How to create a multiple monitor setup with three, four, or more displays

By now, a dual-monitor setup has turn out to be commonplace. Multitasking on a single display is simply method too confining. However why cease at two shows?  I can converse from expertise: Having a number of displays (and I’m speaking three, 4, 5, and even six) is simply…superior, and one thing you completely want in your life.

Proper now, my principal PC has a triple-monitor setup: my principal 27-inch central monitor, with a 24-inch monitor on both facet. I take advantage of my additional displays for a variety of issues, similar to evaluating spreadsheets side-by-side, writing articles whereas additionally doing analysis, conserving tabs on my social media feeds, and, in fact, watching Netflix.

Utilizing one among your displays in vertical orientation could make a giant distinction for scrolling lengthy paperwork. In the event you’re a gamer, nicely, absolutely you’ll be able to see how nice three-plus displays could be for video games that help multi-monitor setups. You’ll be able to even use your TV as an additional pc monitor!

However earlier than you soar in, you need to give your multi-monitor plan some forethought. This information will stroll you thru all of the elements it is advisable to have in mind earlier than establishing three or extra displays.

Step 1: Verify your graphics card(s)

Earlier than you run out and purchase a bunch of additional displays, verify to see whether or not your pc is bodily able to dealing with all that graphics prowess. First, look behind your PC: What number of graphics ports (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA) do you see?

In the event you don’t have a discrete graphics card, it’s possible you’ll solely see two video ports—most motherboards include built-in graphics that may solely run dual-monitor setups. In the event you do have a discrete graphics card, you’ll most likely see no less than three ports, not together with the ports in your motherboard.

Tip: Whereas it’s doable to arrange a number of displays utilizing ports on each your motherboard and your discrete graphics card, you’ll see a efficiency drop and a few lag whenever you transfer home windows between displays. If you wish to do that, additionally, you will have to enter your PC’s BIOS and go to Configuration > Video > Built-in graphics machine and set it to “At all times allow.”

Simply since you see three or extra ports in your discrete graphics card, nevertheless, doesn’t essentially imply you should utilize all of them on the identical time. For instance, many older Nvidia playing cards are unable to run greater than two displays on a single card, even when they’ve greater than two ports. One of the simplest ways to search out out whether or not your graphics card helps a number of displays is to search out the identify of your card (Management Panel > Gadget Supervisor > Show Adapters) and Google it with the monitor setup you’re seeking to run (e.g. “Nvidia GTX 1660 4 displays”).

In case your graphics card helps—and has sufficient ports for—the variety of displays you need to arrange, wonderful. If not, it’s possible you’ll have to buy an extra graphics card to get the multi-monitor help you’re searching for.

Before you purchase an additional graphics card, you’ll have to ensure you have sufficient house in your tower (and open PCIe slots), in addition to an influence provide unit that may deal with the additional pressure.

In the event you purchase a graphics card solely for the aim of getting a number of displays, it’s finest to get a less expensive trendy possibility, as present GPUs can energy a number of shows with out situation. Try the very best funds graphics card part of our GPU information to your finest choices.

Alternatively, displays with DisplayPort multi-streaming help could be daisy-chained collectively from a single DisplayPort connection in your graphics card, utilizing extra DisplayPort cables to attach the extra displays to 1 one other. The assorted shows don’t even should be the identical dimension or decision. ViewSonic’s VP2468 is one such instance. At round $330 on Amazon, this 24-inch monitor is on the pricier facet, however along with DisplayPort-out, it additionally provides a premium IPS display, and a super-thin bezel, which is good for multi-monitor setups.  

Step 2: Choose your displays

As soon as you determine your graphics card state of affairs, it’s time for the enjoyable half: acquiring additional displays. Normally, displays could be had for pretty low-cost lately. Assuming you’ll be able to’t finagle a hand-me-down, a 24-inch monitor with an IPS display will run you round $150, such because the Acer R240HY. You may get a 24-inch TN display, which is able to probably commerce robust off-axis viewing for a decrease response time—one thing avid gamers may want—for roughly the identical cash, such because the Asus VS248H-P ($160 on Amazon). It’s also possible to discover smaller IPS displays at round 21.5 inches, such with this HP Pavilion IPS show, for.   

In the meantime, it you’re searching for much more display actual property, you could find an honest 27-inch IPS display for just a bit over $200, such because the $210 ViewSonic VA2759-SMH. 

