3 monitors vs 2

[FLUFFYJELLO]

So I'm looking at some deals right now on 1080p monitors to expand my setup. I'm currently running a single Samsung 120hz 1080p panel and streaming/recording is abysmally annoying. I run games full screen, so with OBS, chat (Raidcall/Skype) web browser tabs and such open I pretty much have to just hope that things underneath are running smoothly. I don't have an extra monitor laying around so I need to pick up something new. Here's where I have trouble deciding.

 

Do I buy 2 more 1080p monitors and run triple wide when I'm not streaming? Or do I pick up one more monitor (most likely a 1440p) and run the current 1080 as the secondary?

 

Games I play:

Witcher 3

Left4Dead2

Shadow of Mordor

Warframe

League of Legends

Tera

Heroes of the Storm

Diablo3

Dying Light

 

Games I stream:

Witcher 3

League of Legends

Dying Light

 

If any of you have experience with triple-wide scaling in any of those games or streaming experience while using a secondary monitor your input would be appreciated.

 

And I'm currently in my Step-Up ticket towards a 980Ti so no issues with running multi-monitor.

[Frost Byte]

Stick with the one monitor you have, and buy an ultrawide? Yeah, theyŕe quite expensive, but you might be able to save depending on the monitor you were looking at if you wanted to buy two. I'd personally like that idea of a setup, one ultrawide on a desk, and vesa mount the smaller 1080p panel above it, if possible.

[Bananasplit_00]

get 1x1440p and 1x1080p and have the 1440p one on the middle, also i have never heard of a 120hz monitor before

[Grrizz]

Triple screen gaming is over-rated IMO due to the stretching most games see on the side panels. For productivity 2 screens are necessary (IMO) and 3 are nice but 1440p is a godsend however for gaming 1080p is perfectly fine, if you are going to get a 980ti personally I would ether look at getting a 1440p screen or 21:9 screen.

[thekeemo]

If not for gaming get 3 monitors for the multitasking

[Tjomme]

get 1x1440p and 1x1080p and have the 1440p one on the middle, also i have never heard of a 120hz monitor before

Really? Do you even tech bro?

[Tjomme]

You should get 2 extra, or 1 ultrawide

[Johannes_Lazor]

For Multitasking like playing a game and having LTT in chrome 2 monitors is usually enough, 3 monitors is more purely for Gaming and/or multitasking in general. The ultimate would be to have 4 monitors, 3 at the ragular height and one on the top.

[Bananasplit_00]

Really? Do you even tech bro?

no its always been 144hz or 60hz or 30hz

[Tjomme]

no its always been 144hz or 60hz or 30hz

Nope, I have a 120hz monitor to 

[Bananasplit_00]

Nope, I have a 120hz monitor to 

well i guess i just havent come across one ever then

[FLUFFYJELLO]

well i guess i just havent come across one ever then

They were a very short-lived thing I guess? 144Hz is the new standard for "gaming" monitors so everything moved up.

Then again, it could be one of those fake refresh rates (like Samsung's "clear motion" rate that they do on TV's).

FPS counters in Heaven and Valley and in games measure 120FPS so Idk.

[FLUFFYJELLO]

You should get 2 extra, or 1 ultrawide

 

 

Triple screen gaming is over-rated IMO due to the stretching most games see on the side panels. For productivity 2 screens are necessary (IMO) and 3 are nice but 1440p is a godsend however for gaming 1080p is perfectly fine, if you are going to get a 980ti personally I would ether look at getting a 1440p screen or 21:9 screen.

 

 

They were a very short-lived thing I guess? 144Hz is the new standard for "gaming" monitors so everything moved up.

Then again, it could be one of those fake refresh rates (like Samsung's "clear motion" rate that they do on TV's).

FPS counters in Heaven and Valley and in games measure 120FPS so Idk.

Alright, looking at some ultrawide setups and 1440p monitors as possibilities...any suggestions in the $350-$500 range? (though I'd like to keep it closer to $400 or less if possible)

[michaelocarroll007]

no its always been 144hz or 60hz or 30hz

 

I believe most if not all  3d Monitors were 120hz i have a laptop with a 3d screen and it runs 120hz as when in 3d mode it takes 120hz to show 60hz each eye. 120 is still very smooth but seems to have been short lived and succeeded by 144 which i would think the difference of 144 vs 120 wouldn't be that noticeable 

[KemoKa]

I would not invest in triple monitor ultrawide setups for gaming, only for productivity and for the gobs of desktop space you have at your disposal. 3X Ultrawide for gaming will really really tax your GPU for not a lot of benefit. I like having way more monitors than I need, but that's because I feel like I need them (because having this website, a film and a game on at the same time is how I roll). Go with what fits your workflow best. I personally would go with the 1440p and keep the 1080p as a secondary, but that's just me.

