Simviation Forum - Running Three 1920x1200 monitors in FSX

Nov 20^th, 2010 at 7:02pm

Papafox Offline
Colonel
Hello!

Posts: 67

I have three 27" monitors plus two Nvidia 460s on the way and I've just discovered that FSX does not allow me to set in the desired resolution for running the monitors three across. I see that Nvidia supports 3 monitors in SLI mode, but that support doesn't do me much good if FSX refuses to stretch between them. Suggestions very much appreciated.

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Reply #1 - Nov 20^th, 2010 at 7:14pm

snippyfsxer Offline
Colonel

Posts: 404

Papafox wrote on Nov 20^th, 2010 at 7:02pm:

I have three 27" monitors plus two Nvidia 460s on the way
and I've just discovered that FSX does not allow me to set in the desired resolution for running the monitors three across. I see that Nvidia supports 3 monitors in SLI mode, but that support doesn't do me much good if FSX refuses to stretch between them. Suggestions very much appreciated.

Your fine, don't worry. Set it up, when it arrives, and the next time you start FSX, the resolutions you need will be there for you to choose Wink

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Reply #2 - Nov 20^th, 2010 at 7:38pm

Papafox Offline
Colonel
Hello!

Posts: 67

Hoping you're right but...
I'm experimenting by setting up FSX on two monitors running at 1280x1024 and 1600x1024 on the other and plugged into one single Nvidia 470. I don't get an option of 2880x1024 or anything really close. I have shut down FSX and restarted, but no joy so far.

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Reply #3 - Nov 20^th, 2010 at 7:53pm

snippyfsxer Offline
Colonel

Posts: 404

I see your logic, but you can't do 2-monitor spanning in FSX with a single Nvidia video card, unless you have a Matrox dual/triple-head-to-go.

Like I said, when you get your 2 video cards set up, in SLI, and enable screen spanning, it will work. At that resolution your performance will probably be miserable, but that is a different subject.

Just out of curiousity, if you already have a GTX 470, why didn't you just get a second one? Why two new 460s?

« Last Edit: Nov 20^th, 2010 at 10:11pm by snippyfsxer »

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Reply #4 - Nov 20^th, 2010 at 8:00pm

Papafox Offline
Colonel
Hello!

Posts: 67

Thanks for the quick reply!
The Nvidia 470 is on my home computer, and the two Nvidia 460s are going to be for a different computer. I'm troubleshooting on my home computer today. Both have FSX installed.

BTW, those three monitors and the video cards are on their way to HAWAII, so I'd really be bummed if the system didn't work, hehe.

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Reply #5 - Nov 30^th, 2010 at 5:48am

Papafox Offline
Colonel
Hello!

Posts: 67

Snippyfsxer and all,
I set up Windows XP 64 with two Nvidia 460s in SLI and horizontal spanning is enabled. I can drag any window across all three desktops, but I do not have a choice in FSX for a resolution that covers all three.

When I look in Windows Display properties, I see three separate monitors, rather than one big one. How do I make FSX recognize my three monitors as one so that I can fly FSX with one big cockpit and window scene stretching across all three monitors?

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Reply #6 - Nov 30^th, 2010 at 8:21am

EVVFCX Offline
Colonel
Been there done it-well
most of it.
Pontefract, West Yorkshire

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Posts: 499

Hi papafox,

I've only ever run 2 monitors at once, be aware that the resolution you setup in windows is not the resolution in FSX unless: your running FSX in windowed mode- so try and find a resolution that is the same on all your monitors.

Now: not knowing properties setup for 3 monitors this is guess work on my part: check desktop is enabled for all 3 monitors then run FSX in windowed mode and resize it to fit over all 3 monitors - thats how I do it for 2 monitors.

regards
Steve

May the Mynd be with you.
So far my number of landings either passenger or pilot equal my number of takeoffs, but that is due to change

13/07/11 Passed BMFA Fixed Wing 'A' test.
FSX Gold

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Reply #7 - Nov 30^th, 2010 at 7:02pm

snippyfsxer Offline
Colonel

Posts: 404

Papafox wrote on Nov 30^th, 2010 at 5:48am:

Snippyfsxer and all,
I set up Windows XP 64 with two Nvidia 460s in SLI and horizontal spanning is enabled. I can drag any window across all three desktops, but I do not have a choice in FSX for a resolution that covers all three.

When I look in Windows Display properties, I see three separate monitors, rather than one big one. How do I make FSX recognize my three monitors as one so that I can fly FSX with one big cockpit and window scene stretching across all three monitors?

1) What drivers are you using. You need 258 or later.

2) Assuming the answer to #1 is yes, when you enabled the "horizontal spanning" did it take you through the Bezel Management routine?

3) If you are sure that horizontal spanning is enabled, which I think you are, try deleting the FSX config file, and let it rebuild.

4) If that doesn't work, uninstall the PhysX, 3D, and the driver from the remove programs panel, then reboot in safe-mode and run Driver Sweeper to get rid of any driver residuals. Reboot again, and re-install the driver.

Unless there is some issue with XP that I'm not aware of, this stuff should work straight out of the box. I've done this before, and those resolutions showed up for me. Don't worry

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Reply #8 - Dec 5^th, 2010 at 12:54am

Papafox Offline
Colonel
Hello!

Posts: 67

I have my 3 1920x1200 monitors working nicely now in FSX and every other flight sim I use. Frame rates are pretty much the same as with one monitor (the 2 Nvidia 460s handle the job well), and the experience is much more like actual flight due to the wider field of view.

Discovery: Although there may be other ways to set up multiple monitors in FSX, the easiest way by far was to use the 3D Vision Surround technology from Nvidia. This technology only works in Windows 7, and so I had to upgrade the operating system. It was worth it, though! 3D Vision Surround only supports 3 monitors which is too bad because I'd really like 5 monitors after experiencing 3. Thanks all for the suggestions.

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Reply #9 - Dec 7^th, 2010 at 6:58pm

snippyfsxer Offline
Colonel

Posts: 404

Papafox wrote on Dec 5^th, 2010 at 12:54am:

This technology only works in Windows 7, and so I had to upgrade the operating system.

That is good to know. I'm on Win 7 and had no idea that this didn't work on XP or Vista.

Glad things are working for you now, and apologies for not knowing about the XP incompatibility.

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Reply #10 - Dec 16^th, 2010 at 12:16am

Papafox Offline
Colonel
Hello!

Posts: 67

Snippyfsxer-
You are totally forgiven because I was sweating bullets with three large monitors on the way to Hawaii and suddenly discovering problems in getting multiple monitors to work. You talked me through it, and I appreciate it. BTW, I bought a three-pack upgrade to Win 7 Premium (64 bit) for about $150, and that works out to only about $50 per upgrade from Win XP and Vista machines. Not bad.
Papafox

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