I really like this website, and where it is going, so I figured I'd take some time to contribute to a topic which seems the concern of many as of lately. I came across this dilemma recently myself, and figured I would share my views in an unbiased manner. I am very happy with the setup I eventually chose.
Ok, so you have $1500 in your pocket, that came out of nowhere. If you live in the U.S., perhaps its tax returns. You want to update your rig. You have a good wheel and pedals already, and that little 20" LCD is just not cutting it anymore. You decide to put together your dream simulator monitor setup. In this price range, you have several choices on monitors. Ultimately you can either go with 1 large screen, such as a dlp, projector or LCD, or a triple LED or LCD screen setup. I'm not going to get into specifics of brands and technologies here. In this price range, you could even go 3-D, if you decide to go with the single monitor.
I'm sharing a compilation of the overall generic advantages and disadvantages I have read about (and some I have noticed myself, through my own research.) Please feel free to expand and add your own opinions per advantages/ disadvantages.
I hope this will give some insight to people who are furthering into the hobby and contemplating which monitor setup they ultimately would like to run.
Triple screen setup advantages:
-no need for head tracking, ability to look into corners before taking them; more natural
-greater sense of speed and immersion due to more peripheral vision
-can create a much wider field of view, even by using smaller monitors
-cool factor
-expansive multi-tasking desktop possibilities when not racing
For 3-D:
-Three Monitors in 3-D is the mecca of the sim-racing enthusiast.
Triple screen disadvantages:
-Can be $$$ for good a monitor x3
-poor compatibility with some games; as some games will not run 3 monitor resolution
-processing power required, sli or crossfire pretty much mandatory & THTG / Eyefinity
-setup can be complex; computer skills a must
-wife may b!tch about the space and cost
-overlapping bezels of adjacent monitors
-less portable
-desk size required
-extra mounting hardware required, if not sitting on a desk
-if one monitor breaks, you'll want to find the same or comparable one, possibly a year or more later
For 3-D:
-price: anyone who can afford a triple screen 3-D setup, and a computer that can run it well, is likely not reading this in the first place.
-only a small amount of LCD's are currently 3-D compatible, and they are expensive in comparison (x3)
Single large screen advantages:
-compatible with everything, at native resolution
-cheaper to run with 3-D
-less processor/video-card power required, you can run off the same computer you ran your smaller monitor from
-works great with head tracking
-placed strategically, one big screen can double quite well as a home theater (this is a good excuse to give the wife, too)
-more portable, in some cases
-with a big enough screen/monitor, your car and environment can appear real life-sized
-more headroom to adjust FOV settings
For 3-D:
-better for 3-D, if using dlp (ie: less ghosting, and many 2011 models are still generic nVidia compatible)
-polarized 3-D glasses possible (if using dual wall projectors)
-a large dlp screen in 3-D is much more immersive than a smaller, 3-D compatible LCD
Single large screen disadvantages:
-wife may still likely b!tch about the cost
-lower clarity due to larger pixels and current projection technology (dlp)
-lacking that peripheral vision (sense of speed) found with 3 monitors
-bulky (if using a monitor)
-effort required to make a good screen surface, and mounting (if using a projector)
-desk size, in some cases
-dlp monitors cannot be hang mounted like LCD's and LED's can
-having to change bulbs every few years (dlp)
-eyestrain when using as a primary desktop monitor (especially when sitting close)
For 3-D:
-dlp is not quite as bright as LED/LCD, and will be even darker under shutter glasses
Ok, so you have $1500 in your pocket, that came out of nowhere. If you live in the U.S., perhaps its tax returns. You want to update your rig. You have a good wheel and pedals already, and that little 20" LCD is just not cutting it anymore. You decide to put together your dream simulator monitor setup. In this price range, you have several choices on monitors. Ultimately you can either go with 1 large screen, such as a dlp, projector or LCD, or a triple LED or LCD screen setup. I'm not going to get into specifics of brands and technologies here. In this price range, you could even go 3-D, if you decide to go with the single monitor.
I'm sharing a compilation of the overall generic advantages and disadvantages I have read about (and some I have noticed myself, through my own research.) Please feel free to expand and add your own opinions per advantages/ disadvantages.
I hope this will give some insight to people who are furthering into the hobby and contemplating which monitor setup they ultimately would like to run.
Triple screen setup advantages:
-no need for head tracking, ability to look into corners before taking them; more natural
-greater sense of speed and immersion due to more peripheral vision
-can create a much wider field of view, even by using smaller monitors
-cool factor
-expansive multi-tasking desktop possibilities when not racing
For 3-D:
-Three Monitors in 3-D is the mecca of the sim-racing enthusiast.
Triple screen disadvantages:
-Can be $$$ for good a monitor x3
-poor compatibility with some games; as some games will not run 3 monitor resolution
-processing power required, sli or crossfire pretty much mandatory & THTG / Eyefinity
-setup can be complex; computer skills a must
-wife may b!tch about the space and cost
-overlapping bezels of adjacent monitors
-less portable
-desk size required
-extra mounting hardware required, if not sitting on a desk
-if one monitor breaks, you'll want to find the same or comparable one, possibly a year or more later
For 3-D:
-price: anyone who can afford a triple screen 3-D setup, and a computer that can run it well, is likely not reading this in the first place.
-only a small amount of LCD's are currently 3-D compatible, and they are expensive in comparison (x3)
Single large screen advantages:
-compatible with everything, at native resolution
-cheaper to run with 3-D
-less processor/video-card power required, you can run off the same computer you ran your smaller monitor from
-works great with head tracking
-placed strategically, one big screen can double quite well as a home theater (this is a good excuse to give the wife, too)
-more portable, in some cases
-with a big enough screen/monitor, your car and environment can appear real life-sized
-more headroom to adjust FOV settings
For 3-D:
-better for 3-D, if using dlp (ie: less ghosting, and many 2011 models are still generic nVidia compatible)
-polarized 3-D glasses possible (if using dual wall projectors)
-a large dlp screen in 3-D is much more immersive than a smaller, 3-D compatible LCD
Single large screen disadvantages:
-wife may still likely b!tch about the cost
-lower clarity due to larger pixels and current projection technology (dlp)
-lacking that peripheral vision (sense of speed) found with 3 monitors
-bulky (if using a monitor)
-effort required to make a good screen surface, and mounting (if using a projector)
-desk size, in some cases
-dlp monitors cannot be hang mounted like LCD's and LED's can
-having to change bulbs every few years (dlp)
-eyestrain when using as a primary desktop monitor (especially when sitting close)
For 3-D:
-dlp is not quite as bright as LED/LCD, and will be even darker under shutter glasses
