(31 votes, average: 4.58 out of 5)
Loading ...I was sent forth through the power and I have come to those who contemplate me.
I was found by those who sought after me.
Look upon me, you who contemplate me and you listeners, listen to me.
Those of you who pay heed to me, take me to yourselves.
And do not banish me from your sight, and do not cause your voice to imprecate me, or your hearing.
Do not be ignorant of me any place or any time. Keep watch!
From the Ancient Egyptian Poem The Thunder | Perfect Mind
ATI Eyefinity is a new technology from AMD that transforms the relationship of the PC and the display. It opens the door to entirely new avenues for home computing and simplifies the deployment of many commercial solutions. In the existing home computing paradigm, one user employs one PC with one workspace spanning one or two monitors. In the age of ATI Eyefinity, the paradigm evolves.
A computer of the future with a combination of entertainment, video productivity, and internet applications spanning multiple monitors.
There are at least three new use models availed or expanded by ATI Eyefinity. They modify the single-session | single person | single screen paradigm of old. The first I call Immersive, Panoramic Computing. Many displays for one person. The second and third I call Crowd Computing. Many displays for many people.
Immersive, Panoramic Personal Computing
The first model is single-session | single-person | multi-screen. One user surrounded with many displays creating an immersive reality or information environment. One user can enjoy information or visual simulations or real-time experiences, which were previously possible only with high-end workstations or simulators. Commercial or technical applications include simulation, design and analysis; equities trading, graphic design, intelligence analysis, and more. Consumer applications include gaming, advanced productivity, and impressing your friends.
In this video technology demonstration, ATI Eyefinity multi-monitor technology is driving an immersive, panoramic gaming experience. AMD’s Lauren Larose is playing Tom Clancy’s Hawks at an amazing 5760x2400 resolution spanning six monitors employing the Display Port 1.1 interface.
This video from the launch showces ATI Eyefinity with a combination of 3,6,and a whopping 24 display wall. You can see how multiple displays can bring people together and encourage collaboration and shared entertainment, which brings us to the next model.
Crowd Computing
The second model is single-session | multi-person | multi-screen. Many users enjoying the experience provided by a single computer with the added benefit of multiple-displays. For example, one user enjoying dual monitor productivity, and a second user or group of users enjoying a movie or game on a third or fourth screen. The central premise of this model is that it is a single session, one person is “driving” the visual environment -- one keyboard, one mouse -- kind of like a PC experience DJ who can launch applications for many to see. Adding the ability of each screen to have its own I/O and support for a separate user session, you arrive at the third model…
A computer of the future with panoramic 3D gaming, multiple video playback, and access to “cloud-based” resources on the internet on multiple displays.
In prior entries I have employed the term “digital nexus” or “central home computer” to describe the multi-session | multi-person | multi-screen model. This model requires a multi-session operating system, one aware of multiple inputs and multiple users, which can map a separate set of inputs (keyboard, mice, remotes, game controllers) to each user and each screen. Imagine the possibilities of a fully configurable I/O environment where a computer can support many keyboards, mice, and free-motion controllers. Dad can be in the den playing Tom Clancy’s Hawks (against his son) while his daughter is doing homework in her room and mom is managing finances in the office, all on the same, centrally managed PC. You can think of this model as multiple, simultaneous instances of single-session | single-person | single screen. The central computer would be capable of juggling multiple user sessions, multiple screens, and multiple input / output peripherals throughout the home.
I believe that we are on an inevitable path toward Crowd Computing. Many people, computing together, using many screens in many rooms with uniform and easy access to their user-settings, information, applications and powerful compute resources. The multi-monitor capability provided by ATI Eyefinity is an important piece of the puzzle, a powerful display adapter which can extend the computer to multiple separate displays in multiple positions or nearby locations.
In the meantime, the immersive, panoramic views offered by ATI Eyefinity will impress with panaramic, immersive, multi-screen 3D graphics, video and information. I believe ATI Eyefinity has a bright future. It’s the kind of innovation that encourages re-thinking the potential of a single computer. If you are looking for new directions for the PC, I would keep watch on ATI Eyefinity.
This is the fourth in a multi-part series.
<<-- Click Here For Prior Entry
More information on ATI Eyefinity is available on the ATI Eyefinity technology page.
Simon Solotko is a Senior Advanced Marketing Manager at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
#1 by Jeff - September 10th, 2009 at 15:24
Awesome technology! – Let’s see who can deliver a monitor that has an extra thin edge (bezel?) to make these screens fit together seamlessly!
#2 by Paul O - September 23rd, 2009 at 16:19
@Jeff, Good thought. I have a [brand excluded] lcd with 7/8 lip but has heat cracks.
#3 by RR - September 24th, 2009 at 19:17
@Jeff,
I’m sure there will be companies that will create dual monitor within one case with two DVI/VGA cables coming out of it. Don’t have any idea how that will look but I’m sure it will be like that video that shows the three LCDs rotated Vertically in height or something… hey there’s an Idea for ya AMD… create Monitors designed for your Technology! Make a killer with that… use LED LCDs please
#4 by Dylan - September 28th, 2009 at 12:38
@Jeff,
Samsung is already making a monitor for just that reason. Last I heard, they were going to be releasing them together cuz….why wouldn’t they.
