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Best Multi Monitor Setup

12/26/2019

2 Comments

 
Best Multi Monitor Setup

How to Create the Best Multi Monitor Setup For Your Desk

So you want to be more productive, efficient, or (let's be honest) bad-ass at your desk and you're considering a multi monitor setup for your computer. Congratulations! Once you begin using a 2 monitor or 3 monitor setup you'll never go back. Whether you're trying to find the best multi monitor setup for work or for gaming, there are a few important things to consider.

In this comprehensive article I'll cover the most important technical (and aesthetic) specs, and make some recommendations of monitors and mounting brackets to help you complete the perfect multi-monitor set up for your desk. Let's get started!
We cover a lot in this article and I invite you to read the whole guide, but if you are short on time please use this menu to skip ahead to product recommendations, etc. to quickly find the content that you're interested in:

  • 4 Important Considerations When Choosing Monitors for Your Multi Monitor Setup
    1. Positioning, Size, and Ergonomics
    2. What Response Rate and Refresh Rate Are Best?
    3. Display Panel Type: IPS vs TN vs VA
    4. Can Your Video Card Handle Your New Multi Monitor Setup?
  • Choosing A Setup That Will Work Best For You
    1. Would a Single, Ultrawide Curved Monitor Be a Better Choice?
    2. VESA Mounts - Deciding How You Will Mount Your Multi Monitor Setup
    3. Take Note of Display Ports on Your Computer Before Purchasing
    4. What If My Computer Doesn't Have Enough Display Ports For My Multi Monitor Setup?
  • Creating The Best 2 Monitor Setup
    1. Best 1920 x 1080 Monitors for a Dual Monitor Setup
    2. Best 2560 x 1440 Monitors for a Dual Monitor Setup
    3. Best Dual Monitor VESA Mount Stands for a Two Monitor Setup
  • Creating The Best Triple Monitor Setup
    1. Best 1980 x 1080 Monitors for a Triple Monitor Setup
    2. Best 2560 x 1440 Monitors for a Triple Monitor Setup
    3. Best 3 Monitor VESA Mount Stands for a Three Monitor Setup

First Thing's First ... What You Need to Know for a Great Multi Monitor Setup

It can be easy to get carried away and snap up some monitors for your desk, but there are a few important things to investigate before you begin. Here's my quick checklist to make sure all of your bases are covered:

Positioning, Size, and Ergonomics

Chances are that if you're considering more than one monitor for your desk you spend a lot of time there, either working or gaming. This means that preventing injury by creating an ergonomic desk setup is important. Our ergonomic calculator can help you dial this in and will give you a lot to think about as you plan your new desk setup.

​You can make almost any size and quantity of monitors work for your setup, but you may need to invest in different monitor mounts, or even a height adjustable desk base to ensure that you can be comfortable while enjoying long hours at your new setup.

Response Rate and Refresh Rate

Of particular note to folks setting up multiple monitors for their gaming desk, everyone should have a basic understanding of response rate and refresh rate when shopping for monitors for a multi-monitor setup. Next to every monitor on Amazon you'll see a hertz (Hz) measurement and a millisecond (ms) value.

​The hertz number is the number of times the picture is refreshed per minute ... so for example a 60 Hz monitor is sent a new image from the computer 60 times per second, a 120 Hz monitor is refreshed 120 times per second, etc. For most use cases, 60 Hz is sufficient, but 3D content requires 120 Hz, and competitive gamers will want higher hertz on their displays to ensure smoother rendering and less blurring.

​The millisecond value of a monitor is it's response rate ... in other words how quickly the monitor responds to signals sent to it from your PC (1ms means the signal is received in 1 millisecond, 5ms means it takes 5 milliseconds, etc.). ​

A lower ms and a higher hz number will generally be a higher-quality monitor, but if you are not using your monitors for gaming, then you probably won't notice much of a difference, and a 60-120 hz monitor with any ms rating will be fine for you in an office setting.

