Hi folks,

For all those interested in the use of the Matrox Parhelia card with three screens. I've now checked this with Microsoft, and here's the situation:

==================

The resolution is limited by the DirectX 7 APIs used within the current version of Flight Simulator. This limitation is within the FS graphics pipeline and upgrading versions of DirectX on your computer will not fix the problem. We still use the DirectX7 APIs. DirectX 7 APIs were all that was available when FS2002 was developed, and are limited to 2048 pixels in any one dimension. Hence the two screen widths at 1024x768 and the 2.5 screen widths at 800x600.

Newer programs will be written using DirectX 8 or even 9 APIs and will not suffer this limitation, so we have this to look forward to.

The Matrox card is actually built for DirectX 9.

===================

So, I guess this means that anything written explicitly with DirectX8 or later in mind will not have this resolution limitation on the three screens. Combat simmers should be in for a treat with the forthcoming CFS3, but us Civil flyers will have to wait till FS2004 it seems. I suppose that, by then, the Parhelia will be superseded or at least in its 5th incarnation with 5 times the speed and 4 times the memory, for something like half the cost!

Ah, what a price we pay for being pioneers!

BTW in case any one thinks the changes needed in FS to move it from DX7 to DX8 are something I can "patch" from FSUIPC, please think again. It is quite a big change affecting a lot of code in FS in ways which no one could work around.

Regards,

Pete

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• RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,Tarmack, 21:29z, 09-27-02
  • RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,PeteDowson, 02:34z, 09-28-02
  • RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,PeteDowson, 11:47z, 09-28-02
    • RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,Tarmack, 21:07z, 09-28-02
      • RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,PeteDowson, 15:41z, 10-02-02
      • RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,PeteDowson, 19:14z, 10-02-02
• RE: Info on FS and Matrox Parhelia,TD, 12:17z, 09-30-02

Pete,

Thanks very much for that information.

I have a beta copy of CF3 here but am not able to run in 3 screen mode with this copy, at this time.

I am running 3 computers, each with a Parhelia card, for my outside views.

My compromise is to run my server computer at 640 graphics and in 3D mode while in Virtual Cockpit mode across 3 monitors.

The other computers that run a LEFT side and a RIGHT side view each run on 2 monitors with 1024 graphics and also in Virtual Cockpit mode.

The results are actually quite nice.....there is very little visible view out of the front windows of a 747 anyway at cruise.....only on approach do you start to use that window for "watching the birdies'.....the best views were always out of our side windows as we could look DOWN much easier than trying to lean way forward and see over that nose through those small front windows.

Thanks again for your info.

Regards,

Mel

Hi Mel,

Hope this reaches you. Perhaps I should have you normal email address. I'm still having a lot of difficulty sending messages to FlightAdventures. Every time I send one, all the others I've sent for the last few days get sent first, with a 3 minute delay between each!

> I have a beta copy of CF3 here but am not able to run in 3 screen mode
> with this copy, at this time.

Is that with the 1st or 2nd Beta they sent out? It should work, but there's no doubt some magic involved. I might try when I get time.

> My compromise is to run my server computer at 640 graphics and in 3D
> mode while in Virtual Cockpit mode across 3 monitors.

You often talk about "3D" and "2D" modes, but FS only runs in 3D mode, with hardware acceleration. It uses Direct3D both in windowed and full screen mode. Looking back over your previous messages I'm now understanding that what you mean by "3D" mode is "Full Screen" mode -- the one with no title Bar,. Windowed mode, whether sized or maximised, also has a 3D window -- the views outside are process identically in this mode, so it is not "2D" mode.

You switch between Windowed and Full Screen mode by using ALT + ENTER.

The old "2D" mode used before we had Direct3D and hardware acceleration isn't really usable with FS these days. You can get something akin to it by switching hardware acceleration off in the Options-Settings-Display tab, but I wouldn't recommend it. Your frame rates will plummet! <G>

> The other computers that run a LEFT side and a RIGHT side view each run
> on 2 monitors with 1024 graphics and also in Virtual Cockpit mode.

