1 screen or 2

sybaris · 19 Feb 2011 at 11:39

I intend to replace my aging 19" wide screen monitor with a max res of 1400x900.

I am tempted to go for either a single 24" monitor
or
2 x 22" monitors (lower end but with a res of 1920x1080)

You see, I have just got in to my MS flight sim and having had a chance to play in a couple of those £30 million full motion simulators, I would really like one for the home, however space and £££ is the issue.

Then again, it could be a 7 day wonder and I will get bored of it for several months.

Are there other practical uses for a dual screen setup other than flight sims?

I am buying a NV GTX 480 to go with it.

Garee · 19 Feb 2011 at 12:31

Dual screen.

I have 2x Dell U2311H with one landscape, the other portrait. Nowadays I use the portrait monitor more as websites/forums and programming is just suited better to the layout.

stulid · 19 Feb 2011 at 12:40

Go dual screen, I could never go back now to a single, its not just games that can benefit.

having two or more webpages open next to each other is great.

having a film/video playing while browsing is great.

having a video editing program open on one screen while a full size pre-view is playing on the other is great.

Helios1234 · 19 Feb 2011 at 12:43

Definitely dual screen. It's way more productive.

loltim · 19 Feb 2011 at 13:42

stulid said:
Go dual screen, I could never go back now to a single, its not just games that can benefit.

having two or more webpages open next to each other is great.

having a film/video playing while browsing is great.

having a video editing program open on one screen while a full size pre-view is playing on the other is great.

I'm trying to justify picking up another screen, but I don't think I can.. I'd really like another samsung 2343bw for the 2048x1152 res... but:

Windows 7 is great for putting 2 websites (IE windows) side by side.
Browsing forums whilst watching a film? Just doesn't happen, unless the film is turd.
Can't really browse net whilst gaming, i'm guessing you'd have to tab out of the game for the 2nd screen to become active?
Any game on a "spanned" dual screen setup would be turd unless the screens have really thin bezels?

I guess it'd be nice to have MSN/IRC on one screen and net on the other, but.. hmm :confused:

stulid · 19 Feb 2011 at 14:11

Tim said:
I'm trying to justify picking up another screen, but I don't think I can.. I'd really like another samsung 2343bw for the 2048x1152 res... but:

Windows 7 is great for putting 2 websites (IE windows) side by side.

so nice having to full size pages next to each other.

Browsing forums whilst watching a film? Just doesn't happen, unless the film is turd.
Can't really browse net whilst gaming, i'm guessing you'd have to tab out of the game for the 2nd screen to become active?

while playing something like silent hunter, while my little sub is following a plotted course, I can just drag the mouse arrow over to the other screen and browse, the main game screen is unaffected

Any game on a "spanned" dual screen setup would be turd unless the screens have really thin bezels?

i dont do this anyway, but supreme commander can have the main in game screen on one monitor, while a map overview of all units is on the other.

I guess it'd be nice to have MSN/IRC on one screen and net on the other, but.. hmm

loltim · 19 Feb 2011 at 14:15

I think I'd pick one up cheap in the MM, but not keen on paying full price. Can't justify it.

sybaris · 19 Feb 2011 at 14:27

Tim said:
Any game on a "spanned" dual screen setup would be turd unless the screens have really thin bezels?

That is ok in a flight sim as you normally have separate windows in the front of an aircraft.

I watch most movies on my TV so movie and internet is not realistic for me

413x · 19 Feb 2011 at 17:22

2 screens, but only if one is big for me

i cant really see myself liking eyefinity for gaming, so i only use the 27 for games, [it fills my field of view]

i also watch films on the 27, so 2, say 23s, wouldnt be as good as 1x 27, but then a lot of people have tvs for that

id say if you dont watch films/tv go for dual screen [but surely you need 3 for gaming across more than one?] but if you watch media like me one big one is better

Garee said:
Dual screen.

I have 2x Dell U2311H with one landscape, the other portrait. Nowadays I use the portrait monitor more as websites/forums and programming is just suited better to the layout.

interesting.. i may try that with the 24, it has the swivel function, but then again i tend to watch tv on the 24 if im using the 27 for inet/other