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Display Panel Type: IPS vs TN vs VA

If you're confused by the different display panel types, you aren't alone. Here's a quick side-by-side breakdown of the most common types of flat-screen computer monitors, and who each type is best for. For most office workers today, an IPS monitor is the best choice.
IPS Computer Monitor
IPS (In-Plane Switching) monitors were developed originally to address some of the pitfalls and shortcomings of traditional TN monitors ... specifically they were designed to offer superior viewing angles and color reproduction. In this regard, they have succeeded - and if these are priorities for your setup, I'd encourage you to buy IPS monitors. The downside to using IPS monitors for your setup are that they will have slower response times, and reduced refresh rates. If you're a competitive gamer, IPS monitors tend to be considered a worse option than TN displays, but if you use your monitor for work (specifically graphic design or a similar field), an IPS monitor is probably the best choice for your multi monitor setup, and it's the display panel type I recommend.
TN Computer Monitor
TN (Twisted Nematic) display panels are among the most widely-used type of panels. They are cheap to produce and don't consume much power to operate. Their limitations are that they can suffer from limited viewing angles, uneven backlighting, higher input lag, and can be less than perfect in bright sunlight. These limitations are important when designing the perfect multi monitor setup for your desk. They do, however, offer the advantage of lower response times and higher refresh rates than some other competitors, which can make them a good choice for competitive gaming, but I would not recommend them for work, or for gamers who value great color saturation and brilliant graphics.. 
VA Computer Monitor
VA (Vertical Alignment) display panels are a good option which fall somewhere between IPS and TN computer monitors. Compared to IPS panels, VA display panel monitors have superior refresh rates (though most are currently 60Hz),. Compared to TN panels, VA monitors offer better brightness, color reproduction, and improved viewing angles, and if you value high contrast in your display (if you watch a lot of video for example), then VA monitors are the way to go. Gamers will probably  choose TN or IPS computer monitors for their multi-monitor setup as VA display panel monitors can be a bit sluggish for competitive gamers where every millisecond counts. They're sort of a jack-of-all trades, master of none. 

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Can Your Video Card Handle Your New Multi-Monitor Setup?

Your computer's video card plays a large role in the picture quality of your setup, and if you're setting up a large multi-monitor setup for your personal or work computer, than upgrading your video card might be a wise investment.

​If you're into gaming, an upgraded graphics card is pretty much a requirement.

Most computers have an integrated GPU, either as a video card that's soldered to your motherboard or integrated into your processor, and you can always upgrade this as long as your motherboard has an open PCI express 16 slot.  If you own a desktop computer, chances are you have an open PCIE16 slot on your motherboard, and you don't have to be that savvy about computers to plug an upgraded graphics card into it and open the punch-out on the back of your computer for the new display ports (there are some good photos on the Wiki page linked above to help you identify them on your computer).

The advantage of a larger video card (or two) added to your motherboard's PCI express slots is that there's going to be sufficient power and cooling to run your multi-monitor computer display setup with flawless graphics.

If you have a computer that you bought off-the-shelf at Best Buy, then chances are you don't have an upgraded video card. Many personal computers today use an on-board video card, meaning the video card is built right into your computer's motherboard. This has a couple of drawbacks, including that it may be more likely to overheat when under strain, and with a large multi-monitor setup (especially when gaming), that's a risk that could jeopardize your PC.

For every-day office use, most computers can handle a multi monitor setup fine just the way you are, but if you do upgrade to a new GPU, chances are you'll notice a big difference in the quality of your display and the performance of your setup.

The important things to consider before you buy a new graphics card to upgrade your system are:
  1. Do I have an open PCI express 16 slot in my desktop PC's motherboard?
  2. Can my desktop computer's power supply handle the additional wattage requirement of the new GPU?

If the answer to both questions is yes, then go ahead and upgrade.

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How Many Monitors Do I Actually Need For My Setup?

If you haven't already decided on exactly what you want or need for a multi-monitor display, there are some important questions you should ask yourself and answer. I'll briefly outline what I feel are some of the most important questions users should consider before purchasing their new setup.

Are You Sure You Need More Than One Monitor?

LG 34
Read Reviews of This Curved Monitor on Amazon
There are some amazing ultrawide curved monitors which offer the viewing experience and screen-size real estate most people want from a multi-monitor setup.

For most people one of these top-of-the-line curved monitors may be ideal on their own. Ask yourself if a single, amazing monitor with split-screen functionality like this 34" beauty from LG (pictured) might meet or exceed your needs. Some users even pair two of these monsters together for an amazing wrap-around 2-monitor setup that puts most 6-monitor setups to shame.

​Upgrading your setup is satisfying no matter what, and a sweet monitor like the one shown here might be the upgrade you didn't know you wanted.

How Will You Mount Your New Monitors?

Questions such as how much vertical and horizontal space can my desk accommodate, and how much weight can my desk support are important to answer, and then after that, figure out what sort of monitor mount you would prefer.