In fact, the right monitor for you will depend on a number of elements, together with the displays you have already got, the scale of your desk, and what you’re planning on utilizing your additional monitor for. (In fact, decision is one more variable, and you may see our article about 1080p vs. 4K displays to assist making a decision in that space as nicely.)

In my case, I already had two 24-inch displays, and I wished a bigger monitor because the centerpiece of my setup, so I picked up a 27-inch monitor and positioned it between my two 24-inch shows. I’m not utilizing my multi-monitor setup to play multi-monitor video games, so the distinction in sizes (and the distinction in heights—my 27-inch monitor’s stand holds that monitor about one inch greater than my 24-inchers) isn’t a difficulty for me. Nonetheless, when you’re planning on doing plenty of gaming or watching movies that span a number of displays, this peak distinction will make for a not-so-seamless expertise.

Before you purchase your displays, you’ll additionally need to ensure that they’ve enter ports that correspond along with your PC’s output ports. When you may use conversion cables, similar to DVI-to-HDMI or DisplayPort-to-DVI, they could be a trouble. When you have a VGA port in your PC or your monitor, I counsel staying away from it: VGA is an analog connector, which suggests your image will probably be noticeably much less sharp and colours will probably be much less vivid.

Step 3: Arrange your PC

Arrange your displays, plug them in, and switch in your PC. Voila! A superbly fashioned multi-monitor setup! Properly, not so quick. Setup is straightforward, however there are nonetheless a pair extra steps.

The very first thing you’ll need to do is configure Home windows to play properly along with your a number of displays. In the event you’re working Home windows 7 or Home windows 8, right-click on the desktop and click on Display decision; in Home windows 10, click on Show settings. It will take you to a display the place you’ll be able to configure the choices you could have for a number of displays in Home windows.

Right here, you’ll be able to verify that each one your displays are detected. Click on Establish, which is able to trigger a big quantity to seem on every of your shows, so you’ll be able to decide which display is which. Choose the monitor you’d wish to function your principal show (which may also decide the place your taskbar and Begin button seems). A drop-down menu permits you to select whether or not to duplicate your desktop or lengthen your desktop throughout all of the screens. In most multi-monitor setups, you’ll need to lengthen your desktop throughout all three (or 4, or no matter) of your shows.

Alternately, you’ll be able to arrange your multi-monitor configuration in your GPU’s management panel. Proper-click your desktop and select both the Nvidia or AMD management panel (relying in your graphics card), and discover the Show part, which is able to supply comparable choices as Home windows.

Gaming

It’s one factor to make use of a number of displays to do work and watch Netflix. It’s one other factor completely to make use of a number of displays to play video video games. If you wish to use your snazzy new multi-monitor setup to do some three- or four-panel gaming, there are a number of additional stuff you’ll should take into accounts.

Gaming on a number of shows directly requires much more graphical firepower than gaming on a single display alone, as a result of the GPU has so many extra pixels to push—so when you’re not working a sufficiently strong graphics card or playing cards, you’ll virtually actually see lag and artifacting in your multi-monitor video games. As soon as once more, try PCWorld’s information for selecting the very best graphics card for gaming.

Earlier than you can begin taking part in your video games throughout a number of panels, you’ll have to arrange your graphics card and your recreation. Nvidia customers might want to arrange Nvidia Encompass, whereas AMD customers might want to create an Eyefinity group for his or her displays.

You’ll additionally want to enter your recreation—not all video games are multi-monitor appropriate—and configure the video or show settings to the proper decision in order that the sport spans throughout your entire displays as an alternative of staying squished on only one. You’ll additionally need to mess around with different settings as the sport permits, together with discipline of view (too low, and there will probably be an excessive amount of happening round you; too excessive and every part in your left and proper screens will probably be massively distorted).

For gaming, it’s simpler if in case you have a number of equivalent shows, as a result of in any other case you’ll run into points with decision, distortion (in case your shows aren’t on the identical peak), and shade calibration, all of which could be troublesome to work with when you’re attempting to play in a “seamless” surroundings.

If working with a number of shows looks as if extra hassle than you need to hassle with for gaming, perhaps you’d be higher off with a single ultrawide monitor. Try our article on the professionals and cons of twin shows versus a single ultrawide.