Can't seem to decide on what monitor setup I should go with

black-ops · 13 Mar 2022 at 13:39

Hi all,

I'm due a bit of an upgrade to my home office, I've just recently picked up a 180cm desk and planned on replacing my current 32" monitor as it's starting to display green bars intermittently. Equally so, the GPU has decided it's going to go up the fritz...

Nonetheless, I am a software engineer / occassional bit of music production (those speakers are coming off the desk soon!) and frequent FPS / Flight simmer.

My rationale is I have 4 options realistically:

- Three monitor setup 2x27" and 1x32"
- Three monitor setup 3x27"
- Two monitor setup 2x34"
- One monitor 1x48"

however, my biggest concern with the 48" is that some of the games I play (Hell Let Loose, Post Scriptum) do not really support that style of gaming with such a large ratio.

The next issue is I have two devices with a software KVM (Synergy), so the 48" would have to support splitting inputs on the single screen to stop me going mad having to change input sources whilst programming on both systems.

As mentioned, the speakers are easily taken off the desk and onto stands I have about 1.5 metres of free space to the left of the desk, but didn't feel like having a 3m desk originally.

View attachment 8u6Ma83.jpg

Bill Turnip · 14 Mar 2022 at 14:03

I have a similar use case to you (Helix and all!) and found an ultrawide to pretty much be a perfect solution. The increased width is perfect for FPS games and also allows you to see a huge chunk of waveform at once which I find quite useful. Also, I find the increased horizontal space makes running Helix Native and Reaper side by side much easier, as everything just has a little more space.

Have you considered an ultrawide option? I can't help with the KVM I'm afraid, I've never used one myself.

black-ops · 14 Mar 2022 at 15:39

Bill Turnip said:
I have a similar use case to you (Helix and all!) and found an ultrawide to pretty much be a perfect solution. The increased width is perfect for FPS games and also allows you to see a huge chunk of waveform at once which I find quite useful. Also, I find the increased horizontal space makes running Helix Native and Reaper side by side much easier, as everything just has a little more space.

Have you considered an ultrawide option? I can't help with the KVM I'm afraid, I've never used one myself.

Interesting, are we talking something like the G9 or something more like a 34" over the 32?
My only draw back for the 49 was the issue surrounding certain games compatibilities with it. But I guess I should be basing this off what I mostly use this machine for and not that ONE game I rarely play.

I'm going to probably chuck a 3080 or 3080Ti in the build alongside this new monitor regardless so I'm not too fussed about performance. RE the KVM, worst case I can always get a smaller monitor to stack atop the ultrawide for the macmini.

Bill Turnip · 14 Mar 2022 at 15:51

The G9 is pretty massive (may work well, but not used one personally), I was thinking along the lines of a 3440x1440 or 3840x1600. Game compatability is generally fine, although some games will leave black bars on either side and run as a 2560 x 1440. By itself, I don't find it a problem, but it is a little irritating when the game is full screen, but cut scenes are not, it's the switching between the two that is mot jarring. Having said that, I don't find it a big issue at all.

I bought an AW3821 and found it to be excellent for music and games. Mrs Turnip uses it a lot for CAD work as well when she's working from home and absolutely loves it.