I'm quite happy with just the one PC providing the simulation and views. I only use the other PCs for Project Magenta instrumentation, FSMeteo, and Jeppesen FliteMap, on which I both do my plans and view them being followed. <G>

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader Version 1.2 =-
Registered to: Peter L. Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.76-

Hi Mel,

Hope this reaches you. Perhaps I should have you normal email address. I'm still having a lot of difficulty sending messages to FlightAdventures. Every time I send one, all the others I've sent for the last few days get sent first, with a 3 minute delay between each!

> I have a beta copy of CF3 here but am not able to run in 3 screen mode
> with this copy, at this time.

Is that with the 1st or 2nd Beta they sent out? It should work, but there's no doubt some magic involved. I might try when I get time.

> My compromise is to run my server computer at 640 graphics and in 3D
> mode while in Virtual Cockpit mode across 3 monitors.

You often talk about "3D" and "2D" modes, but FS only runs in 3D mode, with hardware acceleration. It uses Direct3D both in windowed and full screen mode. Looking back over your previous messages I'm now understanding that what you mean by "3D" mode is "Full Screen" mode -- the one with no title Bar,. Windowed mode, whether sized or maximised, also has a 3D window -- the views outside are process identically in this mode, so it is not "2D" mode.

You switch between Windowed and Full Screen mode by using ALT + ENTER.

The old "2D" mode used before we had Direct3D and hardware acceleration isn't really usable with FS these days. You can get something akin to it by switching hardware acceleration off in the Options-Settings-Display tab, but I wouldn't recommend it. Your frame rates will plummet! <G>

> The other computers that run a LEFT side and a RIGHT side view each run
> on 2 monitors with 1024 graphics and also in Virtual Cockpit mode.

I'm quite happy with just the one PC providing the simulation and views. I only use the other PCs for Project Magenta instrumentation, FSMeteo, and Jeppesen FliteMap, on which I both do my plans and view them being followed. <G>

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader Version 1.2 =-
Registered to: Peter L. Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.76-

Pete,

<<Hope this reaches you.>>>

Oh, I have had NO trouble in getting ALL of your messages. Grin.

I had clicked onto the Email notification of the original Parhelia thread and I think I get about 15 Emails a day telling me that there is another new message from you!

Now...to your info.....I plead guilty of being a dunce most times about graphics.......I just NEVER knew that 2D was out and 3D was in. Grin.

I actually like the colors of MS better in Window mode than I do in Full screen(see how I am learning and not making mention of 2D any more!)

I just loaded in the beta2 disks of CF3...and while I can run in 3076x768 graphics across all 3 monitors...the frame rates are jerky and the graphics look like "wire' or "stick" men....rather than the full fleshed pilots and characters that you get in single screen mode.

Guess I better not say anything more due to the confidentials....but I sure will be looking for the next beta release.

Regards,

Mel

Hi Mel,

> I had clicked onto the Email notification of the original Parhelia
> thread and I think I get about 15 Emails a day telling me that there is
> another new message from you!

I've had problems which are still unresolved. The VPC OLR is sending my messages but times out on the response so they don't get marked as sent.

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
+ UNREGISTERED +
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Hi Mel,

> I had clicked onto the Email notification of the original Parhelia
> thread and I think I get about 15 Emails a day telling me that there is
> another new message from you!

They are repeats due to the fact that the PERL script is timing out on every message so it thinks it isn't sent. I've had to stop using the OLR for a few days. I've just now re-installed every part of it, so this is the first 'test' message. If you see this repeating once or twice a day you know I'm still in trouble!

Regards,

Pete

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Peter L. Dowson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

BTW in case any one thinks the changes needed in FS to move it from DX7 to DX8 are something I can "patch" from FSUIPC, please think again. It is quite a big change affecting a lot of code in FS in ways which no one could work around.!!!

But Darnitalltaheck Pete, I thought your callsign was "Magicman"!!

"TD - Virtual FAA investigators are on line 2, AGAIN!!!"