Ideas for a secondary monitor ?

[cucker tarlson]

Hi, wanna ask for some free flowing suggestions

I've been using dual monitor setup for a year now, and I love it. Though my second display is currently a s2716dg, a 144hz g-sync gaming monitor. I do my gaming on xb241yu exculsively, and the s2716dg is serving only as a secondary display for work,internet and movies. Maybe I could replace it with something that suits those tasks better.

What it must be is at least 27" inches. In which direction should I go ? Get a better panel (IPS/VA) ? Get a bigger monitor ?

 

[Deleted member 178884]

What it must be is at least 27" inches. In which direction should I go ? Get a better panel (IPS/VA) ? Get a bigger monitor ?

What about a budget 4k ips panel? A 28" one that is - It's perfect for movies and browsing the web and it'll have a large workspace versus a 1080p or 1440p panel.

 

[cucker tarlson]

yes that would check all the boxes. but which one to get ? I'd like one that could cost me the money I get from selling the s2716dg + a little extra, not much.

 

[Deleted member 178884]

yes that would check all the boxes. but which one to get ? I'd like one that could cost me the money I get from selling the s2716dg + a little extra, not much.

I'd look at 27/28" panels preferably ips for the better color reproduction, TN panels will be cheaper - I'll take a look around google later and find some.

 

[stinger608]

Here is a 32" 2560 x 1440 IPS monitor for a great deal at $280. Not sure about the shipping to Poland though @cucker tarlson

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B072MFLHDX?ref=em_1p_0_ti&ref_=pe_171560_367736330

 

[Bill_Bright]

Maybe I could replace it with something that suits those tasks better.

Why do you think it currently is not suited for those tasks? Just because a monitor is "marketed" as a gaming monitor, that in no way suggests it is not ideally suited for "work, Internet or movies".

FTR, I've been using a dual-monitor setup for about 20 years. I don't see how anyone can live with just one monitor - it does not matter how big it is.

For years, I always had a mismatched pair. My first was a 17" Samsung 4:3 LCD as my primary and a Gateway (re-branded Sony Trinitron) 15" CRT as my secondary. Then I upgraded to a HUGE! 19 inch 4:3 as my primary and moved the 17" Samsung as my secondary. Then a couple years later I bought my first widescreen and moved the 19 inch 4:3 to the secondary position.

My point is, until my financial status became more stable and my budget allowed me to buy 2 new monitors at once, I always put the newest monitor as my primary. If buying a new monitor, I always bought with the plan to use the new monitor as my primary and moving my previous primary to the secondary position.

So if I were you, and I was looking for new monitor, that is what I would do too. That said, to me, it looks like those two monitors are more than capable of meeting your needs now.

 

[Frick]

I'm with Bill, that monitor should do those things just fine.

FTR, I've been using a dual-monitor setup for about 20 years. I don't see how anyone can live with just one monitor - it does not matter how big it is.

It's purely a question of habit. You'd be able to do it too.

 

[Bill_Bright]

You'd be able to do it too.

If I had to, yes. When I used to hit the road and was forced to use just my notebook's monitor, I got by. But it was very inconvenient and without a doubt, and most importantly, it cut down on my productivity. And that is a significant factor here. Having a dual monitor setup is much more than just a convenience (or enjoyment) issue.

Consider having to push a whole bunch of papers around for work or school. A single monitor is like working off a TV tray. Two monitors is like working off the dining room table.

 

[John Naylor]

Unless you are willing to pay $2500, a 144 hz 4k monitor is out of the question. The best gaming experience available today witha reasonable budget is at 1440p, with a 165 Hz IPS monitor with panel from AUOptronics. To match that image at 4k, that's $2500 for monitor and twin 2080 Tis

There's a misassumption with regard to TN vs IPS in that ...

The best IPS panels are better than the best TN panels.
NO $300 IPS panel is better for gaming than a $300 TN panel.

The $465 S2716DG has an AUOptronics TN panel with an advertised response time of 1ms, In reality, it has a average response time of 3.1 ms and a high of 4.5 which is excellent. Lag is 4.25 ms
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_s2716dg.htm#response_times

To get better than that would require an IPS panel, and for that you have to spend more money ... no IPS panel available will match that performance for that price. The Acer XB271 HU has been selling for $599 but is now in short supply ... newegg has it foir $699 ... Microcenter has it for $549 which is a steal... you should be able to get $250 300 for either of the TN panels meaning the upgrade would cost ya $250 - $300.

I'd grab the Acer IPS for your gaming / multimedia and use one of the TNs (prolly the Acer for aesthetics match) for your secondary display. Here's the older 144 hz model review..response time = 5.5 md and lag is 3.0 ms ... the 165 Hz model is about 15% faster
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/acer_xb270hu.htm

BTW, size is not a consideration on its own ... you can't pick a size w/ appropriate resolution ... 27" is ideal for 1440p. The average human eye can detect individual pixels at baout 96 ppi, below that the image starts to appear grainy. a 32" 1440p is only 91 ppi.

