Mbp + triplehead install problem

vvvv beta question
1

hello.
I cannot connect the MatroxTriplehead2Go Analog to a MBP with ATI Radeon X1600.
I know this is not directly related to vvvv , but vvvv is the sole reason i bought this videocard. So

This is what happens:

  • connect the 3 x 15" monitors
  • start bootcamp xpsp2
  • run installation
  • restart (as prompted)
  • videocard not detected (its software wont run for the same reason)
  • even so, possible resolutions for secondary display have changed to max 2400x600, but none work, its trying to output the image on the center display only, wich goes “out of range”

Also:

  • my ati drivers are from a recent leopard-bootcamp, so they should be up to date
  • i have downloaded the latest drivers from matrox
  • manual detection wont work
  • i have tryed both dvi-to-vga dongles, single link (from mbp) and dual link (from matrox)
  • i have uninstalled the ATI-Catalyst software used for svideo-out, still nothing

anyone got a clue ? thanks

2

hello again.
i have installed the triplehead on nvidia8700 and now i have the vvvv going 3x full-screen understanding-problem.

my computer sees the 3 screens as 1 only, so render(ex9) goes fullscreen on all of them at one time (800x600 -> middle one only, 2400x600 -> one large widescreen)

how can i split the image into 3 different fullscreens?

3

you can’t. if you want three screens from one video card using a triplehead2go you can do it as one span in windows. You can’t have 3 renderers and go full screen on the screen screens that’s for sure. (unless I’m wrong, don’t think I am, but you never know)

You can however make it look like 3 screens by having three quads with their height set to 2, and their widths set to 2 / 3 (0.6666667). In a normal renderer they look all squashed in but when you make it fullscreen, the quads will be stretched out to a 4:3 ratio effectively. Now texture the quads with what ever you like, video, pictures, 3d.

Is this what you meant?

4

yes.
when maximized, other windows fit in one of the 3 screens, so i was thinking the same might apply to renders.

if you cannot have 3 fullscreens, what is more efficient,
to texture 3 quads OR to leave them windowed and hide the windowskin ?

5

when in fullscreen mode there is def a performance gain on the video card. It goes into a special mode where it doesn’t have to worry about other windows coming infront etc. Also your video card only has to worry about one render window. This is one of the main difference between gaming cards and professional cards such as the quadro. Gaming card drivers are optimized for full screen mode, professional card drivers are optimized for mutilply render windows and windows over render windows. It is just a case of drivers thought. You can trick the OS into think a Geforce is a Quadro, then install the quadro drivers and you’ll be optimized for multi render windows. But this comes with other issues. Best fullscreen if you want things to be full screen.