Second Monitor Question

[Vraciu]

I have a few spare monitors lying around that I've collected over the years.  I considered dumping them at Goodwill but then decided perhaps I should experiment with them.   I want to use a dual monitor setup but will be frank: I have no clue what I am getting myself into.

Will this hurt my computer's performance?   

I may or may not use it for the game (assuming I even can) but it would be nice when working on skins to put my layers listing off to the side so I can see what I'm working on better.

[Gman]

If you have the space on your desktop, the last sentence you wrote is where you'll find a 2nd monitor to be the most useful IMO.  For gaming, unless you go triple screen, I've found a 2nd monitor to not really help out much in terms of having videos/etc playing on the 2nd monitor, it always seemed to interfere with controlling the game on the 1st monitor for me.  For productivity/desktop stuff as you mentioned, excellent.  It won't drag your gaming performance much if at all on monitor #1, there are various ways IRRC to set up the 2nd monitor, and you can disable it for gaming while on your primary if you want to.  I'm not a big expert, only tried it briefly and it wasn't for me, but for your purpose, it sure could help productivity I'd bet.

[Vraciu]

Thanks Gman.   

If one wanted to run three monitors how is that done?   I have four monitors total available.  My primary and three spares.   

[100Coogn]

I can use my second monitor (projector screen) with no issues.  No game performance loss has been noted.

Coogan

[Bizman]

Thanks Gman.   

If one wanted to run three monitors how is that done?   I have four monitors total available.  My primary and three spares.

Plug them in, the primary one in the middle. Depending on the game you should adjust the game resolution to match the three monitors, i.e. if you have 3x 1920x1080 monitors, in AH video settings set the resolution to 5760x1080. THAT will cause a performance loss if your system doesn't have lots of extra headroom.

Still, if you only run the game on the primary one, it shouldn't affect performance too much.

[Gman]

While they monitors don't have to be the exact same model, they should be very close in size, shape, bezel size, etc, if you're going to attempt to run triple screen IMO.  I did it for a short time, 3 24" 144hz Asus 1080p monitors, back when they were the first 144hz gaming monitors around, about 6 years ago now.  It was great for the time, but IMO either VR or going to a larger high end gaming LCD is a better option now.  Still, setting up 3 of the new 60" gaming LCDs coming this year would be very cool.  When I was a kid I dreamed of a basement airline cockpit with screens that big, and now you could easily do it with these 60" large Gsync/etc/etc gaming LCDs coming.

Just do a google search of triple screen or nvidia surround, whatever, you'll get lots of pics and options.  Honestly though, considering the $ investment to get 3 screens that are similar/same, and the GPU to run them...I'd go VR if you haven't already.  You being a pilot would truly appreciate VR, and the Rift is 1/2 the cost it was when I bought all of my VR gear.

[Vraciu]

Great advice all around.  Thanks.   VR is tempting I won’t lie. 

Think I will just go with the original plan, one extra monitor for my PaintShop controls.