Using multiple 1080p projectors for gaming with Eyefinity - suggestions?

Hello Elmo,
That's one of my old videos. I'm currently only using 2 of the 1080p projectors, which is much better for FPS games.
In Feb. I'm switching to 5, LED, 720p projectors in portrait. I put far too many hours on these things.

How much time will you be spending on the projectors per day?

Why, portrait? I never thought of doing it that way with projectors. Do you know what led projectors you will be using or are you waiting to see what happens with Ces.

there is that benQ short throw dlp, 1080p. it sounds promising but not out yet.


http://www.avsforum.com/t/1435626/benq-w1070-dlp-full-hd-3d-ready-with-lens-shift-for-1000
Edited by uuddlrlrbass - 11/17/12 at 6:45pm

Will you be using a curved screen, I just came across this youtube video.

It seems like it could be alot more immersive for games, but might be weird watching movies on.

Last video of the night, wish I had the $$$ to do something like this. One lucky kid

The first video Amber Ale posted is a great example of what the 2 projector setup looks like.

When you go with 3, you get the "fish eye" effect on half of the two outer projectors, unless the games has good FOV adjustments. Also, its just far too wide, wasted pixels. Also, you can fill more vertical space in the same width space than you would with 3 projectors.
Iv'e found 3 screens is only good for racing AND only if the screens can surround you somewhere close to 180 degrees. So I just mounted 3 1080p 120hz monitors on my motion sim and moved it to the corner of the room.

If you have enough room for it and can get a big enough screen, then 3 projectors for racing is as good as it gets. The PC specs isn't a problem, I'm running 4x 7970s, the issue for me is I don't have enough space to dedicate projectors to my racing rig. I'd have to move my FPS setup out of the way, and I do more FPS than racing. The second video Amber Ale posted is a good example of how much space you need for a 3 projectors racing setup. The further back the rig, the bigger the screen you will need. Want more vertical space for the 3 projector setup? no problem, but again, you will need an even bigger screen. Within the same width of the screen in that second video, if there where 2 projectors instead of 3, you would have quite a bit more vertical for the games.

- I'm using BenQ w1000+ projectors, over 6000 hours (less than 1 year) on the same bulbs and still going. Great projectors, but I put too much time on them, I need LED.

- I'm looking at the LG PA70G or the Casio XJ-M245, I'm not sure about the 120hz on those, connection requirements, sharpness, input lag... I have some time to figure it out. brightness wont be an issue, I only need the screen size of each projector at about 41 inches diagonal.

- I think the LG projectors are about $500 each at FRYs, and the Casio's are about $1000 each. The perfect projectors for me would be the BenQ LW61ST, probably the best 720p projector out right now, and short throw, which would save me a lot of room behind my screen, but they are $2000 for 1. Maybe something new will come out at CES, I'll wait and see.

- Here is a pretty good explanation for the whole 5x1 thing : http://www.wsgf.org/book/export/html/1272

- You are correct about getting my height back with the 5x1 setup. That video was taken when I was using 3 projectors, you can't see it because of the dark room, but I was only using 50% of the vertical screen space available.

- Yes, there are cheaper screens out there and putting it together yourself would be far cheaper. Rear projection is mainly what I know about. I went through many samples from various companies to compare image quality. The Frame is where they get you. If you can make your own, you can save loads. I should mention the quality difference between the different rear projection screens isn't all that big, but because I sit so close to my screen, when I did the comparisons, I was looking closely, very closely.
Edited by Snipe3000 - 11/19/12 at 3:30am

You should try that new BenQ 1070, 720P @ 120hz, and 1080P @ 60hz. Sounds like it could be a really good gaming/movie projector. I hear its going to be inexpensive as well.

The BenQ GP10 looks interesting as well, but I can't find any reviews on it.

You could always start with 2 to see how that works for you. And if you need more, then add more.

you might find something in here

http://www.projectorreviews.com/game-projector-blog/

gaming projector blog

There's one more gaming projector blog on that website as well. Unfortunately, they rarely review the gaming projectors. Mostly just a handful of Movie projectors to see if they'll pass for gaming.

I've been looking at some of the bulb stuff lately. I'll just have to calculate in a bulb change every 5-6 months if I go that route. I'm looking at the BenQ W710ST and W1080st, the ability to do 800p @ 120hz or 1080p @ 60hz interests me. Although I will need to know if the 800P on the w1070/w1080 is as crisp as the 1080P. Some projectors/tvs/monitors don't like to be outside their native resolution.
The good LED/laser stuff is just so expensive, and you aren't really getting that much for it. We'll see, maybe something will be announced in the next month.

One thing I can tell you for sure, whether you go with 2 or 5 projectors, you will love the setup. You won't want to go back to monitors.

I was originally going to get a D-box setup as well, but then I figured for that kind of money, there has to be something better out there. Then I found simcraft (www.simcraft.com)
I have the Vertext2 model (http://www.simcraft.com/sc220-Epsilon.html) Its cheaper and you get more out of it. The last 2 screen shots on that page, of the black model, are pics of my rig.

If you really have your heart set on D-box, then talk to my buddy Mayaman:
http://insidesimracing.tv/forums/topic/3546-custom-visionracervr3-d-box-motion-dual-th8-shifters-more/
He was able to find used D-box stuff, twice.

Two main reasons why I want 800p; The first is hz, yes I want 120hz. not for 3D, just for the smoothness. Speaking of which I picked up a LG PA70G the other day to play around with, and 120hz gaming is the best thing ever.
The other reason is that I want 5 projectors, and I know from experience what happens when you go past a certain resolution. Even on the fastest setups, you have to start sacrificing video quality in order to push the pixels through those kinds of resolution, its not fun. Id rather not go past 6912000 pixels, or there about, if I can avoid it.

Looking forward to hearing how 120hz gaming works on that for you, I keep reading about the focus issue but maybe for gaming it wouldn't be an issue.

I dont plan on using the LG for the gaming setup. It was just on sale at Frys so I picked one up to play with.

Have you considered going 3D Eyefinity? One nice thing about the GT750 is it's 3D and the 3D works seamlessly with AMD cards. I'm using an Asus 7770 1ghz edition and can play Skyrim in 3D at max with no issues or lag, but that's at 720p. Skyrim and Black Ops both look crazy good in 3D.

What kind of computer setup are you going with to be able to run two or three 1080p projectors?

Send simcraft an email, they were selling used stuff not too long ago, they might have more.
They also sell DIY kits, just the actuators and bearings. If you can build your own frame, that will save loads of money. I believe they even have the plans on their site to build your own frame, if thats the route you take.

I should warn you, AMD drivers suck compared to Nvidia's. Especially when it comes to multi-GPU and multi-screen support.
AMDs still works, just very frustrating to get the simplest things to work. If you know for sure that you are not going to go with exactly 3 screens, then you have no choice, you have to go with AMD, but if you do settle on exactly 3 screens, I wouldn't hesitate to go back to Nvidia.

The gt750e will do 3D. I'm not interested in 3D, just the 120hz part.