One monitor or two?

antijoke · 17 Jul 2015 at 14:21

So what's the thoughts on this subject?

I'm looking at getting a PC to do some work on (mainly web development and photoshop work for visuals).

Should I be going dual 23" monitors like I have at work or would one large monitor at home with the same amount of workspace on it be the better option?

Space isn't an issue as the desk is large, just interested in opinions if spending £300 odd quid one two monitors is worth it instead of spending the same on one large one.

Armageus · 17 Jul 2015 at 14:44

@£300 for a single big monitor presumably you are looking at a 28" 4K Screen like

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-019-AO&groupid=17&catid=1895

4K in theory gets you twice as much workspace as 2x 1080p 23" monitors, but will depend on whether everything is usable for you at that size, or whether you have to change dpi settings.

There is software available to carve up 1 screen into virtual screens / work areas to allow apps to maximize to e.g. half the screen (Although cannot think what the popular one is off the top of my head), to get the same effect as having 2 separate screens.

Depending on how old you graphics card is as well, then 4K @ 60hz isn't necessarily achieveable, so may need to budget for a newer graphics card as well.

antijoke · 17 Jul 2015 at 15:20

It would be for a new build, probably a GTX 960 depending on when I build the PC.

trimmer1980 · 17 Jul 2015 at 16:43

I've been working with 2 screen for about 5 years now and could never go back to one.

Personal preference..

If you do decide on the dual screen go for the 'extra' inch 24 with a 1920x1200, won't be too taxing on your gpu

Armageus · 17 Jul 2015 at 16:55

anticonscience said:
It would be for a new build, probably a GTX 960 depending on when I build the PC.

GTX960 supports 4K @ 60HZ fine as far as I know

trimmer1980 said:
If you do decide on the dual screen go for the 'extra' inch 24 with a 1920x1200, won't be too taxing on your gpu

1920x1200 screens are more expensive though - £216 each for the Dell Ultrasharps, so would be over the original budget of £300

Hodders · 18 Jul 2015 at 00:52

Two monitors is so much the way forward.

Lightroom, grid view on left monitor, working screen centre.

Normal working, Email/itunes on left, other windows on centre.

I would struggle to go back and would need serious convincing about even a big superwide monitor.

Devrij · 18 Jul 2015 at 21:58

Hodders said:
Two monitors is so much the way forward.

Lightroom, grid view on left monitor, working screen centre.

Normal working, Email/itunes on left, other windows on centre.

I would struggle to go back and would need serious convincing about even a big superwide monitor.

+1

For editing it's really nice to have the image you are working on in one screen, with the tiled view of your other images on the other. Speeds up my work flow to no end.

Minstadave · 18 Jul 2015 at 22:18

Get a Dell 2515H for your main screen (25" 1440P IPS panel that's calibrated) and the spend anything left on a cheap second hand monitor.

Have to agree with the others, 2 monitors makes Lightroom work so much quicker.

Quartz · 18 Jul 2015 at 23:18

Two: one landscape, the other portrait.

Kosmiche · 18 Jul 2015 at 23:19

Two monitors is useless to a gamer but very good for productivity, go for it.

Devrij · 19 Jul 2015 at 09:52

Eames said:
Two monitors is useless to a gamer but very good for productivity, go for it.

I wouldn't say that. I have my teamspeak open on the second window so I can see who's in various channels, and I have my afterburner stats on there too so I can keep tabs on framerate, temps etc.