Ultrawide vs Mulit-monitor

[themoose5]

So I've been having a little bit of a dilemma while searching for a new monitor. I've been really interested in going with an ultra wide but I've never been able to use one so I'm not sure how it comperes to having a multi-monitor setup. My desk isn't big enough to have an ultra wide with an extra monitor so I really have to go with one or the other. 

 

Anyone who has an ultrawide how does it compare to a multi-monitor setup? Do you feel like a single ultrawide would adequately replace 2 monitors? How is gaming with an ultrawide? I know some games don't support 21:9 so is it weird to play a game in 16:9 on a 21:9 monitor? 

 

Thanks for your help peeps!

[Tieox]

Depends on the size of the UW, I've a 29inch 2560x1080 which I tend to use with a 16:10 portrait monitor until just recently.   The lack of height is a real issue and something which bothers me with workstation use.    

 

If you got a 1440p or higher UW you should have more real estate to work with, and should not feel as claustrophobic in documents. 

 

 

[ARikozuM]

I'd say go to a store and see what an ultrawide looks and feels like. 

 

My vote goes for multi-monitor if it is only for work.

Nearly all games will support UW since the settings can be changed in Nvidia or AMD's control panels.

[Biggerboot]

I would say it depends how much desk-space and budget you have.  Ultrawide is kind of that good middle ground for people that want multi display, but the people who really value multi tasking (work) would appreciate more screens.

25 minutes ago, themoose5 said:

Anyone who has an ultrawide how does it compare to a multi-monitor setup? Do you feel like a single ultrawide would adequately replace 2 monitors? How is gaming with an ultrawide? I know some games don't support 21:9 so is it weird to play a game in 16:9 on a 21:9 monitor? 

I wouldn't say it can 'replace' multi display.  I think ultrawide is nice if you want to condense things into one display.  I don't think playing standard widescreen games on it would necessarily be weird, since the same quirks exist on multi.

3 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Nearly all games will support UW since the settings can be changed in Nvidia or AMD's control panels.

A few competitive games don't (I'm looking at you blizzard).  Otherwise yes.

[themoose5]

Just now, Biggerboot said:

I would say it depends how much desk-space and budget you have.  Ultrawide is kind of that good middle ground for people that want multi display, but the people who really value multi tasking would appreciate more screens.

I wouldn't say it can 'replace' multi display.  I think ultrawide is nice if you want to condense things into one display.  I don't think playing standard widescreen games on it would necessarily be weird, since the same quirks exist on multi.

I should have clarified I currently only use one of my monitors to play games on and usually leave Chrome, Steam, Discord, etc on the second monitor.

[Biggerboot]

1 minute ago, themoose5 said:

I should have clarified I currently only use one of my monitors to play games on and usually leave Chrome, Steam, Discord, etc on the second monitor.

I would honestly just stay with that, unless you feel you have the need to go wider (keeping the second monitor for whatever else you do and replacing the first one or just adding a 3rd).

[RileyTheFox]

1 minute ago, themoose5 said:

I should have clarified I currently only use one of my monitors to play games on and usually leave Chrome, Steam, Discord, etc on the second monitor.

Multi-monitor is perfect for you then. I use my TV as a second monitor and it only has Discord, Skype and Chrome on it.

[Tieox]

Another issue with UW is the simple lack of supported games, Fallout 4 requires either Flawless Widescreen to work, or a mod from the Nexus, yet Doom 4 works fine at 21:9 resolutions! 

 

It can be very frustrating getting game support for some games, and even with mods and third party programs issues can still remain with the GUI.

[Shiv78]

17 minutes ago, Biggerboot said:

A few competitive games don't (I'm looking at you blizzard).  Otherwise yes.

Overwatch works just fine. Which Blizzard games don't? World of Warcraft? lol

[themoose5]

Just now, Shiv78 said:

Overwatch works just fine. Which Blizzard games don't? World of Warcraft? lol

At launch Overwatch didn't support 21:9 Blizzard had to patch it in at some point later.

[Shiv78]

Just now, themoose5 said:

At launch Overwatch didn't support 21:9 Blizzard had to patch it in at some point later.

Oh lol

[themoose5]

9 minutes ago, Kierax said:

Another issue with UW is the simple lack of supported games, Fallout 4 requires either Flawless Widescreen to work, or a mod from the Nexus, yet Doom 4 works fine at 21:9 resolutions! 

 

It can be very frustrating getting game support for some games, and even with mods and third party programs issues can still remain with the GUI.

This is kind of what I was worried about with UW. It's becoming more popular but it hasn't reached the point where most games support it naively. 

 

I think I'm just going to go with a larger 1440p 16:9 display based on the replies from everyone. 

 

Thanks!!

[Biggerboot]

6 minutes ago, Shiv78 said:

Overwatch works just fine. Which Blizzard games don't? World of Warcraft? lol

StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3.  

4 minutes ago, themoose5 said:

At launch Overwatch didn't support 21:9 Blizzard had to patch it in at some point later.

That's good to know then. 

[Tieox]

14 minutes ago, themoose5 said:

This is kind of what I was worried about with UW. It's becoming more popular but it hasn't reached the point where most games support it naively. 

 

I think I'm just going to go with a larger 1440p 16:9 display based on the replies from everyone. 

 

Thanks!!

 

I'm looking seriously into selling my 21:9 for a 1440p 16:9 just for the additional gaming support and not having to rely on 3rd party applications for the games I play.  

[ARikozuM]

46 minutes ago, Biggerboot said:

StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3.  

Those games came before ultrawides were pervasive in the consumer space.

[Biggerboot]

5 hours ago, ARikozuM said:

Those games came before ultrawides were pervasive in the consumer space.

I understand that games need to be developed with aspect ratios in mind because not every game is designed to reveal everything to the player, and they'll go with what's most popular.  I would like to see more games have this option though.  FPS games dominantly have this feature.

 

I bring up SC2 in particular though because it was actually something you could do before it was patched out.  It gives an unfair advantage in the esports scene.  I've also read FOD is reduced in overwatch when in ultrawide.  So they were able to workaround this for an FPS.

 

Not saying it's a good or bad thing, but it's something to keep in mind when buying a niche display for gaming.

[Mick Naughty]

I really wanted to try a 1440 ultra wide. Was gonna get a second 1080 to push it. I prefer the triple screen gives me in games. The outer two screens have a much lower fov so it's magnified. I can notice things much easier that way. I only play fps games though. Can't compare 3 to 1 as that's an easy choice. 

[Dennis de Rooij [NL]]

7 hours ago, Mick Naughty said:

I really wanted to try a 1440 ultra wide. Was gonna get a second 1080 to push it. I prefer the triple screen gives me in games. The outer two screens have a much lower fov so it's magnified. I can notice things much easier that way. I only play fps games though. Can't compare 3 to 1 as that's an easy choice. 

i use a 25 inch lg 21:9 screen with 2560x1080 i really love the extra room left and right. every 16:10 or 16:9 is to small now. Once you go UW you never go back

[beavo451]

Lol at the lack of "support"

 

If the game doesn't support the ultrawide resolution, it simply runs with black bars on either side. A 2560x1440 image in the middle of a 34" ultrawide is roughly the same size as a 27" monitor.