[FLUFFYJELLO]

I would not invest in triple monitor ultrawide setups for gaming, only for productivity and for the gobs of desktop space you have at your disposal. 3X Ultrawide for gaming will really really tax your GPU for not a lot of benefit. I like having way more monitors than I need, but that's because I feel like I need them (because having this website, a film and a game on at the same time is how I roll). Go with what fits your workflow best. I personally would go with the 1440p and keep the 1080p as a secondary, but that's just me.

That's what I've been leaning towards really. Anything to step up from my single 22" 1080p setup. Even another 1080p would be an improvement for managing my streaming and editing programs while games are running. I'm just trying to figure out the most cost efficient solution that will also be an improvement.

[Diederik_Gr]

I went with a 1440p 27 inch monitor and I use my 1080p 21 inch monitor as my secondary. Really useful to keep things I need to see outside games on a secondary monitor. Triple screen gaming still doesn't seem great, only vehicle specific games seem to benefit from it.

[KemoKa]

That's what I've been leaning towards really. Anything to step up from my single 22" 1080p setup. Even another 1080p would be an improvement for managing my streaming and editing programs while games are running. I'm just trying to figure out the most cost efficient solution that will also be an improvement.

In my opinion, you'll be really happy no matter which setup you decide to go with. I used to have a triple 1050p setup (until one of them died - I cri evrytim) and that was absolutely fantastic for me and my 1050p/900p masterrace peasant self. I'd like to move onto higher res screens but really that's not on the table at the moment for me.

[FLUFFYJELLO]

I went with a 1440p 27 inch monitor and I use my 1080p 21 inch monitor as my secondary. Really useful to keep things I need to see outside games on a secondary monitor. Triple screen gaming still doesn't seem great, only vehicle specific games seem to benefit from it.

Any recommendations for affordable 1440p setups? Also, going with a 27inch 1080p 144hz is another option on the table looking at prices.

[Trik'Stari]

I prefer having three monitors over having just two. Mainly because I tend to have a lot of things going at once. Right now I've got the forum open on the right half of my right hand monitor, with youtube playing in the left half of that monitor. On the other monitors I have school work, Email, etc.

 

Its just nice,, having so much screen real estate to work with. I'm planning on adding a fourth, but I need a bigger surge protector with more plugs at this point.

[Exploded117]

1440p ultrawide + 2 1440p monitors on the side with pivot mounts so I can put them vertical when not gaming and horizontal for surround gaming.

 

The dream.

[FLUFFYJELLO]

Stick with the one monitor you have, and buy an ultrawide? Yeah, theyŕe quite expensive, but you might be able to save depending on the monitor you were looking at if you wanted to buy two. I'd personally like that idea of a setup, one ultrawide on a desk, and vesa mount the smaller 1080p panel above it, if possible.

  

Triple screen gaming is over-rated IMO due to the stretching most games see on the side panels. For productivity 2 screens are necessary (IMO) and 3 are nice but 1440p is a godsend however for gaming 1080p is perfectly fine, if you are going to get a 980ti personally I would ether look at getting a 1440p screen or 21:9 screen.

  

If not for gaming get 3 monitors for the multitasking

  

You should get 2 extra, or 1 ultrawide

  

For Multitasking like playing a game and having LTT in chrome 2 monitors is usually enough, 3 monitors is more purely for Gaming and/or multitasking in general. The ultimate would be to have 4 monitors, 3 at the ragular height and one on the top.

So money stuff, life stuff, all stuff aside I ended up canceling my Step-Up with EVGA and ordered a 27" 1080p as my main driver and have the 21" as a secondary for multitasking. Had a little debate in my head about need vs want and decided to save the moolah for other stuff.

Thanks for all the suggestions though.

[thekeemo]

        

So money stuff, life stuff, all stuff aside I ended up canceling my Step-Up with EVGA and ordered a 27" 1080p as my main driver and have the 21" as a secondary for multitasking. Had a little debate in my head about need vs want and decided to save the moolah for other stuff.

Thanks for all the suggestions though.

27" 1080p oh god... what I meant was 3 21" panels... 27" 1080p is not a great experience 

[FLUFFYJELLO]

27" 1080p oh god... what I meant was 3 21" panels... 27" 1080p is not a great experience

Looks fine to me. And triple wide was unnecessary and I lacked the desk real estate.

[thekeemo]

Looks fine to me. And triple wide was unnecessary and I lacked the desk real estate.

I sit a bit c;pser tp the monitors so it could just be me