Ready for Triple Monitors, but 3 x U3014 is just Too Much $$$$

[Fun Guy]

I did what I set out to do, which was put together a 1 x U3014 + 2 x Dell 2007FP setup in PLP format. It looks pretty much like this:

Like someone said would happen, I don't like the quality difference between the 30" and 20" monitors. The U3014 is crisp, clear, bright, and easier on the eyes than the older 2007FPs, which are dull, flat, and a little fuzzy.

I've already developed a craving for the ability to have 6 documents side-by-side instead of just 4. This means three monitors with 2560 pixel widths. Which is fine, until I see the price tag for this setup using U3014s is going to be north of $3K. 😱

I am exploring other options. Although I am reluctant to give up the 1600 pixel height, I think three 2560x1440 monitors would be close enough to give me the 6 x portrait documents side-by-side that I really want to have. (I am in a PhD program and starting to do research.)

At this point I am in a different territory. I started prodding around at NewEgg and so far it is looking like I could get three of these ($780) for much less than what it costs me to get one U3014 ($999):

So what do you think? Should I go for it? The reviews on them seem pretty good... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009728

 

[Bacon1]

Could always go with a single extra-wide: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8X53H25461 - 3440x1440 😀

 

[Mike64]

Even ignoring the "user" reviews on the retailer websites (which I lean toward doing more and more every time I read the typical one:\), every review I've seen flat out gushes about them, and the price is certainly right. I myself wouldn't buy all three at once, but I certainly see no reason not to try out one to start with. (I did notice that there's one not-entirely-minor potential issue with them you might have overlooked - Acer in its infinite wisdom chose not to make them VESA-mountable?!)

 

[Fun Guy]

Okay, for half the price of a 3 x Dell U3014 setup, but twice the price of an Acer G257HU setup (~$1,500), am now considering three of these...

 

[james1701]

Why not get a 42" or 48" 4K TV? You could sell what you have and almost pay for it and not step down to a smaller size.

On the upside is you are only dealing with one screen and that makes life easier at times. I run the same setup as you, only I have a U3011. Have you also thought about getting a Spyder to calibrate your monitors? Mine are not fuzzy, but it took time to get them setup to match each other visually.

 

[Mike64]

Okay, for half the price of a 3 x Dell U3014 setup, but twice the price of an Acer G257HU setup (~$1,500), am now considering three of these...

What's the perceived advantage? They're still 1440 screens and you said you'd be using them for document work, so I guess I don't see any point in spending twice the money for (presumably) enhancements to image quality that really aren't necessary for your use-case. You aren't going to want (most likely) to zoom in very far on a document anyway since big text is ugly and a PITA to read up close. And even if your documents include a lot of photographs, do you really need "near-professional photography" image quality just to view them - even zoomed in on - for research purposes, rather than manipulating them for optimal reproduction? I guess if you want to be able to have other windows open behind the document screens, or widget-type things around the edges, the extra real-estate would be nice, but would it really be 2x the money's worth of "nice"?

Why not get a 42" or 48" 4K TV? You could sell what you have and almost pay for it and not step down to a smaller size.

I can think of a couple of reasons to go with separate monitors. The far ends would be a lot easier to read (without constantly turning your head back and forth) on separate monitors tilted toward the center rather than all being one surface, even if it were a curved-screen-surface, directly in front of you and then from the simply practical standpoint, if something goes wrong with a single monitor, you're completely screwed until you can repair or replace it. As far as calibration goes, I really don't see a need for tight color matching for document work; I think (relatively) even brightness among the screens would be much more of a an issue than closely matching color. Remember, we're talking about document work here, not photographic or graphics work...

 

[UaVaj]

just get two more u3014 and call it a day.

my problem is 290x x4 is struggling to push u3014 x3 with all the eye candy and 60fps dip. you obviously do not have this problem.

u will thank me later. if your work is that important to you.