In most cases, even if you have an inexpensive MDF desk top, you can make a large VESA monitor mount work by screwing a piece of 1" x 4" or 1" x 6" lumber to the underside of the desk surface at the rear of your desk to reinforce the structure and add rigidity. These can be purchased at any local home center for a couple of dollars, and you can paint or stain the wood to match if you like. Measure the length of your desk and have the home center cut your board to length for you. Measure the depth of your desk, add 3/4" to that measurement, and buy screws that are 1/8" - 1/4" shorter than that so they don't come through the top surface of your desk when you attach the board at home.

Also - it's important to consider how you want to set up your monitors. You know best how you work, and if you'd like to be able to regularly move and re-position your monitors, one or more gas spring wall or desk mounts may be better than the solid stationary mounts preferred by day traders and PC gamers who like to dial-in their setup once and have it remain there until judgement day.

Is the Monitor You're Considering Compatible with VESA Mounting Brackets?

If you're planning on using a VESA mount to beautifully organize your new multi-monitor display, make sure that the monitors you purchase will connect easily by having the VESA connection on the back of the display panel (4 screw holes to attach the monitor to the mount). In my recommendations below, I provide links to VESA adapters which will work with any of my recommended monitors which do not come equipped with the VESA mounting holes on the rear of their panel.

And speaking of VESA mounts, I highly recommend quick-release brackets like these ones (pictured) ... they're inexpensive, and make assembly (and maintenance) of your multi-monitor setup a breeze, reducing the risk of damage to your monitors. You attach one side to your monitor, one side to the monitor stand arm, and attaching (and detaching) each monitor is easy and fast.
Vesa Mount Bracket

How Many (and what kind of) Video Display Ports Does My Computer Have?

Before you buy monitors, take into consideration the connection ports on your PC or laptop. While you can get converters to allow you to connect VGA to DVI, etc., it's much more convenient (and less expensive) to buy monitors which have ports which match the video connections on your computer.

So if you're planning to connect two monitors to your PC, and your video card has an HDMI and a VGA connection, try to purchase a pair of matching monitors which have both an HDMI and VGA port ... this way you can buy one HDMI cable and one VGA cable to make completing your setup easy.

What If My Computer Doesn't Have Enough Display Ports for My Multi Monitor Setup?

Many computers only have two ports to connect video output signals, and if you plan to create a multi monitor setup with three or more monitors this can be a problem. Usually the best option is to upgrade your video graphics card to something that has 3 or more ports in it.

Alternatively, you can opt for a USB adapter which will allow you to output your video signal to multiple monitors via your computer's USB ports. This is a good option for many offices and for workers who are not tech savvy, as it can be less espensive than upgrading your video card, and most computers have several unused USB ports, even if they're limited in display ports for video output.

The Plugable brand is what I recommend if you decide to go this route to set up 3+ monitors, but I don't recommend this approach if you are buying 1440p resolution displays (it's a great option for 1080p HD resolution).

One mistake some people make when going the adapter route for a multiple monitor setup instead of updating their video card is that they buy a splitter (for example one HDMI cable from your computer to 3 HDMI cables to your monitors). This generally won't work for a multiple monitor setup at your desk, because you'll just end up with the same display 3 times, instead of a single display split across the three screens. You really want an independent video out cable running to each monitor.

If you're limited to 2 video output ports on your machine and don't want to upgrade your GPU (video card), then a USB to video graphics adapter like the one mentioned above is probably the best solution.

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Best 2 Monitor Setup

Best 2 Monitor Setup
Here are my recommendations for some of the best monitors, mounts, and upgraded video cards to use for your new 2 monitor setup.

​In this article I've divided the monitors into either 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 max resolutions so you can choose the display setup that will best suit your needs.

Best 1920 x 1080 Monitors for Dual Monitor Setup

Monitor Size Resolution Panel Ports VESA Compatible?
Acer R240HY
Acer R240HY
23.8" 1920x1080 IPS VGA, DVI, HDMI With This Adapter Check Price
ASUS VC239H
ASUS VC239H
23" 1920x1080 IPS VGA, DVI, HDMI Yes Check Price
Acer SB220Q
Acer SB220Q
21.5" 1920x1080 IPS DVI, HDMI With This Adapter Check Price
HP Pavilion 22cwa
HP Pavilion 22cwa
21.5" 1920x1080 IPS VGA, HDMI With This Adapter Check Price
All four of these slim-bezel monitors are excellent for a dual monitor setup and come very highly reviewed. The ASUS VC239H monitor can be mounted to any VESA monitor arm right out of the box, and the others I've selected can all be mounted on a dual monitor VESA mount stand with adapters (links to the appropriate adapters are provided in the table above). The larger 2 monitors are generally priced between $100-$150 USD, and the 21.5" monitors can usually be purchased for under $100  USD each, making for a very affordable 2 monitor setup for your computer.

