 70% cheaper then yes maybe. Also until they can get rid of the silly glasses I do not know to many people wanting to wear these silly glasses just to play a game.
the (unintelligent)poor would be bitter and bash this one.
What are those lines between the screens? Oh yeah, it's the black plastic the monitors are made of! Three monitor gaming = FAIL.
It maybe fail but I bet it would look good on your dual socket motherboard.
Once this technology matures, then it will be a revelation.
Although 3D is something I see as more of a fad; for the next 2-4 years it will be huge, then it will fade into oblivion.
I didn't use Trinitron CRTs because of that tiny teenie line in the middle, I sure as hell wouldn't use three monitors for gaming with those giant bezels.
Once this technology matures, then it will be a revelation.Although 3D is something I see as more of a fad; for the next 2-4 years it will be huge, then it will fade into oblivion.
3D has been coming and going for decades. I wasn't impressed 20 years ago and I'm not impressed now.
It's a fad, and it's going to continue to be a fad until the technology doesn't make people sick with vertigo.
I think they should just create wider curved screens. This multiple screen thing.....
Well, it certainly would be cool but honestly who has the money to spend on 3 3D monitors? Plus you would need a hell of a video card setup as well.
Say the monitors are $200 each.
Then your gonna need a couple good video cards say $150 - $200 each.
So 200 X 3 = 600
Plus 150 X 2 = 300
So we are talking $900 on the low end.
Up to about $1,500 on the higher end.
Plus these monitors are 3D meaning $200 is unrealistic. It would be more like $350 on the low end.
Because of the extremely high cost of having 3 monitors I don't see it really taking off. If you ask me it's just a way for nVidia and ATi to try and lower the frame rates of your games so you need to buy a better video card and spend more money. Because, lets be honest, that is what they want.
If you want a big monitor do like I did... I have a 37" LCD HDTV that I used as my monitor. With 0% intrest I pay on $28 a month. I don't care if you work at McDonalds that price is doable.