What would you rather look at?

[kaiweiler]

I am debating whether to get a single Samsung SyncMaster 305t 30" display seen here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001098

or three Samsung SyncMaster t240 24" displays seen here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001275&Tpk=t240

I am not a PC gamer at all really, aside from online poker (16 tables at a time).
I multitask frequently, and would watch the occasional movie.

I am aware that my 8800GT would not run 3x24" monitors, but I don't think it is that difficult to set up a second GPU to run the 3rd monitor.

Thoughts?
What would you do?

[clocker]

I'd get two of the 24"s.
You have to sit pretty far back from a 30".

[kaiweiler]

I'd get two of the 24"s.
You have to sit pretty far back from a 30".

Why not 3?

[clocker]

What would you do with three?
I think two 24's and maybe one of those cool new 9" USB screens would handle most everything I can think of...

[Skiz]

The two 24"ers. No doubt.

I have three 19"ers right now and it is indeed overkill. I figured I would always find a third screen just as useful as the second but it isn't at all. It's mostly used for displaying my music folder and Foobar. :dabs:

I also assume you don't need multiple monitors for any particular purpose as you're considering the single 30". I think it would be super enjoyable for games, but thats about it.

Two 24"s. That's the way to go. You still get a large amount of real estate. :)

[saulin]

Yeah dual monitor dude and 30" is too much if you won't game, plus you don't have the video card to game anyways. Really you'll find that you can do much more with 2 monitors.

I have 3 monitors, well I'm using my TV as a 3rd monitor but really my TV is a clone of monitor 2 and all I use it for is for when I want to watch movies or TV episodes from my PC. Or when I want to play emulators.

[knivesreturns]

2 24"'s or duals in somethig less. Any bigger and your doing cad type stuff.

[Skiz]

...plus you don't have the video card to game anyways.

I have a 7900GTX and run every single game I play on 1280x1024 and the highest graphics settings possible. I'm fairly certain the 8800 is a superior card to mine. The only game I can't thus far is Crysis, but who can?

[kaiweiler]

Yeah I think 2x24" is better than 1x30" as well.
Now my only decision is if 3x24" is better than 2x24"...
At full price I would only get two, but I am only paying $122.85 taxing and shipping included per monitor and they are brand new sealed in box. So really, for that price I think 3 would be sweet just for visual effect and ballerness.
Also, like I said I multitask like a ******-******, I would use one monitor to play a video fullscreen, the second to play 16 tables of poker, and the third to house my media player, browser and IM's.
And yes, I do it all at the same time.

[clocker]

OK, get three then.
You can always sell the third one.

[Byzantium]

I'd go with the 2/3 24"s

30 just seems a little bit excessive.

Plus, 2/3 monitors would be of more use since you said you multitask a lot... would help to keep things more organized.

[saulin]

...plus you don't have the video card to game anyways.

I have a 7900GTX and run every single game I play on 1280x1024 and the highest graphics settings possible. I'm fairly certain the 8800 is a superior card to mine. The only game I can't thus far is Crysis, but who can?


Is there a card that can run Crysin on max settings?

I have a 8800 GTX, probably a much better card than yours and I can't say I can play every game at max settings. If I'm going to game at 1280x1024 I need to use FSAA and Anisotropic Filtering. These are settings that many don't count and are the ones that really hit performance.

On a 30" monitor you need a resolution of 2048 x whatever. You need the best video card that you can afford to pull that off.

[ryan20021982]

This is just from newegg so you may be able to get it cheaper but the 30 inch is $1,149.99

Thats retarted when you can get a 24 inch for around $250, I would just get 2 of the 24's, I use 2 22's and love it really I think any bigger would be too big I sit kinda close so these are perfect for me.

[kaiweiler]

Ignore prices of either option.
I would get all 3 24" (Samsung T240) for $368.55 USD shipped and the single 30" (Samsung 305T) for $405 shipped so the price difference is negligible.
I think I might get the 3x24", I just have to be sure I have the space...

[ryan20021982]

Even at those prices I would still get the 3 24's theres so much more space there, and personally I like having the separate screens to divide things up.