SimHQ.com - Technology Zone - Review: Matrox TripleHead2Go

The SGU provided an option to configure Lock On for triplehead operation, but after these changes Lock On would crash to desktop when started. Restoring the previous settings and selecting 3072x768 in Lock On's graphics options achieved triplehead operation, but the aspect ratio of the image was severely distorted. It is likely that changes made to Lock through various patches have affected its implementation of triplehead graphics. I use Lock On: Flaming Cliffs patched to 1.12a. It is likely that everything described below will work in earlier versions of Lock On as well.

With the assistance of some helpful forum members at the lockon.ru forums, I determined that the best way to achieve the best possible triplehead image in Lock On was to use the following entry in my graphic.cfg file:

resolution = {3072, 768};
bpp = 32;
fullscreen = 1;
aspect = 4.000;
Interface
{
       resolution = {3072, 768};
       bpp = 32;
       fullscreen = 1;
       aspect = 4.000;
}
Simulation
{
       resolution = {3072, 768};
       bpp = 32;
       fullscreen = 1;
       aspect = 4.000;

This gave me a jawdropping triplehead image, with one problem: I could not zoom my view out nearly far enough when in the cockpit. Messing with Lock On's user-configurable view zoom parameters did not remedy this. In external views, everything works fine. Matrox has states that they are not seeing this problem with LOMAC 1.02, and that they are in touch with Eagle Dynamics about a possible solution for Flaming Cliffs. Here is an image showing the farthest I can zoom out at 3072x768; this view is way too restrictive to fly and fight successfully:

Unlike SF:P1 and WoV, Lock On's interface spans across three screens and distorts severely when a triplehead resolution is selected. While the graphics.cfg entry above appears to allow changes to this, I could not come up with anything that would allow a single-screen interface (changes cause Lock On to CTD when started).

Lock On Menu Distortion

Lock On is one of the most graphically intensive flight sims out there, and at 3072x768 it shows. With options that I typically use for acceptable framerates at 1280x960, 3072x768 framerates were often in the single digits and occasionally in the slideshow range. Lock On will require a lowering of resolution and/or in-game option for acceptable use with the TripleHead2Go.

Despite the problems I encountered with Lock On, there is no doubt that it looks absolutely amazing at triplehead resolutions. It is no surprise that the best looking flight sim out there on a single screen looks even better on three screens. I will be pursuing my view zoom and interface resolution issues aggressively in the hopes of achieving flight sim triplehead nirvana.

Below are 3 screenshots at the full 3072x768 resolution.

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