Dual monitors, Why do you use them?

By medhunter
in Hardware Hangout

 Share

Recommended Posts

Veteran

IceBreakerG

Posted
Posted

I have 3x24" wide screen monitors on my desk at work (connected to 2 GeForce GTX560 GPUs). I'm a software developer, so on my left screen I usually keep software requirements and documentation on, center screen is my main screen, has most apps on it including Visual Studio 2012 and my browser(s), outlook, etc, and my right monitor usually has another browser window (usually the one I'm testing with) and SQL Server. This set up is massive in scale, but I couldn't imagine going back to anything less than this again. It's awesome being able to see so much information at the same time.

Proficient

medhunter

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you so much for these creative ideas

But in fact, I can say you use the setup for Coding ,Office documents editing, graphic production,Gaming, Web browsing/General stuff.

I am not a coder, Heavy office editor, or a graphic guy.

That leaves general stuff:Email, Browsing, Gaming, Media.But I can't see myself Gaming and paying attention to a website or a movie.

So, I am sure you get a huge benefit, but it is almost work related (Coding, Graphics, Office).But what is out there for a person who is not into these stuff.

I have a second monitor and I am going to use it eventually, but I want to know how to make full use of a 2nd monitor.

For example, you say you use Ubuntu and Windows 7. If for example, you ran Ubuntu in a virtual machine, full screen on your 2nd monitor, you could have an additional keyboard and mouse attached and hooked to that virtual machine giving you a 2nd machine fully working machine without the need to ctrl+alt, alt+tab out.. or indeed dual boot.

I have just read an article saying same thing about this setup is over-rated,but I lost the source.This may be the incentive to start this thread

I Dual Boot Ubuntu and Win7. Most of the time on Ubuntu.But a good point, though, that I can use it with my wife.Synergy is the software for that, right?

Grand Master

Shadrack

Posted
Posted

I have a 2 monitor setup at work and I don't think I could be as productive without it.

I can have a PDF open on one monitor that I'm referring to while writing a report in Word on another monitor.

The question just strikes me as an odd one... Its like, why is 2 better than 1? Because 2 > 1, that's why.

Veteran

DavidM

Posted
Posted

Thank you so much for these creative ideas

But in fact, I can say you use the setup for Coding ,Office documents editing, graphic production,Gaming, Web browsing/General stuff.

I am not a coder, Heavy office editor, or a graphic guy.

That leaves general stuff:Email, Browsing, Gaming, Media.But I can't see myself Gaming and paying attention to a website or a movie.

So, I am sure you get a huge benefit, but it is almost work related (Coding, Graphics, Office).But what is out there for a person who is not into these stuff.

I have a second monitor and I am going to use it eventually, but I want to know how to make full use of a 2nd monitor.

I have just read an article saying same thing about this setup is over-rated,but I lost the source.This may be the incentive to start this thread

I Dual Boot Ubuntu and Win7. Most of the time on Ubuntu.But a good point, though, that I can use it with my wife.Synergy is the software for that, right?

I'm still only running one 23", but I'd love to have another smaller one running in portrait mode for web sites while gaming. I'm playing through the Mass Effect series (again and they are starting to become one very long game) and I don't know how many times I've grabbed my laptop to check locations of quest items, guns stats or just where exactly I want to put that last skill point. I guess you could say I'm running a second 15.6" screen that happens to be powered by another computer. :)

My wife is going for her Masters and is writing paper after paper and uses dual 21" screen, one with Word up and the other has her sources. When I set it up for her she laughed and told me it was over kill, the other day I told her I was going to take one for myself she told me to, well, FO... in so many words. The other day she had one with Word and one with IE and a pdf sharing the second. I was waiting for her to tell me she needed another monitor.

Slightly off topic, anyone running Windows 8 with dual or triple monitors?

Proficient

GrayW

Posted
Posted

I Dual Boot Ubuntu and Win7. Most of the time on Ubuntu.But a good point, though, that I can use it with my wife.Synergy is the software for that, right?

Synergy allows you to control multiple machines over a network with a single mouse and keyboard http://synergy-foss.org/

Grand Master

Lee G. Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

I use dual monitors. I use a 24" monitor as my primary monitor alongside a 20" monitor. I've found that it has increased my productivity.

I can have a Word document on one monitor, and a browser open on the other. I can also have a video playing or a video game on one monitor, and a browser on the other.

