Eyefinity vs. Extended Desktop.

[Hotobu]

I'm trying to figure out exactly when the benefits of AMD's Eyefinity technology kicks in. I fully understand that games can be programmed to take advantage of the extra resolution and the benefits therein, but outside of that what else is there? Hasn't this been around for years in the form of "extended desktops?" I seem to remember having an old Matrox capture card that allowed me to use my TV and a monitor as one long (awkward) desktop. Without an AMD graphics card would I still be able to play a game/have an app up on one screen, and have something going on on the other, or does that fall under the Eyefinity umbrella?

 

[digibucc]

standard desktops i believe limit you to two monitors per card.

eyefinity starts at 3 and goes up. technically it can be enabled
with only 2, but there is not much benefit.

also, bezel correction, for those who like it.

even with eyefinity you can't always get a fullscreen game to stay
up on it's screen while you switch around. you can have a windowed
game at fullscreen resolution with or without eyefinity.

other than that, yes. a regular extended desktop can run a game or
program on each screen.

 

[Hotobu]

...aaand there it is. I was wondering what all the hubub was. It's basically extended desktop with 3+ screens. Thanks.

 

[digibucc]

it's also in the way it shows the screens to the computer.

regular extended desktop sees two separate screens,
eyefinity makes the pc see one large screen, with a
combined resolution.

very few games will work with multiple screens in extended
desktop mode, for those and some 3d programs eyefinity
offers a solution to larger screens that the os can see.

 

[LordJummy]

This is partially incorrect. It's not just an extended desktop with 3+ screens. And it's a bit different than you mentioned. He is right about it using one large resolution instead of independent 1920x1080 etc.

You can do 3+ screens WITHOUT eyefinity. Eyefinity is not limited to 3+ screens. It can be used with as little as 2.

EYEFINITY does something very different. It actually tricks the computer into thinking all of your screens are one.

Example: In regular extended desktop mode you drag a browser window to screen 2 and maximize it. It is maximized only in screen 2.

In eyefinity that window would maximize across all screens because the computer thinks they are just one. It is not a software (windows) based extended desktop. it is hardware/driver based.

This allows you to do things that aren't normally possible with software extended desktop. I'm sure you can use your imagination.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

One of the cool thinks is due to Eyefinity telling your computer there is only 1 monitor. Extended desktop will only extend your desktop further and further to the right and it is limited at 3 total, unless you run a second card and treat it as a separate thing.

Eyefinity will extend your desktop up, down, left, right, and allow you to configure if a monitor is part of a matrix treated as 1 or independent or both.

Here are some configuration you can do with Eyefinity only 2 of which extended can do.

 

[Hotobu]

Well I guess I meant "just an extended desktop" as far as my needs go. I simply cannot see myself getting 2 more monitors (1 maybe), so it's no real benefit to me. I'd actually want to segregate the screens. Still though thanks for the info.

 

[pantherx12]

Well I guess I meant "just an extended desktop" as far as my needs go. I simply cannot see myself getting 2 more monitors (1 maybe), so it's no real benefit to me. I'd actually want to segregate the screens. Still though thanks for the info.

You can do either or, or even a mix.

It's a lot more flexible than other options basically.

 

[Hotobu]

My monitors would be two different sizes anyway. :/

I could freeze frame a porn of a chick with big titties with one on each screen, take a picture and call her Biggie Smalls.

 

[cadaveca]

As Digibucc said , Eyefinity is the process that takes multiple omnitors, but presents thm as a single alrge surface to the OS and apps running in the OS< allowing visual images from movies and games to be shown across many monitors.

Extended desktop is extending the desktop by adding a second dispaly surface, and is something completely different, that AMD/nV cards have supported for literal YEARS. I got one user with X1800's running 3-4 screens in a Digital Audio Workstation.

So, Eyefinbtiy is NOT required for multiple monitors in the way you want to use them. Pretty much any VGA will do what you want.

 

[digibucc]

Extended desktop will only extend your desktop further and further to the right

what? it does not only go right, you can go left and arrange them above<->below as well.
I don't know where you got that. I did it before replying to be sure. you crazy

stuff

i'm guessing you didn''t read my second post, which clarified that.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

what? it does not only go right, you can go left and arrange them above<->below as well.
I don't know where you got that. I did it before replying to be sure. you crazy

You are right that you can extend up. But I have never seen Extended desktop handle more than 3 total displays on a single card and those 3 display setups would only work to a point. Full screen applications defaulted to a primary display when activated.

The 3 monitors in portrait is what I personally want. That is the sweet spot to me. Center of screen will not be spanned across an edge so I can see in front well. And the landscape system will be more like a big display than that whole panoramic view BS.

 

[digibucc]

You are right that you can extend up. But I have never seen Extended desktop handle more than 3 total displays on a single card and those 3 display setups would only work to a point. Full screen applications defaulted to a primary display when activated.

The 3 monitors in landscape is what I personally want. That is the sweet spot to me. Center of screen will not be spanned across an edge so I can see in front well. And the landscape system will be more like a big display than that whole panoramic view BS.

exactly, on both counts. that's what i use it for. though i don't use it as much as i'd thought
for gaming. i use it all of the time for work, and i have it in regular extended desktop mode.

but the dp adapter does allow me three monitors off one card, which is awesome

 

[Hotobu]

Are there any games which would benefit from extended desktop? i.e. drag some menu onto the other screen, but have the main game on the main screen?

 

[cadaveca]

There are a few...Like Supreme Commander(although it's pretty dated at this point, and can be problematic to get working).

Most games will not support this, though.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Yea. Games will support the ludicrous resolutions, but will not let you micro manage menus and such.

I wish they would cause I would play FPS on two screens, one with the entire game, the second with a full sized map always open.

 

[Hotobu]

Yeah that's what I want. It's unfortunately companies don't do it. I can imagine every WOW player orgasming if they could have the action on one screen and have a status, and spell menu on the other.

 

[LordJummy]

In the original WoW days I used a two screen setup that let me stretch the viewport onto the 2nd monitor. I could move my bags, inventory stuff, map, quest helpers, addons, etc to the second monitor. Of course now I play on 3x1 eyefinity so it no longer matters. It used to be a huge advantage though. It is good for RPG's and MMORPG's to have a second independent monitor with a browser open with your favorite strategy site. That way you never have to alt+tab to get info. That's the way I used to do it.

Oh and in WoW you can move and arrange ANYTHING. There is an addon called "move anything" and it lets you move any item you want on the screen. WoW players have been customizing their interfaces since vanilla...

 

[Hotobu]

I'm more than willing to admit my nigh complete ignorance of PC gaming as I'm not a PC gamer... (yet)

*counts days until new system build*