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How To Set Up Dual Monitors For Gaming
Having two screens to play with can be a lot of fun and give you more things to look at while playing video games. Because of how convenient it is to have two monitors, it has become a staple for professionals, content creators, and gamers to use two screen setups.
Dual monitors act as an extra tool alongside your screen; you can have a walkthrough or a map on one of the screens as you play on the other; or any other kind of essential information for your games. In addition, you can also multitask, as you can use the second screen as a desktop while you play games or check your chats. This guide will teach you how to set up your dual monitors so that you can enjoy the perks of having more than one screen.
Updated April 13, 2024 by Kenny Kimberly: For beginners, setting up dual-monitors can feel exceptionally complex. We've come back to brush the dust off this article and make sure everything is still up to snuff so that you're getting the best advice possible. Enjoy!
Checking Ports
While you might be excited to acquire another monitor, you first have to make sure you have enough ports to use both monitors simultaneously. Modern PCs and laptops tend to have two video ports, which can be HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI. However, there are cases where some machines may have one port or a variation of multiple.
: How To Choose A Gaming Monitor (tom's Hardware)
If your machine has less than two ports, or you want to have a specific amount of them, you can use docking stations and adapters to add more ports to your machine and ensure you have the available ports to use your dual monitors.
Setting Up The Monitors
You should connect your monitors to your PC or laptop using the appropriate video cables. Make sure to use two of each; you need to have two HDMI cables if you are using HDMI.
Once connected, turn on your monitors and computer; the monitors should be detected automatically by your PC; if not, you might need to select the input source on the monitors.
Go to Settings in the Taskbar by typing the word on the slider (usually on the left), then click System and Display.
In the Display section, there will be an option that says Multiple Displays and select Extend These Displays. That will make it so that your desktop extends across both monitors. Now, configure your graphics card settings.
To do this, right-click on your desktop and select Show More Options at the bottom.
Then click NVIDIA Control Panel (or AMD Radeon Settings, depending on your graphics card). In the Display section, you can configure your monitors to your preferences and change configurations such as resolutions, colors, or refresh rates.
Testing Your Dual Monitors Setup
Once everything is in order, you must play a video game to see how the monitors perform. If the results are unsatisfactory, you might need to adjust settings in the graphics card control panel or video game settings. While each game can change the experience and outcomes, you should get a consistent result with your dual monitors.
Pictured above is what it looks like on Windows 10 when you look at a dual setup. You can use this screen to set which is your primary display, where they're oriented, and more. It's a good way to test your monitors without hopping into a full game or movie.
To get the best experience, you will want top quality monitors with reasonable refresh rates which can work effortlessly. In addition, using dual monitors uses more resources out of your computer, so make sure your PC or laptop is powerful enough to support the feature without any issues.
Tips And Tricks
Make enough space to put your monitors together in a manner that is comfortable for you to look at both screens. You can use dual monitors in a standard way, as you have two similar screens put together, or make one of your monitors a column; these can be useful if your primary purpose is to check walkthroughs, tables, or chats while playing.
You can also use the monitors to widen your FOV (Field Of Vision) and give you more room to look at things in video games. This is a popular tactic for things like ultrawide monitors.
You'll see "refresh rates" referred to often as well. Refresh rates are a hot topic, but generally speaking, refresh rates around 60-100 are fine for casual gaming. The higher the refresh rate, the "better," but it does depend on your uses. Competitive gaming or cinematic viewing? It's better to aim for a higher refresh rate. You'll find some high-end monitors around the 240Hz mark!
You can also use different aspect ratios or resolutions in each of the monitors if you want to maximize the space you are getting out of each of them, and also use software to manage the screens as there is software made for that purpose. You should experiment with your configurations to find that sweet spot you love or try new things to benefit your gaming sessions.
Choosing Your Monitors
Once you've decided to do a dual-monitor setup, you may find this impacting your shopping habits. If you're buying two monitors, your setup can change dramatically.
One common tactic is to simply buy two of the same monitor. If one's compatible, two certainly should be, and then it's mostly a question of ports. However, that may not always be the road you want to go down.
You may also choose the route of a larger primary monitor and a smaller secondary monitor.
Pictured above is a screenshot of a dual-display that does so. The screenshot stretches over both monitors, with the black-cropped space being the difference between the two. That makes it ideal for having a display with information and another with work.
Some also choose to purchase two enormous monitors so that both are primary displays. Doing so can make you need to purchase a different desk, as just fitting two of such behemoths can be a challenge.
If you need this much room, that's a phenomenal choice - but the reality is that most gamers aren't going to need two monitors of such a size. Should you go this route, consider a dual-monitor stand like this one:
When building a dual-monitor setup, having a two-monitor stand can help you make the most of your room. This is a recommended project from one of our recent articles, but it also helps you get the idea of what sort of an arrangement you may put your monitors in.
A common tactic is to have one "main" display and a "secondary" display. Your primary display may be larger, have a nicer refresh rate, or otherwise be "better." Your secondary display might be smaller and without the same graphical benefits since you might only use it for work resources, school research, or to have a gaming guide on
.
Ultimately, you'll need to take stock of what you prefer before you start building your budget around hyper-expensive, massive monitors. Always think of what restrictions you have under. If you're working on a budget, dual monitors don't have to be an expensive investment - so shop wisely!
FAQ
Are All Monitors The Same?
No, every monitor has different refresh rates, specifications, and sizes. Choosing the correct monitors will go a long way in improving your gaming sessions.
What Is a Refresh Rate?
Refresh Rate is the frequency at which the display updates the information on the screen. The higher it is, the smoother games will play out, while the lower it is, the more sluggish and clunky they will become. The standard is 60Hz, while the sweet spot is 165Hz. Keep in mind that monitors with higher refresh rates also tend to get more expensive.
How Much RAM Should I Have For Two Monitors?
The minimum is 8GB, but you should aim at 16GB or 32GB to ensure a fluid experience, especially if you run intense processes. As before, always remember that upgrading in such a manner often increases the cost, so keep your budget in check.
