Multi-GPU and Multi-Monitor Un-Confused

Eyefinity, SLI, 3DSurround, 3DVision, and CrossfireX. Multiple monitors. What does it all mean? What's the difference, in this epic pile of confusing terminology, and what do I need to make this work?

SLI and CrossfireX, for starters. These are multiple-GPU configurations designed for extra graphics power on a single display. These are the ones most people think of first in multi-GPU configurations, and the terms most likely to be generically thrown in as a placeholder value. SLI is the nVidia variant, CrossfireX is AMD. CrossfireX only requires multiple PCIE slots, SLI requires an SLI ready motherboard, which, as of recently, can include AMD motherboards.

3DVision: This is using funky technology and woogy glasses to make things pop out of the screen, like a bad '80s sci-fi flick. This hasn't been implemented all that well in a lot of games. It does, however, occasionally get mixed up with 3DSurround, due to the stupid similarity in naming.

3DSurround and Eyefinity are the methods of playing games across multiple displays. Not gaming on one and having a browser or other stuff going in a spare display, that's just a normal multiple display configuration. Some AMD cards will support Eyefinity off a single card, but it's pretty stupid. No nVidia solutions do that, which is really perfectly reasonable, since playing across multiple displays doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you're having to drop the settings to "fuzzy blob" to get the extra screen real estate. By the way, use an odd number of displays per row for this, you don't want lines in the middle of the game area.

Multiple monitor setups just include using two monitors, with at most one for gaming. This is pretty much supported by almost everything these days, since it's not all that harsh for non-3D use. It can be handy if you actually have a use for the screen real estate, but for a lot of people it's basically just a fancy thing.

Remember, for SLI, Eyefinity, 3DSurround, and CrossfireX, you need identical cards. You can't SLI a GTX 560Ti and a GT 9800. You could use the 9800 for dedicated PhysX, or for extra monitor outs, but you can't get the two different cards running SLI for alternate frame rendering.

No, this isn't long, really, but it's something that drives me nuts occasionally.

Bad Ripoff PC Seller.

Some guy decided to try and advertise on Team Liquid today, talking about his "friend's" hot gaming rigs.
http://jestercreativesolutions.com/gameprotech

I'd tell you to buy Cyberpower before this shit. AMD in this day and age? A 980 BE is in the i5 2400 price point, for 65% of the performance. He sells that with a 6850 for $1200. You can outperform that for $800...

Don't spam a site I hang out on the tech board of spamming ads for SHIT builds at STUPID prices. Dig?