4K monitor for programming?

mattStoor

mattStoor

mattStoor

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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 use my 4K 28" for general day-to-day use in Windows, but without DPI adjustments the text is admittedly small.

I like it, but I can see why some people would find it frustrating. At times I find myself using zoom on websites just to make it a bit easier. At ~32 I think 4K would be perfect for me.
 
To be honest I looked at 4k for dev work at home and found it just too small so I kept my 2 1080p 24" screen which just works.

The only other option I guess is going super wide; you get the benefits of the extra width plus no bezel and maintain a reasonable dpi.
 
Get another 1080p or ideally a 1440p monitor, the pixel pitch one the 4k screens isn't great for text/Web browsing with current OS scaling.
 
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?
 
I've been using the BenQ BL3201PT for a few months now (replaced a dell 27" 1440p) and I'm very happy with it. Loads of real estate, at 32" I've not found scaling an issue and the panel and build are very nice quality.

Have only been using mine fur gaming, browsing and some productivity but I love it.

Also looked at the Phillips and concluded it was just a little to large for my workspace (my living room TV is only 40"!)
 
mattStoor said:
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. ...
Click to expand...

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.
 
mattStoor said:
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.
Click to expand...
Any reason why you don't just get 2 monitors? I couldn't live without 2 at work for programming. One huge screen wouldn't do the job for me, much better to have it properly split & dual screen functionality.

If desk space is the issue, you can get one of those arm mounts that hold two screens, so you'd remove the need for having two screen stands on your desk.
 
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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?
 
Personally I haven't had any issues with window resizing. I used to use my 30" as the main monitor and the 27" as a secondary monitor, so it's just like using a bigger version of the 30" all the time - essentially no change really.
 
philip2009 said:
Personally I haven't had any issues with window resizing. I used to use my 30" as the main monitor and the 27" as a secondary monitor, so it's just like using a bigger version of the 30" all the time - essentially no change really.
Click to expand...

Did you keep hold of the other monitors and still use them? Sorry re-read posts and realized you replaced both with this monitor, so you didn't keep any as a secondary?
 
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No, I now only have one monitor. At the end of the day people have to decide what fits their specific circumstances. My 27" was for "spill over" apps, I spent most of my time on the 30" - the 40" 4K improves on the 30" and the 27" was never really hugely important anyway.
 
Sorry I don't mean to derail thread OP, but can I ask a question philip2009 regarding up scaling on the Phillips as I run TV tuner on my machine. If you have used it as a TV as well. How do you find up scaling various SD content? The Dells handle this well.
 
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