I use my secondary monitor for displaying virtual machines and remote desktop sessions, and I often have my media player opened on that monitor.

Grand Master

Pupik

Posted
Posted

Got 32' as my main monitor and 23' one right of it. Only use the second monitor when I play games like LoL to read more about the champion I'm playing from mobafire or alike. Or watch streams on twitch, when I'm doing something else. Rarely use the second monitor for anything else.

Grand Master

Sikh

Posted
Posted

I have 3 monitors. Center is 27" and sides are 24's which will be upgraded when I build a new desk.

When Developing Apps / Coding Websites / etc, its nice like everyone else to have Development Environment in middle, resources left or right, and email / browser for tesitng left or right.

On my macbook, i just went from 2 24's to 1 27" TB Display and I love it. Im an IT Tech at work, so I have a 27" tb and a 24" 1080 monitor. I really have to say, having 1 2440*1400(i believe) does replace 2 monitors for me. But, I will have another 27" for home when I can.

But, on my macbook i mainly do all of my work work on there and any linux compiling, bash scripting blah blah blah. So having multiple monitors is important on my Macbook but I can replace (for now) having multiple monitors at home by dividing my tb display into 4 quadrants.

At work we also got multiple desktops with dual 30" 2600*1600 dells on them. If I could get ASUS monitors IPS or not @ that resolution, then I honestly believe I can live with 2.

Resolution is mainly the thing for me and most of the people I know that use multiple monitors. Its easier to buy 4 27's at a good time, which will easily cost as much as a 27-30" IPS panel at anytime.

Grand Master

Nashy

Posted
Posted

I have 2 24" monitors.

There is so much room for extra programs. It's great when I'm multitasking with more than one program.

Especially Dreamweaver on one, Fireworks on the other. If I'm browsing, I usually have Winamp open in the other, or any other small task I'm doing in it.

Rising Star

Coagulated

Posted
Posted

I used to do a lot of video editing and a lot of the tools I used were designed for dual monitors. However, after a while I just found that I loved the increased productivity in general, even when doing recreational activities.

Okay, at one point I did used to play Football Manager on one screen whilst playing/administrating a Call of Duty 5 server on another screen - but that was just gluttonous!

Apprentice

pixelpixel88

Posted
Posted

I have 2 at work (actually a notebook + a monitor). Since im a software developer, i am coding on my laptop, and have the result (browser) or documentation open on the big monitor. Also its nice to check the resulting webpages on different resolutions and screen sizes.

Veteran

metal_dragen Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Since OP doesn't do a lot of productivity style stuff, here's mostly how I and a few other people I know use a 2nd monitor for typical "home" use.

My PC at home is generally used mostly for gaming, so I use a 2nd monitor to keep an eye on things like CoreTemp (for monitoring CPU temps/load), PrecisionX (for monitoring GPU temp/load/fan speed), Ventrilo/TeamSpeak/Mumble, and have a web browser open for either reference or to watch streaming video while I play (background noise). I mostly play MMOs (Rift, The Secret World, SWTOR) so I don't have to concentrate fully 100% on the game all the time.

At work, it's as others have said - the second screen is used for reference or image editing for the document I'm working with on the primary screen.

Grand Master

+Anarkii Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted

2 monitors.

As a 3D Artist I have my main screen with a 3D package on the left (usually Autodesk Maya or zBrush) and reference art on the right.

Also when not doing work I have browser on the left, and movies/games/porn/whatever on the right.

Explorer

Defiant

Posted
Posted

I have two 22" screens at home and work in a mirror setup. 99% of the time the LH screen is email & tickets via an RSS feed to the app bar in Outlook. RH screen is either dev tools I am working with or web browsing. Could not go back to one screen now.

Far quicker to look left & right rather than tabbing or lining up windows...

Grand Master

Livin in a box

Posted
Posted

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but to save making my own, I have another TV in my room that isn't being used but it doesn't support 1080p like my monitor does. I've tried plugging it in before but it was a pain as it made everything go at 768p, but is there a way around this?

