connect 2 lcd monitors to laptop quotation

Let’s make a wild guess—you probably use your laptop for a variety of different tasks. Be it for work, study, entertainment, browsing the web, or catching up with what’s new, it comes through.

Today, we will show youhow to connect two monitors to a laptop, so you can boost your productivity or just enjoy content in a higherresolution. We promise you—it’s super easy!

Alternatively, in your quest toconnectyourlaptop to two monitors, you can use software likeCPU-Zthat allows you to learn what are your machine’s configurations. Just install and head over toGraphicsto see the details.

By default, the majority supports at least one external display. However,double-checkwith the GPUmanufacturer’s websiteto look into your hardware specs.

HDMI:High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) is a popular connection for modern displays and televisions. It can transmit sound andimagesin up to8K quality.

USB-C:This recent technology supports data transfers by up to20Gbps. However, support for display capabilities varies across devices. You need to check with your laptop’s manufacturer if your device isUSB-Ccompatible.

Thunderbolt:This port is almost identical toUSB-C. But it comes with a double data transfer rate of upto 40Gbps. It supports audio and video output at a maximum of8K quality.

DVI/VGA:Older-generationportsthat are available on fewer and fewer modern displays. Most manufacturers exclude them on compact-sized laptops due to their large size.

Notethat it’s safe to connect the monitors while your laptop is running. Once you do so, Windows will automaticallydetectthem and prompt you to make whatever changes are necessary.

Step 3:Right-click on an empty area within yourdesktop. Next, selectDisplaySettingson your Windows 11 or 10 device. Older versions like Windows 8 and 7 have this feature namedScreenResolutioninstead.

Step 4:The monitors will havelabels 1, 2,and3underDisplaymode. Note that the first one is your system’s in-built panel. The other two represent the external screens for yourdual-monitor setup withyourlaptop.

Imagesmay sometimes appear stretched and fuzzy when using yourlaptopwithmultiple monitors. Should that happen, go back tosteps 5and6, and chooseResolutionbelowDisplaymode.

Unlike ordinary displays, they’re lightweight and compact-size, perfect if you have limited space. Another advantage is that they consume less energy, which translates to low power bills.

A docking station is adongle-likegadget for connecting with other computer devices. It offersmultiple connectivity optionsto add extra functionalities to your laptop.

Depending on your GPU’s capabilities, asplittercan have an output of up to 8K. Some have other extras, like a wireless remote control for convenience.

Adding multiple displays to your laptop can help skyrocket your productivity. You can independently run different apps across each one to manage tasks efficiently.

Whether in the office, home office, or for gaming – two screens are better than one. However, setting up dual monitors depends somewhat on available connections and cables. Read on to find out how to connect a second screen to a laptop or PC.

When splitting your Windows screen no longer suffices, you’ll need an additional monitor. Added screen space is easier on the eyes and simplifies working with several applications simultaneously. Gamers can enjoy high-resolution graphics by installing an additional monitor.

If you only want to view videos or pictures on a larger screen, you don"t need to install an extra monitor. With Windows Miracast, for example, you can easily connect your PC to a TV.

The majority of modern laptops and PCs support connecting a second monitor by default. All you need to consider are the ports on your end device and which monitor you’d like to connect. Before you head out to purchase one, be sure to check the type and number of ports on the laptop or PC.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is one of the most common connection types of modern monitors and many TV users will already be familiar with it. The connection type is compact and transmits video and audio signals. A modern HDMI connection is suitable for 4K resolutions and a frame rate of 60 Hz. If your monitor and laptop or PC have one or two HDMI ports, you just need a single HDMI cable. If you want to connect two monitors but only have one HDMI port, use an HDMI splitter. Be sure that the splitter has the same refresh rate as the HDMI cable.

USB-C is a USB port format that’s often found on new, slim laptop models. The advantage of USB-C is that it can be used for charging while also supporting the transmission of audio and DisplayPort signals with Alternate Mode. DisplayPort refers to monitor interfaces for image and sound signals and high transfer rates. The USB-C downstream and DisplayPort Alternate Mode can be used to link several monitors. If you only have a few USB-C ports, use a USB-C dongle. Ideally, a USB-C donglehas at least two HDMI interfaces for monitors. Alternatively, a dongle can be paired with a HDMI splitter.

