Matrox TripleHead2Go FAQ
The Matrox TripleHead2Go is a hardware solution from Matrox that enables Surround Gaming on any graphics platform (i.e. a graphics card from either NVIDIA, ATI or Intel). The TH2Go is an "extension" of the Matrox Parhelia 512, which established the Surround Gaming "platform."
The first version of the TripleHead2Go offered analog VGA inputs and outputs. Matrox later released a revision, the Digital Edition, which featured both DVI inputs and outputs. The original version has now been branded the Analog Edition. Both versions are still available for sale. The Digital Edition can input/output analog signals with DVI>VGA adapters.
What is Surround Gaming?
The Matrox TripleHead2Go system is the easiest way to implement Surround Gaming, which is where a single gaming image is spanned across three monitors to provide an expansive and immersive Field of View (FOV).
A game with a 90° FOV at a 4:3 aspect ratio will produce an FOV of 100.4° when at a 16:10 aspect ratio. That same game will produce an FOV of 141° in "Normal Surround Gaming" (3x5:4) and an FOV of 151° in "Wide Surround Gaming" (3x16:10).
For more information on Surround Gaming, visit the WSGF article on Surround Gaming or the Matrox Surround Gaming Website.
Supported Games
As of this writing, the TH2Go supports more than 250 games. To see a list of supported games, look at the Master Games List, or visit the Matrox Surround Gaming Zone.
Not all games support 3x 1680x1050, one of the new Widescreen TripleHead2Go resolutions for the Digital Edition which was added with the most recent firmware update.
How Does It Work?
TripleHead2Go appears to your system as an super-widescreen monitor. Using standard EDID reporting mechanisms, the TripleHead2Go will cause the graphics device already present in your system to generate the super-widescreen image, which is sent to the TripleHead2Go. The TH2Go then splits this super-widescreen image into a left section, a center section and a right section and sends the normal size images to your physical monitors.
In essence, the TripleHead2Go spoofs the EDID to allow the computer to render a super-wide image, splits the incoming super-wide image into sections the size of each of your monitors, and then displays those sections on the screens. The TH2Go isn't a video card as it doesn't generate the image, and so Matrox calls it a "Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM)."
To support the hardware, Matrox supplied two pieces of software. The first is the Matrox PowerDesk, which is necessary for Bezel Management. It is also a key tool for setting up different resolution modes and options. The general consensus is that the PowerDesk software leaves a lot to be desired. The window management is very limited, Bezel Management hotkeys can are inconsistent, and it can be crash prone. But it is the only method for implementing Bezel Management and thus a key element to experiencing the Digital TripleHead2Go the way it was intended.
More and more games are supporting Surround Gaming resolutions without the need for fixes or hacks. But, for those games requiring edits or tweaks, Matrox supplies the Surround Gaming Utility (SGU). This offers a GUI interface for making any necessary configuration tweaks. You select the game and the resolution, and the SGU will tweak the appropriate configuration files or registry entries. While not a requirement for using the TripleHead2Go, it does make life easier.
Differences Between Analog & Digital Versions
- USB Power - The original (analog) TH2Go requires an AC adapter for power. The DTH2Go derives its power through a USB cable.
- Updatable ROM - The original TH2Go does not offer a user updatable ROM, and required service through Matrox. With the USB power connection, the DTH2Go offers a user updatable ROM. As of this writing, there have been two updates. The first made the center screen the primary screen in "single screen" mode. The second implemented 3x1440x900 and 3x1680x1050. It also gave the ability to cycle the single-screen display mode to any display.
- More Supported Resolutions - The Digital Edition of the TripleHead2Go supports far more resolution options than the original analog version. The user updatable ROM gives the potential for this gap to widen even further.
- Cable Management - The original TH2Go mixes the inputs and outputs across the two sides of the unit. With the DTH2Go, all of the inputs (the source cable and the USB cable) are on one side, and the outputs (the cables to the monitors) are on the opposite site. This helps greatly with cable management.
- Bezel Management - Due to the digital connection, the DTH2Go implements a functionality of "Bezel Management." This removes slices of the image, so that the game screen passes behind the monitor bezels, rather than jumping across. See this section of our DTH2Go review for information about Bezel Management
- Dual-Link DVI - Due to the bandwidth requirements of the high-end resolutions, the DTH2Go requires a Dual-Link DVI video card and cable. As of this writing, most all video cards offered Dual-Link DVI support, and should not be seen as an issue.
Technical Aspsects
Can I Mix Aspect Rations or Resolutions?
Simply put - No. The TripleHead2Go spans its image across the three screens, splitting it evenly. Identical monitors are recommended (though not required), but identical resolutions must be used. This means you could have different monitors with different resolutions and aspect ratios attached to the TH2Go. But each monitor will be required to display the same resolution, even if it requires scaling or stretching on individual monitors.
What Aspect Rations Are Supported?
The TripleHead2Go supports 4:3, 16:10 and 16:9. It support single screen, dual-screen ("DualHead") and triple-screen ("TripleHead)" configurations.
What Resolutions Are Supported?
The TripleHead2Go supports most common resolutions, though there are variations based on the model employed. The new DisplayPort (DP) model offers additional modes. The TripleHead2Go Digital Edition supports resolutions up to 3x1600x900 @60Hz, and 3x1680x1050 @57Hz. The DP model supports 3x1680x1050 @60Hz and 3x1920x1080 @50Hz. A full table of resolutions can be found at matrox.com.
Technical Issues & Considerations
- Doesn't support mixed resolutions (like 1280x1024|1680x1050|1280x1024)
- Supports SLI and Crossfire to render the scene.
- The newest BETA drivers (177.39 and 177.92) from Nvidia don't work for the new 3x1680x1050 and 3x1440x900 modes on the Digital Edition of the TripleHead2Go. The Analog Edition does not support these resolutions, so the beta drivers do not pose any issues.
- Due to the increased resolution and aspect ratio, your framerates will have a noticeable drop in most games. The increased Field Of View in surround gaming will impact your fps negatively. But, once you cross that FOV threshold, increasing the resolution often has little impact with a capable video card.
- HDCP is not supported on the TripleHead2Go Digital Edition, and would not be applicable to the Analog Edition.
- There are some displays, that don't support the resolution 5040x1050 at 57Hz.