OT: Hardware Question
 

I am considering fairly major hardware upgrade and have a few questions I was hoping to get some feedback on:

1) Does a RAID 1 Array adversely affect game performance. I am considering this for data protection.

2) If I have dual DVI outputs on a card and dual monitors can I send the same picture to both without taking a performance hit (I.e. the same data just getting sent to two places)

3) If a motherboard has two PCI Express slots and is listed as crossfire capable does this mean that SLI is not supported or is this purely between the cards and the operating system.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

BT

1: it shouldn't be a prob

2: yup, or you can have a normal desktop on one with SH3 on the other

3: nope, can't use nvidiot on a crossfire modo. besides, that would be an absolute insult to ATi:p

1. Depends a lot on the the "write" cycle... immediate or deferred...

2. No performance hit. Most dual monitor setups are either the same desktop or extends the desktop across both monitors (the more accepted method). I write code on one monitor and see it displayed on the second.

3. Possibly. Depends on the hardware, drivers and OS... Read the motherboard specs very carefully... There should be a definitive answer there...

1. How important is data protection in your case? What kind of HD's are you thinking of using? I have two WD Raptor's in a RAID 0 config, can't speak for performance in SH3, but when I set it up for BF2, load time for maps were reduced from about 90 seconds to about 20.. major major improvement.

2. - Does that actually work? I found that with full screen programs/games, one screen goes blank and I can't access the desktop anymore unless I alt-tab outta the game or something.. that's the only reason I wanted dual monitor setup.. blergh!

3. No idea.. see the other responses.. :p (SLI FTW!.. I need another graphics card though.. :doh: )

1 - A Raid 1 will have a negative impact on game preformance. If you want to use a RAID to buff your games, use a RAID 0.

2 - Yes. In your control panel there is an option to use "Clone". If you have two monitors plugged in, it should auto detect and the defualt is this option. Has been a long time since I did this, but it should not conflict with your games, until you try to start wrapping for spanning. If it doesnt auto play, look for the "Detect Displays" on your control panel.

3 - SLI = Nvidia Crossfire = ATI
http://members.cox.net/groundbreaker/display.JPG

Thanks to all. I appreciate it. I kind of figured that was the case with the Crossfire and SLI. I just didn't know that you needed a special motherboard, I thought you could do either with any dual PCI express motherboard.

I have another monitor question. If you have a monitor with 2 DVI inputs (i.e. a large LCD 1920 x 1200) does that mean that you have to use both DVI outputs to "drive " it

Thanks,

BT