Dual Monitor Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Monitors for Your Setup
Setting up an extra display or replacing an older monitor with a new multiscreen configuration is an excellent way to improve your overall computing experience. A second monitor adds substantial screen real estate; a serious perk for both work and play.
In our dual monitor buying guide, we’ll highlight some of the most important things to think about while you shop, including:
- Workspace layout and display size
- Micro-edge display options
- Low blue light and ergonomic features
- Compatibility and mountability
- Remember to match
Of course, your specific routine may call for more questions. If you have other hardware concerns about how a dual monitor setup may work for you, consulting the manufacturer is a good rule of thumb. Check out reviews or support documents where available.
Key pieces to keep in mind
When thinking about stepping up to a dual-monitor setup, first think about what you like and don’t like about your current display. The best dual monitor setups prioritize not only improved visual quality but also your comfort while using the displays.
That means it may be useful to focus on physical details:
- Is your current display’s build too clunky?
- Are the edges distracting or obtrusive while you work?
- Does it wear on your eyes after even short periods of use?
These are all concerns that can help you prioritize the features most important to you.
1. Workspace layout and display size
Fitting your display setup to your workspace is always a top priority, particularly if you find yourself frequently adjusting the orientation or layout of your display. If your space is too tight and you add too many displays, you’ll find it’s challenging to make easy adjustments, especially across multiple devices.
Fortunately, you can add mounting hardware to your setup. It’s a great way to overcome limited or unconventional workspaces, saving tons of surface space, decluttering your desk, and improving your level of accessibility.
While size preferences are mostly driven by routine and use, we’ll talk more below about some of the other ways that display dimensions can come into play. For a wide range of options, check out our computer monitors collection.
HP EliteBook 630 G11 Notebook PC
For users looking for a portable solution that can easily connect to external displays, the HP EliteBook 630 G11 Notebook PC is an excellent choice. This lightweight and powerful laptop is perfect for professionals who need to work across multiple screens
- Windows 11 Pro - HP recommends Windows 11 Pro for business
- Intel® Core™ Ultra Processor
- 8 GB memory; 256 GB NVMe SSD
- 13.3" diagonal WUXGA display (1920 x 1200)
The EliteBook 630 G11 is ideal for setting up a dual monitor workspace, whether you’re at home or in the office. Its powerful Intel Core Ultra processor ensures smooth performance across multiple displays, while the compact 13.3" screen makes it easy to position alongside larger external monitors.
2. Micro-edge display options
With a single display, a large edge or border around the usable screen area may not be too distracting. But when you use multiple displays, the problem may become glaringly obvious and annoying, as well. Instead of a single large edge, additional displays mean you’re doubling up that unusable space. This may grow even more distracting if you need to leave room between your displays for easy adjustment.
This plays a big role in why many displays are built with micro-edges. Typically referred to as a 3-sided micro-edge bezel, this design reduces obstruction on the top and sides of your displays. It provides an almost seamless field of view when you use multiple displays.
HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop GT22-1455xt
For gamers and power users looking for a system capable of driving multiple high-resolution displays, the HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop GT22-1455xt is an outstanding choice.
- Windows 11 Home
- 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 processor
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 (24 GB GDDR6X dedicated)
- 16 GB memory; 1 TB HDD storage; 1 TB SSD storage
The OMEN 45L is built to handle the most demanding multi-monitor setups. Its powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card can easily drive multiple high-resolution displays, making it perfect for immersive gaming setups or professional workflows that require extensive screen real estate. Check out our full range of gaming desktops for more options.
3. Low blue light and ergonomic features
It’s also important to think about comfort and ergonomic features, like low blue light and stand adjustability. Blue light can become disruptive after extended exposure, and it can upend your circadian rhythms if you spend long periods in front of a screen.
Look for displays with a dedicated low blue light mode to reduce the strain. Full adjustability is also important, since it allows you to change the height, tilt, swivel, and pivot rotation of your display. This may not be a dealbreaker, but adjustability options make your setup much easier to fine tune over time.
HP Z8 Fury G5 Tower Workstation
For professionals who need uncompromising performance and the ability to drive multiple high-resolution displays, the HP Z8 Fury G5 Tower Workstation is the ultimate choice.
- Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
- Intel® Xeon® Processor
- 16 GB ECC memory; 512 GB M.2 storage
- NVIDIA® T400 Graphics (4 GB GDDR6)
The Z8 Fury G5 is designed for users who demand the highest level of performance and reliability. Its powerful Intel Xeon processor and professional-grade NVIDIA graphics make it ideal for complex multi-monitor setups in fields like 3D rendering, scientific visualization, or financial modeling. Explore our full range of workstations for more high-performance options.