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • AdGuard Family lifetime deal now only $14.97

      By News Staff · Posted

      AdGuard Family lifetime deal now only $14.97 by Steven Parker Today's highlighted Neowin Deal comes via our Apps + Software section, where you can get a lifetime subscription and save 91% on a lifetime AdGuard Family Plan. AdGuard is a unique program that has all the necessary features for what they claim to be "the best web experience." The software combines the an advanced ad blocker, a privacy protection module, and a parental control tool—all working in one app. This software deals with annoying ads, hides your data from a multitude of trackers, protects you from malware attacks, and even lets you restrict your kids from accessing inappropriate content. Install AdGuard and see the internet as it was supposed to be: clean and safe. Get rid of annoying banners, pop-ups & video ads once and for all Hide your data from the multitude of trackers & activity analyzers that swarm the web Avoid fraudulent and phishing website and malware attacks Protect your kids online by restricting them from accessing inappropriate & adult content Good to know Family Plan Length of access: lifetime This plan is only available to new users Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Max number of devices: 9 Access options: desktop & mobile Software version: AdGuard Family Updates included A lifetime subscription of AdGuard Family Plan normally costs $169.99, but this deal can be yours for just $14.97, that's a saving of $157.02. For full terms, specifications, and license info please click the link below. Get this AdGuard Family lifetime deal for just $14.97 (was $169.99) Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. As an online publication, Neowin too relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we'd appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support! Support queries If you have queries or need support for any of the Neowin Deals, please use the contact form here. Neowin Deals are managed and sold by StackCommerce who represent Neowin on an affiliate basis. Why we post these deals We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. So for those that keep moaning and complaining, be thankful we're still online for you to even do that. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce.
    • Newegg offers insane combo deal on Amazon Prime Day 2026 that beats Steam Machine

      By sphbecker · Posted

      Sadly "beats Steam Machine" isn't much of a brag.
    • An oversimplified explanations of Passkeys

      By +Warwagon · Posted

      Passkeys: Think of them like a broken heart necklace. Imagine one of those heart necklaces that breaks into two matching pieces. One person keeps one half, and the other person keeps the other half. With passkeys, the website has one half, and you have the other half. If the website gets hacked and someone steals its half, that stolen piece is useless by itself. It cannot unlock your account without your matching half. This particular heart necklace is one of a kind, there is only one in existence. Your half of the necklace has to be stored somewhere. It might be stored on your phone, tablet, computer, security key, or a password manager that can sync it between all your devices. A security key is a small physical device that you keep with you, kind of like a house key, car key, or flash drive. I would not usually recommend a security key as the first option for the average person. For most people, it is easier to use their phone, computer, or a password manager that can sync passkeys between their devices. A security key is more like a spare key you keep in a safe place, just in case you lose access to your other devices or your password manager. Some security keys plug into your computer. Some plug into your phone or tablet. Some get tapped against your device. The idea is simple: a security key can hold another passkey for the same website. Think of it like creating a second one-of-a-kind heart necklace for the same account. One necklace could be paired with your password manager, while another necklace could be paired with your security key. That means the website has more than one matching half on file. One half matches the passkey in your password manager. Another half matches the passkey stored on your security key. So, if you lose access to your phone, computer, or password manager, you would still be able to log in using the passkey stored on your security key. Think of it like keeping an extra special necklace piece on a tiny keychain, stored somewhere safe. The website still has the matching half for that security key, but your half is safely stored inside the little key. A passkey does not automatically exist on every device you own. It lives wherever you save it. If your half is stored on one device, then that device is the one that has the matching piece. For example, if you create the passkey on your Windows computer and it is only saved to that computer, your iPhone does not automatically have that same half. If you create it on your iPhone and it only stays on that iPhone, your Android phone does not automatically have it either. That is where password managers come in. A password manager can act like a protected jewelry box for your passkeys. Instead of your half of the necklace being locked to only one device, the password manager can securely sync that half to your other approved devices. For example, Apple Passwords and iCloud Keychain can sync passkeys between your Apple devices. Google Password Manager can sync passkeys with your Google account. But password managers such as 1Password and Bitwarden can sync passkeys between everything, your phones, tablets and computers. Now, you might ask: “What happens if I lose access to the device that has my passkey?” That depends on where your passkey was saved and what recovery options the website gives you. If your passkey was synced through a password manager, you may be able to sign in from another device that has access to that same password manager. For example, if your passkey is saved in iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, 1Password, or Bitwarden, another approved device may still have access to it. If your passkey was saved only on one phone, computer, or security key, and you lose that device, then you may not have your half of the necklace anymore. In that case, you would usually need to use the website’s backup login or account recovery options. A lot of websites that support passkeys still let you fall back to your regular password. So if you lose access to your passkey, the site may still let you log in with your password, a code sent to your email, a text message, a recovery code, or some other account recovery process. That is convenient, but it is also important to understand: if the website still allows password login, then your password still matters. Passkeys are safer than passwords, but if your account still has a password as a backup, you should still use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication if the website offers it. This is why it is a good idea to have more than one safe way back into important accounts. For example, you might keep your passkey in a syncing password manager, add a second trusted device, save recovery codes somewhere safe, or set up a backup security key. A passkey is very secure, but just like a real key, you need a backup plan in case you lose access to it. Now, you might ask: “What stops a hacker from copying my half of the necklace?” That’s the important part: your half is protected. It is not something you type in, and it is not something the website gets to keep. Think of your half as being locked inside a tiny safe on your phone, computer, security key, or password manager. That safe only opens when you approve it with your fingerprint, face, PIN, or device password. When you log in, the website does not need to see your half. It only needs proof that your half matches its half. Your actual half is not handed over to the website. This is different from a password. With a password, you type the secret into the website. If you type it into a fake website, the hacker now has it. With a passkey, you are not typing your secret into the website. Your device is proving you have the matching half without giving the half away. That also helps protect you from fake websites. If someone makes a fake login page that looks like the real site, your device can tell it is not the real match. It will not use your passkey there. Now, could someone use your passkey if they stole your device, got into your password manager, or somehow unlocked the safe that holds your half? Yes, that is why your device password, PIN, fingerprint, face unlock, and password manager security still matter. But a hacker cannot just steal your passkey from the website or trick you into typing it into a fake page like they can with a password. That is why passkeys are safer than passwords. The two matching pieces have to come together, like two lovebirds who were once separated and are finally reunited.
    • Newegg offers insane combo deal on Amazon Prime Day 2026 that beats Steam Machine

