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Doing a revamp of the home office and need 2 x monitors with VESA mounts. Looking at 24".
Anyone make recommendations / ones to avoid? Know very little about resolutions etc. so any tips will be appreciated.
This being STW I will state upfront that I am looking for affordable, mainstream stuff. Organic artisanal screens are not a requirement. 🙂
Yeah, I'd go bigger (size & resolution) over 2 monitors these days, unless you're running two machines...
My sweet spot (cost vs size vs resolution) resolution is probably around the 27 inch/ QHD mark.
There's some great deals on Dell monitors at the moment, direct from Dell. I spec them for work quite a bit and they've been reliable and have all the right inputs.
https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/monitors-monitor-accessories/sac/monitors
I've got 2x 27" at the moment. Think I'd prefer an ultrawide too. Would be nice to have main working area in the middle and other stuff of to the sides. I do dev work so often a lot of windows open, especially when testing. Seems a big jump in size and price from 34 to 49 though.
Personally, I prefer 2 monitors over a large one but I run one in portrait mode. My primary monitor is a 27" ASUS with very high pixel density.
I prefer 2 monitors over a large one but I run one in portrait mode
That's my current set up too. One 27" in landscape right in front and a 17" in portrait to the side. They are about the same height that way. Work on the big one with reference docs, email, music, youtube, etc on the little one.
Second for a curved monitor. I run a 37" Ultrawide in the centre with the laptop on the left on a riser for emails and a 24" on the right for aux documents etc. But the UW is way better than a twin set up.
Yet another vote for one ultrawide, I use mine 4 days a week at home and 2x27" 2 days in the office. There's only so much you can see before it becomes marginal on the gains unless you like a bezel in the middle, the actual screen width is about 3 docs in portrait, fancy zones or whatever it's called is also handy if you can install powertoys. My missus wouldn't go back either, she uses it for spreadsheets. Git gud (or just use) with virtual desktops and you'll never look back.
I have the Dell gaming setup with USB hub, some models come with a built in KVM switch which is ideal if you run more than one machine.
I'm a huge fan of my 35" Ultrawide for work and play.
I am often reviewing two documents, or build a powerpoint but it really comes into its own for the multi column spreadsheets where I don't need to scroll and can see it all with no split.
I have it on an arm and use it for SIM racing - I can pull it out and sit it right on top of the steering wheel. It's awesome!
I have then added a 24" in portrait at the side - a great pairing!
I have to agree with others that 27" QHD is the sweetspot for general office type stuff but what is your budget? I have a couple of variants of these https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-27-monitor-s2721ds/apd/210-axkw/monitors-monitor-accessories (but P series as I needed displayport chaining, I think the panel is the same though). There are cheaper options though, especially if you go with a VN panel (instead of IPS), which for general office type use is fine IME (but panel quality varies between manufacturers, a good VN will be better than a bad IPS panel).
I do also have 27" 1080p monitors and they're good to but just have so much less usable screen area than a 27" QHD and a 27" QHD still means everything is perfectly readable without having to magnify stuff in the operating system. At 24" though it might be a little small so if you're really sold on 24" then it's probably best to stick with 1080p (QHD on 27" is also usually a fair jump in price over 27" 1080p).
Don't worry about refresh rates either if you're not FPS gaming on them, I also have a couple of 32" 4k monitors with fairly slow refresh rates and it's just not noticeable for general office use (I have 4 monitors at home and 4 in the office, most of them I've had to buy myself)
if you want 24" monitors, you probably want to be looking for full HD res (1920x1080) or above. Lots of offices are clearing out monitors that size, so you'll find "refurb"s cheap on ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175910785610
that sorta thing would do the trick
You can argue all day on one ultrawide versus two 'standard' (for what it's worth I agree with above that 27"QHD is probably the cost/size/resolution sweet spot), but what you do absolutely want without question is USB-C video-in. Being able to plug in one cable to your laptop to handle video out, power in, plus any USB devices/dongles connect to the monitor is a godsend. Even if you have a laptop that doesn't have USB-C video out I'd still get a USB-C monitor for future proofing so you have that goodness when you get a non-stone age laptop.
My Samsung ultra wide was honestly one of the best purchases I’ve made. Absolutely love it from a work perspective. The PIP allows a second computer too. If I could change one thing, it would be a faster switch to toggle PIP without using the menu rocker. Otherwise it’s brilliant. Has built in speakers that aren’t bad, but my two computers go through a DAC and amp to LS3/5a like monitors on the desk instead.
if it broke I’d buy another tomorrow. Son1 has a cheaper ultra wide Samsung and the picture was just as good without the fancy stand, speakers and PIP. Was about £300 I think and replaced two that were damaged in a party (whilst he was away!)
Another shout for QHD. It’s gloriously sharp at the 25-27” monitor size and is definitely a sweet spot. I have two Dell 25” QHD monitors and love that set up.
I don’t personally like ultrawide curved monitors because of they act as an acoustic lens and reflect/concentrate your own voice back at you during calls. Can anyone who uses one day-to-day comment?
Can anyone who uses one day-to-day comment?
I can't say its something I have ever noticed.
I'm no audiophile though...
You’ll be listening out for it next time you’re on the phone 😆
They look gorgeous, but I was working with one on a trade show booth one year, and I spent 4 days talking to customers with my own voice being echoed back at me.
As I spend a lot of my workday in Teams meetings, I decided to avoid getting one at home.
Nope. Been on teams pretty much since I posted and I’m not getting it…
That's the Black Friday deal on the one down from mine. It's actually better in every way besides a marginally slower refresh rate but if you're not gaming who cares?
USB-C PD etc.
WQHD (3440x1440) which translates to 4k for graphics requirements but again, if you're not gaming it's not an issue.
I have mine set up as a USB hub which makes plugging in the laptop easy enough, that one looks even better. If I needed another monitor I'd buy that now!
What to avoid?
If you have dual monitors set up make sure both of the monitors have the same backlight or both working fine. Not one blueish while the other yellowish.
I had dual monitors set up but one has backlight (damaged I think) and it is "blueish" while the other is bright normal. Was thinking of returning it but couldn't be arsed as I need to work on my computer urgently.
Oh ya ... I would go for BENQ at 27". However, my current set up is dual Lenovo 27" plus the other pooter with one BENQ 24". I bought the Lenovo because it was on sale at £107. Apart from one being blueish they are fine.
Nope. Been on teams pretty much since I posted and I’m not getting it…
That’s good. Either it doesn’t bother you, or it depends on monitor curvature and user position and I just got unlucky.
2 of these would be a bargain for £310 on the current deal...1440p, IPS, USBc, refresh rate is only 75hz, but it's a none issue if you're not a hardcore gamer.
Only thing to watch out for is screen sharing if you have a ultra wide monitor, people will not be able to read it unless they are as good or better set up.
. I set up a zone in fancy zones that was 1920x 1080 then use OBS studio snap it to that zone and create a virtual camera for teams to attach to.
A 45" WQHD ultrawide 240hz oled any good for £799?😁
To be clear, this is oled so buyer beware for productivity... But wow, for gaming and particularly Sims. Wow. Discount applied at checkout.