Matrox Graphics eXpansion Modules

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Matrox Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM) supports the use of multiple monitors over a
single video source by splitting the output of a video source, providing an
enlarged workspace or gaming environment. GXM is not a graphics card itself, and in
fact requires a fairly powerful graphics card for playing games on multiple
monitors.

While most modern graphics cards have support for dual monitors and can expand a
desktop across three screens, 3D games are generally limited to a single monitor.
The GXM uses the standard Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) structure to
communicate its capabilities to the graphics card just as a monitor does. However,
the GXM's resolution includes all pixels in the three monitors. If the
TripleHead2Go were hooked up to three monitors with 800�600 resolution, the
TripleHead2Go would report itself as a single monitor with 2400�600 resolution. The
graphics card then sends out a 2400�600 signal which the TripleHead2Go divides and
distributes to the appropriate monitors.

Contents
1 TripleHead2Go
2 TripleHead2Go Digital Edition
3 DualHead2Go
4 DualHead2Go Digital Edition
5 Gaming
6 External links
TripleHead2Go
The TripleHead2Go supports 3 displays at the output, and has maximum resolution of
3840�1024@60 Hz (1280�1024 each). The low 60 Hz refresh rate is used in all except
3072x768 resolution which makes it unsuitable for CRT monitors (however, the
severity of flickering perceived by viewers depend on other factors).

TripleHead2Go Digital Edition

The TripleHead2Go Digital Edition supports DVI-I output. The maximum resolution was
originally 3840�1024@60 Hz (1280�1024 each), but on August 5, 2008 Matrox announced
the support for new widescreen resolution, with a maximum resolution of
5040�1050@57 Hz (1680�1050 each).

DualHead2Go
It is similar to TripleHead2Go, except it supports only 2 displays. When setting
output to 1024x768 per display, the refresh rate can be set up to 85 Hz. It has
maximum resolution of 2560�1024@60 Hz (1280�1024 each). It was later renamed to
DualHead2Go Analog Edition.

DualHead2Go Digital Edition

Compared to original DualHead2Go, this one supports DVI-I output by converting
input signal to digital, but it still supports analog output. It has maximum
resolution of 3840�1200@60 Hz (1920�1200 each).

Gaming
At this writing (2006) the Matrox TripleHead2Go was the only consumer level device
which allows 3D gaming across three monitors with an expanded field of view (FOV).
Very few games directly support playing at these large resolutions, although many
can be tweaked to run on the TripleHead2Go. Matrox maintains a compatibility list
of games and provides a Surround Gaming Utility to automatically adjust the game
settings to run on three monitors. Some problems remain with distortions to the
user interface and geometric distortions at the edges of the display since the
games weren't written with such a wide FOV in mind.
In 2009, AMD/ATI released its Radeon HD 5000 Series which included an AMD
Eyefinity-branded display controllers. These display controllers allow users to use
3 or more monitors on a single video card, using at least one display port on the
back of the card.

External links
Matrox TripleHead2Go
Matrox Graphics unveils DualHead2Go Digital Edition�external multi-display upgrade
for notebook and desktop computers
Matrox Graphics announces new triple widescreen modes for the TripleHead2Go Digital
Edition