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      Newegg offers insane combo deal on Amazon Prime Day 2026 that beats Steam Machine by Sayan Sen Building a PC is undoubtedly difficult nowadays but with this epic combo deal, Newegg is trying to make it as easy for you as it is possible. If you are making a new one or even upgrading an old system to a new Windows 11 device, this combo bundle is truly unmissable as you get AMD's Ryzen 9800X3D, a compatible X870 motherboard, a 240mm AIO liquid cooler and finally a Samsung 990 PRO SSD all for under $1000 (purchase link under the specs table down below). This should beat out the newly launched Steam Machine from Valve in terms of performance and performance per dollar especially if you are willing to set Linux up on it. Essentially with this combo you will get the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core 3D V cache CPU, Samsung's 990 PRO 2TB NVMe SSD, the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX Motherboard, and finally the Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240. Thanks to that massive vertically stacked L3 cache, the X3D desktop processors, including the 9800X3D, also come with the benefit of not needing fast memory. Even DDR5-5600 should be plenty for it. The technical specifications of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D are given in the table below: Specification Value Architecture Zen 5 Cores / Threads 8 / 16 Base Clock 4.7 GHz Max Boost Clock Up to 5.2 GHz L1 Cache 640 KB L2 Cache 8 MB L3 Cache 96 MB Total Cache 104 MB CPU Core Process TSMC 4nm FinFET I/O Die Process TSMC 6nm FinFET Socket AM5 Default TDP 120W Max Temperature (Tjmax) 95°C Thermal Solution Not included Memory Type DDR5 Max Capacity 256 GB Memory Speeds 2x1R: DDR5-5600 2x2R: DDR5-5600 4x1R: DDR5-3600 4x2R: DDR5-3600 PCIe Version PCIe 5.0 PCIe Lanes (Total/Usable) 28 / 24 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) 4 USB 2.0 1 Graphics Cores 2 CU RDNA 2 Frequency 2200 MHz DisplayPort over USB-C Yes Overclocking Unlocked Up next we have the tech specs for the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI Motherboard: Specification Value Chipset AMD X870 CPU Support AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Series Desktop Processors Socket AM5 Memory Slots 4 × DDR5 UDIMM Maximum Memory Capacity 256GB Memory Support DDR5 8400–5600 MT/s (OC), DDR5 5600–4800 MT/s (JEDEC) Integrated Graphics Outputs 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL (up to 8K 60Hz) 2 × USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 (up to 4K 60Hz) Expansion Slots PCI_E1: PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU) PCI_E2: PCIe 3.0 x1 (Chipset) PCI_E3: PCIe 4.0 x4 (Chipset) Audio Realtek ALC4080 Codec 7.1-Channel USB High Performance Audio Supports up to 32-bit/384kHz playback on front panel S/PDIF output M.2 Slots 4 × M.2 M2_1: PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU, 22110/2280) M2_2: PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU, 2280/2260) M2_3: PCIe 4.0 x2 (Chipset, 2280/2260) M2_4: PCIe 4.0 x4 (Chipset, 2280/2260) SATA Ports 4 × SATA 6Gb/s RAID Support RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 for M.2 NVMe storage devices Rear USB Ports 4 × USB 2.0 3 × USB 5Gbps Type-A 2 × USB 10Gbps Type-A 1 × USB 10Gbps Type-C 2 × USB4 40Gbps Type-C Front USB Headers 4 × USB 2.0 4 × USB 5Gbps Type-A 1 × USB 20Gbps Type-C LAN Realtek 8126-CG 5G LAN Wireless Wi-Fi 7 (M.2 Key-E module pre-installed) Supports 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz bands Up to 