With a 1080 Ti and two G-Sync monitors, a 1080 Ti gives you the ability to use ULMB which both of your existing monitors support. So does the HB271 HU). Your 1080 Ti will have you up in ULMB territory (> 70 hz) in almost every game so you will be able to use it to your advantage. At 4k, your 1080 Ti won't be able to get you into ULMB territory.

 

[Vayra86]

If I had to, yes. When I used to hit the road and was forced to use just my notebook's monitor, I got by. But it was very inconvenient and without a doubt, and most importantly, it cut down on my productivity. And that is a significant factor here. Having a dual monitor setup is much more than just a convenience (or enjoyment) issue.

Consider having to push a whole bunch of papers around for work or school. A single monitor is like working off a TV tray. Two monitors is like working off the dining room table.

Can definitely see your point as far as productivity goes. Having another bit of real estate that is physically separated from the primary one is a very useful thing to have. Its that bit of physical interaction with otherwise fully digital work. You do actually force yourself to look at something else instead of alt-tabbing through lots of stuff. I think its just how our brain works.

@OP: have you considered Ultrawides? That is the closest you could get I think to your current setup, but with the advantage of bezelless gaming at higher res should you want it. Beyond that I'm not seeing how a large 4K + a fast gaming monitor is going to improve anything over having the two separate screens that you've already got.

 

[Bill_Bright]

You do actually force yourself to look at something else instead of alt-tabbing through lots of stuff.

Not sure if you are suggesting that is a good thing or a bad thing. To me, nothing is being forced. If I am creating a new Word document on my primary monitor and have a very large spreadsheet or an email I am referring to on my second monitor, I can see both and access data from both at the same time with no problems - no alt-tabbing required! If I have linked data, I can can even see data I update in the spreadsheet get updated automatically in the Word document without having to bring the document to the foreground with alt-tap, clicking a taskbar icon, or clicking a barely visible corner of some window hiding in the background. But on a single monitor, I am forced to alt-tab or somehow manually pull background windows forward, over and over again.

Some complain about the bezels but I don't even see them anymore. It's like getting used to eyeglasses or the rear view mirror in your car.

 

[Frick]

Not sure if you are suggesting that is a good thing or a bad thing. To me, nothing is being forced. If I am creating a new Word document on my primary monitor and have a very large spreadsheet or an email I am referring to on my second monitor, I can see both and access data from both at the same time with no problems - no alt-tabbing required! If I have linked data, I can can even see data I update in the spreadsheet get updated automatically in the Word document without having to bring the document to the foreground with alt-tap, clicking a taskbar icon, or clicking a barely visible corner of some window hiding in the background. But on a single monitor, I am forced to alt-tab or somehow manually pull background windows forward, over and over again.

Some complain about the bezels but I don't even see them anymore. It's like getting used to eyeglasses or the rear view mirror in your car.

Looking at how people work on single monitors one have to wonder how many man hours are wasted on alt-tabbing, getting confused on which document being referred to, loosing ones place and so on. But then some people just can't seem to comprehend how to deal with two monitors.

 

[Vayra86]

Not sure if you are suggesting that is a good thing or a bad thing. To me, nothing is being forced. If I am creating a new Word document on my primary monitor and have a very large spreadsheet or an email I am referring to on my second monitor, I can see both and access data from both at the same time with no problems - no alt-tabbing required! If I have linked data, I can can even see data I update in the spreadsheet get updated automatically in the Word document without having to bring the document to the foreground with alt-tap, clicking a taskbar icon, or clicking a barely visible corner of some window hiding in the background. But on a single monitor, I am forced to alt-tab or somehow manually pull background windows forward, over and over again.

Some complain about the bezels but I don't even see them anymore. It's like getting used to eyeglasses or the rear view mirror in your car.

Definitely a good thing. Its like you say - a better view on multiple documents/bits of info. What I'm adding is that I notice that being 'forced' to move your head left and right a bit to view it is beneficial, it helps concentration, its good/healthy to move a bit from time to time.

 

[cucker tarlson]

I'd gladly have a third, put an ultrawide 35" 1080p one above the two 1440p ones.

 

[Gorstak]

AOC Q3279VWFD8 is the current best buy in my country.

 

[cucker tarlson]

No 1440p ones. If I wanted 1440p, I'd stay on my s2716dg. It may serve as as secondary display/ps4 pro monitor

 

[Gorstak]

I probably missed what you are after? If it's a 4k screen you're after, maybe you should go to rtings.com and pick yourself a TV instead?

 

[cucker tarlson]

No, anything over 28" is just too big.

 

[Gorstak]

Benq I Personally like this one, even though it's a very old model.

 

[Bill_Bright]

But then some people just can't seem to comprehend how to deal with two monitors.

If they tried it, the advantages would quickly become apparent.

 

[Frick]

If they tried it, the advantages would quickly become apparent.

Yeah, but some people just don't grasp it. I know a few people who have two monitors at their work but don't use them because .. they just don't get the idea. They are intelligent and well educated and one is in her 30's so it's not an age thing, but they don't get it anyway, and if they venture of their path and put something on the second monitor they immedietly forget about it and start to chase that window around. To me it's completely alien, but luckily not everyone is like me.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I guess it is what you are used too.