Not sure which is more beneficial? 1x4k monitor or 3 1080/1440p's?

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

As the title states. I kinda wanna get into multi-monitor gaming but at the same time my current room config (with no option of changing it currently) will only allow for 2 monitors on my desk with no room for a third. And for as much as I wanna I do plan on moving into my own place sometime this year and will plan for a multi-montior setup. My issue is, should I go one 4k monitor? Or 3 1080/1440p monitors?

I do plan on getting a GTX 1080 as well.

 

[ERazer]

why not get one ultrawide monitor? less hassle and no bezel

 

[Agility]

You might wanna set up a poll for people to vote, but i will ultimately choose one monitor of 4k, probably 30inch. Bezels will affect you and it will be annoying as hell. I was a dual monitor user before switching to a single 1440P

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

Poll added

You might wanna set up a poll for people to vote, but i will ultimately choose one monitor of 4k, probably 30inch. Bezels will affect you and it will be annoying as hell. I was a dual monitor user before switching to a single 1440P

How did you handle dual monitor dispalys in games? The character at the dead center of the screen annoys the hell out of me.

 

[Loosenut]

3x1440p but set them up as portrait

 

[Toothless]

3x1080p is pretty nice although you do need some beefy gpu power. Not sure about 3x1440.

It's better for utility like multitasking if you're not in the gaming mood and it gets purdy but in the end its your money.

 

[peche]

3x1080p is pretty nice although you do need some beefy gpu power. Not sure about 3x1440.

It's better for utility like multitasking if you're not in the gaming mood and it gets purdy but in the end its your money.

+1 ill get 3 x 1080p monitors, also 3x 22" ones....

 

[Yukikaze]

I ran 4x1080p (3 x 23" + Laptop monitor) before and I switched to 4096x2160 31" plus the laptop monitor recently. The 4K display takes up less room than the previous setup and has (far) better image quality (then again - It is also a lot more expensive). When I game I do so in some sort windowed mode since I do not like to alt-tab and I frequently game while doing other things (plus some games fly off the handle if you try to alt-tab. The really old stuff that doesn't support windowed mode just goes into a VM and gets windowed the hard way). YMMV, but I really like the 4K over the previous setup and a 4K plus some sort of small utility monitor (for chat, a web browser and monitoring programs) is my new preference.

 

[Jborg]

I don't have any experience with 1440p or 4K, but I currently use 3 1080P monitors and it works well for me.

The only 2 games I play with the 3 monitors are NFS Shift 2 and GTA V @ 5760x1080 - NFS Shift works fine with no hiccups

GTA V runs at around 40FPS - give or take some depending on the location in game and I run on High Detail overall with an ENB graphics mods.

All using a single GTX 970.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

Bump. Id like more opinions please!

 

[neatfeatguy]

I don't have any experience with 1440p or 4K, but I currently use 3 1080P monitors and it works well for me.

The only 2 games I play with the 3 monitors are NFS Shift 2 and GTA V @ 5760x1080 - NFS Shift works fine with no hiccups

GTA V runs at around 40FPS - give or take some depending on the location in game and I run on High Detail overall with an ENB graphics mods.

All using a single GTX 970.

GTA V question for you.

Do the cut scenes look like someone is recording video on their phone while holding it vertical (so you get image in the middle and thick black bars on the sides) when you're using 5760x1080? I have this problem when playing 5760x1080 and I can't correct it. In fact, it's so annoying that I out right stopped playing the game.

Bump. Id like more opinions please!

I play a good handful of games on 3x 1920x1080 monitors. It does take up a bit of space, but I did get a desk mount for the three monitors.

I was looking for a wall mount, but I decided against drilling holes in the wall to mount it. Plus if I move my desk ever, I just take the monitors down, move them and set them up again.

The following games I've been playing at 5760x1080 recently:
Grim Dawn
Dying Light & Dying Light: The Following
Borderlands 2
Divinity: Original Sin

Other games I played recently at 5760x1080:
Batman games (except Arkham Knight)
FarCry 3
Sniper Elite 3
Rage (just beat it)
Thief (just beat this one, too)
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

The issue you do get with 5760x1080 is the image in games becomes stretched at the left and right edges to fill the screen. It can be a little disorienting the first time you play, at least it was for me. Once I played for a bit, I got used to it. As for the bezels, I don't notice them when I'm into the game I'm playing.

If you already have 2 monitors, it won't be as expensive to pick up a third to try out 5760x1080 (try to make sure they're all the same model if they're to sit on your desk, this way the stands are all the same size and generally the color options can make all the monitors very similar with a little patients and work).

