Dual 24" or perhaps 30" with a smaller screen?

[gamedeveloper]

First I'd hit eBay and see if I could find a cheap mate for the existing display ($150 or less, shipped). Hopefully it will be in similar condition and give you a cheap 3 years or so of operation.

If the old display is crap tech (bad viewing angle, poor color, fat bezel, etc) try to sell it and get two new 24" panels, preferably ones that rotate to portrait orientation as well as landscape.

Also take a look at this: http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/tour/

Very useful for managing multiple displays.

[r34skyline]

well i was thinking of going 2 x U2410's - i currently have a 2405FWP, first 24", and the specs are simliar but don't know how much better the U2410's are.

Would it be silly to run 1 x 2405FWp and 1 x U2410?

[gamedeveloper]

Well, I have a personal bias against running two different displays on the same machine (different color, backlight intensity, etc). Would make me crazy when working on graphics. I have a situation like that now on a craptastic PC I'm using at a client's office - two matching Dell 19" displays, but one is three years older than the other and the backlight is 25% dimmer... Impossible to even get the desktop wallpaper to match.

But there are many instances where a person would want two different display types, or rather displays with different resolutions/aspect ratios.

For me, this is solved by getting matching dual displays with screen rotation. Took me about 1-3 months to really get used to working like this and become MUCH more productive (needed Ultramon). I'm at the point where I can now think of adding a third display with the following setup:

DISPLAY 1---
Photoshop
Illustrator
After Effects
EXCEL data table

DISPLAY 2---
Actionscript code (CS4 IDE)
EXCEL data table

DISPLAY 3---
Flash coding eBooks
Web browser

I've made do with two displays, usually using the second display in portrait as a 'knowledge resource' window. First display is always for asset creation (or code).

Lately, as I've been getting more into Actionscript coding, I can clearly envision a small amount of efficiency (mainly mental 'relaxation' due to less alt-tabbing) by keeping my code maximized and separated from asset creation and knowledge resources. And then, occasionally, clicking on EXCEL to bring the data table to the front of the first two displays for extra wide data view.

I'm currently using three screens, somewhat like my hypothetical setup above, however the third screen is a TC1100 tablet PC (keyboard detached) acting as an eBook reader and impromptu Web browser.

If I can get a third display that matches the first two, CHEAPLY, I'll go ahead and do this and see if it lives up to my expectations. But I won't spend more than $150 to test this out...

[CKPinson]

Good points GameDev! What monitors are you using?

[gamedeveloper]

I'm using two HP L2335 displays. S-IPS panels.

Watch the review VIDEO (http://reviews.cnet.com/lcd-monitors/hp-l2335/4505-3174_7-30788118.html).

http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=124513

http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=124514

(Old pic, from when I was running both landscape. Sorry about size.)

...think I'll need a bigger desk...

[ambient-whisper]

i use 2 completely different screens.

one is a 27" dell
the other is a 17" sony

both have different colours, etc, but it doesnt matter really. i mostly use the smaller screen for storing my object managers, other info toolbars, and references.

it all depends what your job is. if your job isnt colour sensitive then it makes little difference to shell out the extra cash for a screen with better colour. modellers, animators, riggers, script guys dont need it at all. the 27" screen is big enough anyway so that if i need to work with reference and paint i can have both visible on one screen and still work well enough.

as the screen is getting old now though ( the sony ), the colour is getting a bit bad now. somewhat washed out. its all good though. i dont think i would be able to comfortably fit another large screen on here anyway. the desk is big, but i already have a lot of other stuff on it. printers, scanners, freedom of teach statue, modems, speakers, wacom tablet, keyboard, reference books, sketchbooks, tea pot, pencils, etc, etc.

there are a lot of things to consider when buying screens. ask yourself if you need it first, and then figure out what would work well with your desk setup.

[Magnus3D]

Just before Christmas i bought two 24" BenQ G2420HDBE displays, they were cheap and perhaps not the best for graphics work you can get, however i got a lot of screenspace for totally 370 euro which i think was fair enough. At first i were thinking about buying just one huge 27" display but then when i spotted these at their price i went for them instead since two felt better than one. They work well for gaming, movies and ok for 3d and retouching work. Coming from a old 19" crt which been crappy for the past 12+ years this was a major change for me, my first lcd's ever! :)

http://img2.pict.com/0a/21/5c/2368000/0/20091226145julklappskc3a4rmar.jp.jpg

/ Magnus

[SanjayChand]

IMO the ideal is 3 24's.

I have two right now but want a third.

[CKPinson]

which brand/model do you have currently?

[earwax69]

I have a 30inch Dell and it's by far the best thing I have ever bought. I was on a dual screen configuration before but getting rid of the big middle bar was just... heaven!

Good screen, good chair, good conditionner... the path to success! Quite more important than few more mhz if you ask me.

[vlad]

I have a 30inch Dell and it's by far the best thing I have ever bought. I was on a dual screen configuration before but getting rid of the big middle bar was just... heaven!

Good screen, good chair, good conditionner... the path to success! Quite more important than few more mhz if you ask me.

If you only work in After Effects, that might be true, but in Maya, Max, Photoshop etc when you have lots of palettes, toolboxes, render window, hypershade box, tree view etc etc floating about, a multiple display configuration is way more efficient.

[lollygag]

Naw Man.. 3 30's are the only way to work. err.. play.

http://www.lollys.org/office2.jpg

[earwax69]

You got a point. XSI was cool in dual screen mode. I prefer photoshop on my 30 though...

Wouaaaah killer photo!

The pixel density is quite huge on the 30inch, you dont wanna sit too far.

[gamedeveloper]

Lollygag, what is your street address again...?

[lollygag]

N. Holokai rd., Haiku, Maui, Hawaii. Funny.. My good friend is "Mark Nelson" as well..

www.nelsonfactory.com (http://www.nelsonfactory.com)

So as a game developer.. did you notice my foot pedals ?

[r34skyline]

wow, wasn't getting email updates... this thread has seen a little action...

3 x 30" hahahahah, i wish...

So we're thinking dual 24" is probably the go-er as a 'balanced' approach?

for those that missed, currently have a 2405wfp which is perhaps 6-7years old? has not missed a beat... not sure how it stacks up to the current U2410 though...

[gamedeveloper]

Ha!

Well, those 30" screens are a little too far away for a snatch and grab... When you factor in RT airfare, shipping on the pilfered screens and insurance, I might as well get them refurb off eBay!

;-)

[Jettatore]

I run two identical dual screens. In the past I've ran odd sized dual and tri screens. There are no problem with either setup, but really, identical is nicer.

Have you considered keeping your current monitor and just getting a smaller or identically sized, professional, color correct monitor or perhaps a tablet monitor, instead of just getting another big monitor for screen real estate alone? To me that would seem to serve more of a real world purpose, but done right isn't the cheapest idea in the world. Otherwise, I'd just get a 2nd 24" consumer end model as there is little point in half-arsing it somewhere in between.

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