4K monitor for programming?

mattStoor

mattStoor

mattStoor

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23 Aug 2011
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Kent
I'm looking to upgrade my monitor real estate, primarily for general work and programming. I need to have lots of applications open at the same time and find that I struggle with my current single 27" 1080p monitor.

I'm unsure of what will work best at the moment as there seems to be a lot more choice since I last bought a monitor:
  • A single 4k monitor
  • Adding another 1080p Asus VE278Q to my current one
  • Adding a 4k monitor alongside the 1080p 27" (will I get problems switching between resolutions)
  • 21:9 monitors? These look great for cinematic stuff like films and games but I can imagine the screen height being important to me when working.
The other consideration is my PC hardware. I do like to play some games now and then, although not as much as I used to. I have a single Radeon R9 290 gpu, with any of the above monitor set ups, am I going to struggle playing games at medium - high graphics settings?
One thought I had was in the 4k+1080p dual monitor set up I could play games on the 1080p monitor if I would struggle on the 4k monitor.
 
I've certainly seen a few people comment on the extra space on a big 4k being good but it sounds as though to read anything on the screen I'd need a big 40" monitor like what TheBiznes suggested. Which means I probably want a slightly deeper desk.

But apparently comfortable desks just aren't sold as far as I can see...

Super wide vs dual screen, for managing multiple windows I feel like dual screen would just be easier?

I'm still not completely against the idea of a 4k monitor, what about something like the BenQ BL3201PT 32"?
I like the 40" Phillips one suggested but is being at a computer desk looking at a 40" screen not quite straining on the eyes?
 
philip2009 said:
I used to have a 30" (2560x1600) and a 27" (2560x1440), I've replaced both with a single 4k 40" Philips. Personally I think it's the future and that large hi-res single displays will replace dual monitor setups. I would not go back to dual monitors.
Click to expand...

How do you find managing windows on the 40"? Is it tedious re-sizing them etc. vs snapping to a second monitor?
 
Thank you for all the great advice people, I'm leaning towards the 4k Phillips BDM4065UC. Thanks for the heads up squid vicious, I'll just order another cable so I have it in reserve.

Having said that the smaller IPS BENQ is still pretty attractive. Has anyone had any experience trying to dual screen between a larger 4k and a smaller 1080p monitor?
 
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I like the idea of the "all-rounder" BenQ and it will also leave enough room on the desk to keep my 27" monitor in play as a secondary for other windows as Cromulent suggests.
 
It arrived today and loving it so far, finding the right backgrounds for my slide reel...

I was surprised to only find a mini display cable and no normal sized display cable in the box.
 
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