Whether or not you should opt for dual monitors that come from the same brand is a topic of some debate in the tech world.
There are those who argue that choosing displays from the same manufacturer ensures optimal compatibility and performance, while others point to the fact that similar models from different brands may be equally well suited for your needs.
This raises questions for those who aren’t in on the debate. Those who are researching the topic prior to purchasing monitors for their dual monitor setup, or contemplating using an older monitor that doesn’t match their newly-purchased monitor.
So, can you use monitors from two different brands for a dual monitor setup, and will it work well?
Multiple monitors do not have to be of the same brand in order to function as intended in a dual monitor setup. In fact, the monitors don’t have to be the same size, have the same refresh rate, or even run at the same resolution. It comes down to personal preference because using monitors of the same brand is mostly for aesthetic purposes.
Ultimately, many factors will influence your decision about what, and from whom, to purchase. But keep in mind that the performance of each individual monitor is more important than the relation between the two monitors.
Benefits of Using Same Brand Monitors
Because this article could turn out to be your reference when purchasing multiple monitors, it’s important that I provide an answer that’s as nuanced and informative as possible.
So, while we’ve stated that there’s no need to match your monitors, I thought it would be wise to include the perks of using two monitors of the same brand or model for your dual monitor setup.
The average user will most likely consider these perks insignificant, while a subset of users value them highly and consider them quite important.
1. Color Calibration
Color reproduction will differ substantially from one monitor to the next. You will most likely have to adjust multiple settings to get both monitors to match. There’s brightness, color, gamma, and a bunch of other settings that can differ slightly between the two monitors.
If the purpose of having dual monitors is to edit videos and photographs or work with graphic design, then you want the color of the two monitors to match as accurately as possible. This is also true for game development, where colors play a major role.
Moving your work of digital art from one monitor to the next can basically change the way the media looks if the colors aren’t calibrated to match. This can make it hard to work with the object.
The monitor’s color settings can be adjusted by either going to Color Management in Windows or using the menu on the monitor panel.
2. Similar design
Yes, one of the perks of having two monitors of the same brand is that it can be visually pleasing because of their matching designs. Same brand monitors tend to differ in looks from model to model. So if you’re wanting to match your entire setup, make sure to purchase two of the same model.
This isn’t functional by any means, this is a purely cosmetic point.
3. Alignment
Yet another design-related perk that’s far from unique for same-brand dual monitor setups is the ability to align the monitors perfectly when they’re placed next to one another. With that said, I’ve run 3 different monitors and they’ve been positioned just as I wanted.
These are the perks that people argue make it worth to purchase two of the same monitor. The color calibration is probably the only thing that I recommend you take into consideration when making your purchase or deciding which monitor to use.
Can You Use Any Monitor For Dual Monitors?
While it is possible to use any monitor for dual monitors, there are a few factors that should be considered before making this decision. For one thing, the display resolution of each monitor must be compatible with your computer.
Many monitors only support certain display resolutions and may not work well with a secondary monitor. Another factor to consider is the connection type. Some computers have multiple video ports, while some only have one port.
If the latter is the case, you will need to purchase an adapter to connect your two monitors. Additionally, it is important to consider the size of each monitor as well as its screen quality.
After all, using two large or low-quality screens can actually impair your productivity and viewing experience rather than improving them. The same applies to using two curved monitors for dual monitors, as the curve will wrap around the user which can lead to neck strain.
But what about the compatibility between the two monitors, rather than their compatibility with the computer?
You can connect two monitors to the same computer, regardless of their refresh rate, resolution, brand, shape, and size as long as the computer can support it.
But when it comes to gaming, I recommend that your monitors have matching refresh rates and resolution.
Here’s why.
The primary monitor’s refresh rate will sometimes scale down to match the secondary monitor when media of any type is playing on the secondary monitor.
Thankfully, this is a known problem that can be solved.
So, while it may be possible to use any monitor for dual monitors, it is best to choose carefully based on these and other considerations in order to optimize your setup for maximum efficiency and comfort.
Can Dual Monitors Really Have Different Resolution?
Yes, there’s no need for the monitors to run at the same resolution. Each individual monitor can be set to its recommended resolution or any resolution of your choice. When doing general tasks, your graphic card will most likely be able to run the monitors at high resolution.
The more powerful your GPU is, the more resources the monitors can use without lowering the computer’s performance. Gaming on both monitors at the same time is probably an activity that will require a lot of resources, which means you’ll need a strong GPU.
But the resoltuon in and of itself isn’t going to be a problem. Think of each monitor as its own entity, which receives input from the rest of the setup. So monitor resolution is more of a balance than a limitation.
For instance, you can run two monitors at 4K but it’ll come with a high demand that can cause other parts of the process to suffer.
What Monitors Should You Use For Dual Monitors?
When it comes to monitors, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, what is your budget? Second, what is the purpose of the second monitor? If you plan on doing a lot of graphic design or video editing, you’ll need a monitor with high resolution and good color reproduction.
For general use, a cheaper monitor will suffice.
Second, think about the size of the monitors. Again, if you’re doing graphics-intensive work, you’ll want two large monitors. But for general use, two smaller monitors might be a better fit. The shape is also relevant, with curved monitors becoming more common.
I, for one, don’t like large curved monitors for a dual monitor setup because the curve wraps around you, which forces you to put your neck in positions that aren’t very ergonomic. I do, however, think a 24″ curved monitor can work great for dual monitors.
Finally, pay attention to the stand. Make sure it’s solid and stable, and that it can adjust to the perfect height for you. When you’ve considered all of these things, it’s time to start looking at the different alternatives.
I’ll tell you what monitors I would look at if I was looking for a new station. During the last 5 years, I’ve set up multiple dual monitor workstations for myself, friends, family, and colleagues. It’s safe to say that I’ve worked with a bunch of different monitors, and that I’ve found a couple that I like more than others.
The Monitors I Recommend
- Dell S2722QC 27-inch 4K: An incredible monitor when it comes to anything other than gaming. It supports 4K but doesn’t go past 60hz, which is why it isn’t the best alternative for gaming. Other than that, the monitor is a beast. The monitor is large enough to put two applications next to one another and the bezel is small enough to not bother you if you were to have two of these monitors and stretch an application over both screens.
- ASUS TUF 27-inch: This monitor is a beast for gaming. There’s no doubt about it. With a refresh rate of 280hz and G-SYNC, the ASUS TUF delivers amazing in-game video. It’s sleek and fits well in a dual monitor setup. The bezel is slim enough to not be bothersome either.
Can You Connect Two Monitors With Different Connectors?
When connecting multiple monitors, you could end up missing an HDMI port if your GPU doesn’t have enough. Chances are the same GPU will have at least one VGA, DVI or Displayport available. If that’s the case, then your problem is solved.
You can connect monitors to the same computer using different ports. For instance, the primary monitor could be connected to the HDMI port, while the secondary is connected using VGA. In fact, you can even connect the second or third monitor to the iGPU.
The IGPU, which is short for Integrated Graphics Processing Unit, used to be an integrated part of a motherboard, but has in modern days moved over to the CPU. Not all CPUs have an IGPU.
When it comes to video cables, there’s not much to worry about. As long as you have cables for all of your monitors and your graphic card has two or more ports, then you’re fine.
Remember that using a splitter to connect two monitors won’t allow you to display two different images. The splitter is connected to a single port and then split into two monitors. The single port can only send on video signal, but it sends it to two monitors. Therefore, the image can be displayed but it’s duplicated.