Official videogaming thread

[ChrisJ]

I gave away one of my gaming systems. Now all I have left is my Lite Brite. The resolution Sucks...

I actually built a nice Eyefinity system. Was going to start selling them, but decided I didn't want to deal with the public. I ended up giving it to my son in law.

It was nice. I used 3 20" monitors. I played WOW with well over 120 FPS with everything maxed out. I played Dirt 2 too. LOL, first night I set it up and played I only lasted 5 minutes because the eyefinity made me nauseous. It was amazing to have it fill your whole peripheral vision. Can't do that with a console.....

But, I made it just to make it. I am not really much of a gamer. I use to tick people off trying shooters. I got booted A LOT haha.

It was great system, but gave it away. He used it until I fixed his dead YLOD PS3 and his dead XBOX. He preferred the PS3 as he had a lot of games for it.

I hate the thought of that nice Eyefinity system just sitting there...

I saw a setup a while back using 5 monitors and I think they had either Dirt or Grid running on it. Don't remember display size but I think it was 24".

These days I wish I could just afford a decent 24+" monitor running whatever the new standard is, 2550x something?

I'm still using two Samsung 226CWs which are really dated, though still bright backlights.

 

[ChicksHateMe]

I saw a setup a while back using 5 monitors and I think they had either Dirt or Grid running on it. Don't remember display size but I think it was 24".

These days I wish I could just afford a decent 24+" monitor running whatever the new standard is, 2550x something?

I'm still using two Samsung 226CWs which are really dated, though still bright backlights.

Yeah, there are some good demo's at AMD on the Eyefinity, changing between 1 and 3 monitors. You can search Youtube and see and aircraft carrier with 24 or 30 screens in an array. That ones awesome.

My screen on my most used system is a 40" Sceptre LED TV'. Loved it so much I Actually bought each Daughter one for a gift. THey are 6 years old, but I still use them. I was considering 3 more 40" Sceptre's to make the Eyefinity nice and huge. They were wicked low at one point, like $300.00 each. Amazing for a 40". Name isn't known by many, but they've made monitors a long time and have pretty good quality.

At the time, I also had a huge wall I used a projector on. So, I was thinking about getting 3 decent 1080p projectors and putting false walls to each side, at about a 60 degree angle, and using that for my screen You can get the 1080p's for like $600.00 now. Would make an amazing play room. But as I said, I'm not really a gamer, I'd just want to do it, to do it. Son in law and I talk about it every year, but he's content on the one 40".

I don't like LOUD. But I would run the Optical to my stereo sometimes for the bass when driving. But usually I just used my wireless headset. I love my cheap but comfortable wireless head set....

I'm glad I built the Eyefinity system though. I had most parts laying around, like the 3 20" monitors. I built it around a 2500K with a decent video card at the time. I estimate it ran around $1200.00 cost. Including 2 XBOX for windows wireless controllers, an XBOX steering wheel that worked off the controllers wireless hub. A cheap $40.00 simulated steering wheel (better than MS's but not as good as Logitechs). And other stuff. PLENTY powerful for a good foundation.

I helped other build less complex systems for gaming. I usually let people buy the parts on their credit cards and helped them build it themselves, for a decent tip I loved to teach, and this way they knew the system and called me less for help I kinda miss doing that....

It was fun, but I didn't want to deal with the public again. I can tolerate someone that doesn't know something, but is willing to learn, but my tolerance for stupidity is gone...

I actually still have a 3 monitor system. but no fancy graphics cards. It's just for web design.

 

[ChrisJ]

Yeah, there are some good demo's at AMD on the Eyefinity, changing between 1 and 3 monitors. You can search Youtube and see and aircraft carrier with 24 or 30 screens in an array. That ones awesome.

My screen on my most used system is a 40" Sceptre LED TV'. Loved it so much I Actually bought each Daughter one for a gift. THey are 6 years old, but I still use them. I was considering 3 more 40" Sceptre's to make the Eyefinity nice and huge. They were wicked low at one point, like $300.00 each. Amazing for a 40". Name isn't known by many, but they've made monitors a long time and have pretty good quality.

