Should I get 3D?
Hi everyone, I recently was able to expand my budget for new peripherals for my 4-month-old gaming rig, and deciding that I would give 3D a consideration. My computer specs are, since I know you're gonna' need 'em: -Intel i5 3570k -MSI Twin Frozr GTX 660 o/c (I CAN overclock it but don't at the moment). -8GB Ram I currently am able to get between 150-250 FPS on World of Warcraft, around 80 FPS on World of Tanks, both on maximum graphics. This is with a 1024x1080 monitor - square, I know. So anyway, I'm currently at about $200 MAX I can put into 3D equipment, but i could always save if that can't buy anything 'decent'. Firstly, do you think my rig could handle 3D while still maintaining a decent FPS? I would intend to run a new monitor, on 3d, as well as my current one in addition. I realize it's a lot, and I know that I should try an SLI configuration (something I want but can't afford)... What FPS do you think I would be pulling? I don't really want it to drop below 50-60 on any game if I can avoid it... Also, is 3D worth it? I've seen it in the movies and at some TV's at the local electronics stores, and I didn't think it was too impressive. What do ya'll think?
Hi everyone,

I recently was able to expand my budget for new peripherals for my 4-month-old gaming rig, and deciding that I would give 3D a consideration.

My computer specs are, since I know you're gonna' need 'em:
-Intel i5 3570k
-MSI Twin Frozr GTX 660 o/c (I CAN overclock it but don't at the moment).
-8GB Ram

I currently am able to get between 150-250 FPS on World of Warcraft, around 80 FPS on World of Tanks, both on maximum graphics. This is with a 1024x1080 monitor - square, I know.

So anyway, I'm currently at about $200 MAX I can put into 3D equipment, but i could always save if that can't buy anything 'decent'.

Firstly, do you think my rig could handle 3D while still maintaining a decent FPS? I would intend to run a new monitor, on 3d, as well as my current one in addition. I realize it's a lot, and I know that I should try an SLI configuration (something I want but can't afford)...

What FPS do you think I would be pulling? I don't really want it to drop below 50-60 on any game if I can avoid it...

Also, is 3D worth it? I've seen it in the movies and at some TV's at the local electronics stores, and I didn't think it was too impressive.

What do ya'll think?

#1
Posted 04/30/2013 01:01 AM   
Stereoscopic gaming is nothing like at the movies. If set up properly, the experience is so much better. On a PC users can tweak depth and convergence to the point where your toon looks like a little doll running around behind a window. When I play WoW and zoom in the camera while my character is flying he actually appear to be in the middle of the room between myself and my 120" projected image. Once I land I zoom the camera back out because I use excessive depth and convergence. For 3D Vision your looking at $350 at the cheapest, unless you find something used.
Stereoscopic gaming is nothing like at the movies. If set up properly, the experience is so much better. On a PC users can tweak depth and convergence to the point where your toon looks like a little doll running around behind a window. When I play WoW and zoom in the camera while my character is flying he actually appear to be in the middle of the room between myself and my 120" projected image. Once I land I zoom the camera back out because I use excessive depth and convergence.

For 3D Vision your looking at $350 at the cheapest, unless you find something used.

#2
Posted 04/30/2013 01:35 AM   
You sound like a mmo user, Most of us are single player gamers. So if you buy 3D for mmo's your probably out of luck for most part. TBH, it doesnt sound like you have enough cash to invest regardless. Not by half.
You sound like a mmo user, Most of us are single player gamers. So if you buy 3D for mmo's your probably out of luck for most part.

TBH, it doesnt sound like you have enough cash to invest regardless. Not by half.

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#3
Posted 04/30/2013 04:12 AM   
I play MMOs, WoW looks fine in 3D since pandaland, but there are some minor annoyances. TOR was awesome, turn off nameplates and health bars. Dunno how WoT looks now, it's supposed to be 3D ready but I can't confirm, but when I was playing it the 3D was great for the most part, it would lose textures at the start of a round, alt tabbing and then maximising again would fix it though. But yes, unless you get lucky on ebay I think you'll fall short of the monitor/emitter kit costs. And forget the old monitor as well when playing games.
I play MMOs, WoW looks fine in 3D since pandaland, but there are some minor annoyances. TOR was awesome, turn off nameplates and health bars. Dunno how WoT looks now, it's supposed to be 3D ready but I can't confirm, but when I was playing it the 3D was great for the most part, it would lose textures at the start of a round, alt tabbing and then maximising again would fix it though.

