Are you ready for your awesome 6 monitor setup? Perhaps you already have two or even three monitors installed? Either way, there are a few things to bear in mind, including what type of laptop or desktop you have. Like many multi-monitor users out there, you might prefer to start building your computer from scratch. Although, check out the high-tech trading computers that are designed to support multiple monitors. Why do the hard work when you can launch into trading straight away?
Equipment for your 6 Monitor Setup
Clearly, you have to be comfortable with the equipment before you even consider setting it up. So, let’s quickly review the highlights as described below:
- Laptop or desktop
- Monitors
- Cables
Laptop or Desktop
Before going out and buying all 6 monitors, you’ll want to first check your computer’s processing power. Another important component is the graphics card and its specification. Having 6 monitors clearly means your computer works harder. Furthermore, it has that many more images to process and update. That’s what graphics cards process for you. Most computers already have an integrated graphics card although you’ll soon recognize NVIDIA and Radeon brand names once you do a bit of research for your 6 monitor setup. This will be useful if you want to build your own computer.
Monitors
Resolution and screen size are usually top of people’s minds when it comes to monitors. Screen size is more of a personal choice but the resolution is worth exploring. You’ll soon discover that monitors generally come in three types of LCD screens with increasing resolution: TN, VA, and IPS. Having said that, most people with a 6 monitor setup choose the slightly more affordable TN panels because they are more than good enough. This is true also for gamers who tend to prefer higher resolutions. Essentially, the higher resolution panels can’t usually keep up with the high refresh rates gamers usually use. Again, TN panels do a good enough job.
Cables
When it comes to your DisplayPort, most ports come as one of DVI, HDMI, VGA, or a USB variety. If you’re not sure of your connections, you can take a photo of your computer’s ports to your local cable shop.
How to Install your 6 Monitor Setup
Now that you have your equipment, the question is how do you connect it all so that it works? Let’s have a look below.
1- Layout your equipment
As any good electrical engineer will tell you, make your job easier by laying out your cables and equipment in position before you do anything. It’s a great way to see if anything is missing or if you have space issues. For example, perhaps you can’t reach your power supply and you need to rearrange your room and desk orientation
2- Connect your monitors and to your power supply
The next step is to actually connect your monitors and computer. You might need a hub adaptor connector if you’re using a laptop. Essentially though, each monitor needs to be connected to your device. It’s possible to connect monitors to each other, in what’s called a ‘daisy chain’, but then you’ll have the same image on each one. This actual sort of defeats the point of having a 6 monitor setup where you want to maximize your screens with different images and workspaces.
3- Set Display Preferences
Once everything is connected, most devices will automatically detect the multi-monitor setup. Having said that, it’s good to know that you can go into Display Settings for Windows 10 and Displays, followed by Arrangements, for Mac. You’ll then have the option to either extend your display, therefore giving you different images on each monitor. Alternatively, you can simply mirror your displays and keep the same image across your set of monitors. This can be useful in a conference scenario where you want people from different parts of a room to view the same image.
4- Install any apps
One of the most common issues with a 6 monitor setup is that you tend to lose your cursor all the time. You can therefore change the setting of your cursor to display larger when you move the mouse. Moreover, you might want to explore DisplayFusion. This app improves your multi-monitor experience.
Parting Words on Installing your 6 Monitor Setup
The first thing you’ll need to do before launching into a 6 monitor setup is to determine what you’re going to use it for. This will then help you plan what type of laptop or computer you want to use and with what specification. From there, it’s relatively easy to get the equipment and connect it all. Don’t be too hard on yourself though as there’s bound to be a bit of trial and error at the start as you get used to the setup and the extra space. Luckily, you’ll get used to it very quickly and you’ll soon wonder how you ever survived before getting your 6 monitors.