At the time, I also had a huge wall I used a projector on. So, I was thinking about getting 3 decent 1080p projectors and putting false walls to each side, at about a 60 degree angle, and using that for my screen You can get the 1080p's for like $600.00 now. Would make an amazing play room. But as I said, I'm not really a gamer, I'd just want to do it, to do it. Son in law and I talk about it every year, but he's content on the one 40".

I don't like LOUD. But I would run the Optical to my stereo sometimes for the bass when driving. But usually I just used my wireless headset. I love my cheap but comfortable wireless head set....

I'm glad I built the Eyefinity system though. I had most parts laying around, like the 3 20" monitors. I built it around a 2500K with a decent video card at the time. I estimate it ran around $1200.00 cost. Including 2 XBOX for windows wireless controllers, an XBOX steering wheel that worked off the controllers wireless hub. A cheap $40.00 simulated steering wheel (better than MS's but not as good as Logitechs). And other stuff. PLENTY powerful for a good foundation.

I helped other build less complex systems for gaming. I usually let people buy the parts on their credit cards and helped them build it themselves, for a decent tip I loved to teach, and this way they knew the system and called me less for help I kinda miss doing that....

It was fun, but I didn't want to deal with the public again. I can tolerate someone that doesn't know something, but is willing to learn, but my tolerance for stupidity is gone...

I actually still have a 3 monitor system. but no fancy graphics cards. It's just for web design.

I had wondered about using a modern tv as a monitor for gaming but I've always been told there is way too much input lag. I think I even looked into this within the past few months and it seemed like the answer was still the same thing. Input lag is a big problem when dealing with FPS.

This is also another reason I'd like a monitor running at 120Hz instead of 60Hz.

 

[ChicksHateMe]

I had wondered about using a modern tv as a monitor for gaming but I've always been told there is way too much input lag. I think I even looked into this within the past few months and it seemed like the answer was still the same thing. Input lag is a big problem when dealing with FPS.

This is also another reason I'd like a monitor running at 120Hz instead of 60Hz.

I never noticed a lag, but I never looked for it. Like I said, I never played much. Although if it was bad. I am sure I would have noticed. But even the lag on my 1.4L doesn't bother me

Disclaimer - It's been a while, and I could be wrong on some things. If I am, sorry in advance. Do your own DD to be sure.

You probably already know a lot of this, but I will post it anyway

There are so many factors. For example, a 60 Hz monitor will only show you 60 FPS, 120Hz, 120 FPS, etc... But a bigger factor is the response times. If it can't change the color of a pixel fast enough, there's ghosting. So, the faster the response time the better. (5ms of less)

On the Computer side, the higher the FPS the better. If that's low, you will see it in slow movements. The CPU or GPU, can't put out fast enough, and the video displays what it has, which is behind where it wants to be.

With a fast CPU or GPU, then the current image gets processed in time and is ready to be passed to the Set. It passes exactly what you want to see at that instant, even if you didn't get to see the past few frames. Some games use the CPU more, some a GPU, so to cover all bases, you want both to be good.

Another factor in how it looks of course is the resolution. I hate the salesmen pushing 720p or 1080i sets, saying it will be OK. It should be 1080p or better to really look good. 720p and 1080i are OK for video, but they aren't good enough for games.

So, as long as you have a frame rate at 60 Hz, and the monitor has a good response time, like 5ms or less, a good CPU and an decent GPU, it should at least look good, without ghosting.

After all that, there's still compatibility issues. Sometimes 120Hz or 240Hz sets don't play well with 60Hz games. Because the 120Hz sets are designed a lot of times for 3D, it means it does extra processing, which could delay the video at times and cause tearing or jitter. I hear the 240Hz are better, but not perfect.

Some sets you can turn the 3D processing off, some you can't.

There are so many other factors that can affect good, smooth play too. Internet issues (if online), Poor Drivers for the video card. etc.....

