Multiple monitors, different sizes

[FatalFlaw]

I currently have two 24" monitors. A Dell U2407 at 1920x1200 and a cheapo Acer TN panel at 1920x1080. I'm building a new machine and am looking at new monitors. I was going to go with 3 Dell U2412M's, but then I tried out a U2713HM at work and it's awesome. So now I'm planning on the U2713HM, but at $650 (~585 on sale) a piece, it's hard to justify $1800 for monitors on top of the cost of the new machine (plus my wife will kill me). So I was considering getting one U2713HM and either

1) Keep the current U2407 and cheapo Acer. Put them on either side of the U2713HM and replace them with two other U2713HM's at a later date.
OR
2) Toss the two current monitors, buy a U2713HM and two U2412M's. Put the two 24's on either side of the 27 and don't bother getting any more 27's.

I've used my current two monitor setup at home for several years. I've also used three monitor setups at work. But I've never used multiple monitors with such mismatched size and resolution. I'm not sure how a 24(1920x1200)-27(2560x1440)-24(1920x1200) setup will work. I can imagine it being awkward. I was hoping someone who's used a similar setup or at least multiple monitors at different sizes/resolutions could chime in and let me know what their experience was and any recommendations.

 

[Ayah]

I use 2* U2412m's (24", 19*12) and an old 2005fpw (20", 16*10)

I don't know exactly what you do with them so what I say might not apply to you.

For me, doesn't bother me much, I usually have different things on different screens: as in nothing ever crosses a screen. I almost always require multiple programs to do a single project--> ie: web browser on one screen for stock levels, maybe altium designer on another, maybe solidworks on the third to see if it'll work out.

I tried spanning a while ago but monitor bezels annoy the hell out of me.

 

[FatalFlaw]

I do some gaming and then normal office multitasking stuff and coding, often times projects that benefit from having multiple windows open at once. That's why I currently have two monitors and want to go to three. My thinking was that I could use the center U2713HM for gaming, in which case it wouldn't matter what monitors I have on either side. The only time the different sizes comes into play is during non-gaming activities in which I have multiple windows open. I don't plan on spanning, like you I don't want a bezel going through the middle of my work. Going with the 24-27-24 would be a fair bit cheaper than all 27's, I was just hoping to hear from people on whether the different sizes and resolutions were distracting or otherwise interfered with normal work.

 

[kevinsbane]

Consider trying one of the "el cheapo" monitors from Korean on ebay -
Qnix - PLS monitor, DVI only, can be overclocked to 120hz (YMMV)

CrossOver - IPS monitor, DVI only

Much cheaper - but somewhat riskier. Support and warranty can be considered to be non-existent. However, good experiences all around - see the CrossOver threads/Qnix/Catleap/Shimian/etc threads at OCN.

I personally own a Catleap "2B" and a Qnix - both 2560x1440 monitors, both overclockable to 120hz. About $400 for the Catleap and $350 for the Qnix.

 

[FatalFlaw]

Consider trying one of the "el cheapo" monitors from Korean on ebay -
...
Much cheaper - but somewhat riskier. Support and warranty can be considered to be non-existent. However, good experiences all around - see the CrossOver threads/Qnix/Catleap/Shimian/etc threads at OCN.

I personally own a Catleap "2B" and a Qnix - both 2560x1440 monitors, both overclockable to 120hz. About $400 for the Catleap and $350 for the Qnix.

Thanks for the advice. I have considered them and they are tempting. I have a hard time getting over the no warranty aspect. I also don't like the lack of inputs. I've had great experiences with Dell UltraSharps and trust that I'm going to get a great monitor with correctly calibrated colors. That piece of mind is worth more in my opinion.

 

[Chaotic42]

I've used mis-matched monitors for years. For a while I had two 24s (1920x1200) and one 30 (2560x1600). What I advise is putting the large monitor in landscape in the middle and flanking it with smaller monitors in portrait mode.

 

[hackerballs]

you could always turn the 2 x 24 inch sideways and match it up to the 27 inch............(I use a 27 inch and have had 24" with it...........very disconcerting for the eyes I found, dumped the 24 inch and just use the 27, much better, hate to swivel my neck for long periods of time.........makes it sore)

 

[caution]

There are some monitors that the horizontal bezel is somehow thicker than the vertical. Take that into consideration too