But yes, unless you get lucky on ebay I think you'll fall short of the monitor/emitter kit costs. And forget the old monitor as well when playing games.

#4
Posted 04/30/2013 04:50 AM   
Yeah, you'll need considerably more for the monitor. Absolutely worth it though. In terms of framerate, those specs will be fine - though for anything more demanding you'll want to throw in a second 660 in SLI.
Yeah, you'll need considerably more for the monitor. Absolutely worth it though. In terms of framerate, those specs will be fine - though for anything more demanding you'll want to throw in a second 660 in SLI.

#5
Posted 04/30/2013 06:28 AM   
Movies are unfortunately tuned to the lowest common denominator, because of worries about giving people headaches and eyestrain. And, not adjustable by the end user, so they typically run a very mild 3D experience. It's hard if not impossible to give everyone in a theater a good 3D experience. As noted, gaming is far superior because you can tune it to be the optimum for yourself, and yourself alone. It's not cheap though. As noted above, you can't really get 3D that is worth using without spending $400-$500 new for monitor and glasses. But, do you happen to already have a 3D TV?
Movies are unfortunately tuned to the lowest common denominator, because of worries about giving people headaches and eyestrain. And, not adjustable by the end user, so they typically run a very mild 3D experience. It's hard if not impossible to give everyone in a theater a good 3D experience.

As noted, gaming is far superior because you can tune it to be the optimum for yourself, and yourself alone.

It's not cheap though. As noted above, you can't really get 3D that is worth using without spending $400-$500 new for monitor and glasses.


But, do you happen to already have a 3D TV?

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#6
Posted 04/30/2013 11:23 AM   
3D is definitely worth it if you play enough games that work well with it. I've been gaming in 3D almost 99% of the time since March 2012 and still considder it the best upgrade I've ever got for my PC in the last 18 years. With my GTX 580 I was getting FPS between 40-60 in 3D in most games at 1920 x 1080, and had to tweak settings occasionally, usually shadows or SSAO, and limit AA to FXAA. A GTX 660 will perform at roughtly the same framerates, and SLI later will definitely help. Last month I upgraded to SLI 670 and Metro 2033 went from 30 FPS max to a constant and steady 60 in 3D. Movies are basically the cheap cheerful part of the 3D market. Some are filmed with propper 3D cameras, but a lot are converted to 3D in post production and look crap. Plus they have to cater for everyone to a good 3D movie experience is still relatively underwhelming. Crank up the 3D depth and convergence on a PC game and you WILL be blown away, its the way 3D looks best and puts the cinema and consoles to shame.
3D is definitely worth it if you play enough games that work well with it.

I've been gaming in 3D almost 99% of the time since March 2012 and still considder it the best upgrade I've ever got for my PC in the last 18 years.

With my GTX 580 I was getting FPS between 40-60 in 3D in most games at 1920 x 1080, and had to tweak settings occasionally, usually shadows or SSAO, and limit AA to FXAA.

A GTX 660 will perform at roughtly the same framerates, and SLI later will definitely help. Last month I upgraded to SLI 670 and Metro 2033 went from 30 FPS max to a constant and steady 60 in 3D.

Movies are basically the cheap cheerful part of the 3D market. Some are filmed with propper 3D cameras, but a lot are converted to 3D in post production and look crap. Plus they have to cater for everyone to a good 3D movie experience is still relatively underwhelming.

Crank up the 3D depth and convergence on a PC game and you WILL be blown away, its the way 3D looks best and puts the cinema and consoles to shame.

i7 4790k @ 4.6 - 16GB RAM - 2x SLI Titan X
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Old kit:
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Acer H5360BD projector
GTX 580, SLI 670, GTX 980 EVGA SC
Acer XB280HK 4k 60hz
Oculus DK2

#7
Posted 04/30/2013 07:15 PM   
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