Also, avoid playing on Plasma TV's Plasmas for gaming are a BAD choice. Even with the ways they shift images, and do other tricks to avoid burn-in, I just think it's plasma's inherent design that's the issue. No fixing that. I've seen a few Plasma's with burn-in. Friend owns a TV shop. Things like the ole ESPN scroller. Awesome pictures for movies though.

I do notice temporary retention in my old LCD, but by the morning it's gone. With a plasma, it's eventually forever....

 

[JaSonic]

I just got Assassin's Creed 4 a few days ago. I like it so far.

 

[5H1F7Y]

I thought about doing eyefinity at one point but decided not to, a game on one monitor is good enough (and i hated the breaks from screen to screen, now if they made monitors with a 1mm bezel, or better yet boarderless.....) and i usually have teamspeak and system monitoring software on my other screen

Im not 100% on the validity of this next comment so take it with a grain of salt, but i have heard that using a tv as a monitor will shorten its life span, something with input voltages (even with hdmi). Im not sure if that is the case or not, i can understand if you are using a dvi or display port beging different but i figured hdmi was industry standard specs.....

I can say that ive been hooked up to both tv's and monitors and have always found a monitor to give a better picture. If your looking at a good monitor, check out the ones i have, asus g278he, they have a 144hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, you wont be disappointed.

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

I thought about doing eyefinity at one point but decided not to, a game on one monitor is good enough (and i hated the breaks from screen to screen, now if they made monitors with a 1mm bezel, or better yet boarderless.....) and i usually have teamspeak and system monitoring software on my other screen

I can say that ive been hooked up to both tv's and monitors and have always found a monitor to give a better picture. If your looking at a good monitor, check out the ones i have, asus g278he, they have a 144hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, you wont be disappointed.

You get used to the bezel breaks after a short amount of use. They do make monitors with very slim/narrow bezels designed to cater to multi-monitor use. You can also de-bezel your monitors.

I agree with Asus...my monitors of choice.

 

[ChrisJ]

I tried 2 monitors and that bezel couldn't be ignored.

But I think I could easily deal with it with 3 displays.

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

I tried 2 monitors and that bezel couldn't be ignored.

But I think I could easily deal with it with 3 displays.

I definitely recommend trying it with at least 3 displays before you rule it out completely.

Of course this all depends on your intended use. 3 displays will be overkill for most users.

 

[ChrisJ]

I definitely recommend trying it with at least 3 displays before you rule it out completely.

Of course this all depends on your intended use. 3 displays will be overkill for most users.

How I would use it?

Ok lets all see how lame Chris J is these days.

Minecraft
Counter strike source.
TF 2.


I use 2 monitors at work all of the time, couldn't deal without it these days but for games that gap in the middle sucks.

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

How I would use it?

Ok lets all see how lame Chris J is these days.

Minecraft
Counter strike source.
TF 2.
Porn.

I use 2 monitors at work all of the time, couldn't deal without it these days but for games that gap in the middle sucks.

Fixed.

 

[ChrisJ]

Fixed.

Proud to say that's a negative.

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

I will try to get some pics of my setup in a bit. To give you an idea of the bezel distraction.

 

[River_Rat]

Proud to say that's a negative.

Hank always was a Puritan. Staying true to form.

 

[ChicksHateMe]

You get used to the bezel breaks after a short amount of use. They do make monitors with very slim/narrow bezels designed to cater to multi-monitor use. You can also de-bezel your monitors.

I agree with Asus...my monitors of choice.

I picture for the future that you will buy panels that go right to the edge, and a control module. This way you can build a monitor of any size by adding maybe 5 panels across and 3 panels down.

My TV sets are pretty much first generation LCD's, and they are still going strong. Yes, they are not very high contrast, but it doesn't bother me. My eyefinity set-up used 3 19" monitors, and yes the Bezels were a pain, but there are some adjustments in eyefinity to try and make up for it. But yes, it isn't perfect with my bezels. But the total pic was 4200 x 1050 I think (1400 x 3). It was pretty cool. It even made me dizzy first time playing.

I highly doubt it would affect life of device.

