Which 3 monitor setup is better for Parhelia?

[ManojM]

Which one do you think will be better for games?

a) Three 15" CRT Flat Screen Monitor

or

b) Three 14" LCD Monitor

I have limited space on my desk and I can't possible fill up my whole desk using three 17" CRT. Three 15" LCD is possible but an expensive option.

I want to ask what resolution is needed for surround gaming with 3 monitor setup and what refresh rate?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Manoj Mahtani

[TikiGod]

Hi there,

Something to consider is the interference that three CRT monitors will have on each other if they are too close together.

If you don't have enough room to spread the three displays apart, you'll have flickering on each screen.

Having them spread apart kind of defeats the purpose of surround gaming, so I'd recommend the LCDs.

What I am thinking of doing is getting a nice 17-23" LCD for my center display, and then I can move my 19" and 21" CRTs to either side so nobody gets any interference.

Why yes, I am going to need a much bigger desk. :-)

I don't have my Parhelia yet, I am waiting for the 256MB version to hit, so I can't give you detail on the resolutions that are possible.

Later,

TikiGod

[Umfriend]

I prefer CRT's personally. I don't think good CRT's should interfere with each other BTW.

Maybe you could consider using a 17" CRT in the middle and 2 14"/15" LCD on the sides?

Umf

[TikiGod]

15" CRTs may not interfere because of how small they are.

I have a lab full of 15-21" monitors here. When I get some spare time, if you're interested, I can put three of them next to each other and see how they behave.

I am familiar with how bad 19 and 21" monitors look when they are too close together. A lot of flicker at any refresh rate.

Later,

TikiGod

[GT98]

Originally posted by TikiGod

I am familiar with how bad 19 and 21" monitors look when they are too close together. A lot of flicker at any refresh rate.

Later,

TikiGod

Dont say that! I have two Optiquest 19 in montiors I'm using as wings with my 21in Cornerstone monitor! I'm sure theres something you can do about the RF interferance.

[TikiGod]

You don't even get a faint flicker? One that goes away when you turn one of your monitors off?

I had to put 6-8" between my monitors to get the flicker to go away.

[xortam]

I have no flicker or interference of any kind with my pair of monitors: 21" Dell Trinitron adjacent to an old 17" NEC 5FG.

AFA three LCDs ... The P won't support three digital LCDs.

http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/parhelia/home.cfm

[GT98]

Originally posted by TikiGod
You don't even get a faint flicker? One that goes away when you turn one of your monitors off?

I had to put 6-8" between my monitors to get the flicker to go away.

I did some playing around with my monitors in work...I have my Optiquest Q95 in there with a NEC 17in Monitor running a G450 PCI card. Only interferance I get is what you described when they are running at different refresh rates...I thought it might have been the Q95 since I got it used, but I didnt realize that I had the NEC set for 75hz and the Optiquest set for 85hz and there was a slight "waveyness" on the side that the NEC was next to. I get interferance if they get turned on or off, but thats normal with EM discharge. Shit my 25in Sony TV that sits behind me in my room (abilt a small room less then 6ft between the 21in monitor and my 25in TV) effects my Monitor a bit when it gets turned on and off. Some times I wonder what I'm doing to my body

[TikiGod]

I had my 19" and 21" next to each other with a 20" Sony TV off to the right of them. The TV was causing major flicker, I had to move it way off to the side.

I have a feeling that I've absorbed more radiation than the average nuclear technician.

Stupid Homer, all the donuts, none of the radiation...

[mutz]

...my two cents...

Most good quality monitors are well shielded to meet all the FCC, CE, TCO, etc. emission standards 'cause you sit so close, whereas TVs have much more relaxed standards 'cause theoretically you sit much further away.

The interference is mainly magnetic from the back of the tube where the centering magnets ring the beam gun.

My Sony and Eizo are jambed tight next to each other and there is no interference between them at all, except when degaussing, which is amusing. The quality of the shielding is the main factor.

One thing that might help a little is to angle the monitors a bit so that the screens are next to each other at the front, but the rears are a bit farther apart.

TVs are another story. In editing studios I've put together, I've put sheets of mild steel between the monitors (and speakers/monitors) which has worked.

I've only had resolution/refresh rate interference when changing rates or other functions that let go a burst of emission fields.

As for radiation, I've been squinting in tubes for very many years and I reckon it's only gotten to my brain... or was it the content?

[Ali]

Listen to Xortam, 3X LCDs dont work unless you use analogue inputs. Many cheap LCDs only have analogue inputs, so it might not be an issue.

Ali

[xortam]

Originally posted by mutz
... One thing that might help a little is to angle the monitors a bit so that the screens are next to each other at the front, but the rears are a bit farther apart.

This is my case. I have seven inches between the rear corners of my two monitors. My 5FG is pre-EnergyStar or standard emission ratings (or PnP) and I'm amazed at how well its performed over the years. I'll try completely snugging them together and see if that causes any problems ... some time.

I've only had resolution/refresh rate interference when changing rates or other functions that let go a burst of emission fields.

I'm running different resolutions but both at 85 MHz refresh rates. I'll also try experimenting with different rates ... some time.

As for radiation, I've been squinting in tubes for very many years and I reckon it's only gotten to my brain... or was it the content?

My near sight has gotten atrocious over the last few years. I wonder if the long hours in front of the tube have finally caught up with me or not. Its more than likely just the usual case of fourtyitis.

[ManojM]

Isn't there a monitor with 3 LCD displays in 1?

I thought I saw it somewhere. That will be the best thing to get.

[Wombat]

Yes, but it's expensive as hell.

[ManojM]

Originally posted by Wombat
Yes, but it's expensive as hell.

How much?

Do you know the website where I can get some info on the monitor?