Best Dual Monitor Setup – CNN Underscored

(CNN) –

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from a consecutive year of working from home, it’s that I wouldn’t be as productive without two monitors.

Access to multiple screens makes almost every facet of my daily routine easier, whether I’m taking notes in a meeting or keeping tabs on Slack conversations and emails while hammering out a story. And when it’s time to stop working and start playing some games, my second monitor is invaluable for finding walkthroughs or interacting with my Twitch chat.

If any of these use cases apply to you, you will benefit a lot from a dual monitor setup. And luckily, there isn’t really a bad way to add a little extra space to your workspace. But since the sheer number of monitor and accessory options can be overwhelming, we’ve assembled pointers and products (including the monitors we’ve tested extensively) that will help you create the dual display setup of your dreams.

So whether you’re looking to boost your productivity or just want to be able to check your emails on boring Zoom calls (we won’t tell anyone), here’s everything you need to know about creating a great setup. to two monitors.

A dual monitor setup is exactly what it sounds like – by plugging two displays into your desktop or laptop computer (usually via HDMI or DisplayPort connections), you can dramatically increase the amount of screen you have available for working or to play. There isn’t really a bad way to put together a dual monitor setup, whether you want to mix and match the screens or have two identical screens mounted together for a seamless ultra-wide experience.

Personally, I use a basic asymmetric setup consisting of a Dell S2417DG as the primary monitor and an Acer KG221Q as the secondary monitor. The Dell monitor has a 24-inch, 2560 x 1440 display that lets me immerse myself in my favorite PC games or hammer Google Docs with minimal eye strain, while my smaller 1080p Acer monitor lets me keep an eye on them. emails or monitor my chat when I broadcast on Twitch. My particular Acer monitor is hard to find these days, but this $ 93 model (Acer SB220Q) is a good alternative if you’re looking for a reliable, inexpensive second display.

If you want a more organized dual monitor setup, there are plenty of screens optimized to sit side by side. The Lenovo L24q-30, our pick for the best computer display overall, is perfect for a dual-display setup thanks to slim bezels that can create an almost seamless viewing experience when you place two of them. side by side. The L24q-30 also supports VESA mounting, which means you can mount multiple of them together on walls or on different types of brackets (we’ll talk about that later).

It’s also worth considering monitors that can be positioned vertically when setting up a dual monitor setup. Vertically oriented monitors are especially ideal for programmers thanks to their ability to display multiple lines of code and simply save desk space – something not everyone has a ton in their home office. The $ 124 HP VH240a is a popular, inexpensive option that supports vertical orientation, as well as VESA mounting if you want a more elaborate dual-display setup. And yes, you can switch between vertical and horizontal on the fly.

You can simplify your dual monitor setup a bit by daisy chaining, which basically means combining your different display outputs into a single wire that goes into your computer. To sum it all up, one monitor connects to a second monitor, with that screen sending both signals to your PC with just one cable to worry about. This is a cool feature that will make your setup a bit cleaner, although not all monitors support it.

You will need a monitor with a DisplayPort 1.2 connection with Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology to make chaining work. The $ 229 ViewSonic VP2468 is a well-regarded daisy chain monitor if you want an affordable 1080p display, while the $ 423 Dell U2721DE is a popular option if you need a high-end 1440p display.

It’s easy enough to put two monitors on your desk, but what if you want to clean things up a bit? This is where brackets and wall brackets come in. By mounting your monitors, you can save valuable desk space, as well as gain even more freedom to adjust your displays and find the perfect viewing angle.

For those looking to connect multiple monitors to their laptop (or just simplify their mess of cables), a USB-C hub is worth considering for your dual monitor setup. And if you are a real power user, a KVM switch, which can connect devices to two computers at the same time, will allow you to easily use your two displays on multiple machines. Here are some accessories to check out to get the most out of your dual monitor setup.