DisplayPort is similar to HDMI and transmits audio and image signals at high frame rates. Thus, the connection is particularly suitable for 4K. Laptops often have a DisplayPort or miniDisplayPort and can be connected to monitors that have a DisplayPort port. For monitors without DisplayPort, a corresponding adapter is required. Thanks to multi-stream transport, multiple monitors can be connected via DisplayPort and coupled to a laptop via a splitter or adapter.

DVI and VGA are analog, older connection standards that only transmit image signals. If the monitor and end device have DVI or VGA ports, they can be connected via the corresponding DVI or VGA cable. With the appropriate DVI-HDMI or VGA-HDMI adapter, older monitors can be connected to laptops and PCs to transmit HDMI signals. Modern connection standards are preferable in any case, as they offer better resolution, refresh rates, and color values.

Even if your laptop only has a single HDMI or USB-C port, you can connect dual monitors. Using a suitable HDMI splitter, a USB-C dongle, or a USB-C dongle with HDMI interface, you can easily connect two or more monitors to your laptop.

Once you connect one or more monitors to your laptop, you can set up two or more monitors in Windows and specify which monitor you wish to use as the main one. Windows usually detects display devices connected to the laptop or PC automatically and assigns numbers to them. The main monitor is designated number 1. All others are numbered in ascending order.

Step 2: Under “Display” and “Multiple displays” you will see display devices detected by Windows, e.g. one or more additional monitors. Click “Detect” if none are visible.

Step 3: Go to “Advanced display settings” to make changes to the arrangement and order of the connected monitors. Adjust further settings such as the screen resolution, for example.

Step 4: The easiest way to change the use mode of the connected monitors is to use the shortcut [Windows] + [P]. Settings such as “Duplicate” let you mirror desktop content. With “PC screen only” or “Second screen only” you determine whether you only use one of the connected screens. Use “Extend” to create a connected desktop from connected monitors. These options can be found in the “Display” menu under “Multiple Screens”.

Another problem could be that Windows displays a second monitor as the main monitor. If you want to keep the PC or laptop as your main monitor, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Display Device” and select the “Rearrange Display Devices” option. Then click on “Identify”. You should be able to see the assigned digit on each screen. If you wish to change the order, go to “Advanced display settings”.

Anyone who is used to working on a dual monitor setup will tell you how cramped working on a single monitor is—especially on a laptop or notebook. We’ll discuss how to replicate the office desktop PC experience at home by connecting additional displays to any business laptop PC.

The good news is that Thunderbolt 3 USB-C technology readily transforms a notebook into a desktop productivity machine just in time for COVID-19 work from home setups. And for those who have legacy laptops deployed, you have options for adding displays to older computers as well.

The Thunderbolt 3 USB-C interface provides an all-in-one port and cable for high speed data transfers, high resolution video output, and battery charging. Laptop OEMs starting building business notebooks with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity in 2018 and is now more or less standard issue for new business notebooks.

A notebook with Thunderbolt 3 is powerful enough to display video to two daisy chained 4K-resolution displays, or one 5K screen. Note that you will need a Thunderbolt 3 input on the monitor you’re connecting, however. If you have Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C on your computer but not your monitor, you’ll find an easy fix with the appropriate video adapter (USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to VGA).

In terms of deployment, using Thunderbolt 3 offers the cleanest, easiest setup available. Simply attach a Thunderbolt 3 cable to a Thunderbolt 3 enabled monitor and you’re in business. Since power passes through the USB-C interface, this setup will also charge a laptop while in use.

A laptop docking station offers remote workers a way to connect a laptop to multiple external displays and other peripherals if needed. The latest generation USB-C docking stations connect to a laptop’s USB-C port and delivers handy backwards compatibility to connect to older monitors with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs that new laptops may not support.

Laptop OEMs offer branded USB-C docking stations for their business lines (see: Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude and MacBook 2015 and later). Third party solutions are designed to replicate performance across brands at a competitive price point. (See: Belkin Thunderbolt 3 docks which offer a wide range of compatibility and connectivity for both Windows and Mac laptops.)

A laptop that is very legacy with only a VGA port can still swing a dual monitor setup as long as it has a USB port available. You will need a USB to VGA or DVI external video card and the appropriate cable to connect with a computer monitor.

Laptops manufactured within the last eight years commonly have built-in HDMI video output. If you want to add one extra monitor, simply attach an HDMI cable to an HDMI-enabled computer. An inexpensive HDMI-DVI cable adapter will add compatibility to a monitor without a HDMI input.

