I am thinking about getting a new Sandy Bridge based system for FSX. In FS2004, with my old DELL XPS system, I have run triple LCDs under MATROX TH2G using a single GTO 7900 card which worked very nicely indeed. For the new Sandy Bridge system, if I wanted to continue with triple monitors, should I get a GTX 590 card with 3GB of VM or would I be better advised to get an SLI set up with two GTX 580 cards? I am not sure if I will continue with TH2G, I am thinking about Digital Tigers monitors and I don't think they need TH2G (or do they?). Appreciate any advice, thanks! JS

The regular GTX 590 is not a real 3GB card, it's a 2 x 1.5GB and it does not = 3GB, you'll be better with this card if you are thinking 3 monitor using high resolution... http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814127589 Now if you have the money and you "wanna" play (assuming you play other games also) you can always go for this baby, this is a real 580 x 2, hurry up it's a limited edition....only 1000 will be made.... http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814121470 Oh! I forgot, the last card is SLI ready.....LOL

The regular GTX 590 is not a real 3GB card, it's a 2 x 1.5GB and it does not = 3GB, you'll be better with this card if you are thinking 3 monitor using high resolution... http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814127589 Now if you have the money and you "wanna" play (assuming you play other games also) you can always go for this baby, this is a real 580 x 2, hurry up it's a limited edition....only 1000 will be made.... http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814121470 Oh! I forgot, the last card is SLI ready.....LOL

Hi Alain, don't wish to hijack the post, but I guess seeing as I'm considering three monitors myself then it does kind of qualify. You know the rig I run, so question, well a couple really. Should I wait for the new CPU/ platform later this or next, or go for the SB? I realise this is going to be a personal decision but just thought you may have some ideas about it. Also, I'm looking at three 21" monitors, running at 1920x1200 res and coupled via TH2G to a GTX 570. Or as JS asked, would it be better for two separate GPUs, in which case I may consider getting a second GTX470. This is all new to me, but I woke up only yesterday thinking, wouldn't it be cool to have a wrap around display to fly in. Also, I keep hearing varied reports about framerates and three monitors, some say there is no hit and others say there is. Surely there must be a hit somewhere, isn't there?? Sorry for all the questions, I hope you don't mind, cheers, matey...

If you want to run 3 monitors from 1 card, get the 3GB 580. If you want to run 3 monitors off 2 cards in SLI (nVidia surround) get 2 1.5GB 580's.

Hi Alain, don't wish to hijack the post, but I guess seeing as I'm considering three monitors myself then it does kind of qualify. You know the rig I run, so question, well a couple really. Should I wait for the new CPU/ platform later this or next, or go for the SB? I realise this is going to be a personal decision but just thought you may have some ideas about it. Also, I'm looking at three 21" monitors, running at 1920x1200 res and coupled via TH2G to a GTX 570. Or as JS asked, would it be better for two separate GPUs, in which case I may consider getting a second GTX470. This is all new to me, but I woke up only yesterday thinking, wouldn't it be cool to have a wrap around display to fly in. Also, I keep hearing varied reports about framerates and three monitors, some say there is no hit and others say there is. Surely there must be a hit somewhere, isn't there?? Sorry for all the questions, I hope you don't mind, cheers, matey...

Hold off till Ivy Bridge

Ok Di, so what benefit has one system over the other?

Ivy Bridge is 22nm tech while sandy is 35nm. Also has PCI-e 3.0 compared to sandy's 2.0 (more graphics bandwidth=less stutters with more autogen etc)

The girl's right, now if you are thinking of using very high resolution on 3 monitor (nvidia surround) 2 x 580 3GB is the way to go, I personally will wait for the Ivy Bridge before upgrading as I usually wait 2 > 3 years, I will not buy the first Ivy or mobo hitting the market (remember what happen with SB mobo) there will always be some bugs to ironed out and the first bios is usually not the best....

The girl's right, now if you are thinking of using very high resolution on 3 monitor (nvidia surround) 2 x 580 3GB is the way to go, I personally will wait for the Ivy Bridge before upgrading as I usually wait 2 > 3 years, I will not buy the first Ivy or mobo hitting the market (remember what happen with SB mobo) there will always be some bugs to ironed out and the first bios is usually not the best....

Blimey Alain, I'd need a bloody mortgage just for the GPUs My question about the differences were aimed at the monitor setup really ie. What is the difference between running two GPU's via SLI or one with TH2G

Blimey Alain, I'd need a bloody mortgage just for the GPUs My question about the differences were aimed at the monitor setup really ie. What is the difference between running two GPU's via SLI or one with TH2G

LOL....ok if you want to run Nvidia surround you have to have 2 card....two card in SLI for FSX will let you run higher resolution only...no improvement FPS wise.....3 monitor on one card with TH2G high resolution will be better with a 580 3GB....this is the best one but you can go for a cheaper one... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127589 hope I made it a little less confusing...

OK matey, cheers...