Running Three 1920x1200 monitors in FSX

[Papafox]

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.

[snippyfsxer]

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.

[Papafox]

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.

[snippyfsxer]

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.

[Papafox]

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.

[Papafox]

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?

[EVVFCX]

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

[snippyfsxer]

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.

[Papafox]

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.

[snippyfsxer]

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.

[Papafox]

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