3 monitors with NVIDIA

English Hardware
#1

I am trying to figure out the best way to hook up 3 monitors with my current setup (OpenSUSE 12.2, KDE, NVIDIA proprietary drivers). I have 2 video cards (9500GT and 550Ti) and am willing to live with 1 separate x screen from the 9500GT and twinview for the other monitors. Twinview works as expected(functions like two separate monitors, each allowing fullscreen) when the second screen is commented out in my xorg.conf (giving me two monitors) but when the second x screen is added, my twinview screens act like one giant monitor and fullscreen windows are stretched across them and the third monitor acts as expected.

Any tips here? I’ve tried 3 separate x screens which works with Xinerama, but then flash no longer works in my browser. It seems too that Xinerama is on it’s way out (however slowly).

Here is my xorg:


Section "Extensions"
    Option         "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection
Section "Module"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"

# Removed Option "Xinerama" "0"
# Removed Option "Xinerama" "1"
# Removed Option "Xinerama" "0"
# Removed Option "Xinerama" "1"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen2" LeftOf "Screen0"    #commenting this line out makes twinview work as I wish, (but only with two monitors obviously)
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"                                                                                              
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"                                                                                    
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"                                                                                
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Ancor Communications Inc ASUS VW193T"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     55.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       0.0 - 0.0
    VertRefresh     0.0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor2"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 550 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device2"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9500 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
#    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
#    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +1440+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    Identifier     "Screen2"
    Device         "Device2"
    Monitor        "Monitor2"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
#    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "CRT-1"
#    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection
#2

Hi,

How did you install the nvidia drivers after suse installation. I’ve my laptop with nvidia 640GT series with optimus technology, CUDA???

#3

killsforpie:
If you’re running KDE, have you considered configuring using the KDE tool (Configure Desktop > Display and Monitor)?
Also, have you considered installing the nVidia Proprietary driver with Tools, and using the nVidia Config applet (which also allows you to manually edit the xorg.conf).

Just suggesting… Using these tools in the first place would prevent typos, but could also expose recommended settings by nVidia.

anuragsatish:
Aside from the ethics of hijacking a thread, I’m sure that basic driver installation has nothing to do with installing an nVidia driver that supports CUDA(although yes if you want CUDA there are special steps to install the correct driver). If you’re not satisfied with the nouvou driver which is installed by default, you can install the proprietary nVidia driver by simply adding the nVidia repo (Yast > Add Repo), then doing a system update. The new driver will then be selected and installed automatically for you.

HTH,
TSU

#4

I don’t have the hardware to do this, and I have hence never tried this.

There is an old post (post#62) here on graphics: https://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/how-faq-forums/unreviewed-how-faq/430150-opensuse-graphic-card-practical-theory-guide-users-2.html#post2289787 which in particular references post#17 here: https://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/applications/437085-randr-xinerama-how-make-work-ose-11-2-a.html#post2289781

I don’t know if you have seen those posts nor if they are of any help. Note since I do not have such hardware and since I have never explored such a setup myself, I am likely of not much help wrt specifics.

#5

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

anuragsatish:
I installed the NVidia Driver(304) from the NVidia opensuse repos. I have noticed that it’s not the latest driver available (310) so I may install that manually and see if it improves anything.

tsu2:
I used nvidia-settings (the proprietary tool) to set up my screens initially but it gives the same twinview problem with two x-screens: the screen with twinview stretches fullscreen windows across both monitors. I am running KDE but the “Display and Monitor” tool doesn’t seem to be very helpful. It only has the current X screen displays on it, and it doesn’t seem to recognize the twinview monitors are indeed separate unless I go back to 1 X session (nixing the third monitor) which already functions correctly. I suspect that my solution with this approach would be to find some override setting (if one exists) in my xorg.conf and force nvidia to set the resolutions of the twinview settings correctly. I had thought that nvidiaXineramaInfoOverride (formerly TwinViewXineramaInfoOverride) might have done what I needed, but this does not appear to do anything:

"Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOverride" "1440x900+0+0, 1360x768+1440+0"

oldcpu:
From what I can see in that xorg.conf it looks like the user was using xinerama. xinerama with 3 separate x screens does actually work for me and allows windows to move through all screens (a plus) but is causing some problems when trying to play flash videos (something to do with xrandr if I launch from a terminal). This may be the best path for me to go down if I can figure out what is wrong with flash since it is basically doing what I want.