#5 by Ole-Martin Broz - September 10th, 2009 at 16:26
This is a great technology.
It should be tested out on my job, and we are struggling to get firestream into our workstations.
We are happy owners of ATI mobility
AMD, if youre reading this post, mind replying if firestream cards will support eyefinity like the Radeon, since they are basicly almost the same cards under the hood.
#6 by Cyber Tech - September 10th, 2009 at 17:32
Any chance that you (or your partners) will do cards with modular back plates with different output configuratoins rather than blocking of the rear vent?
#7 by Patrick Law - September 10th, 2009 at 20:51
I thought it was a typo when I saw crowd computing instead of cloud computing. But now thinking more about that it makes sense. Eyefinity draws people together to enjoy the pixels.
#8 by Quinn Phillips - September 11th, 2009 at 11:09
I am pretty curious about this “eyedefinition” you guys speak of. Playing games at those resolutions has got to be pretty amazing. The new Radeon GPU is a beast given the fact it is able to output a consistent frame rate at ultra high resolution. The question is how many people are going to be able to afford purchasing multiple LCD panels and a multiple hundred dollar GPU. I won’t be one of them but I will still get my hands on a Radeon HD 5870 eventually. I can’t wait till September 22nd. P.S. – Nice beard I almost didn’t recognize you.
#9 by Simon Solotko - September 13th, 2009 at 20:51
@Quinn Phillips,
Quinn,
So the idea is that we are starting to be able to display as many pixels as the eye can discern. The challenge in my view remains that flat displays provide only a measure of visual realism. But that may be a good thing. I love the XFX promo by the way, really great if you haven’t seen it yet…http://www.xfxforce.com/2118AD/
#10 by Uber Consumer - September 12th, 2009 at 02:29
The gaming example is dramatic but perhaps misdirected. Getting people to visualze different people using different portals to a central CPU for multi-app purposes is far-fetched, right?…We are seeing computers become, at last, less desktop curiosities, and turning into major appliances, as they (in one sense) rightly should be treated as with respect, and not knee-biter floor-sitter underdogs like they’ve been for too long since emerging from the lab/industrial environment. (Content excluded at poster request)
#11 by Manuel Herrera - September 12th, 2009 at 21:53
This would be so much better in digital projectors than LCD panels, no bezels. just one clean image…
Need blending software for this though… *hint*
something that can calibrate the projectors to compensate for brightness overlap and color calibration.
#12 by Simon Solotko - September 14th, 2009 at 20:34
Projection creates challenges. As you note, brightness and color warmth vary over the lifecycle of a projector making multi-projector configurations hard to calibrate or to retain calibration. I have found LCD’s to be more forgiving, varying less, and better retaining calibration, even subjective brightness and contrast calibration. Multi-LCD is relatively low cost, easy to maintain, and fits in a (relatively) small area. But to each their own, many possiblities are availed!
#13 by Simon Solotko - September 13th, 2009 at 20:44
Patrick,
There is not a lot of online conversation on multiple individuals using one PC. In my prior blogs I explore this idea and have come to believe it is a powerful way in which we may integrate the the digital home. Multiple users, with their own session, but with easy and uniform access to their information, applications, and entertainment. For more on this check out the prior blogs linked above.
I also believe that panoramic gaming with three screens is an ace for flying simulations, space wars, social MMOG’s, MECH’ battles, and complex RPG’s and war games. I also think six screen 360 degree immersion has potential. If not at home, certainly in the arcade, or as Pier’s Anthony wrote, in the virtual arena, the penny arcade of the future.
The PC is rapidly outgrowing its box and the desktop – with the power to drive multiple displays and many, many applications at once, with a what I believe will be a constantly improving experience for productivity and gaming. This capability can evolve into a solution for the digital home, with some effort, but I believe this path is simpler than others. the blogs began by exploring this dilemma here http://links.amd.com/nexus.
#14 by Peter Kay - September 14th, 2009 at 08:21
This is extremely impressive. Can I verify what the connectivity options are, though?
In particular, which outputs need to be Displayport and which can be DVI-D (or even DVI-A) or HD15 (VGA)?
Currently I run three monitors. Two are CRT with both HD15 and DVI-A inputs (yes – DVI-A, analogue DVI) and one TFT with DVI-D and HD15.
It would be fantastic if I could upgrade from two Nvidia cards (using a DVI-I->DVI-A cable, a DVI-I->HD15 cable and a DVI-I->DVI-D cable) to one faster card which handled all three monitors and the opportunity to add more in the future..
#15 by Simon Solotko - September 14th, 2009 at 20:36
The 5000 series GPU’s will come in various configurations (including 3 port cards) depending on the card maker. Lets wait a few weeks to see the exact I/O configurations. As you can see here http://www.elitebastards.com/pic.php?picid=hanners/amd/eyefinity/eyefinity03.jpg there are a number of possible options for card makers.
