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View Full Version : Surround gaming sucks!

BBA
10-16-2002, 9:05 PM
I've been playing with a Parhelia for a few days now, just trying to see what it's like. It's nice and smooth, but I can't get any of my favorite games to work right...I actually had Q3A running in surround with the 2D HUD displayed on the center monitor just right...one time.

I think it's a thing definitely in it's infancy. I like the thought of it...but the implementation here sucks. Add to that the fact I can't get any 2D or 3D to look as clean and clear as I can with my GF4-4200, it's not leaving a good impression so far.

If anyone knows any secret matrox language that makes the card sweet...pleaase share, I really don't want to have to bad mouth this card.
BBA
10-29-2002, 9:04 PM
Might as well add a few pics...
BBA
10-29-2002, 9:05 PM
Vid card...
BBA
10-29-2002, 9:06 PM
Monitors...
Shyguy
10-30-2002, 5:33 PM
I remember reading a review on it awhile back, cant remember if I was reading Maximum PC magazine or at Tom's Hardware, but they compared it to a GF4ti ( a 4600 I think, maybe the 4400), but the GF kicked its *** in raw performance, but the parhelia had the GF licked in image quality, that was basicly its main advantage, image quality, where as the GF4 had superior FPS & stuff like that, but the GF's image quality wasn't that far off from the parhelia either, then again matrox doesn't have it running very fast either, in fact I think the GF4mx's had it beat in that category too. What res are you running the games at, try turning some of the graphics options down a bit & see if that improves stuff, it may also be that the drivers are still pretty new and may need several updates to improve things a bit, just look at how long it took ATI to polish up their radeons.

Edited for Language - Mntsnow
BBA
10-30-2002, 8:22 PM
LOL...

Edited for Language - Mntsnow



Shyguy, I already put the GF4 back in and gave the card and monitors back. I am not impressed by image quality or surround gaming...having tried first hand.

It's a good concept that needs some help, Bravo-Zulu to Matrox for coming back, and I'm sure it's good for the competition as well.
Mntsnow
10-30-2002, 8:58 PM
LOL bba. I thought I had that word in the auto censor list but didnt. Since I do have a daughter that visits the site I try to keep it fairly clean ;) besides I dont want xpc getting pulled up along with the sex sites in a search query lol
RobRich
11-11-2002, 8:18 PM
Utilizing the latest drivers available is the key to obtaining a stable and working Parhelia configuration with clean visuals. Some Parhelia cards do cause slight horizontal banding in 3D apps, but enabling v-sync fixes the problem in most cases.

Surroung gaming works, but only after tweaking through a myriad of settings for most games. That is the downside for three monitor gaming, but it is great when it works.

Image quality is superior with the Parhelia as compared to any ATI or nVidia card, atleast IMO. The Parhelia is not geared towards performance, but towards quality.

Remember the first Radeon cards? Parhelia II addresses most of the concerns people have with the original Parhelia, plus adds features and performance to compete with the NV30 upon release.

Robert Richmond
GohanSSJ
11-12-2002, 9:12 AM
Originally posted by Mntsnow
besides I dont want xpc getting pulled up along with the sex sites in a search query lol
Then again you would get like 50 million hits a week ;)
BBA
11-20-2002, 8:37 PM
If the P-2 can compete with the NV30...after seeing the NV30 stuff today...I'd say Matrox is doing something right.

I will not give Matrox the benefit of doubt though...they will have to prove it is competitive.

BTW: Rob, I did get the surround gaming working properly, it just is'nt the way I would like it to be. In fact...the only cool thing I saw with 3 monitor gaming was watching the aquarium demo...now that was awesome.
Shyguy
11-20-2002, 9:04 PM
PNY has a card that supports Quad displays, I just saw it at TigerDirect.com's site the other day, only draw back is that its a PCI card & not AGP, although it does have 64MB DDR on it, oh, yeah its a nVidia Quadro card, has dual quadro proccessors on it, each supports dual display, here's a link to check it out:http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=P56-4400 , because it was designed for workstation graphics (CAD/CAM) I doubt it would do real well in games, ones that support multi-mon setups that is.