Top 14 Best Desk Setup For Two Monitors And Laptop - Voted Best Of 2023

Modern display inputs can be divided into three categories: DisplayPort, Thunderbolt and HDMI. The majority of monitors designed for computers come with one or the other, while some are built for Macs and only a few will support Thunderbolt. To make matters worse, USB-C ports can be Thunderbolt 3 compatible and, by extension, DisplayPort compatible. You will need either a USB to Thunderbolt cable adapter or a USB to DisplayPort cable adapter, depending on the display.

Gamut is another aspect of color. This is the gamut, which refers to the variety of colors that can reproduced. It does not simply reflect the number of colors. Monitors can now cover both the sRGB (used for video) and Rec.709 gamuts. You'll need a monitor that can produce more complex gamuts such as AdobeRGB, DCI–P3 or Rec.2020, which cover a greater range of colors. These two gamuts are used often for HDR and film projection.

HDR is a hot feature on monitors these days. It adds vibrancy and entertainment to gaming and entertainment. But be cautious before you jump in. Many monitors that advertise HDR in marketing materials don’t conform to the base standard. You will want to make sure your display meets minimum HDR specifications. A DisplayHDR rating is a rating that indicates maximum brightness in nits.

The lowest DisplayHDR 400 or 500 tiers can disappoint you due to a lackluster brightness, washed-out blacks, and poor color reproduction. DisplayHDR 600, 1000, True Black 400, True Black 500, True Black 600 and True Black 600 are all options available if you have the budget. True Black settings were created for OLED models and have a maximum black level of.0005 nits.

Televisions usually offer HDR10, Dolby Vision, or HDR10+. However, most PC monitors support only the HDR10 standard. There are a few very expensive models that do not. This doesn't make a difference for content creation and gaming. However, HDR streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other services will not look as vibrant. Aside from a few exceptions, most HDR600-compatible models are not content creation monitors, but gaming devices.

Monitors that are TN (twisted neon) are the most affordable. These monitors are intended for office or gaming use only. VA (vertical alignment monitors) are also very affordable and offer high brightness and contrast ratios. Content creators will likely want an IPS LCD (in-plane shifting) LCD display to achieve better color accuracy, image quality, and viewing angles.

A quantum dot LCD monitor is best if you need maximum brightness. These are usually found in larger displays. OLED monitors, which offer superior blacks and color reproduction but lack the brightness of quantum dots or LED displays, are now readily available. They are also expensive. Samsung's QD-OLED OLED monitor was just released. It has the most striking advantage of being brighter. Monitors at CES 2022 had a peak brightness of 1,000 nits.

High-end displays are increasingly using miniLEDs. These are similar to quantum dots tech but use smaller LED diodes, which measure only 0.2mm in size. Manufacturers can use up to three times as many LEDs with greater local dimming zones and deeper blacks, which results in better contrast and better blacks.

A 10-bit monitor with billions of colors is a good choice for serious content creators. You can also opt for an 8-bit panel which can create billions of colors by dithering (often called "8-bit + FRC") if budget is a concern. A regular 8-bit monitor capable of displaying millions of colors is sufficient for entertainment and business purposes.

The Xbox Series X can play 4K 120Hz HDR games, while the PS5 and Sony's PS5 are capable of it. There are 27-inch displays that have these specs starting at less than $1,000.

Screen size is a key factor in today's world. While 24-inch displays were once more common than they are today (and can still be used for basic computing), 32-, 34, 34- and 42-inch screens have been popular for entertainment, content creation, and gaming.

Nearly all monitors used to be 16/9 but you can now find 16/10 and other unusual display sizes. We're seeing curved and very wide monitors for entertainment and gaming with aspect ratios as high as 21:9. You might find a smaller ultrawide display if you decide to purchase one. A 30-inch 21.9 monitor is the same height and width as a 24-inch model. To get the same vertical height as a 16/9 model, multiply the size of the 21:9 monitor by 25 percent.

Content creators need to have 4K. Some people even go for 5K and 8K. To drive all those pixels, you will need a powerful computer. You should pair 4K with a screen of 27 inches or larger, otherwise you won't see much difference in 1440p. However, I would not recommend a model larger that 27 inches unless it was 4K. You'll notice pixelation if your work is too close to the display.

Gaming monitors have a high refresh rate, so it is an important feature. The minimum refresh rate is 60Hz. Higher refresh rates, such as 80Hz, are easier on the eyes. With some exceptions, 4K displays can only display 60Hz. The HDMI 2.0 specification does not support 4K at 60Hz. You will need DisplayPort 1.4 (4K @ 120Hz) or HDMI 2. This feature is available on many monitors, especially gaming displays. It's not supported on NVIDIA RTX 3000-series and 4000-series GPUs.