Best 2560 x 1440 Monitors for Dual Monitor Setup

Monitor Size Resolution Panel Ports VESA Compatible?
ASUS VZ27AQ
ASUS VZ27AQ
27" 2560x1440 IPS VGA, HDMI, DP With This Adapter Check Price
ASUS Designo MX27AQ
ASUS Designo MX27AQ
27" 2560x1440 IPS 3x HDMI, DP, m-DP With This Adapter Check Price
ViewSonic VG2765
ViewSonic VG2765
27" 2560x1440 IPS HDMI, DP, m-DP Yes Check Price
Acer H277HU
Acer H277HU
27" 2560x1440 IPS DVI, HDMI, DP, USB-C With This Adapter Check Price
Dell U2717D
Dell U2717D
27" 2560x1440 PLS HDMI, DP, DP-Out, m-DP Yes Check Price
ASUS VA32AQ
ASUS VA32AQ
31.5" 2560x1440 IPS - ADS VGA, HDMI, DP Yes Check Price
These larger monitors are more expensive, but offer the advantage of a higher resolution, making your 2 monitor setup higher quality. The higher resolution and larger size means that two of these monitors, might be a better choice than a more conservatively priced 1080p 3-monitor setup.

​Note that the largest monitor here will need a larger monitor mount for a multi monitor setup on your desk (my recommended mount for the VA32AQ monitor is linked in the next section).

Best 2 Monitor Desk Mounts for Dual Screen Displays

All of these monitors are sold with a traditional stand so you can set them side-by-side on your desk for a simple dual monitor setup, but if you'd prefer to purchase a monitor mount for your desk, there are basically two choices that you'll have to make:
  1. Do you want a dual monitor stand that sits on the top of your desk, or one which you can mount to your desk with a clamp, or which can be mounted to a wall behind your desk?
  2. Do you want a stand with rigid arms which you can lock into place for consistent placement, or would you prefer a mount with gas-spring arm struts which makes re-positioning your two-monitor setup a breeze? 
Whichever way you're leaning for your new setup, one of these 4 monitor mounts should work well for you.
VIVO Dual Monitor Desk Mount
13" - 27" Monitors
Up to 22 lbs. Each
View on Amazon
VIVO Dual Monitor Free Standing Desk Mount
13" - 27" Monitors
Up to 22 lbs. Each
View on Amazon
HUANUO Dual Monitor Gas Spring Desk Mount
15" - 27" Monitors
Up to 17.6 lbs. Each
View on Amazon
Mount-It! Monitor Desk Mount with Dual Arms and Height Adjustable Gas Springs
13" - 27" Monitors
Up to 20 lbs. Each
View on Amazon

Please note that if you opt for the 31.5" ASUS monitor listed above, these 4 dual monitor mount stands will not work. Instead, try this one from WALI, which would work with any of the monitors listed here, including the ASUS VA32AQ.

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Best Triple Monitor Setup

Best Triple Monitor Setup
Here are my recommendations for some of the best monitors and three monitor desk stands to use for your new triple monitor setup. I've divided the monitors into either 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 max resolutions so you can choose the display setup that will best suit your needs.

​Some of these slim monitors require a VESA mount adapter to attach to monitor mount arms. If they need this to work, I've provided a link to the correct adapter to use for your setup.

Best 1920 x 1080 Monitors for Triple Monitor Setup

Monitor Size Resolution Panel Ports VESA Compatible?
Acer R240HY
Acer R240HY
23.8" 1920x1080 IPS VGA, DVI, HDMI With This Adapter Check Price
ASUS VC239H
ASUS VC239H
23" 1920x1080 IPS VGA, DVI, HDMI Yes Check Price
Acer SB220Q
Acer SB220Q
21.5" 1920x1080 IPS DVI, HDMI With This Adapter Check Price
HP Pavilion 22cwa
HP Pavilion 22cwa
21.5" 1920x1080 IPS VGA, HDMI With This Adapter Check Price
All four of these slim-bezel monitors are excellent for a three-monitor setup and come very highly reviewed. The larger, 23" - 24" monitors are generally priced between $100-$150 USD (quite affordable), and the 21.5" monitors are a great budget-friendly choice at under $100  USD apiece. For most users three 1080p resolution displays will create a beautiful HD 3-monitor setup and going this route can save you some money vs. the more expensive, larger 1440p resolution monitors which are listed in the table below.