#6

Update: flash does seem to work but it is crashing when I try to play media in my browser through subsonic (which uses jw player 5.10.2295). I also get this error “Xlib: extension “RANDR” missing on display “:0”.” when opening most windows from a terminal.

I also seem to have better success with chrome than firefox with flash.

#7

google “basemosaic”

#8

It won’t work because randr does not work across X Display Screens

#9

Thanks for the suggestion! This looks to do what I want, but does it only work with card in SLI? I added the following to my xorg.conf but am only getting two monitors up (as if it were in twinview with one x session):

    
Option         "BaseMosaic" "True"
Option         "MetaModes" "GPU-0.DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, GPU-0.DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +1440+0, GPU-1.CRT-1: nvidia-auto-select +2800+0"

I also tried the command:

nvidia-xconfig --base-mosaic --metamodes="GPU-0.DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, GPU-0.DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +1440+0, GPU-1.CRT-1: nvidia-auto-select +2800+0"

But same results.

#10

Here is the current entirety of my xorg.conf which is producing two monitors acting as if in twinview:

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Ancor Communications Inc ASUS VW193T"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     55.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor2"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       26.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     24.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 550 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device2"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 550 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9500 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "BaseMosaic" "True"
    Option         "MetaModes" "GPU-0.DFP-0: 1440x900+0+0, GPU-0.DFP-1: 1360x768+1440+0, GPU-1.CRT-0: 1280x1024+2800+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

If anyone has or knows of a valid xorg.conf that is using base mosaic that I check against I’d appreciate it. I’ve been having a touch time finding one online.

Edit: I guess it is only for SLI or at least more compatible GPUs. From xorg.log:

    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to find a valid Base Mosaic configuration.
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Invalid Base Mosaic configuration 1 of 1:
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0): GPUs:
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     1) NVIDIA GPU at PCI:1:0:0
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     2) NVIDIA GPU at PCI:2:0:0
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Errors:
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     - The video link was not detected
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     - GPU architectures do not match
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     - GPU implementations do not match
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     - GPU PCI IDs do not match
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0):     - GPU video memory sizes do not match
    17.753] (WW) NVIDIA(0): Failed to find a valid Base Mosaic configuration for the
    17.753] (WW) NVIDIA(0):     NVIDIA graphics device PCI:1:0:0. Please see Chapter 29:
    17.753] (WW) NVIDIA(0):     Configuring SLI and Multi-GPU FrameRendering in the README
    17.753] (WW) NVIDIA(0):     for troubleshooting suggestions.
    17.753] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Only one GPU will be used for this X screen.
#11

Hmmph…shows how much this monkey knows. Though its supposed to be a Quadro thing only, I believe that it is possible with some geforce cards, and in non SLI mode (from what I’ve seen across the net). But I guess that there are particular requirements (a quick google search suggests that, at the very least that, while no bridge is required, an SLI capable chipset is needed).

Perhaps the easier solution is to just throw money at the problem and get a supported tri-output capable graphics card.

#12

I believe you’re right. I have a 250 I may try replacing the 9500 with, but barring that I may have to go for another card. Any suggestions?

#13

I’ve had another idea as well: use the Intel drivers. I’ve got an ivy bridge 3770 and my mobo has onboard DVI, HDMI, VGA, and display port. I uninstalled the nvidia drivers and installed the intel ones, though I’m not sure how to configure my xorg.conf now. This is what I currently have:

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Ancor Communications Inc ASUS VW193T"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     55.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor2"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       26.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     24.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "intel"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1440x900"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

If I try to use Xorg -configure (via ssh) I get “Number of created screens does not match number of detected devices. Configuration failed.”

If I have all three monitors plugged in when trying to boot It hangs after starting x. If I have two monitors plugged in it’s fine (looks like twinview!). I can plug the third in after boot with no issues and it is recognized but does not seem to be able to be activated. I downloaded arandr (graphical randr) and if I try to set up all three screens I get “XRandR failed: XRandR returned error code 1: xrandr: cannot find crtc for output VGA1”. If I use Display and Monitor in KDE it recognizes all three monitors but when I activate the third nothing happens. Restarting x