#16 by old timer - September 21st, 2009 at 01:50
umm OMP by SGI 10 years ago?
#17 by Simon Solotko - September 21st, 2009 at 19:29
Yes, before I joined AMD I helped to plan and deploy Origin 2000-based systems driving large scale information visualization systems. 8 graphics pipes driving 8 rear projection units. The hardware for Dragon with Eyefinity will cost a one three hundredth and will be substantially more powerful from a CPU and GPU perspective than the lighly configured 8 CPU models we used, perhaps not inclusive of total I/O and interconnect.
#18 by lobi - September 22nd, 2009 at 02:42
Fantastic news for lovers of Flight Sims that cannot afford the third party solutions out there in addition to the extra monitors and head tracking system. This will remove an expense that can be a block to immersive qualitys programmed into the games.
#19 by Simon Solotko - September 22nd, 2009 at 10:05
Yes, I believe for all fixed cockpit sims, including Mech’s, Starfighters, Battlercruisers, Galactic Domination Command Centers, Air Superiority Aircraft, General Aviation, Cesna Training, Racecars, Enhanced Hovercraft (such as Manta’s and Stingrays), and RC Aircraft Sims that Eyefinity is an incredible solution. I am already re-configuring my desk. My wife is still wonding why I cleaned out my entire office…
#20 by Mycroft - September 25th, 2009 at 12:01
Last week a central computer for the whole family sounded fanciful, possible but very expensive and esoteric. Now Intel’s announced its Light Peak tech for carrying display, network, usb, sata etc over one cable up to 100 meters long, it suddenly sounds very practical.
Imagine a Radeon card with 6 Light Peak outputs instead of DisplayPort, put the PC in a cupboard then one thin cable to each cheap monitor/TV/projector dotted about the house. All the peripherals would connect to the monitor’s USB hub, as they can today.
The only barrier then is a Windows version licensed for multiple simultaneous local sessions
#21 by Simon Solotko - September 27th, 2009 at 23:48
Mycroft, I had the same thought and wrote about it on my recent blog at Techreaction.net. You now have the vision, let me know if there is a cure
. Similarly, DisplayPort 1.2 promises USB 2.0 plus 4×1080p over a single cable. Indeed, it was when thinking about combining USB and HD Video over a single cable/connector when this most recent thought originated. I had been thinking about the challenge of trying to manage an HTPC without having a standard desktop environment from which to configure it and thought, wouldn’t
it be nice to stretch my desktop PC to my HTPC, or visa versa….
#22 by Paul - September 26th, 2009 at 01:58
The Eyefinity demo shows up to 6 screens powered from one card but the Radeon 5800 series just released by AMD power only 3 screens per card from two outputs (presumably 2 of the 3 monitors will share a card output) – where is the card that powers up to 6 monitors?
#23 by Simon Solotko - September 27th, 2009 at 23:49
Paul, sure you can even see the photos of it from the launch event. Be patient.
#24 by Jeff - September 27th, 2009 at 11:33
I am very very excited and impressed with the reviews of the 5870. Especially with the new eyefinity technology. However, I have a few questions that I have been unable to find answers for.
#1. If I buy 2 of the current 5870’s with the 3 monitor configuration, can I game with 6 monitors.
#2. The AMD Website states clearly that using 3 displays requires 1 of the displays to be displayport. Is there any reason why I couldn’t use a hdmi or dvi-to-displayport adapter to get around this?
#25 by Simon Solotko - September 27th, 2009 at 23:37
Hi Jeff,
Yes, one card per 3 monitors with the stock 5870. I have seen cards coming in different display output configurations. A simple adapter should work. You should know that DisplayPort’s native format must be digitally converted to HDMI’s format. Most connectors simply request that the displayport output provide an HDMI signal which is supported. Little known fact.
#26 by Tom - October 15th, 2009 at 15:12
Will be getting 1 or 2 of these new cards for sure, and will be going to at least a 3 monitor configuration. I currently have 2 hd 4850s crossfired and they are awesome cards. A couple of questions about the 3 monitor setup…
1) Do all the monitors have to be attached to different type outputs? 1 on hdmi, 1 on dvi & 1 on display port? or can they all be connected via the dvi outputs let’s say?
2) Why the neccesity of one of the monitors being connected via displayport? does it matter which monitor is the displayport one?
3) If i crossfire two of these cards, will i still get the benefits of crossfiring?
4) If crossfired, can i run two monitors on the “primary” card & one off the secondary card? If so, again does one of these 3 monitors have to be displayport connected?
Newbie to this multy monitor thing, so want to make the right choices going into it.
Thanks.
#27 by pasco homes - October 15th, 2009 at 21:25
New member here. I ran across this blog and thought of joining so I can sought help from you guys and share my thoughts and ideas as well. I know that in the future I will gain knowledge and wisdom in participating in the forum’s discussions. thanks and have a good one.