Single ultra wide versus 3 monitor surround question?

ToTheMax · 28 Apr 2019 at 18:43

Couple of years ago I had a triple 27" setup and loved the extra screen real estate and the odd game that supported it was amazing. Desktop multi tasking was second to none. Upgraded to a single 40" monitor and also loved it but the back light died just now and it's out of warranty so now upgrade time again.

All of the above was at a lowly 60hz, and everyone raves about high refresh rate nowadays. I was considering maybe a single ultra wide like the LG 34GK950F but have concerns with desktop multi tasking on only one screen, gaming will probably be amazing though.

However for less money I could get say 3 AOC CQ32G1's with Nvidia now supporting freesync, have both high refresh rate gaming, great multi tasking, and the occasional surround game using Nvidia surround. Desk space isn't an issue.

Am I mad to consider surround setup again given the above? What's the current state of multi monitor support in gaming?

pp111 · 29 Apr 2019 at 09:34

The market certainly seems to be going towards larger and larger single monitors, although I still prefer a second monitor so I can keep an eye on other things while gaming.
The one thing you have to consider though is what graphics card do you have and what games do you play? I have a monitor similar to the one you are looking at, and it's a great monitor, but it also takes a lot of graphics card to drive it. Although say a 1070 will drive a monitor like that, it will be at reduced game settings. To drive it confidently with all the modern titles you need a 2080ti. This may well massively increase the cost for you.

ToTheMax · 29 Apr 2019 at 09:55

pp111 said:
The market certainly seems to be going towards larger and larger single monitors, although I still prefer a second monitor so I can keep an eye on other things while gaming.
The one thing you have to consider though is what graphics card do you have and what games do you play? I have a monitor similar to the one you are looking at, and it's a great monitor, but it also takes a lot of graphics card to drive it. Although say a 1070 will drive a monitor like that, it will be at reduced game settings. To drive it confidently with all the modern titles you need a 2080ti. This may well massively increase the cost for you.

Yeah this is also my concern, multi monitor gaming when I had it was really niche and it seems to be even more so nowadays. Maybe I'm remembering tri monitor setup with rose tinted glasses and I should go a single hi res display.

dessimpson · 29 Apr 2019 at 10:24

I've got an 35" g-sync ultrawide and a 27" 1440p second screen.
The second screen is used mainly for skype, gpu-z, afterburner etc. but I wouldn't be without it.

Bugbait · 29 Apr 2019 at 10:25

I had a 31" 4k screen as my main and a 25" 1440p as a secondary to the side. Switched the 4k for a 34" UW 1440p due to Citrix scaling problems with remote client access though. Both worked well and I much prefer a large single, main screen for the seamless extra screen area.