VIVO Dual LCD Monitor Desk Stand ($ 39.95; amazon.com)

The VIVO LCD Dual Monitor Desktop Stand is one of the most popular stands on the web, allowing you to mount two monitors ranging in size from 13 to 27 inches and weighing up to 22 pounds each. Each arm of this stand is very flexible and allows you to rotate your screens up to 180 degrees or rotate them 360 degrees when you need some portrait action. The stand clip is designed to securely fit any desk up to 4 inches thick, and it includes detachable cable clips to keep all your wires organized.

WALI Dual LCD Monitor Wall Mount ($ 59.99; amazon.com)

If you prefer to mount your monitors on a wall, WALI’s Dual Monitor Bracket is a popular and relatively affordable way to do so. This wall mount fits any monitor up to 27 inches with a 75 x 75mm or 100 x 100m VESA mount, with a ton of pivot points, including a 90 degree swivel and a 360 degree rotation to position your monitors vertically. The WALI Dual LCD Monitor Stand also features an adjustable gas spring, which allows the stand to offer increased or reduced tensions depending on the heaviness of your monitor.

Aukey USB C Hub 12-in-1 Type C Adapter ($ 69.99; amazon.com)

Many modern laptops are limited on ports, which can make connecting external monitors tricky. USB C hubs, such as this 12-in-1 model from Aukey, solve this problem with ease. This adapter has two HDMI ports as well as one VGA port, giving you great flexibility to mirror your laptop screen to up to three displays or use them all as separate displays in extended mode. On top of that, you get a ton of extra ports for your peripherals, including two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, and an SD card reader.

Steetek 2-Port Dual Monitor KVM Switch ($ 109, originally $ 115; amazon.com)

For power users or Twitch streamers who use multiple computers with their dual monitor setup, a KVM switch is worth considering. These switches give you a single point of connection for your monitors as well as your mouse and keyboard, allowing you to switch control from one computer to another with the push of a button. This well-rated Steetek switch supports Full HD and 4K monitors, and contains two additional USB ports for sharing accessories such as printers or external drives across multiple PCs.

Before investing in a dual monitor setup, it’s also worth considering whether an ultra-wide monitor is more suitable for your needs. As the name suggests, ultra-wide screens typically have an aspect ratio of 21: 9 (compared to 16: 9 for a traditional screen), which gives you plenty of space on the horizontal screen for perform heavy multitasking. Just look at the $ 699 Samsung CJ791, our current best choice of computer monitors for large screens, which offers a generous 34-inch-wide, 3440 x 1440 screen to juggle multiple apps or immerse yourself further in your favorite games or movies.

Ultrawide monitors have a few advantages over dual monitor setups. For one thing, these monitors involve less setup and can potentially save you money, as you will only need to purchase and configure one monitor for your work area. You also get a truly transparent screen that can take advantage of games, movies, and shows that have been optimized to fit in a 21: 9 aspect ratio. And many ultra-wide monitors are curved, which allows for better viewing. greater immersion while preventing your eyes from having to strain too much as they move from side to side.

However, dual monitor setups give you a level of versatility that’s hard to exceed. The freedom to mix and match screens means you can invest in a high-end 4K monitor as your primary display while still choosing a cheaper 1080p model for web browsing and business calling. And you’ll literally have more flexibility in positioning, whether you want to place a screen vertically or adjust the height and angle of your two monitors independently on a wall mount.

Of course, if money and space aren’t an issue, you can get the best of both worlds and choose multiple ultra-wide screens. But for most people, an ultra-wide monitor gives you simplicity and immersion, while a dual-screen setup gives you more flexibility.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home office or game room, a dual monitor setup can make a huge difference. You’ll have more screen space to easily switch between emails, Slack chats, and video conferences, and can better monitor your shows on your way to Twitch or YouTube stardom.

It’s worth considering a stand or wall mount if you want a cleaner, more flexible setup, as well as an ultra-wide monitor as a simpler alternative to getting two displays. But whichever way you go about it, increasing the amount of screen space on your desktop will increase your productivity – and help you have more fun – significantly.