Is there anything like nvidia-settings for intel? Or is Xorg -configure it? Is there a way to check how many “heads” my mobo has? I suspect this may be the issue here. xrandr -q gives:

xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 2800 x 900, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA1 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1280x1024      60.0 +   75.0  
   1152x864       75.0  
   1024x768       75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   640x480        72.8     75.0     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI2 connected 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 408mm x 255mm
   1440x900       59.9*+   75.0  
   1280x1024      75.0     60.0  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1280x800       74.9     59.8  
   1152x864       75.0  
   1024x768       75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   640x480        72.8     75.0     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
HDMI3 connected 1360x768+1440+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 160mm x 90mm
   1360x768       60.0*+
   1920x1080      60.0     30.0     30.0  
   1280x720       60.0  
   1024x768       75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   720x480        59.9     59.9  
   640x480        72.8     75.0     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
#14

It won’t work with those outputs*. While the Ivy Bridge graphics are capable of concurrent tri- output, there are caveats when it comes to the chipsets (in particular with the older series 7 PCHs). Have a look at the series 7 chipset datasheet (there is about 10-12 pages IIRC, that outline the abilities).

(* Unless one of the DVI or HDMI outputs are natively displayport, you only have the one and you need two)

#15

You should outline your intended usage (example: is gaming a factor in the equation?). That said, I’ll leave it up to others to provide suggestions (I’m really not up on the latest Nvidia stuff if that was the route you were going to look into (i.e what model is good; what model is rebranded etc etc)). … though your attempt with Intel might suggest that you don’t have particuarly demanding requirements for the graphics system…

I have 2 video cards (9500GT and 550Ti) and am willing to live with 1 separate x screen from the 9500GT and twinview for the other monitors
Given this statement … how about using your existing hardware and going with 2 X Server Displays (each with one Screen – a single monitor on the one and two in twinview mode on the other)?

#16

Ah I see. All the triple monitor configs look like they require 2 display ports and have very specific resolution requirements. I did a quick search on newegg and didn’t find any intel boards with 2 display ports though. Are there actual board which support this?

Realistically gaming is not a factor. I’d like to have the option for some light gaming but nothing too taxing.

Given this statement … how about using your existing hardware and going with 2 X Server Displays (each with one Screen – a single monitor on the one and two in twinview mode on the other)?

I did try that, but then twinview stretches across the other two monitors and fullscreen is broken. The only thing that has worked in getting all three monitors usable was 3 separate x screens, but I’d like to have SOME ability to move windows between at least 2 displays.

I’m thinking about an ATI card since eyefinity seems way easier to deal with than nVidia’s offerings (I don’t want to drop $300 on a single card, and don’t want to drop $100+ for another for LSI to maybe get it to work). Something along the lines of:

Newegg.com - HIS H677FN1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

Better success with ATI?

#17

I believe there is. One of the port outputs may be masquerading as a DVI or HDMI if the board itself doesn’t explicitly feature 2 DP output. You’d have to look into it. IIRC, the newer *77 chipsets are fully capable, but again, check the fine details on that.

Realistically gaming is not a factor. I’d like to have the option for some light gaming but nothing too taxing.
For light gaming, the Intel might be all right (judging by what I’ve read, and with the keyword being “light”), though, more appropriate AMD or Nvidia devices, in conjunction with the respective prop. driver, would be favoured by most for such usage (though, there are a lot of people who do game, and whom are quite happy, using the OSS drivers). YMMV and would be dependent upon the game etc.

I did try that…
not from what you wrote – you’ve tried a single X Display with two Screens (1 and 2 monitors to each Screen respectively) assigned to it, as well as with a three Screen (obviously a monitor per Screen) config.

That is not the same as what I suggested. And Twinview would (or is that should ? :stuck_out_tongue: ) work under the configuration I suggested.

…but I’d like to have SOME ability to move windows between at least 2 displays.
You can’t move windows across Screens … the mouse floats across no problem.

You can’t move windows or the mouse across Displays. However, you can use synergy (or the likes of; though synergy is the best by far IMO) to move the mouse cursor across Displays … as well as allowing you to use the same keyboard to control both.

You can use some apps (like Xpra for instance) to “move” windows across Screens or Displays. (The windows aren’t actually moved, just some network trickery; think VNC like behaviour)

To help you nail the concept:

  • Think of Displays as galaxies.
  • Think of Screens as solar systems within a galaxy.
  • Think of monitors as stars within a solar system (and if Star Wars has taught you anything, you can have more then one sun per solar system).
  • Think of fixed mice, k/b and other such peripheral devices as the planets with orbits around the stars within a solar system.

