Regardless of the reason you use your monitor (work or play), having more screen real estate helps you think bigger and reach your next creative level. Every field of work can benefit from a large monitor or a multi-monitor setup. Gamers can play on one screen and chat or livestream on another, while creatives can maximize space to have a wider view of their art. When working, you can write a document on one screen and refer to webpages on the other screen without switching between different windows or sifting through stacks of open documents. Or if you're dealing with large spreadsheets, you can finally visualize all your data at once. The real question is whether a 32:9 SuperWide monitor could be the perfect solution for your needs, or if a multi-monitor setup would suit you better.
How do I manage a dual monitor setup with a laptop?
Once you've positioned the monitors accordingly, you can choose how to connect them by checking the available ports on your laptop and monitors. Typically, modern laptops have limited ports, making the setup of multi-monitor configurations more creative. Instead of connecting each monitor to the graphics board of the individual computer or laptop, check if your laptop and monitors share Thunderbolt 3 or DP (DisplayPort) ports. If they do, connect the laptop to the first monitor and daisy-chain the monitors together in a row.
1.1 SuperWide Screens: The Alternative to a Dual Monitor Setup
Feeling overwhelmed by two monitors? Running out of space? Or do two monitors simply not meet your requirements? You can still benefit from additional space by choosing a SuperWide monitor. A 32:9 SuperWide monitor is designed to replace multi-screen setups with a massive widescreen view. It's like having two 27-inch 16:9 Quad HD displays side by side. SuperWide monitors offer the screen real estate of two monitors without the complicated setup.
2. Ideas for Your Workspace Setup with Two Monitors
Before selecting the right monitor, it's crucial to understand your needs. Architects, graphic designers, video creators, and people in finance all require a space that allows them to use multiple apps simultaneously, boosting their productivity. For example, one screen for drawing in AutoCAD or AI and another to keep an eye on previews, timelines, emails, and chats. Gamers and streamers aren't excluded either, as they can add a second monitor to easily manage chatrooms and Discord servers, facilitate interaction with teammates and subscribers, and monitor how the livestream is going.
Dual setups offer broader possibilities in visualization. You can place the monitors where you need them, at the tilt and orientation you prefer. Try to think outside the box and combine landscape and portrait orientations!
2.1 Daisy Chaining for a Dual Monitor Setup
Connecting monitors through "Daisy Chaining" means linking multiple monitors together and then connecting them to a single computer using a DisplayPort cable or Thunderbolt 3 cable, rather than connecting each monitor to the graphics card of the individual computer or laptop. So, "Daisy Chaining" means that only one monitor needs to be connected to the computer. Therefore, your two monitors should have a DisplayPort input/output or Thunderbolt 3, while your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) must support DisplayPort 1.2 MST (Multi-Stream Transport).
2.2 How to Use a KVM Switch for a Dual Monitor Setup?
A KVM switch, short for Keyboard, Video, and Mouse switch, is hardware (and sometimes an integrated feature) that allows users to control multiple computers with a single set of peripherals. With this handy switch, you can quickly switch between sources, which proves useful in setups that require the performance of two PCs or share a large monitor for displaying two different PCs.
It is possible to use a KVM switch for dual monitor setups, although it depends on the specific model of the switch and the type of monitor you are using. Most common KVM switches support between one and three monitors. If you need more information on KVM switches, you can find a comprehensive guide here.
3. How to Get Dual Monitors to Work Separately?
When connecting multiple monitors to the same laptop, you'll need to choose which monitor is the primary and which is the secondary monitor and select display modes based on your needs. Once this is done, you can either mirror your laptop screen or extend your display.
3.1 Can You Operate 2 Monitors Using One DisplayPort?
Yes, if your monitors have both a DisplayPort input and output. This setup is called Daisy Chaining, which allows you to connect a series of monitors to a single video output on your computer or docking station.
What's the Difference Between Mirroring and Extending the Display?
When you connect a monitor to a laptop, you'll need to choose between two display modes: mirroring and extending. In mirror mode, the computer's monitor simply duplicates on the external display, showing the same image on both screens. In extended mode, the external display is treated as a separate screen, allowing you to open completely different windows on each display. To change the display mode, you'll need to check your laptop's display settings.
