Need help deciding on witch multi monitor/Tv set up to buy?

[Mike R]

Since this is my first post i wanted to say thanks to all the members who have helped me with my decisions so far. I have always played GT on the controller and figured it was time to step it up after seeing the new things that are out there! So from the help of amar212's great reviews, and Mr Latte's write up on the multiple monitors here is what i have so far.

CSR elite wheel, club sport pedals, TH8 shifter with the basher board. I am having Sim Seats do up a SR-X to mount everything to. I also purchased 2 more ps3's and 2 more copies of GT5.

The one thing i cant decide on is what type of monitors to purchase? I plan on setting up 3 of them. From what i have read the 27's would work the best for this set up, Does this sound right?
Do i buy tv's or monitors? I have seen some monitors with 1.4HDMI, and also the 2560X1440 resolution. Would I benefit from such high resolution since i am running a PS3 and not a PC? Or just stay with the standard 1080p? I have spent several hours researching this and i just cant seem to find any solid answers.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[occasionalracer]

There is no need for triple 1440p monitors since no games/ gpu's support this atm. You want a monitor with as little lag time as possibe, an excellent choice for triple setups is this Asus which accepts 120hz 2D feed which may be become standard with next gen consoles and PC or if you want to really future proof yourself this Asus accepts up to 144hz 2D or for triple 3D

There are very few Televisions with good specs for gaming, plus there's no point since 3 x 27" is already perfect. I'm looking to do triple in the very near future as well. 👍

 

[Mike R]

There is no need for triple 1440p monitors since no games/ gpu's support this atm. You want a monitor with as little lag time as possibe, an excellent choice for triple setups is this Asus which accepts 120hz 2D feed which may be become standard with next gen consoles and PC or if you want to really future proof yourself this Asus accepts up to 144hz 2D or for triple 3D

There are very few Televisions with good specs for gaming, plus there's no point since 3 x 27" is already perfect. I'm looking to do triple in the very near future as well. 👍

That is the answers i was looking for! I looked at a few monitors from apple and they started at 999.00. That last link you posted for the Asus monitor looks really nice especially at half the price!

Thanks for the help!

 

[Mr Latte]

Hello Mike,

If you are looking mainly for console usage then a 1080p resolution display would be the best option. Their are some new models in 27" that have 1920x1080 resolution, previously monitors over 24" usually had higher resolutions.

TV's can have better image quality, deeper blacks and a wider viewable display area. One downside is some have much more lag than typical gaming monitors. Monitors on the other hand can suffer in colour accuracy with cheaper (TN) panels and IPS type panels offer more accuracy but will be more expensive and usually will have a higher response time (ms).

Their are a LOT of new exciting monitors coming soon but then again do you consider triple 27" monitors or possibly get a bargin on triple 32" HDTV's, even 37" or 40" perhaps in the sales on good but outgoing models.

Take note for PS3 3D you need the device to be HDMI 1.4 offering the HDMI 720p 3D standard.
|Some monitors may be 3D for PC usage but NOT compatible with this. Also of course TV's may have bigger borders so you have a few decisions to make before perhaps deciding what you prefer...


Have a look here for info on monitors to start with...
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/

 

[Mike R]

Hello Mike,

If you are looking mainly for console usage then a 1080p resolution display would be the best option. Their are some new models in 27" that have 1920x1080 resolution, previously monitors over 24" usually had higher resolutions.

TV's can have better image quality, deeper blacks and a wider viewable display area. One downside is some have much more lag than typical gaming monitors. Monitors on the other hand can suffer in colour accuracy with cheaper (TN) panels and IPS type panels offer more accuracy but will be more expensive and usually will have a higher response time (ms).

Their are a LOT of new exciting monitors coming soon but then again do you consider triple 27" monitors or possibly get a bargin on triple 32" HDTV's, even 37" or 40" perhaps in the sales on good but outgoing models.

Take note for PS3 3D you need the device to be HDMI 1.4 offering the HDMI 720p 3D standard.
|Some monitors may be 3D for PC usage but NOT compatible with this. Also of course TV's may have bigger borders so you have a few decisions to make before perhaps deciding what you prefer...