5.8Gbps Supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.4, MLO, 4KQAM Internal Power Connectors 1 × 24-pin ATX Power 2 × CPU Power Connectors 1 × PCIe 8-pin Power Connector Fan Headers 1 × CPU Fan 1 × Combo Fan (Pump/System) 6 × System Fan RGB Headers 3 × Addressable V2 RGB (JARGB_V2) 1 × RGB LED (JRGB) Other Internal Headers 1 × EZ Conn-header 2 × Front Panel Headers 1 × Chassis Intrusion 1 × Front Audio 1 × TPM 2.0 Header Debug Features 4 × EZ Debug LEDs 1 × EZ Digit Debug LED Rear I/O Ports Clear CMOS Button Flash BIOS Button HDMI 2 × USB 40Gbps Type-C 1 × USB 10Gbps Type-C 4 × USB 10Gbps Type-A 3 × USB 5Gbps Type-A 4 × USB 2.0 5G LAN Port Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Antenna Connectors Audio Connectors Form Factor ATX The Samsung 990 PRO is a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD and still one of the fastest drives available today for under $500. Speaking of fast, sequential reads and writes are rated at 7450 MB/s and 6900 MB/s, respectively. The random throughputs for reads and writes are 1400K IOPS and 1550K IOPS, respectively. The 990 PRO is based on Samsung's 7th Gen V-NAND flash, and it too is TLC. It packs 2 gigs of LPDDR4 DRAM cache, which helps the random performance. The endurance rating for this is 1200 TBW (terabytes written), which should be sufficient for most users. The Samsung 990 PRO is compatible with the PlayStation 5, but if you are going to use the 990 PRO on a PC, check out the Samsung Magician app that lets you track your drive's health, update its firmware, customize various settings, and more. The tech specs are given below: Specification Value Interface PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 Form Factor M.2 2280 Controller Samsung In-house Controller NAND Flash 3D TLC DRAM Cache 2GB LPDDR4 Sequential Read (Max) 7,450 MB/s Sequential Write (Max) 6,900 MB/s Random Read (4K) Up to 1,400,000 IOPS Random Write (4K) Up to 1,550,000 IOPS TBW (Endurance) 1,200 TBW MTBF 1,500,000 hours Operating Temperature 0°C to 70°C Storage Temperature -40°C to 85°C Shock Resistance 1,500G / 0.5ms Heatsink No Get the combo deal at this link: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Samsung 990 PRO 2TB, MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard, Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240: $784.99 + $25 off with promo code FTTF77: $759.99 (Sold and Shipped by Newegg US) Good to know This Newegg deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • AMD confirms 26.6.2 FSR driver breaks on many Windows PCs

      By sphbecker · Posted

      I heard from a lot of people that driver support for the latest games when RDNA first came out (Radeon 5000 series) was pretty bad, but if you didn't buy the card on day one, or were not trying to play the latest titles, then you were isolated from that issue. Other than that, it's been good and only getting better.

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      timbobit earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      nates earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Rookie
      dorf went up a rank
      Rookie
    • First Post
      mike_rumble earned a badge
      First Post

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      469
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      165
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      104
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      87
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      71
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!