Best 2560 x 1440 Monitors for Triple Monitor Setup

Monitor Size Resolution Panel Ports VESA Compatible?
ASUS VZ27AQ
ASUS VZ27AQ
27" 2560x1440 IPS VGA, HDMI, DP With This Adapter Check Price
ASUS Designo MX27AQ
ASUS Designo MX27AQ
27" 2560x1440 IPS 3x HDMI, DP, m-DP With This Adapter Check Price
ViewSonic VG2765
ViewSonic VG2765
27" 2560x1440 IPS HDMI, DP, m-DP Yes Check Price
Acer H277HU
Acer H277HU
27" 2560x1440 IPS DVI, HDMI, DP, USB-C With This Adapter Check Price
Dell U2717D
Dell U2717D
27" 2560x1440 PLS HDMI, DP, DP-Out, m-DP Yes Check Price
ASUS VA32AQ
ASUS VA32AQ
31.5" 2560x1440 IPS - ADS VGA, HDMI, DP Yes Check Price
These larger monitors are more expensive, but offer the advantage of a higher resolution, making your 3 monitor setup higher quality. The higher resolution and larger size means that three of these monitors, might be a better choice than a more conservatively priced setup of 4+ 1080p computer screens.

Note that these monitors will need a larger monitor mount for a multi monitor setup on your desk, so pay careful attention to the size of your monitor and the size your monitor stand to be sure the stand you purchase will work with the monitors you buy for your new computer screen setup.

Best 3 Monitor Desk Mounts for Three Screen Displays

All of these monitors are sold with a traditional stand so you can set them side-by-side on your desk for a simple three monitor setup (providing you have enough desk space). But most people prefer to purchase a monitor mount to free up desk space and create the ultimate triple monitor setup for your desk. If you want to go this route, I recommend you consider the following first:
  1. Do you want a triple monitor stand that positions your monitors end to end in a single level row / vertically in a level row, or which positions two monitors side by side with one monitor above them?
  2. Do you want a stand with rigid arms which you can lock into place permanently for added stability, or would you rather own a mount with gas-spring arm struts which makes re-positioning your three-monitor setup easy? 
One of these 4 monitor mounts should work well for your new multi monitor setup.
Mount-It! MI-753 Triple Screen Computer Monitor Desk Mount Stand Arm
13" - 24" Monitors
Up to 22 lbs. Each
View on Amazon
TechOrbits Three Monitor Stand Mount
13" - 30" Monitors
Up to 20 lbs. Each
View on Amazon
Stand Steady 3 Monitor Desk Mount Stand
13" - 32" Monitors
Up to 17.6 lbs. Each
View on Amazon
WALI Triple Monito Desk Mount Adjustable Stand
13" - 27" Monitors
Up to 22 lbs. Each
View on Amazon

Note the monitor size range of each recommended monitor stand listed above and order one which will accommodate the monitor size that you choose.

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Choosing the Best Multi Monitor Setup for Your Desk

Whether you're a day trader, a gamer, or simply work at your computer all day and want more space on your screen to keep multiple apps and tabs open side-by-side, designing the best multi monitor setup for your desk can be a lot of fun.

If you're dreaming of more than 3 screens for your new setup, there are plenty of stands available to accommodate 4 monitors or more, just take note of the total weight of your setup and consider upgrading to a high-quality height-adjustable desk, L-shaped desk, or executive desk worthy of your new setup.

Good luck, and please feel free to send me a photo of your setup once you've finished it!

​I can't wait to see how it turns out.
2 Comments
Alexandre Migneault
2/20/2020 10:12:03 pm

Could you also make a couple suggestions for a 3 monitor setup with the 2 end monitors in portrait mode? I want a 3 monitor setup for remote PC support but don't have/want all that width above my desk for landscapes

Reply
Joe link
2/22/2020 01:34:04 pm

Hi, Alexandre -

The pneumatic gas spring mounts mentioned in this article should help you with that. Usually if you use the vesa mount on the back of your monitors you can turn the outside monitors to portrait and configure the display to portrait on those monitors in your desktop display settings, maintaining the landscape view on the center monitor.

Hopefully this helps you out, but if not please elaborate on your question. :)

Thanks for visiting my site!

Joe

Reply



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