As mentioned before about lag, that depends on the set. I do remember seeing terrible lag between a regular TV and my LCD when I watched OTA Stations, or HDMI Channels, but that was using the tuner, and built in decoders, which caused that. When I used my sets as 1980 x 1200 monitors, there was no lag at all. If there was it wasn't noticeable. Imagine playing a game with the mouse or controller lagging. Ewwww.

It is nice having a hi res monitor It's definitely noticeable when I am sitting right in front of the screen. But the farther away it is, the less it's noticed, and to me I love the feeling of being surrounded by the game.

 

[PlayCrackTheSky]

Hank always was a Puritan. Staying true to form.

I'm just glad to hear that it isn't that damn narrow urethra slowing him down.

 

[ChicksHateMe]

My Set-up... Can't see it great here. Don't have a good place to put larger pics to share.

Really basic. I use the three monitors more for programming and web design.

It's showing dirt 3, and not very well. But playing it right there is pretty awesome. The BEST is the flight games though. You can see so much more from the ****pit with 3 screens versus one dinky one.

Check out this eyefinity demo. It gives you a few game views, and you can switch from 1 to 3 monitors.

http://www.amd.com/us/products/tech...for-consumers/Pages/experience-eyefinity.aspx

Son-in-law says with this set-up and to good headset I gave him, no one can sneak up from the side anymore.

 

[5H1F7Y]

Setup looks sweet. Just out of pure curiosity, what videocards are you using? Other specs? Ive got a i7 4770k, sabertooth mobo, 32g vengance dual channel, and a zotac gtx770. (didnt want to buy a second card at 500 to run 3 monitors) i still need to upgrade to a solid state/raid

Having a microcenter less than a mile up the street is dangerous

 

[ChicksHateMe]

Setup looks sweet. Just out of pure curiosity, what videocards are you using? Other specs? Ive got a i7 4770k, sabertooth mobo, 32g vengance dual channel, and a zotac gtx770. (didnt want to buy a second card at 500 to run 3 monitors) i still need to upgrade to a solid state/raid

Having a microcenter less than a mile up the street is dangerous

I got the PowerColor AX6950 2G at the time. I think it was $250.00. At the time it was a good card, but there was competition, so a lot or rebated.

PowerColor AX6950 2GBD5-2DH Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity - Newegg.com

It's out of stock now. I had my hassles, thinking it was the card, but it was the game.

I prefer the AMD's to NVidea. They have something similar, but I hate their drivers. AMD was bad when it was ATI. I'd do an update every month, then have to revert back. Hours of waste. But since they went under AMD, AMD seems to be getting it together, and Eyefinity sold me. Wicked fun as you can see from the demo.

I want another, newer card. So much has advanced in just a few short years... But it has to have Eyefinity


ON the SSD front, I saw too many failing and I couldn't recover from them so I'd have to back up all the time. I wasn't faithful, so I looked into options. I ended up buying a small SSD and setting it up using SRT, not to be confused with RST.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/smart-response-technology.html

It makes the SSD basically a cache. First load is like a Hard drive, but if you use the same thing over and over, it gets a lot faster. It worked great. I had the SSD up front and two drives for redundancy behind it.

I how have the SSD as my main drive, not using SRT in my newer personal system. It's been good, gaining my trust, but I did a lot of DD. I went for the Samsung 830 series. It had the most positive reviews. I loved Samsung HDD's too, until they sold out to Seagate.

I still try to default to drives under 500G, in a redundant array for real safety, but am liking the SSD as a OS disk that doesn't change much and I clone with Clonezilla from time to time, in case if does die on me. I can restore it to another SSD, or even a cheapo HDD if I need to get back up and running fast and don't have a Spare SSD available.

 

[5H1F7Y]

Nice, Ive been an nvidia guy forever, i havent had any experience with amd radeon, but your right, ati radeon was HORRIBLE. Ive got a hybrid drive in my box now, i like it, quick boots, and for gaming it doesnt make a huge difference since in most games your stuck waiting on the slowest loader anyway.