Run with dual-monitor (22") or get a bigger screen (27")? (For daily use and gaming)

[GundamF91]

I have a 22" Dell LCD, running 1680x1050 resolution. It's worked out very well for me, both in day to day use and in gaming, as powered by HD5870. I just got a new desk, so I have more real estate to make displays options a little bit better. I'm wondering if I should pick up a 2nd 22" monitor (with a thin bezel), and run two 22" as dual screen. Alternately, I could pick up a bigger screen, something like 27" and make that my single main display. (By the way I'm not going to run 27/22 dual screen since the resolution will be wrong, and it just won't look right, I'll give the 22" to my parents).

I think dual 22" will be somewhat more useful in regular use, it's wider and offer better multi-tasking in daily use, with spreadsheet, words, reading/browsing, and playing video on the side, etc. On the other hand, the 27" should give me at least 1920x1080 or maybe even higher resolution. It'll have more screen real estate in regular use, with the extra benefit that it will have high resolution in gaming (Black Ops, Fallout New Vegas, HAWX, Civilization V, etc).

My concern is 2 fold. One, does running dual-screen make computing more "distracting". With 2 wide screens side by side, I probably have to turn head from left to right to cover both sides. Compare to a single big screen, all I have to do is focus forward.

On the other hand, does any current game, or future games, offer dual screen experience? I can imagine dual screen would be great for extra large view in first person shooter or strategy games. If so, then the dual screen sounds like a much better change for gaming experience.

 

[dac7nco]

I couldn't go back to a single monitor - 2 is a minimum, and it makes you more productive, not less. Supreme Commander uses 2 screens.

Daimon

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, with Eyefinity, and a dual-monitor setup, the bezel would be right in the middle, where your HUD/crosshair is supposed to be. Sounds like a major PITA for gaming.

Either go triple-monitor, or get a single, large monitor.

I have a single 26" KDS LCD on each of my desktops.

Edit: This is all from a gaming perspective. From an office-work perspective, dual screens probably would be preferable to just a bigger screen, because you get more pixel real-estate to play with, and you wouldn't really have to worry about windows spanning the monitor bezel area.

 

[mnewsham]

I would pick up the 27 inch and use the 22 as a second display not eyefinity just as a second desktop environment. I did this and I can't go back. I get annoyed when using my laptop for lack of second desktop.