The advantages of having multiple displays benefits both gamers looking for a more immersive experience and those looking for more cyber workspace to accomplish projects.
Gamers can have two screens for one continuous stream, broadening the game’s display—a great way to maximize great graphics. For those who are working, you won’t have to switch tabs when you are writing a research paper. You can have one screen to work on and another for references.
Combining two monitors of the same model with the same specification would be easier. You can just plug both displays in, and their shared software should automatically recognize the conjunction and produce the appropriate response.
If you already have an existing monitor at 1080p, you can spring for an added 4K display. Hold on a second, because you can’t just plug in another monitor to reap multi-monitor benefits.
To benefit from the versatile combination of both monitors, you will have to input the necessary adjustments in combining their features.
Should you skip this configuration, you might experience some odd behavior from your hardware.
If you neglect your due diligence in pairing valuable high-resolution displays, you will miss out on making the most out of what they have to offer.
Below, we will get into the necessary steps of combining two different displays, such as a 4K with a 1080p. We will also answer some of the usual questions you might have in joining two monitors with different resolutions.
Let’s get into it.
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Can I Run Two Monitors at Different Resolutions?
Yes, you can run two monitors at different resolutions.
Some operating systems have software that can configure a dual-monitor setup automatically.
Windows 10, for example, can come up with the necessary adjustments to reformat one resolution after the other. It can also adjust both display settings to match their capabilities’ median.
Your intentions of having a multi-monitor setup with each display at its primary resolution are doable. You will have to customize your computer’s settings or tune it up on the graphics control panel.
Here are some quick steps you can take to adjust your dual-display with Windows 10 software.
- Click Settings on the Windows panel found on the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Click on System.
- Click on Display.
- Scroll down to Multiple Displays.
- Adjust the Scale and Layout of each display.
Adjust your display according to your preferences and the physical layout on your work surface. You can conduct trial and error to gauge cohesion, so your pointer can seamlessly move from one display to another.
If your data source only has one HDMI port, connect your primary monitor to your computer’s HDMI port and your secondary monitor to its VGA. If there is only one input port on your computer, you can get a display dock to connect two monitors into your processor.
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The adapter is traditionally sold with cables that are compatible with the standard receptacles. You can connect the adapter into your computer and plug both monitors into their ports.
You don’t need the same cables to connect each monitor to the display dock. You can use different cables and connect them to different ports to carry out a dual display.
Can You Have One 4K Monitor and One 1080p?
Yes, you can have two monitors, one at 4K and the other at 1080p.
A display with 1080p resolution is 1920 x 1080 and consists of two million pixels. It is the base resolution of what is considered High-Definition.
1080p with a refresh rate of 144Hz is one of the most popular monitors for gamers. It is preferred by most for its ability to produce top-quality graphics at affordable prices. Its lower prices increases the monitor’s value in the mainstream market.
1080p does not fall far behind in delivering a great gaming experience. You can get monitors with an integrated Sync technology to further enhance the monitor’s functions.
A 1080p with a 144Hz monitor that features an NVIDIA G-Sync integration can provide gamers with smooth gaming, without any tearing or lagging. 1080p can keep up with a 4K display.
Today, 4K is considered the Alpha resolution for cinematic viewership and gaming alike. With 3840 x 2160 amounting to at least eight million pixels, the 4K display possesses four times the pixel density of High-Definition.
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As high as its resolution goes, 4K monitors can still play nice with lower resolution monitors. The combination of a 4K and a 1080p works well together.
With adequate processing power, you can run two of these premium monitors. Having a dual display helps maximize efficiency in editing videos and immersion in spectacular graphics.
How to Run One 4K Monitor and One 1080p?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on running a 4K Monitor and a 1080p:
- Right-click anywhere on your Desktop.
- Click on Display Settings.
- Go to Multiple Displays.
- Set your Primary Display
- Choose the monitor you want as your primary.
- Click Make this my main display.
- The other monitor is automatically set as your secondary display.
- Click Apply / Save Changes
- Reconfigure the rectangles to match the physical setup of your monitors on your workstation.
When your cursor can move through the two displays without a hitch, you can proceed to adjust each of the display’s resolutions.
- Scroll down to Scale and Layout.
- Set each display to its Native Resolution (3840×2160 for 4K and 1920×1080 for 1080p)
- Choose the monitor you want to adjust.
- Click Advanced Display Settings. (found at the bottom of the Display window)
- Scroll down to Resolution.
- Set the 4K to 3840×2160 and the 1080p to 1920×1080
- Adjust the brightness and color of each monitor to match one another.
- Heighten the 4K’s Scaling, so your tabs on each monitor appear the same size.
- After achieving your desired cohesion, click Apply to save all the changes.
- Enjoy your dual-display setup.
Should you need a visual guide, you can watch How to Set Up Dual Monitors Full Tutorial here.
Wrapping Up
Having a dual-display setup is great! You can maximize graphics and productivity. While two monitors can provide efficiency, it needs proper configuration.
You can also opt for one ultrawide screen to skip all the necessary steps in combining two monitors.
Instead of getting two monitors and reconfiguring their settings to work cohesively, you can get one display that gives you the same amount of screen space. The LG Curved Ultrawide is 34 inches wide and has a 3440×1440 resolution.
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.