The wife is irritated by the space the 3 monitors take up and constantly says I should get rid of them and pick up one bigger monitor, but I actually really enjoy 5760x1080 - plus I don't want to try and sell these monitors and then buy a new one, too much hassle.

 

[Jack1n]

GTA V question for you.

Do the cut scenes look like someone is recording video on their phone while holding it vertical (so you get image in the middle and thick black bars on the sides) when you're using 5760x1080? I have this problem when playing 5760x1080 and I can't correct it. In fact, it's so annoying that I out right stopped playing the game.

I have that happening on Ultrawide too (2560x1080) not a big deal for me though

 

[Agility]

I used 1 monitor to game while the 2nd one shows my Steam Messages / skype etc etc (Like viewing guides on a secondary screen while playing my game on the main screen)

I am not sure if full screen will affect the secondary monitor, being turned into just a blank screen when running full-screen mode as my set up was quite awhile ago (7years).
I am now running dual-GPU which requires me to run full screen mode to utilize the full GPU (Though AMD is disappointing me with their lines of display card, even after being a loyal fan-boy since i started DIYing. I might switch to Nvidia)

 

[RejZoR]

Bezels suck. I can't understand how they still can't make bezel-less screens, because when you tear monitor apart and strip it of all the plastic crap, panel inside hardly has any metal edge. Why no one designs around the inner panel itself, making bezels like 2-3mm thick only. But no, slap 5 centimeters of god damn plastic all around it. There is also perspective distortion and issues with games that have resolutions hardcoded. Larger 4K screen is just a better option imo, because the resolution will remain standard for years, just like 1080p. Everything else always caused problems one way or another.

 

[vega22]

3x1440p but set them up as portrait

this^^^^

when i tried 3 1080 it was silly wide (the image not the real estate) but flipping them on their end was great.

i currently use 1 1440 landscape and 1 1080 portrait but i would love to get a nice 4k/1440 uw so i could rotate this 16:9 1440 to be portrait.

i only game on the 1440 and use the 1080 for background apps when in games.

 

[Kanan]

None of these.

1x 32/34" Widescreen IPS like this:

https://www.asus.com/de/Monitors/ROG-SWIFT-PG348Q/

Good view, high refresh rate (Hz), high quality (resolution).

 

[phanbuey]

None of these.

1x 32/34" Widescreen IPS like this:

https://www.asus.com/de/Monitors/ROG-SWIFT-PG348Q/

Good view, high refresh rate (Hz), high quality (resolution).

^ seconded

 

[jaggerwild]

Just got a cheap off name brand Yamakasi 1440 display(china) almost new for $150, I like it but at the same time(I'm older my eye's suck)in BF4 I can't see chit. I must say the frames are smooth with 2X780TI'S and I move around in the game without lag, my old 1080P 39"TV I seemed to lag in game. I'll have to use fraps n see what my frames are now.....I have 3 1080P but never set them up all together yet, no room three computer tables full of projects.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

None of these.

1x 32/34" Widescreen IPS like this:

https://www.asus.com/de/Monitors/ROG-SWIFT-PG348Q/

Good view, high refresh rate (Hz), high quality (resolution).

Would love to get that I think. What would solve it mainly for me is if I could dual screen game without having my gun, character in the center of the two screens, I wouldnt even bother with a screen upgrade.

 

[JATownes]

Would love to get that I think. What would solve it mainly for me is if I could dual screen game without having my gun, character in the center of the two screens, I wouldnt even bother with a screen upgrade.

It is a good investment. I picked up the Acer Freesync Model (XR341CK) a little over a month ago, and I will never go back. It is phenomenal...the only drawback is that games that do not run native in 3440x1440 can be a pain in the ass to get working to utilize the entire screen.

JAT

 

[Onderon]

+1 on JATownes choice if you game on AMD get the freesync model. it goes to 75-85hz if you game on Nvidia get the predator model as it can get to 85-100HZ. for me ultra-wide is way better that multiple monitors, no bezels is love.
Freesync model: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0111MRT90/?tag=tec06d-20
G-sync model: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016GNX4SE/?tag=tec06d-20

Edit: it would be great if we know your budget too i cant stop recomending that acer monitor but its way out of most people budget but its worth it.

 

[CounterZeus]

for gaming, I'd say one better screen. I tried the triple monitor setup and I didn't like it for gaming (multiple monitors for productivity is really good though).

 

[Onderon]

those big ultra wide screen monitors have PIP functionality so yo can split it in half and light game on one side and use the other side for other things

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

3440x1440p isnt considered 4k is it? My guess is no

 

[JATownes]

No. It is considered 2K resolution, though on the high end of it. The total pixel count is about 2/3 of 4K resolution (4,953,600 vs 8,294,400).