Anyone here use 4 monitors?
 

Here's what I'm thinking about:

Stand:
http://www.amazon.com/Quad-Monitor-s.../dp/B001HHNRFK
$75
Monitors larger than one posted in this image
http://i43.tinypic.com/1zg962p.jpg

The custom computer to add for dual graphics cards to 4 x DVI outputs
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?Base=7127968
$1470
http://i41.tinypic.com/9qvhjd.jpg

The monitors x 4 (24")
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&Sku=A204-2404
$560
http://i42.tinypic.com/212vb6d.jpg

I've got the rest of the peripherals. What are your thoughts as a designer, I think this is the ultimate productivity setup. Plus I use virtuawin from sourceforge for my windows desktop workspaces.

The funny thing is this is still cheaper than a higher end 15" macbook pro which goes for $2200.
http://i42.tinypic.com/256ee0m.png

I just get really excited thinking about it, so much that I'd rather be typing this in on Friday at midnight than being social :)
I've got toastmasters tomorrow anyway so need to head to bed.

I use four 24" monitors, set up just like that.

Video of the setup I took for GFY:

Thanks for the input and letting me know and as a result I aspire to be like you now! :winkwink:

and you'll love it much more then a mac.

Some advice, then. Don't go cheap on the computer, or the while thing will run dogshit slow. Same with the video cards. Your monitors should be $500 each, mimimum. Mine are Dell Ultrasharps ... the engineering-grade kind. Anything less, and they won't be useful for design.

Well, if he aspires to be ME ... I am running a 8 processor Mac Pro with 32GB of RAM in that video ... LOL. It just happens to be booted into Windows.

Don't get me wrong, macs are still good but you essentially pay premium on top of a premium product. At the end you just think "fucking jesus!!!" Macs are good for the seamless integration for running virtual OSes of linux, bsd, windows, and the OS X but whenever I think of a mac I think of a pretty girl chewing bubble gum with headphones on chatting on FB and watching youtube videos.


Will do but will still ask around as that's what I always do when spending lots of money. I may wait until the intel Ivy bridge chips get mainstream before doing this though as my setup is still good now but how can you not like having 4 screen?!!!!

Thanks guys...

HOLY SHIT!!!

That's a little beyond me right now, LOL.... You can run all OS X on a windows maching but it's crude, mac everything works seamlessly.

Shrug. I like everything to run smoothly. I just got what I thought I'd be happy with for a while.

pro grade monitor is essential for graphics, need at least one of those at some point.
the quality is like day and night between more affordable ones.

You're mistaken! Go visit an Apple store in your area and talk to someone at the Genius bar. Mac's are seriously powerful machines.

Bingo. Well said.

Dell IPS monitors are solid. I'd go with those.

Ahhh, this reminds me of when I bought the Colorgraphics quad head card 10 years ago. At the time, it was cutting edge and the only video card for 4 displays available on the market. It only had 32MB total memory and cost $1,180.

that is a nice setup.

Is your chair a regular old recliner or is it some kind of special office chair. I have always thought about getting some kind of a big comfy recliner type chair for my desk, but they all seem to be a little too low to the ground.

nice setup

Nope but that looks cool ! :winkwink:

As a designer. I'm not sure if I need 4 monitors to be more productive to my work. But that's a very cool setup though. :thumbsup

Looks pretty interesting :thumbsup

this is my setup running dual screens two 20in on left and two 22 on right. I like the flexiblity of two computers. Less processing power, able to test on a different environment, rebooting and not having to close everything. all my server, programming and design stuff happens on the 22's. Movie watching, writing up client/business proposal, FB, Forum, posting, etc. all both computers are networked to each other so filesharing and even copy and pasting (using Mouse Without Borders) happen instantly as if i'm on that computer.

I've crashed the system on the left before and needed the other system to transfer system files to get it back up and running. good to have multiple systems. And definitely get a BlacX or similar external hard drive dock. its on the far right, really can't see it but makes docking and hot swapping hard drives for back up or general use a breeze.

desk a bit messy just got done with a project.
http://i.imgur.com/Fem08l.jpg

It's a regular recliner. Since I don't have a desk (I put the keyboard on my lap and the mouse on the arm of the chair), I don't really need to worry about the height. I mounted the monitors to accommodate the height of the chair, basically.

I had a 51" TV in the mix as well, but it was just too hard to see the other monitors when they were mounted around it, so I moved it to a back bedroom.

I really need to be setup in a chair and staring at the screens to be productive on my end.

I almost think it would be less productive to have things spread out in a panoramic view, but that's my opinion.

its easier on your neck and eyes if you work long hours. I personally would test out two screens side by side before jumping into a quad. might end up being over kill or too much eye strain after awhile.

Advice taken to heart

I use 4 - all dells

2-24" for most work, 1 22" that just has email open, and 1 18" at 90 degrees used for IM

Cool cat on 0:24. Here it is my setup

http://s7.postimage.org/fxsv5s92j/35888790.jpg

...would it be better to watch on 50" screen or go for few monitors? I was thinking about those IPS dell 24.

50" screen is an overkill imo, i also doubt such monitor could offer great resolution
maybe technology improved, i don't know, but last time i've seen TV screens used as monitors, the picture and res weren't that great

i would take two 24"s in a heartbeat over 50" for work

hd
 

It is normal full HD, much better picture then 22 " monitor on photo above.

full hd is 1920x1080 too little for 50" imo (for work) unless you are far away from it like in living room

the effect is like having 800x600 on 19-22"

i can see it working for couch surfing with 50" but that's about it

i could be wrong, but i'll stick with my 24" guns =)

24" at 1920x1200 * 2 much better than one large 1920x1080, twice as much real estate

there is no difference even when viewing it from several inches. My monitor is set on 1600x...and TV has much better constrasts, colors....when I move back to couch, I feel that I need 70"". I guess that is matter of how you get used to watch. I will buy anyway, two dell monitors and will see then what looks better.

monitors whores ;)

Good luck getting your place set up and unpacked

hide those wires lol

Thanks man. Wires STILL aren't hidden -- about 100 other projects to do first. The chlorinator on the pool wasn't being fed water, so that had to be done, now it needs to be re-shocked, etc, etc. There's always something to do, LOL.

I'm using 3 right now. Maybe should go 4 a 4th, but this rack would look plain ugly on my desk.
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7502/desktopiwh.jpg

left: teh Intarnetz, LOLcats and fapping
middle: photoshop and gaming
right: used for the sole purpose of being pwned by God of War3

http://i.imgur.com/MTDcK.jpg

3.. 2x 27" thunderboldts + 27" Imac

Some nice setups you guy's have

I prefer 2 30"'s .. I have 2 Gateway 30's at my office, and 2 Mac 30"s at home. Really can't tell much difference between the 2 setups.

I also have a 17" macbook pro for testing purposes.

Just imagine the set up you could have if Mark payed you the $35k he owes you.

An Irishman walks into a bar... :winkwink:

I have my laptop and one monitor hooked up to a KVM switch, nice and clean just not as impressive looking

This is how we do it, I honestly could use a 5th. . . :winkwink:

http://i.imgur.com/XWaax.jpg

wow you sit that close (nice tv though), that doesn't mess with your eyes? I have 4 screens and after working long hours I have to turn off 3 of the screens to reduce some of the light and eye strain.

An Irishman walks into my pockets ... :1orglaugh

Having a large screen that close is actually counter productive. There have been studies that prove that.