Have a look here for info on monitors to start with...
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/

I will check that link out now! What do you think of the Asus monitors posted in the above post? Just comparing prices from that monitor to tv's. I found a pretty good deal on 3 LG 47inch (lg47ls4600) for 1550 out the door(1080p 120hz). Pretty much the same price of 3 Asus monitors.

This was going to be my original plan but i did not want to have that feeling of sitting in the front row of the movie theater (I think this was discussed in one of your threads). Do you still feel that way now? Or do you still think the 27's are optimal on the triple set up?

 

[bumer]

That is the problem with the TVs. You get bigger picture than with monitors, but their bezels are too damn big. If you want a TV with very thin bezel, you should pay a lot of money for it and if you are going to pay such money, you might as well go with projectors instead, as they cost probably about the same except no bezels.
I would also like to get 3 monitors. The best way for me is to get iiyama 24" monitors as they seem to have the best bezel size/cost ratio. Although they are 60Hz, I don't see I would need anything higher, because one gtx680 or gtx780 in the future aren't able to do much more than 60fps anyways when using triple screen.

 

[Mr Latte]

I will check that link out now! What do you think of the Asus monitors posted in the above post? Just comparing prices from that monitor to tv's. I found a pretty good deal on 3 LG 47inch (lg47ls4600) for 1550 out the door(1080p 120hz). Pretty much the same price of 3 Asus monitors.

This was going to be my original plan but i did not want to have that feeling of sitting in the front row of the movie theater (I think this was discussed in one of your threads). Do you still feel that way now? Or do you still think the 27's are optimal on the triple set up?

I haven't went back to update that thread.
Personally now I feel it depends if you want full FOV from all screens to be visible. Or do you want them to be closer and require more head movement. The bezels is a big issue for some as well. Look at almost every triple display cockpit and you will see that the outer monitors will usually be level with the steering wheel. Bigger screens further back, like Derek's 55" Tv's, however someone like Todd Bettenhausen from i-racing (see youtube) prefers to have the side screens act like the doors almost beside the user.

Chances are you will use the first 1/3 of each outer screen the most, it is great for seeing upcoming corners, car positions ahead and easier in catching that apex. Even a short track like Tsukuba will impress you how triple screens pulls you into the games 3D world rather than being a single screen offering a window to look into it.

Mayaman has done a great job with his adventures, making scale an important aspect for the realisim/immersion and I believe we will yet see the true fruits of his labour regards what an impressive visual display can be. Personally though I agree that border-less is the way to go...

If you wont entertain the idea of triple projectors and the price wouldnt be much different to some Tvs then maybe keep an eye out for some upcoming models... You may get a good bargin on something like an LG HDTV with a very small frame/bezel.

I havnt seen the Asus 3D displays but for 3D related news/products check out
http://3dvision-blog.com/

 

[occasionalracer]

I will check that link out now! What do you think of the Asus monitors posted in the above post? Just comparing prices from that monitor to tv's. I found a pretty good deal on 3 LG 47inch (lg47ls4600) for 1550 out the door(1080p 120hz). Pretty much the same price of 3 Asus monitors.

^^ Careful there, those Asus monitors I mentioned ACCEPT a 120hz/144hz SOURCE, where as all TV's on the market only accept 60hz and post process/up-convert to 120hz/240hz or 600hz for Plasma panels. This is fundamentally different. If next-gen consoles or PC GPU's produce UP TO 120/144hz (which abunch of PC titles do for single screen only) these monitors really shine because it's true uncompromised signal...

The reason TV's don't have this technology yet, is because no game console or Blu-Ray player sends anything more than that.. If PS4 for instance is able to do higher hz, you can bet that Sony (and probably all other high-end manufacturer's models) will have this tech either by next year or definitely by 2014.

 

[tomcat66]

..., however someone like Todd Bettenhausen from i-racing (see youtube) prefers to have the side screens act like the doors almost beside the user.

Maybe his video "Sim-Racing Monitor Placement and Field-of-View" is helpful for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rri19PqJ3qU

 

[Mr Latte]

I see you linked it, excellent.
Previous post was on the ipad I think and was in a hurry...

