Friday, July 26th 2013

12K Resolution Gaming Setup Renders 1.5 Billion Pixels, Costs $17,000

What do you call a person who sets up three 32-inch 4K (that's 3840 x 2160 pixels each) side-by-side, pairs three of ASUS's HD 7970 GPUs together to play games using AMD's EyeInfinity technology, all of which costs a whopping $17,000? Insane is one word, rich another or a crazy gamer? Perhaps a mix of all the three.

The setup consists of three Sharp PN-K321 4K monitors connected to three AMD HD 7970 GPUs which are together capable of pushing a mind-blowing 1.5 billion pixels on the combined 12K screen resolution, together with a Power Supply Unit that conks off in a few minutes, perhaps just not able to bear the pure awesomeness of the setup. Oh, to get the setup working, AMD put together some custom drivers to make sure that EyeInfinity works well. Before using the custom drivers, the whole rig was able to pull together a measly 8 frames per second, to be more accurate, a slideshow.


Do check out the video, for that's as close as you're ever going to get to such a glorious setup.
Source: Extreme Windows Blog
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94 Comments on 12K Resolution Gaming Setup Renders 1.5 Billion Pixels, Costs $17,000

#76
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
Prima.VeraUse SMAA Injector instead of the standard MSAA ;)
At 4k you don't need AA.:D
Posted on Reply
#77
radrok
newtekie1At 4k you don't need AA.
You mean at that higher PPI, right? :)

Resolution doesn't affect aliasing directly, PPI does :toast:
Posted on Reply
#78
MikeMurphy
I count 24.8 million pixels.

Where do you get 1.5 billion from?
Posted on Reply
#79
de.das.dude
Pro Indian Modder
newtekie1Unfortunately a single Displayport connector can only drive one of these monitors at 30Hz, but for many, including pretty much everyone that plays on consoles and myself, 30Hz is smooth enough as long as the framerate doesn't jump around.

However, if you read the article they did get the setup working at 60Hz, it just took 3 7970s and a bunch of extra work since is seems no one has tried this and it isn't supported by AMD's drivers.



Because he isn't rich and didn't dump $17k perhaps?



When did Dual-7970s become a POS system? Someone running a 3 generation old AMD x4 and a 7790 probably shouldn't be going around calling other people's systems a POS.

And you people seem to be missing that he is really the first person to document tri-4k, and you're really missing the fact that this is his blog. He did it because he borrowed the monitors and wanted to mess around with it.
well, its just a few parts are good. i cant buy stuff because i cant afford it. he spent 12K on stuff and didnt find anything left to buy some after market cooling to replace the intel stock cooler or a decent cabinet and power supply.

by POS i meant its POS because its totally unbalanced and meaningless.


if i had 17K i wouldnt spend it on stuff like this. i would rather go for titans. crossfire is too buggy.
Posted on Reply
#80
BigMack70
de.das.dudehe spent 12K on stuff and didnt find anything left to buy some after market cooling to replace the intel stock cooler or a decent cabinet and power supply.

by POS i meant its POS because its totally unbalanced and meaningless.


if i had 17K i wouldnt spend it on stuff like this. i would rather go for titans. crossfire is too buggy.
He didn't spend anything... this was equipment he was testing on loan to him. And at the time, Nvidia could not be used to drive 6 displays, meaning he had to use 7970s.

Half the posts in this thread are critiquing something that didn't happen... get your facts straight, folks.

All of you critiquing the build as if the guy designed it for a trio of 4k screens and/or spent money on those screens get this... :slap:
Posted on Reply
#81
Unregistered
MikeMurphyI count 24.8 million pixels.

Where do you get 1.5 billion from?
could be 24.8 million times 60fps, which is around 1.5 billion.
#82
Octavean
de.das.dudewell, its just a few parts are good. i cant buy stuff because i cant afford it. he spent 12K on stuff and didnt find anything left to buy some after market cooling to replace the intel stock cooler or a decent cabinet and power supply.

by POS i meant its POS because its totally unbalanced and meaningless.


if i had 17K i wouldnt spend it on stuff like this. i would rather go for titans. crossfire is too buggy.
I think there are a lot of us here that either cannot afford or are unwilling to spend the money necessary to acquire such 4K hardware and GPU prowess. This is no excuse for ignorance though. Like has already been said, a lot of people are going off on a rant without even knowing the given situation or limitations that may have forced specific hardware choices.

Anyone truly interested in the tech could have gleaned the info from actually reading the blog source linked or from other sources.

For example, the Newegg link to the Asus PQ321Q 4K monitor I posted on page 3 (which I hear is basically the same as the sharp) has some interesting info in a user review. It outlines the nVidia 30Hz limitation and the two monitor spanning issue. It was stated that nVidia needed to release a new driver to fix this. It basically was someone with the hardware informing those without the hardware of the current state of things.

However, there was a manufacturer note to respond to the review stating that nVidia has updated their driver to address this shortcoming and provided a link to updated drivers.

Naturally knowing these things sort of requires wanting to know them rather then wanting to just dump on everything.

***edit***

He didn't buy the 4k monitors

The case is an Antec 900 which is decent albeit not the newest.

The CPU cooler is not a stock Intel cooler and is likely slightly better then stock. Doesn't matter unless he is emphasizing OCing the CPU.