Laptops that have only one HDMI video output will benefit from a USB 3.0 docking station for a dual monitor setup in addition to the laptop display. The HDMI standard does not support daisy chain monitor configurations. If you don’t want to purchase a docking station, a workaround for connecting a second monitor to laptop in lieu of docking station is to use a USB-to-HDMI adapter. Note that running video output from a USB connection tends to take a toll on computer resources and you may run into performance issues, especially for any tasks beyond basic web browsing or word processing.

DisplayPort video output can support two monitors without a docking station in a daisy chained configuration, providing functionality that HDMI cannot support. HDMI and DisplayPort are not compatible, and you will need monitors with a DisplayPort input. Converting a DisplayPort signal to HDMI using a passive adapter cable may work but is generally not a recommended solution.

Select Start> Settings> System> Display. Your PC should automatically detect your monitors and show your desktop. If you don’t see the monitors, selectDetect.

Even a generous 24-inch monitor can feel cramped when you’ve got multiple windows open on your desktop (and who doesn’t?). It’s much worse if you’re confined to a laptop screen. Fortunately, it’s simple enough to add a second monitor to your PC setup and spread out.

Note: While the monitors we discuss below are 1080p, our article about 1080p vs. 4K monitors can help you determine what approach to take for your own dual-monitor setup; you should also check out our comparison of ultrawide monitors vs. a dual-monitor setup to learn the pros and cons of each. Learn why now is the right time to upgrade your monitor. And if you are in the market for a second display, check out our recent review of the Monoprice 24-inch CrystalPro. This 1080p IPS monitor is priced right, at around $150. It’s also got a thin, discreet bezel that’s ideal for a dual-display setup.

Any modern desktop or laptop PC has the graphics capability to run dual displays. All that’s required is a second monitor. Prices for displays have gone up the past few years, but good deals can still be found. See, for example, PCWorld’s review of the Acer K24HYL 24-inch ISP display—it focuses on the features you should care about to hit $150.

If you’re determined to get the price even lower, HP’s V20 HD+ Monitor comes in at slightly less, with a 19.5-inch diagonal screen using TN technology, which offers faster response times but less clarity off-axis. Another good option is Dell’s SE2222H, which steps you up to a 22-inch screen that features slim bezels, nice for minimizing the disruption between your two screens. If you want an even bigger screen (although the same 1920×1080 resolution), Dell’s S2721HN 27-inch IPS panel is a fine option at $190.

Today’s monitors typically come with some combination of VGA, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort ports. In other words, you’ll have a couple options for how to connect the monitor to your PC. While its common for VGA and DVI cables to come included with the display, you may have to purchase your HDMI or DisplayPort cable separately if you go that route. Those can be easily purchased on Amazon.

You can also tap your television to act as a second display in a pinch, although doing so has some potential drawbacks. Our guide to using your TV as a computer monitor explains everything you need to know. Regardless, the method for managing your displays in Windows is the same, as described below.

In the resulting dialog box you can specify the displays’ arrangement. The Multiple Displays pull-down menu allows you to control how the two screens work together. Choosing Extend these displayswill prompt Windows to treat your displays as one contiguous screen.

You can tell Windows which monitor is on the left or right by dragging the screen icons at the top of the dialog box. Get this wrong, and scrolling the mouse will be very confusing.

The Make this my main displayoption controls which monitor gets the taskbar and Start button. If you don’t see that option, the currently selected monitor is already the main one.

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VGA: VGA ports are usually blue and rectangular with 15 holes. They usually have screw holes on the side used to secure the VGA cable. VGA is used on old computers. Most newer monitors do not support a VGA connection. However, you can connect a VGA to a newer monitor using an HDMI-to-VGA adapter.

DVI: DVI ports are usually white with 24 holes. They also have a slot with 4 additional holes to the right. Like VGA ports, they often have screw holes on the sides to secure the DVI cable. DVI is another legacy video connection that is mostly used on older computers and monitors. It supports a higher resolution than VGA, but it does not support modern HD or 4K displays. Like VGA, most newer monitors do not support DVI, but you can connect a DVI connection to a newer monitor using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter.

