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Octavean
MVM
join:2001-03-31
New York, NY

Octavean to norwegian

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to norwegian

Re: Ideal set up - 3 screens/game mode computer

I have a triple 27" 1920x1080 monitor setup now. Actually I slightly modified it by adding a 28" 4K monitor and removing a 27" although the GTX670 video card I am using can run 4 monitors at a time. The computer itself is as follows:
quote:
Intel Core i7 3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Processor
Asus P9X79 Deluxe LGA2011 motherboard
32GB of system RAM (8x4GB)
PNY GTX 670 video card
Asus VE276Q, VE278Q and VK278Q triple 27” (1920x1080) Widescreen Monitor setup (Dual Link DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort)
Samsung 840 Series 500GB SATA III SSD
OCZ Agility III 360GB
Rosewill RSV-SATA-Cage-34 Black 3x5.25" to 4x3.5" Hot-swap SATAIII/SAS Hard Disk Drive CageDouble Drive 2.5" SATA Mobile Rack
Asus BD ROM / DVD Burner
Antec EarthWatts 650 PSU
Antec P180 case
Microsoft Windows 8 Professional 64bit
Its a great setup for my needs but I would have also given great consideration to a 21:9 34" 3440x1440 monitor like the LG 34UM95 (~$1000 USD) or maybe even the LG 34UM65 2560x1080 (~$650).

As for a monitor mount, its unfortunate but a lot of options won't support 27" monitors or larger. I prefer something that will clamp onto the desk rather then something that is going to take up a footprint on the desk surface. I have a quad monitor mount and a single monitor mount but I'm using the stands that the monitors came with.

Kilroy
MVM
join:2002-11-21
Saint Paul, MN

1 edit

Kilroy

MVM

said by Octavean:

As for a monitor mount, its unfortunate but a lot of options won't support 27" monitors or larger.

Yes, the mount I posted is only good for 24" or smaller. The base is wide and flat, since my set up is against a wall it isn't an issue that the monitors might be jostled. With the base being flat I can put my keyboard on top. I actually have more room because my previous monitor base was rounded and about a half inch high.

I used to have a four monitor mount that clamped to the desk, but it was a 2x2 configuration.

BTW, we're running very similar machines.

Case: COOLER MASTER COSMOS II RC-1200-KKN1 Black Steel ATX Full Tower
Computer Case

PSU: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Hybrid RS-850-SPHA-D3 850W Intel ATX 12V V2.3 & SSI EPS 12V V2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Panel Power Supply with Fan Control

Mother Board: ASUS P9X79 DELUXE LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

CPU: Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73930K

CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+

RAM: 32GB kit (8GBx4), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 memory module

Video Card: ASUS GTX670-DC2-2GD5 GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Boot Drive: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

norwegian
Premium Member
join:2005-02-15
Outback

norwegian to Octavean

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to Octavean
I've noticed a few of you prefer the LGA2011 platform, if the funds are available, would it be worth it in this scenario?

Kilroy
MVM
join:2002-11-21
Saint Paul, MN

Kilroy

MVM

I'm on the LGA2011 because I built my system almost two years ago for Windows 8. I ran Windows 7 until recently due to driver issues when Windows 8 was released. Currently running Windows 8.1 Pro. In a multi-monitor situation your GPU is going to be your main concern. I put the money into my system as I expect it to last me approximately five years with only minor upgrades, usually the video card around the third year.

Right now that system is working fine for me, but it was built for the multi-tasking that I tend to do.
asdfdfdfdfdf
Premium Member
join:2012-05-09

asdfdfdfdfdf to norwegian

Premium Member

to norwegian
quote:
I've noticed a few of you prefer the LGA2011 platform, if the funds are available, would it be worth it in this scenario?
As you are already concerned about going over budget I don't think this is likely to be a fruitful direction to explore.

Multiple graphics cards do not seem to be beneficial for fsX. I would have to look further into whether 6 cores would be any advantage over 4 but from what I have seen so far it doesn't look like it would.

Per core performance of sandy/ivy bridge E is lower than haswell.

So unless you intend to spend 600+ US on a 6 core chip(plus the higher platform costs) and unless we can determine that 6 cores is going to be a significant advance over 4 it isn't going to be worth pursuing.

I recommended an i7 because there is some indication that the extra cache is beneficial over the i5.

I will look into this more if you really think you might go this direction but there is a dearth of reliable fsX benchmarks to rely on so I would rather not spend time on this unless you truly think you are going to do this.

norwegian
Premium Member
join:2005-02-15
Outback

1 edit

norwegian

Premium Member

It is too early to say.
It would be safe to move on for now but thank you for saying you are willing to check.
If the right price can be sourced for a dual gpu graphics card, I think it would be in it's element for this over sli/crossfire without benchmarks to review.