Adding second monitor, thoughts?

[bigben]

Hi guys, I fancy adding a second monitor to my setup. Not sure whether I should get the same again (expensive and pretty big) or get something smaller and cheaper.
The way I see it for getting the same monitor is:
Pros: If I decide to get a 3rd monitor I will have a cracking setup.
The colours and everything will be the same..
Different monitors next to each other will look silly

Cons: Expensive, big, not sure I would fit a third on my desk anyway and obviously wouldn't want to game on 2 monitors.

I am open to spending the money (if I'm not spending it on a new monitor it will probably only be going on new skis or snowboards or Jack Daniels), however as I just mentioned I also have other hobbys I like to blow my money on..
Does anybody have a 2 monitor setup with different monitors?

Thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[keynes]

I would get the same monitor, see how it goes with 2 monitors before adding a 3rd. For gaming you may also want to consider adding a 2nd GTX 670 when you are planning to have a surround set up.

 

[bigben]

I would get the same monitor, see how it goes with 2 monitors before adding a 3rd. For gaming you may also want to consider adding a 2nd GTX 670 when you are planning to have a surround set up.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking really. I will definitely do SLI if I decide to get a surround setup.

 

[tom_gr7]

you can run two screens on a single card, and you can only game on one of the two anyway. I'd probably suggest two of the same, I have two 24 inch Iiyama's and I have no complaints other than i dont have room for a third!

 

[Grimezy]

I've faced a similar dilemma to you mate, the problem I think we've got is I think even 670's in SLI won't show the true potential of 3 144hz monitors. Plus I don't have the room for 3 I don't think (unless I moved my tower onto the floor...). Plus I do feel like the colours on my monitor are appalling when I'm watching videos/looking at photos. It's fine for gameplay but nothing really stands out when I'm looking at images (perhaps I need to change the contrast or something).

If you're really set on having 3 in the future then go for the same. Just bear in mind you might waste some potential unless you upgraded to a much better card in SLI.

If you're quite happy to stay with 2, you could have your benq as a gaming screen and then get an IPS panel like the Dell u2312 to have next to it which would be much better for videos/images, etc. They're also pretty good for gaming on and you'd appreciate the difference of 120hz+ more if you had a 60hz screen next to your benq

 

[bigben]

Thanks for the input guys.
While realistically I think I would struggle at the moment to make 3 monitors fit where I live at the moment, I think I will probably end up getting the same again as much because when I had two monitors that didn't match before it used to bug me.

I think I will try it with my nasty old monitor and see how I actually use a second monitor before making the ultimate decision though.

Just bear in mind you might waste some potential unless you upgraded to a much better card in SLI.

I have an 850w PSU so if I do ever decide to go down that route that I could get something more powerful.

Thanks again

 

[bigben]

So I bought another monitor.. Not a chance I'm gonna fit another on the desk.. Thanks again for the advice, pretty happy with it.
A couple of questions though:
1. Is there a way to have 2 different desktop pictures?
2. Is there a way to have the bar at the bottom (don't remember what it's called, has the start icon and time and stuff) on both screens?

Thanks

 

[vanthus]

View attachment 3372View attachment 3373

So I bought another monitor.. Not a chance I'm gonna fit another on the desk.. Thanks again for the advice, pretty happy with it.
A couple of questions though:
1. Is there a way to have 2 different desktop pictures?
2. Is there a way to have the bar at the bottom (don't remember what it's called, has the start icon and time and stuff) on both screens?

Thanks

I've never been able to find a way to have different pictures or have the taskbar on both screens in extend mode as it's basically an extension of the screen.
That's not to say it can't be done though.

 

[bigben]

Shame. Would be a nice touch.

 

[tom_gr7]

yea I tried to have the taskbar on both screens. it doesn't really work with nvidia GPUs anyway. unless you have three screens.


Ben, if you wanted a third monitor you could always consider a triple monitor mount.

 

[steaky360]

An approach that might work would be to combine the two images you want displayed as one image and set that as your background.
I've heard the following site might help (but I've not tried it myself) http://www.displayfusion.com/

It is a bit of a bodge as opposed to a fix... but it might work