Following that analogy, the use of software like synergy, transforms your one k/b & mice into intergalactic capable ships … which frees you from having to have each solar system populated with its own set of planets (i.e. mice & k/b … i.e. you essentially are doing multi-seat, without all the extra peripheral components usually employed in a proper multiseat config.)

Continuing the analogy, the use of Xpra like software is like…hmmm, I don’t really have a good analogy to go along here … if you’ve ever seen the movie “Contact”, its like the device they build – you leave, but you don’t really leave earth.

I’m thinking about an ATI card since eyefinity seems way easier to deal with than nVidia’s offerings (I don’t want to drop $300 on a single card, and don’t want to drop $100+ for another for LSI to maybe get it to work). Something along the lines of:

Newegg.com - HIS H677FN1GD Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

Better success with ATI?
Well, I’m ignorant of the nvidia offerings so can’t really comment on them (though, I’d imagine that they have a cheaper simultaneous tri-output card available). Anyway, the eyefinity card you picked there looks fine to me (both the OSS and prop. drivers would work very well with it). I have a much lesser (in terms of openGL performance capabilities) 6xxx eyefinity card then that one you’ve selected. I don’t game, so that was not a concern for me.
Perhaps others can provide other suggestions if you care to go the “throw $ at the problem” route.

#18

I think I may have misunderstood your first piece of information about Intel. My mobo actually has a Z77 northbridge. It’s this board here: Newegg.com - ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Should this be working for me then?

For light gaming, the Intel might be all right (judging by what I’ve read, and with the keyword being “light”), though, more appropriate AMD or Nvidia devices, in conjunction with the respective prop. driver, would be favoured by most for such usage (though, there are a lot of people who do game, and whom are quite happy, using the OSS drivers). YMMV and would be dependent upon the game etc.

not from what you wrote – you’ve tried a single X Display with two Screens (1 and 2 monitors to each Screen respectively) assigned to it, as well as with a three Screen (obviously a monitor per Screen) config.

That is not the same as what I suggested. And Twinview would (or is that should ? :stuck_out_tongue: ) work under the configuration I suggested.

This is something that I have tried, but may not have documented in this thread. My problem is that twinview stops splitting the two monitors, so that fullscreen then takes up both screens. I had two x displays (no windows could be moved to the third monitor) and all three screens work, but the fullscreen issue was too annoying.

You can’t move windows across Screens … the mouse floats across no problem.

You can’t move windows or the mouse across Displays. However, you can use synergy (or the likes of; though synergy is the best by far IMO) to move the mouse cursor across Displays … as well as allowing you to use the same keyboard to control both.

You can use some apps (like Xpra for instance) to “move” windows across Screens or Displays. (The windows aren’t actually moved, just some network trickery; think VNC like behaviour)

To help you nail the concept:

  • Think of Displays as galaxies.
  • Think of Screens as solar systems within a galaxy.
  • Think of monitors as stars within a solar system (and if Star Wars has taught you anything, you can have more then one sun per solar system).
  • Think of fixed mice, k/b and other such peripheral devices as the planets with orbits around the stars within a solar system.

Following that analogy, the use of software like synergy, transforms your one k/b & mice into intergalactic capable ships … which frees you from having to have each solar system populated with its own set of planets (i.e. mice & k/b … i.e. you essentially are doing multi-seat, without all the extra peripheral components usually employed in a proper multiseat config.)

Continuing the analogy, the use of Xpra like software is like…hmmm, I don’t really have a good analogy to go along here … if you’ve ever seen the movie “Contact”, its like the device they build – you leave, but you don’t really leave earth.

Excellent analogy, thanks!

Well, I’m ignorant of the nvidia offerings so can’t really comment on them (though, I’d imagine that they have a cheaper simultaneous tri-output card available). Anyway, the eyefinity card you picked there looks fine to me (both the OSS and prop. drivers would work very well with it). I have a much lesser (in terms of openGL performance capabilities) 6xxx eyefinity card then that one you’ve selected. I don’t game, so that was not a concern for me.
Perhaps others can provide other suggestions if you care to go the “throw $ at the problem” route.

I’ve always been under the impression that the nvidia proprietary drivers were superior to the ATI ones. Anything I should look out for? I’m not sure I’ll end up going down this route since I picked up the monitor for $5 at a second hand store so it seems sill to spend $100 and abandon my existing card . Still, I’ve spent a lot of time on this so far and would hate to come out empty handed, even if I have learned how much more complex 3+ monitors were than I expected.