Todd, bless his cotton socks, looking all smart with his nice "i-racing cap" and "i-racing t-shirt"

He does a good job of explaining things though, even if really monitors that size are still far too small for a true 1:1 scale.

 

[ravey1981]

What size monitors/screens are required for 1:1 out of interest? I am still a long way from going triple screen (space constraints) but I'd like to know for the future, cheers.

 

[tomcat66]

... even if really monitors that size are still far too small for a true 1:1 scale.

Then maybe this setup is more to your liking (1 X 65" + 2 x 55") :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtiaHTVY_uQ

 

[Mayaman]

LOL my setup is better than his

 

[fatkrakr]

Thats probably the worst setup Ive seen for triple screens. That should be a how NOT to set up your triple screen video.

 

[Mr Latte]

What size monitors/screens are required for 1:1 out of interest? I am still a long way from going triple screen (space constraints) but I'd like to know for the future, cheers.

What height is the average car cockpit?
What width is the average car cockpit?

* measuring approx 1/2 way down each door window and adding the width of the dash...

With widescreen displays the height is more the issue.
I would say 46" is going in the right direction but also depends on how close the user has the screens.
The magic happens around 50"-60" but then too big can spoil the realisim. With projectors it's very easy to go bigger but depends on the users desires and preference.

Depends on the car type and what FOV you may use also...

My new PJ arrives today giving 1080p 80" from about 2 metre distance. Ideal for a cockpit installation.
At £700 it's a bargin, 3D ready too and even isf calibrated.

 

[JogoAsobi]

Maybe his video "Sim-Racing Monitor Placement and Field-of-View" is helpful for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rri19PqJ3qU

Thanks! Good info here for those of us yet to dip our toes in the 3 x Monitor pond. 👍

-------------------------------------------

Then maybe this setup is more to your liking (1 X 65" + 2 x 55") :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtiaHTVY_uQ

Thats probably the worst setup Ive seen for triple screens. That should be a how NOT to set up your triple screen video.

LOL, conspicuous consumerism at its best, a prime example of what money cannot buy you, common sense.

 

[Mayaman]

"Hello mates, I'm a totally clueless internet celebrity and I have the most awesome Triple forza setup"

LOL, come to GTplanet noob and learn how its done!

 

[fatkrakr]

You would think if your gonna spend the money to setup triple screens youd atleast take the time to research how to do it right. Like my dad always told me "some folks have more money than brains".

 

[Mr Latte]

Mike how you getting on with the deciding?
Are you primarily going to be using consoles for the future?

You would think if your gonna spend the money to setup triple screens youd atleast take the time to research how to do it right. Like my dad always told me "some folks have more money than brains".

Projectors are boss.
Now it is time Mayaman upgraded to 1080p, hides


Santa arrived early for me...
BenQ W1070

"Enjoy 1080p Full-HD image projection up to 200” in the comfort of your living room with the W1070 Home Entertainment Projector. You’ll be captivated by brilliant image performance featuring a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and a 2000 lumen brightness. "

This is rather tiny but the quality is friggin great...
Very likely I will be considering two more of these in 2013

 

[Mayaman]

I'm all over those Latte! Short throw?

 

[Mr Latte]

I'm all over those Latte! Short throw?

Yeah short throw, I just done a quick test yesterday with PS3 on a wall. Had approx 65" screen from about 5 ft. The remote kinda sucks but this may be the projector to beat at this price point. Dark chip3 and 6x speed it's a real bargin.

Maybe keep an eye at CES just incase ACER/OPTOMA or other brand have something similar coming.

 

[Mike R]

Mike how you getting on with the deciding?
Are you primarily going to be using consoles for the future?

I went ahead and got 3 of the Asus VE278Q, Not the optimal choice since i already changed my mind and plan on going with the projectors But for the next month or so i will be using the Asus's!

For now i will be also using the consoles (360's for forza and PS3's for GT) I do have planes to get a PC in the near future for iracing!

Everything is starting to show up though, The shifter (th8) showed up last week along with the basherboard! The elite wheel and club sports showed up today, I will be picking up the Sim-Seat tomorrow afternoon and will be putting everything together tomorrow night. So lets hope the set up goes smooth!!