Nvidia Surround vs AMD Eyefinity

[Elky72]

Hi I'm currently running an AMD card in triple monitor Eyefinity and have been using AMD cards like forever. Now I'm gradually building a new gaming rig but still confused about wich card to get for it. Initially it will be a single card rig. When I save enough money for it I might buy a 2nd one.

I was considering buying a 7950 or 7970 card. But the developer for my favourite MMO announced they will be introducing new graphical technology to the game. Namely DirectX11, tesselation and PhysicX.

The Demo (8 mins, for the ones interested)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k7oaz8mWug[/media]

Now I'll want to use this new technology, so from what I know PhysicX is a NVidia exclusive.

So I like to know is it possible to run a triple monitor setup on let's say a single GTX 680?

How is it to set up? is it similar to eyefinity?

What about the display port Issues I've been reading about

I f anyone has experience wit this I really like to know

 

[Diablo]

I'm currently running a single 680gtx for 5760*1920 triple screen. I've also run a pair of 5970s with three screens. The two technologies are pretty similar, but the Nvidia version doesn't need a display port adapter (the 680 gtx has two dvi and one hdmi port on it), Eyefinity creates a single large display which means that you cannot have a window set to just one screen apart from by dragging it to that size manually (no double clicking).

I've only had the 680GTX for a day so I can't pass judgement on it's performance too much, but it has ample performance for triple screen gaming for Skyrim and other modern games (not tried BF3), the 2GB of Vram may hold it back eventually but for the moment it performs brilliantly. Personally I prefer the Nvidia set up, as the resizing of windows etc is a pain and not having to use a DP --> DVI converter is a huge plus for me.

In conclusion; either card will do fine, physx is not really worth that much at the end of the day, the performances are very similar, so it comes down to personal preference. The 7970 is easier to overclock but runs hotter and louder. I guess if you are used to eyefinity then you should get the AMD card but if you are sick of its little idiosyncracies then a switch to Nvidia might be on the cards.

 

[yassarikhan786]

The 7970 is actually cooler than the 680 according to TTL's and other reviews. This includes stock and overclocked. Noise wise there is not a massive difference and performance wise once overclocked they are similarly matched.

 

[Diablo]

I should reread that. Either way its hotter for other components (more power = more heat). Considering what I have used in the past (5970s, 280GTX), the 680GTX is quiet.

 

[Elky72]

Thank you Diablo for clarifying.

If PhysX isn't that much of a big thing. I prefer to stick to what I know. I have the mini-DP to DVI adapter and a DP to DVI adapter so that's not a problem.

About the window size in Eyefinity you definetly right.. I have Hydragrid enabled, it requires me to left-click the application bar on top and select the "attach to grid" option each time I open it. Wish it would remember it's window size.

For now I can live with that, maybe they'll sort it out in the future. PhysX was the only reason I would switch. But now I'm not sure anymore if I would go for it, gues not.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

PhysX is nice, but there are not even enough games for it to warren getting an Nvidia card just for that feature.

 

[JezEngland]

Being a fan of that game you deserve to see it at its best so go nVidia. There's no huge differences in setting up nVidia hardware. They've beeen creating great 3D games for alot longer than AMD anare on their 2nd or more revision of 3D, so I think it'll be better all round compared to AMD's offering.

The hardware should be solid and normal temperatures aren't worth worrying about because the cards are well designed to run optimally at its given temp. They use alot of prescious metal in these things.

I want to get hooked to a spce MMO, last I played was some space shooter on the PS1

the name is fused in my brain and I can't find it

Good luck for you project

 

[Elky72]

Well like I said I'm not sure, It is so that I have played more hours EVE Online then I have played any other games combined. So when they do implement PhysX. It surely will be enabled and used alot.

If it is like you say Jerome and NVidia Surround is as similar to setup as eyefinity. I'm tempted to go for it. Won't be using the 3D because I don't have any monitors that support it and it will remain like that for a long time.

I still have to save up some, but wil add the GTX 680 to my wishlist

About the PS1 game, sorry don't know it. But If you would like to see what EVE is all about you could go to their site and set up a 14 Day trial or you may send me a message so I can give you a 21 day free trial. So you can get a tatse for it. If you like it extend your subscription if not just uninstall. see more ? here http://forum.overclock3d.net/index.php?/topic/40695-60-day-eve-online-trial/

Also thank you, will post pics as the project gets further

 

[JezEngland]

Colony Wars. That's the game on PS1

Thanks I'll look at EVE some day when time allows

 

[sugarqfx]

just new to 3 monitor setups! but had alot of prior experience to dual monitors, I got a question for you, can you explain to me how 3 monitor setups differ between nvidias surround and ati eyefinity, software wise? i just recently purchased an Asus R9 280x to power up my 3 monitors, thinking that Ati was the first to pioneer 3 monitor gaming i went with it, only thing i dont like with eyefinity is how windows sees it as one big monitor so when you try to resize or snap a windows to one screen, windows sees it as one big monitor and does not resize accordingly. so what i end up doing is going from eyefinity to extended desktop, just so i can use it properly when working. does nvidia work the same way, or it sees it as 3 separate monitors and basically gives you just an option in the game to use one big one?

 

[Excalabur50]

With Amd you just create different profiles and switch between them with key shortcuts I game at 5760x1080 but when not I have 3 screens at 1920x1080 so simple and I don't think Nvidia have that ability