The PSU looks like a ThermalTake

$17,000 is likely a fudge number having to do with an estimated value. I think the Asus PQ321Q had a MSRP of ~$3,800 but has a street price of ~$3,500.
Posted on Reply
#83
Prima.Vera
newtekie1At 4k you don't need AA.:D
Only if your monitor is 10" in diagonal size ;)
Posted on Reply
#84
D007
17k for 4k? I think not.. The price is beyond stupid..
No TV is worth a car.
Posted on Reply
#85
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
radrokYou mean at that higher PPI, right? :)

Resolution doesn't affect aliasing directly, PPI does :toast:
You are correct, but even at 30" a piece for the displays this setup has one of the highest PPI available, so AA isn't as necessary.
Prima.VeraOnly if your monitor is 10" in diagonal size ;)
No, even at 30".
D00717k for 4k? I think not.. The price is beyond stupid..
No TV is worth a car.
Actually, 17K for 3 4k monitors and the parts in the computer. The ASUS clone of the monitor used(uses the same panel) is about $3,500.
Posted on Reply
#86
radrok
newtekie1You are correct, but even at 30" a piece for the displays this setup has one of the highest PPI available, so AA isn't as necessary.
I don't need more than 2x AA on 2560x1600 on a 30" which should be 100 PPI.

I imagine that 3840x2160 on a 31.5"/32" wouldn't need it at all, so I agree with you.
Posted on Reply
#87
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
radrokI don't need more than 2x AA on 2560x1600 on a 30" which should be 100 PPI.

I imagine that 3840x2160 on a 31.5"/32" wouldn't need it at all, so I agree with you.
Yeah, these monitors are ~140PPI, so AA wouldn't be as necessary. I'd probably still use 2x though.
Posted on Reply
#88
Prima.Vera
newtekie1No, even at 30".
Bro, my phone has 450PPI at 5" and when I play a 3D game I can still see jaggies. Very very small, but there are. And that's on a 450PPI. Relax.
Posted on Reply
#89
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
Prima.VeraBro, my phone has 450PPI at 5" and when I play a 3D game I can still see jaggies. Very very small, but there are. And that's on a 450PPI. Relax.
3D games on mobile phones with high resolution screens like that are rendered at a much lower resolution and upscaled and they use extremely low polygon counts, which makes for much longer straight lines. That is why you can still see jaggies. If a PC was driving that display there would be no way you'd be able to see jaggies.
Posted on Reply
#90
Casecutter
james888I want one of those monitors. My price range is ~$300. Make it happen.
I remember when 27" 1080P was new Tech and the folks still stuck on CRT's used every effigy to denounce their coming... price, response time who wants a stretch resolution, etc!
lyndonguitarPretty bad investment for a $17,000,
So is a Titian but folks buy them…
radrokI'd say we got to praise him (and every single early adopter of new tech) because he's pushing the envelope and got AMD too involved in this. It's because of people like him we get support for future setups. Hate doesn't bring anything, stay classy instead :)
Exactly... An average Joe has the opportunity to play and test this stuff and all some jokers will moan is about crappy case...cooler STFU!
W1zzardeither this whole thing is a marketing stunt, or amd driver developers are wasting their time with this stuff instead of fixing issues the other 99.999999% of their customers are having.
You know we don't see "virtually every AMD customer (aka 99.9999%)" having issues with AMD drivers, well not any more than Nvidia. That was un-called-for trollism, especially coming from you W1zzard. How do you not know this work isn't including the whole C-F issue that AMD is working on, and thought they might learn something from the guy trying these R&D drivers. AMD is working on current problems, but in your mind there's not a good time to invest in the future? That was a crass shot that truly undermines my option of your integrity. :shadedshu
newtekie1Shouldn't be going around calling other people's systems a POS....
And you people seem to be missing that he is really the first person to document tri-4k, and you're really missing the fact that this is his blog. He did it because he borrowed the monitors and wanted to mess around with it.
Correct Thank You for maintaining prespective, his is how cutting edge Tech starts... The rest need to stop being a bunch of wanker's and cutting down the tech...
You may now turn off your CRT's. :banghead:
Posted on Reply
#91
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
newtekie1Yeah, these monitors are ~140PPI, so AA wouldn't be as necessary. I'd probably still use 2x though.
Anti-aliasing isn't ever necessary. XD

I almost always disable AA on my setup because frame rates have always bothered me more than jagged edges. I only notice jagged edges if I look for them. My monitor (Samsung T240) has a 0.27mm pixel pitch (1920x1200 @ 24"). 2560x1600 @ 30" is 0.25mm pixel pitch. These Sharp PN-K321 monitors (3840×2400 @ 31.5") are 0.182mm pixel pitch.
Posted on Reply
#92
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
FordGT90ConceptI almost always disable AA on my setup because frame rates have always bothered me more than jagged edges. I only notice jagged edges if I look for them. My monitor (Samsung T240) has a 0.27mm pixel pitch (1920x1200 @ 24"). 2560x1600 @ 30" is 0.25mm pixel pitch. These Sharp PN-K321 monitors (3840×2400 @ 31.5") are 0.182mm pixel pitch.
Same here. Plus I mostly play ancient games that look bad to begin with.
Posted on Reply
#93
radrok
CasecutterSo is a Titian but folks buy them%u2026
That's uncorrect, Titan is a pretty good bargain, won't add more as I've already been on the subject so many times... :toast:
Posted on Reply
#94
Casecutter
radrokTitan is a pretty good bargain...
For those early Tech adopters looking to run just 3 displays bridging as one... I suppose! But $500 in AMD has the ability to do 6 displays.
(Caveat: AMD can span 6 display with a single 7970; although not with such cutting edge 4K displays, or at any memorable Fps even with 6 1920x monitors on most new titles. Though there are instances it can be attainable, like say this guy does using Dirt 3.)

That said, compare Titan vs. 7970 Ghz at 5760x1080... other than perhaps Crysis 2 there's not any compelling rationale to ante-up double the funds.

Not arguing the fact that AMD needs to remedy their C-F issues, but if/when that could be remedied it would just improve the situation against the cost. Consider two 7970 Ghz for $1000.
Posted on Reply
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