4. Compatibility and mounting
If you plan to mount your display on a wall or swivel it to portrait mode, it’s important to check its compatibility. Thankfully, mountable displays are increasingly standard and most displays feature a standard VESA mount adapter to help you with setup.
With the extra space and flexibility afforded by wall mounting, you may prefer a large display, even when incorporating two of them. As a tip, you can get the most bang for your buck (and effort) if you opt for something at or above the 27-inch mark.
5. Remember to match
While the idea of matching display manufacturers may seem like a superficial concern, it actually guarantees that you’re maximizing your investment. The best dual monitor setup or multi-screen configuration should help simplify your routine and minimize distractions.
However, displays with different features or physical configurations may be just as distracting as a congested workspace. You may experience visual inconsistencies and frustrations working with screens from different manufacturers. Plus, there’s the added hassle of trying to figure out how to troubleshoot two different makes of display.
As a result, we recommend pairing two monitors from the same company to create the best two monitor setup for your needs.
Advantages of using multiple monitors
The main advantage of adding an extra display is an improved workflow, especially for more complex routines, but you can experience the related perks no matter how you use your computer. With more screen space, it’s much easier to run several programs simultaneously, which means you’re not wasting time clicking back and forth between programs or tabs, minimizing and maximizing, and so on.
As we’ve mentioned, you’ll also dramatically reduce desktop and workspace clutter. With a bigger display and a dual-display mount, it’s easy to reclaim lost space on your PC and your desk. With the right mounting system and a wireless display, you can clear tons of surface area and start experimenting more with your layout and peripherals.
When to consider a dual monitor gaming setup
While there are benefits to a double gaming monitor setup, most gamers don’t actually use this configuration to extend their game across two screens. While some users add an extra screen simply to increase their display space, gamers typically use a dual-monitor setup to multitask while they play.
In this scenario, one monitor is dedicated to gaming and the other to keep up with other activities like checking email or social media, reading articles online, or chatting in a live stream. Plus, it’s incredibly useful for when you hit a particularly challenging moment in a game and need to refer to a walkthrough or video for help.
HP OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptop 16t-u100
For gamers who want the flexibility to game on multiple screens at home or on the go, the HP OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptop 16t-u100 is an excellent choice.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ i7-14700HX (up to 5.5 GHz, 33 MB L3 cache, 20 cores, 28 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU (6 GB)
- 16 GB DDR5-5600 MHz RAM (2 x 8 GB)
This powerful gaming laptop is perfect for dual-monitor setups. Its high-performance CPU and dedicated NVIDIA graphics card can easily handle gaming on its built-in display while running other applications on a second screen. The laptop’s multiple ports make it easy to connect to external displays, giving you the flexibility to create your ideal gaming setup wherever you go. Check out our full range of gaming laptops for more options.
Some digital warriors prefer a triple monitor setup
Professionals and businesspeople
If you spend hours each day on Zoom meetings, but also need to stay up-to-date with email, Teams, or Slack, a third screen can be a boon to organizing your workday tasks. Research or number crunch on one screen while you keep an eye on incoming messages that need to be addressed.
Join your Zoom call without losing access to your spreadsheets and Google Docs. In this day of connectivity, a timely answer to your colleagues sometimes depends on moving projects forward on multiple screens.
Gamers
If a two monitor gaming setup is mostly used for multitasking, why would some gamers prefer a triple monitor setup? The answer is simple and actually boils down to the physical construction of displays. While two monitors tend to obstruct your view where the right and left edges meet, a three-monitor setup solves that problem.
Newer games and hardware often provide support for this configuration specifically. With a central screen and two peripheral displays, the display edges are less distracting if you need the extra space. Imagine the cockpit of a plane: two panels would leave only a right and left view, while three provide a clear panorama and wide viewing angles for your resting view.
In this case, the size of the display is also important. While using three displays sidesteps the distracting center of view, you may lose a sense of immersion if your displays are too small and the edges stand out. The smaller your displays, the closer those distracting edges are to your immediate field of view. This won’t apply to everyone, of course, but it’s absolutely worth keeping in mind. If you’re used to playing games on smaller screens, you may not even notice.
Get started with your own multiscreen setup
If you’re curious about how to connect and start using a dual monitor setup, you can refer to our guide on How to Set Up Dual Monitors on Windows 10 for more information. And if you want more than two displays – like our three gaming monitor setup – you can look into our guide, How to Daisy-Chain Monitors.
Shop according to budget and style
Whether you use two, three, or even more displays, you’re about to enjoy some serious visual perks, however, you use your PC. Evaluate your workspace, think outside the box for mounting and layout, and choose which multi-display setup will boost your productivity and broaden your digital horizons.
For a wide range of monitors suitable for dual setups, check out our selection of HP monitors and gaming monitors. And if you’re looking for a new system to power your multi-monitor setup, explore our desktop PCs and laptops to find the perfect match for your needs.
