Three monitors - how to arrange?

[StrikeDaMic]

Hey all

By a stroke of luck, I was able to buy an Asus VG248QE and an arm for two monitors for a very good price. Since I already have two screens (BenQ 24" TNs), I'll use it as my primary monitor. I read it was excellent for gaming (which I do a lot) and not-so-excellent for graphic design and the likes, which I do a little less, but I'm sure it can cut it.

Now I'm wondering about how to arrange the screens. Most people usually arrange the three next to each other, but I don't really want that because I would be turning my head way too much and because I simply don't have the space on my desk . I thought about either putting two screens next to each other on the bottom and adding one in the middle on top (sort of like a pyramid), or inverted, with one below in the middle and two on top (slightly tilted down). For the first variant, the new screen would probably be on the left, in the second, it'll be in the middle.

I currently tend to the latter idea, since it would give me some much needed space left and right to the center bottom monitor and would help me concentrate on that screen, for example when I'm gaming. I don't know if it's annoying or straining to "look up" to the left or right a lot.

Does anyone have a similar set up? What would you recommend?

Thanks!

(First World Problems ^^)

 

[Someone Somewhere]

What about turning the screens 90°, and then having three side by side?

 

[ferooxidan]

What about turning the screens 90°, and then having three side by side?

+1

 

[manofchalk]

I have the typical triple screen setup, 3 horizontal monitors. I find I dont have too turn my head that much when it comes to gaming, your focusing on the center monitor more than likely. For general usage and video editing your head does turn a lot more (provided you spread everything out), but I would say its worth it.

You could just go triple portrait monitors as suggested above, though very few monitors have stands that allow that. I think if you want to go portrait you will need an aftermarket monitor stand.

 

[StrikeDaMic]

Thanks for your answers. I do not want to flip them 90° and do a split portrait, because I abhor the screen frames when gaming. Also, I believe my image would be *too* large like that.
So do you guys think I shouldn't do the pyramid at all? Anyone advocating this idea (or any of the two versions of it)?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I know my U2412M came with a stand allowing rotation...

VESA is a wonderful thing, and it's a pity so few manufacturers use it to it's full extent these days.

 

[manofchalk]

The pyramid idea is definitely viable from a software perspective, just quickly tested it in AMD Catalyst (dont know if it will work with Nvidia, cant see why not). The main problem is going to be physically arranging the monitors in that way.
The most I can think of is too have the bottom two arranged normally, with your desk up against a wall and having a VESA wall mount hold up the top monitor. I know there are a few monitor stands that support the top auxilliary monitor, but they are typically a 3 monitor +1 on top arrangement. That and the stand is probably going to cost more than the screen at that point.

Interesting reading here, if your handy then this could be a good option.
http://www.overclock.net/t/1195618/diy-triple-monitor-mount
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1586580
http://www.overclock.net/t/1276849/diy-triple-monitor-stand-plus-second-tier-4-monitors-total

 

[StrikeDaMic]

The pyramid idea is definitely viable from a software perspective, just quickly tested it in AMD Catalyst (dont know if it will work with Nvidia, cant see why not). The main problem is going to be physically arranging the monitors in that way.
The most I can think of is too have the bottom two arranged normally, with your desk up against a wall and having a VESA wall mount hold up the top monitor. I know there are a few monitor stands that support the top auxilliary monitor, but they are typically a 3 monitor +1 on top arrangement. That and the stand is probably going to cost more than the screen at that point.

Thank you, I did get an arm for two monitors - I'll just put the third on the desk by its normal stand - or two of them. I know that my ideas are possible physically and software-wise, I just simply don't know which one is "better" for my area of usage, and I don't wanna mount everything and then realise it's wrong I could mount two of them to the stand, leaving one on the table, or mount on of them on the stand, leaving two on the table. The first option leaves me more space on the desk and seems to ease concentration on the "main monitor", the second one is easier on the stand and desk and maybe it's easier to switch from monitor to monitor with the eyes.


Oh, btw, I just tried setting them up all next to each other and I don't like it.

 

[manofchalk]

Which one is going to be "better" is subjective, it'l change per person. To my the pyramid setup sound better than the inverted pyramid, having more screen space at eye level makes sense to me.
Having the screen above the other two actually would help for professional tasks more than the monitors just in a line. I find during video editing, that if you split up the windows too far it becomes inconvenient to select tools, then scroll over to where the preview window is. To put them together then just defeats the point somewhat and I end up just using a single screen again. Having that vertical space instead of purely horizontal would help I imagine.