2 or 1 Monitor(s)?

[jaeminyou]

Hello geeks, nerds and gamers

I'm planning to build a PC this year, but I do not know whether I should get 1 monitor or 2 monitors. I have a budget of $200 to spend on the monitors (maybe a bit more). The choices are: either to get 2 $100 monitors or just 1 $200 monitor. 

This is the build: 

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($34.88 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($153.89 @ B&H) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($107.89 @ OutletPC) 
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($164.99 @ Jet) 
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB GAMING X Video Card  ($276.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($62.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter  ($29.99 @ Newegg Marketplace) 

 

I mainly multitask so what do you guys think?


 

 

[RileyTheFox]

3 minutes ago, jaeminyou said:

Hello geeks, nerds and gamers

I'm planning to build a PC this year, but I do not know whether I should get 1 monitor or 2 monitors. I have a budget of $200 to spend on the monitors (maybe a bit more). The choices are: either to get 2 $100 monitors or just 1 $200 monitor. 

This is the build: 

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($34.88 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($153.89 @ B&H) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($107.89 @ OutletPC) 
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($164.99 @ Jet) 
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB GAMING X Video Card  ($276.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($62.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter  ($29.99 @ Newegg Marketplace) 

 

I mainly multitask so what do you guys think?


 

 

 

Go for the 2 monitors if you can find good 1080p ones that don't have suckish colour quality.

[Kickflapper]

Dual monitors is REALLY nice step up for multi tasking

[jcgruenhage]

Dual monitors are great, whats even better is one bigger one with higher resolution, because you do not have those bezels.

[steffeeh]

For multitasking, 2 monitors are the best for optimal workflow.

You also have ultrawide monitors which with the Windows snap function also makes it very practical, but still not as good as 2 monitors.

Though I'd wait a little more and invest in great monitors for a sweet build like yours.

I've made the mistake myself cheaping out on the monitors, and it wasn't long before I returned them and got better ones with adjustable height and decent size etc.

[jaeminyou]

6 minutes ago, steffeeh said:

For multitasking, 2 monitors are the best for optimal workflow.

You also have ultrawide monitors which with the Windows snap function also makes it very practical, but still not as good as 2 monitors.

Though I'd wait a little more and invest in great monitors for a sweet build like yours.

I've made the mistake myself cheaping out on the monitors, and it wasn't long before I returned them and got better ones with adjustable height and decent size etc.

I see, is it possible to operate 2 operating systems simultaneously? One on Windows, one on Linux.

[jaeminyou]

@EvilCat70 @GreenChris @Kickflapper

Should I just get 1 monitor first and upgrade to 2 in the future, because I'd have to spend even more on the power supply... 

[jcgruenhage]

7 minutes ago, steffeeh said:

For multitasking, 2 monitors are the best for optimal workflow.

You also have ultrawide monitors which with the Windows snap function also makes it very practical, but still not as good as 2 monitors.

Though I'd wait a little more and invest in great monitors for a sweet build like yours.

I've made the mistake myself cheaping out on the monitors, and it wasn't long before I returned them and got better ones with adjustable height and decent size etc.

why do you think that dual monitors has an advantage over bigger/higher resolution monitors? For example, what is the advantage of 4x 21.5" 1080p Monitors in a 2x2 grid vs one 43" 4k monitor(/TV)?

[Ricki]

If you can get a large single monitor then that would be my recommendation all the way. I have used dual monitor setups in the past and every time I switch to a larger monitor rather than two smaller monitors I've always preferred it.

 

For example, I used to run two 24in monitors, but when I went to a single 32in monitor I found it far more enjoyable and with little to no loss in real productive workspace. For example, I can have a CAD model up on one part of the screen and still have space for two tiled reference windows on the other part of the screen and I prefer the more square aspect ratio than having the super-wide effect from two monitors. 

[jcgruenhage]

2 minutes ago, jaeminyou said:

@EvilCat70 @GreenChris @Kickflapper

Should I just get 1 monitor first and upgrade to 2 in the future, because I'd have to spend even more on the power supply... 

If you can find a WQHD monitor that you can afford, and later adding a second one would give you a large benefit over a single and later double FHD monitors. This is only true if the monitors are big enough that you don't have to enable HighDPI scaling, because then, from a multitasking workflow perspective, the advantage (of the higher resolution) is lost.

[Guest]

Two monitors is great but if you can find an ultra wide new on eBay for around 200-230 (like I did) that's also a great option, but only if it's 29 inch.

[steffeeh]

22 minutes ago, GreenChris said:

why do you think that dual monitors has an advantage over bigger/higher resolution monitors? For example, what is the advantage of 4x 21.5" 1080p Monitors in a 2x2 grid vs one 43" 4k monitor(/TV)?

Well for a starter OP has a GTX 1060, meaning there may be some gaming involved, and 1060 probably isn't that great for 4k gaming. Also this is 2 vs 1, not 4 vs 1, so it's more about 2 screens vs 1 ultrawide (not sure the OP would afford 4k 32"+)

 

It's down to personal preference (although a 43" 4k screen probably isn't beneficial for workflow as you'd end up looking for everything, having 4 screens instead you at least know what screen has what program/window - at least that's my impression of 1 screen that massive).

 

For me personally, I really like being able to run for instance a game on one screen and a program of some sort on the other (such as casual gaming on the one, and spotify on the other), not to mention the media program I work with responds much better to 2 screens over 1 higher resolution one.

Also my experience is that programs and different windows snap faster where you want them with mutliple screens.

 

Though if you prefer 1 higher resolution one, then great for you Once again, it's personal preference.

[jcgruenhage]

4 minutes ago, steffeeh said:

Also my experience is that programs and different windows snap faster where you want them with mutliple screens.

I guess that's right with Windows, on Linux when using gnome, there is an extension called gTile which is great for window tiling, even on one monitor.

 

But about the rest, yeah, you're probably right I like my 49" 4k TV ^^ (but I also got a 1080 instead of a 1060, so there's that :D)

[jaeminyou]

@steffeeh Which monitor do you use? And is it 24 inches?

[steffeeh]

Though I look forward to when you'll be able to create virtual screens to divide up your monitor into segments just as if you had multiple physical monitors (whenever that will be available, if it even comes in the future) - then I will get an ultrawide.

 

For now I use 2x Dell U2414H 24", and they're pretty good. Though they have known issues with daisychaining, so there's that.

However I'll probably switch either one or both to a 4k or 1440p 144Hz (currently tilting towards 4k as I'm more into casual gaming with great quality), along a 1080 or 1080ti.

[jaeminyou]

1 minute ago, steffeeh said:

Though I look forward to when you'll be able to create virtual screens to divide up your monitor into segments just as if you had multiple physical monitors (whenever that will be available, if it even comes in the future) - then I will get an ultrawide.

 

For now I use 2x Dell U2414H 24", and they're pretty good. Though they have known issues with daisychaining, so there's that.

However I'll probably switch either one or both to a 4k or 1440p 144Hz (currently tilting towards 4k as I'm more into casual gaming with great quality), along a 1080 or 1080ti.

Oh I see. Since I'll be running the gtx 1060 on 1080p, which monitor do you recommend me?

[ps. I'm not a really hardcore gamer]

[steffeeh]

There are plenty of good monitors for 24" 1080p.

But I always go with monitors with adjustable heights.

Just check so it has a decent display with decent colors. Considering your GPU you could see if at least one of the screens could be 75Hz or so without breaking the bank, or a monitor that can be overclocked that high (mine can be overclocked to 76Hz or so).

Otherwise 60Hz is still good