Monitor advice - one x 21:9 or two x 16:9

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mdf

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#267957 19-Feb-2020 16:59

It's been a long time since I've been desktop monitor shopping, and so there is a whole bunch of new acronyms and specifications to learn.

I'm looking for advice and opinions as to whether I am better off with a single ultrawide/21:9 monitor (likely WQHD, 32+ inches) or two 16:9 monitors (almost around 24 inches).

I'm in the process of upgrading my home office. I am a heavy user of Word, email and browser tabs, but also starting to do more and more CAD (DIY designs for home workshop, 3D printing, and CNC routing). While I would like to claim I will get back into PC gaming one day, realistically that isn't going to happen until next decade's office upgrade, not this one. I also don't do anything requiring super accurate colour representation or similar. I frequently have multiple windows open comparing documents, or working between browser and program so the ability to view multiple things at once is my top priority. Next priority is things looking "nice".

I currently have a mix and matched 1x 1080P 24" widescreen monitor and a very old 19" non-widescreen that I repurposed since it was the same height as the widescreen monitor. I don't like the mix and matching/difference in image quality, and clearly the old non-widescreen monitor only gets used when I have to. This kind of gives me three screens between multi-screening the widescreen and the other one, which is usually fine.

A colleague has the Titan Army/Kogan 34 inch WQHD ultrawide model that I'm sure I've seen recommended on GZ before, but now cannot find the reference. I've used this and it is *very* nice, with noticeably better resolution than my current desktop screens. I kind of "want" something like this. "Coincidentally", the $700-$800 asking price is about what I want to spend.

But I am also aware that I can get even more screen real estate with two 16:9 monitors for a similar sort of total price. I suspect I might be limited to two Full HDs at my budget, but have certainly seen Kogan/DS and sale options using various other resolutions and acronyms.

Thoughts on overall set up? Any other acronyms I should particularly be looking out for (pros and cons)?

This is the first part of a longer term office upgrade. I intend to build a desktop PC myself (something I've always wanted, but not yet managed to do), and so can specify a graphics card to match whatever technology/frequency/resolution/sync/"feature") I end up with monitor-wise.

Jase2985

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#2424218 19-Feb-2020 20:34

see what you can get in the 1440p range at the size your looking at.just gives you a little bit more screen real estate.

i have a 21:9 monitor and while its great i just think if you do a lot of different things at the same time having 2 separate screens would make things easier as you could full screen one thing while having 2 other things open on the second screen.

mattwnz

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#2424265 19-Feb-2020 21:39

I think it depends on how you use the screen. Will you mainly be using it with two windows next to one another, or will the application fill the entire wide screen? Personally I prefer 2-3 seperate monitors, becuase it is far easier to enlarge a window on each screen. It seems ultrawide screen monitors are largely used by gamers.

nzkc

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#2424279 19-Feb-2020 22:23

If you've already got a 1080p widescreen (as you say) then why not:

Get the big flash screen for the main display
Use the existing 1080p on the side in some way

So where you have a need for 2 screens - you're still covered. And you get the benefit of a big "centre of desk" screen.

I think this is the approach I'd take and I use 2 screens at work a lot. I tend to have one I use the most and the other for reference of things (when coding etc).

Spoonguard

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#2427282 26-Feb-2020 10:44

I bugger around with casual CAD and I can't imagine using anything by :9, let alone 21:9

Needless to say, I usually leave computer (edit: STOREs) quite disappointed.

timbosan

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#2427290 26-Feb-2020 11:01

Jase2985:

see what you can get in the 1440p range at the size your looking at.just gives you a little bit more screen real estate.

I would second this 1440p suggestion; you mention you are a heavy Word user - I am writing my Masters research at the moment and on a 24" 1440p monitor, having 2 full pages in Word visible is invaluable. I also have a second (1080p) monitor which I also have Word open on, allowing me to cross-check, edit, etc. I prefer 2 monitors (next upgrade is the second monitor to 1440p as well), and find this easier on two monitors than (I assume) having to manually resize windows on a single ultra-wide.

Gurezaemon

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#2427293 26-Feb-2020 11:05

nzkc:

If you've already got a 1080p widescreen (as you say) then why not:

Get the big flash screen for the main display
Use the existing 1080p on the side in some way
So where you have a need for 2 screens - you're still covered. And you get the benefit of a big "centre of desk" screen.

I think this is the approach I'd take and I use 2 screens at work a lot. I tend to have one I use the most and the other for reference of things (when coding etc).

^This.

In your situation, I'd definitely go with a 4K monitor (I've got the 32' Kogan, and I'm very happy with it) and put the 1080 one off to the side for secondary tasks.

I work in front of the computer all day, and have the 32' 4K as my main, with a 32' 1080 to the left, and 2× 22' 1080s to the right one above the other.

Windows has really sorted out its scaling issues, and so with very rare exceptions, everything just works when moving things between the different resolution monitors.

Any vaguely modern video card will be able to handle 2× monitors easily for general office productivity, especially if you're not anticipating doing any serious gaming.

phrozenpenguin

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#2427300 26-Feb-2020 11:09

For my home office setup I run dual 1440p 24" monitors, identical model, mounted on a stand. Its ace, and I tried a few options before settling on this.

As mentioned 1440p gets you a decent amount of real estate. I prefer two monitors for logical separation and I do a lot of screen sharing on conference calls so having one screen shared and one screen private is useful.

The other option would be a ~32" 4k screen which should be an OK PPI for computer use. But it would be a fairly massive screen!

There are limited 24" 1440p screens available but I would look into them.

mdf

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#2428438 27-Feb-2020 19:44

Cheers all. It does sound like 2x 1440p monitors are the way to go. Appreciate the suggestions to buy one "good" one and keep the existing, but my need for symmetry will make that a suboptimal solution.

Follow up monitor query. Kogan/DSE has some sharply priced 1440p/QHD monitors that have a 75Hz refresh rate, e.g.:

https://www.kogan.com/nz/buy/kogan-27-qhd-led-monitor-b/

https://www.kogan.com/nz/buy/kogan-24-qhd-freesync-75hz-monitor-2560-x-1440/

75Hz is much lower than the refresh rate of many of the "gaming" monitors advertised. I suspect that if I am not gaming, I am not going to even come close to noticing this (I am pretty sure the human eye only sees at 60Hz)? Thoughts?

phrozenpenguin

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#2428448 27-Feb-2020 20:06

mdf:

Cheers all. It does sound like 2x 1440p monitors are the way to go. Appreciate the suggestions to buy one "good" one and keep the existing, but my need for symmetry will make that a suboptimal solution.

Follow up monitor query. Kogan/DSE has some sharply priced 1440p/QHD monitors that have a 75Hz refresh rate, e.g.:

https://www.kogan.com/nz/buy/kogan-27-qhd-led-monitor-b/

https://www.kogan.com/nz/buy/kogan-24-qhd-freesync-75hz-monitor-2560-x-1440/

75Hz is much lower than the refresh rate of many of the "gaming" monitors advertised. I suspect that if I am not gaming, I am not going to even come close to noticing this (I am pretty sure the human eye only sees at 60Hz)? Thoughts?

That is a sharp price on the 24" Kogan. Do some measurements; I wouldn't be able to handle dual 27"!

75hz is / has been standard for as long as I can remember. I think the gaming monitors are the only ones that advertise more, but if you aren't gaming you shouldn't have a need....happy to stand corrected if wrong.