3 computers, 20 monitors

[Danyboy1738]

Ok so I have looked far and wide on how to connect 20 monitors across 3 computers, which i want to be interconnected to run as one, they will be running a video with all 20 monitors at different angles to each other (so vertical and horizontal) the current plan is to use a graphics card with 6 mini dp out, and then 2 graphics cards with 4 mini dp out, and then the rest of the display out needed will come from integrated graphics, there is now just the issue of how to run 3 pc's interconnected as though they are one and all output the same thing at the same time. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Needfuldoer]

Do they need to work together to make a larger display, or do they all need to show exactly the same image?

[Danyboy1738]

Work together so the video is displayed fullscreen across all displays

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

Dumb question maybe, but why three PCs? Would it be an option to place e.g. three or four GPUs in a single PC?

[Danyboy1738]

So it's for a project of sustainability of which we wouldn't be buying many new part other than the essential ones like gpu, of which the budget is very low, so we will be using a few year old pc's to keep the cost down and reuse old tech

[Blue4130]

18 minutes ago, Danyboy1738 said:

So it's for a project of sustainability of which we wouldn't be buying many new part other than the essential ones like gpu, of which the budget is very low, so we will be using a few year old pc's to keep the cost down and reuse old tech

Wouldn't using one monitor be more sustainable / eco friendly?

 

I really doubt that you will be able to link 3 machines to output a single video. What resolution do you need the video to be at?

[Lordmage]

i suggest a projector and a large white wall in a dark room... or you'd have to run server grade PC with GPU stitching for the large video wall. something some sim rigs do but on a much larger scale.  you would need one main PC cable of all the horse power to drive all the gpu's needed that would get you one large image across a video wall.  

 

what you be looking to replate is a video wall here is a primer https://www.loop.tv/learn/how-to-build-a-video-wall-multiple-tvs-one-image 

[Danyboy1738]

48 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

Wouldn't using one monitor be more sustainable / eco friendly?

 

I really doubt that you will be able to link 3 machines to output a single video. What resolution do you need the video to be at?

Ye but we overlook the irony

[Danyboy1738]

38 minutes ago, Lordmage said:

i suggest a projector and a large white wall in a dark room... or you'd have to run server grade PC with GPU stitching for the large video wall. something some sim rigs do but on a much larger scale.  you would need one main PC cable of all the horse power to drive all the gpu's needed that would get you one large image across a video wall.  

 

what you be looking to replate is a video wall here is a primer https://www.loop.tv/learn/how-to-build-a-video-wall-multiple-tvs-one-image 

Ye I mean projector would work but we don't have any of them, and we have an abundance of monitors of which are second hand

[thevictor390]

32 minutes ago, Danyboy1738 said:

Ye I mean projector would work but we don't have any of them, and we have an abundance of monitors of which are second hand

Think about the power consumption of one projector one computer vs 20 monitors and 3 more powerful computers?

[05032-Mendicant-Bias]

This is not trivial.

 

You make a 5 by 4 = 20 multi screen setup, with three machines. It doesn't tile at all.

I suspect there are programs that stream video over ethernet (VLC does that) and maybe do something for the tiling, but with a 3/20 tiling it's going to be an hassle no matter what. You send 7/20 of the image to a computer that is mapped to 7 screens, and good luck mapping them right. Also none of the actual frame buffers are full squares, but are squares with black filling. Argh!
 

If you had 4 machines and 4 by 4 = 16 monitors it tiles, and you could just use VLC to cut 1/4 of the screen and play your video at the same time on all machines.

I remember Jake did a video on a 4x4 setup using boatloads of quadros:

 

[Kresnik-02]

The name of what you want to do is projection mapping.

 

Easies single computer sollution is Resolume arena with SLI and using splitters that will split each 4k output into 4x1080p and leave one output for control.

 

Resolume can trigger into multiple computers at the same time, but, there is some sync issues that you can have if the screens are close enough.

 

Just remember that running a 7x4k comp is hard and you probably need a really good computer for it. Also remember to transcode stuff into the resolume codec for better performance.

 

Resolume:

https://resolume.com/

 

Splitters (they are called videowall controller):

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005005458144730.html

[Danyboy1738]

2 hours ago, 05032-Mendicant-Bias said:

This is not trivial.

 

You make a 5 by 4 = 20 multi screen setup, with three machines. It doesn't tile at all.

I suspect there are programs that stream video over ethernet (VLC does that) and maybe do something for the tiling, but with a 3/20 tiling it's going to be an hassle no matter what. You send 7/20 of the image to a computer that is mapped to 7 screens, and good luck mapping them right. Also none of the actual frame buffers are full squares, but are squares with black filling. Argh!
 

If you had 4 machines and 4 by 4 = 16 monitors it tiles, and you could just use VLC to cut 1/4 of the screen and play your video at the same time on all machines.

I remember Jake did a video on a 4x4 setup using boatloads of quadros:

 

Ok this seems rather viable cos I think the 16 monitor x4 pc's is a bit more easy on the math and tiling so thank you for this. And I can even give it a try with just 4 monitors x2 pc's

[Danyboy1738]

2 hours ago, Kresnik-02 said:

The name of what you want to do is projection mapping.

 

Easies single computer sollution is Resolume arena with SLI and using splitters that will split each 4k output into 4x1080p and leave one output for control.

 

Resolume can trigger into multiple computers at the same time, but, there is some sync issues that you can have if the screens are close enough.

 

Just remember that running a 7x4k comp is hard and you probably need a really good computer for it. Also remember to transcode stuff into the resolume codec for better performance.

 

Resolume:

https://resolume.com/

 

Splitters (they are called videowall controller):

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005005458144730.html

Will give this a try as a last resort seeing as our budget is small 

[Kresnik-02]

5 minutes ago, Danyboy1738 said:

Will give this a try as a last resort seeing as our budget is small 

You have the most of the expensive gear already, the janky setup will be worse to maintain. This is a tried and true method, with proper support and people that can really help you on the issues.

 

But, it's up to you, weird 3 computer setup or single computer with the working piece of software and proper support.

[Likwid]

Can't you just use amd firepro cards? each supports 6 displays (based on model) with two cards can get 12 displays.

Use two AMD FirePro™ W600 or ATI FirePro™ V9800 cards to drive up to
12 screens or projectors

[Likwid]

4 minutes ago, Likwid said:

Can't you just use amd firepro cards? each supports 6 displays (based on model) with two cards can get 12 displays.

Use two AMD FirePro™ W600 or ATI FirePro™ V9800 cards to drive up to
12 screens or projectors

I think you can have up to 4 firepro w600 cards and get 24 displays from single pc.