DisplayPort: DisplayPort output ports are thin and rectangular-shaped with the bottom-right corner cut. Some laptops may use a mini-DisplayPort connection, which is the same shape as a DisplayPort, but smaller. DisplayPort is a newer display connection mostly used with computer monitors rather than televisions. DisplayPort supports AMD"s FreeSync and Nvidia"s G-Sync. DisplayPort 1.2 can support 4K at 60 frames-per-second. DisplayPort 1.3 can support 4K at 120 frames-per-second. DisplayPort 1.4 can support 8K at 60 frames-per-second and HDR. DisplayPort 2.0 supports up to 16K at 60 frames-per-second. A DisplayPort connection has the ability to support multiple monitors connected together from a single DisplayPort connection.

You may get along just fine with only one computer screen, but adding a second can give you much more room to work. This upgrade isn’t just for creative professionals or seasoned programmers—it’ll let anyone spread out their apps, edit documents side by side, and multitask like a pro. That, in turn, will boost productivity and efficiency.On top of the benefits, it’s both easy and cheap to hook up that second screen to your desktop or laptop computer. Here’s how to set up a second monitor, from purchasing a good screen to setting it up properly.

Most computers have the built-in ability to power a second screen. First, find the HDMI or DisplayPort socket on your laptop or desktop. If you own an older computer, you might be looking for a white DVI or a blue VGA socket instead. All four types of ports let you connect your computer to a television, projector, or other secondary screen.

If your computer has one of these ports, all you’ll need is the proper cable. However, some thinner and lighter laptop models lack a compatible port. For those, you may have to add an adapter into the mix.

For example, slimmed-down laptops like Apple’s MacBook Air and Google’s Pixelbook rely on USB-C ports for data transfer, charging, and video output. A few monitors do accept USB-C, but not all do. In that case, you’ll need an adapter to covert USB-C to HDMI (like this $16.99 dongle) or to DisplayPort (such as this $9.85 adapter cable) before you can plug the laptop into your monitor.

Some computers will require other dongles. Take Microsoft’s Surface Pro 5: it includes a Mini DisplayPort that accepts a Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort cable (like this $10.99 one), which will, in turn, plug into any monitor with a DisplayPort. Alternatively, if you prefer an HDMI monitor, you could connect the Surface to a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI dongle (such as this $5.99 adapter), then a standard HDMI cable.

When picking your cables or adapters, look for the maximum resolutions they can support and make sure they match the monitor you buy. You should also check the refresh rate the cable supports, which is measured in hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate means the screen can change more quickly, which improves the viewing quality for everything from gaming to watching movies.

You won’t necessarily have to buy your second screen. If you’ve got an old monitor lying around the house, see if it will work with your laptop or desktop computer before getting rid of it. Even if it’s a bit dated by today’s standards, you should be able to find an adapter to help. This will help you avoid spending any money on your extra display.

Still, you may have to buy new gear to complete your second-screen setup. Now that you’ve checked your computer’s ports, you’ll need a monitor that matches them—or that can be made to do so with a suitable adapter. Ideally, look for monitors with USB-C, HDMI, or DisplayPort inputs, as these are the most common modern standards.

Once you’ve decided on the correct input, you can check other specs, such as screen size, resolution, and price. Bigger, higher-resolution screens will give you more room for your movies, spreadsheets, and video games, but they inevitably cost more, too. It’s up to you where you want to make the compromise, but you’ll generally want to go for the biggest, highest-resolution screen your budget can accommodate.

If you’re on a laptop, though, be aware that powering more pixels will take more graphics processing power and therefore use up more battery life. In other words, the bigger the second display, the bigger the drain on your battery.

Other specifications to look out for include contrast ratios (the difference between the white and black pixels), response time (how quickly the screen responds to your inputs), and viewing angles (from how acute of an angle you can see the screen). As usual, online reviews are the best way to measure the quality of a display. That said, Dell and LG have a particularly good reputation for their screens.

Setup is extremely easy: As soon as you plug in a second monitor, your computer will recognize it without requiring any extra software or a complicated setup process. You can, however, take a few optional steps to configure it exactly as you like it. The exact process will depend on your computer’s operating system.

On Windows, tap Windows+P to switch between four display modes: PC screen only (only the original computer screen is active), Duplicate (your two screens show the same thing), Extend (your two screens act as one large display), or Second screen only (the external monitor is the only active one). Most of the time, you’ll want the Extend option, which will allow you to open apps and windows independently on both screens. To further configure your second display, open the Start menu, click the Settings icon (the cog symbol), and choose System, followed by Display. From here, you can configure the brightness, resolution, and orientation of both screens. If you’re using two displays as one extended screen, you can also use this menu to set which monitor will be on the left and which on the right.

Over on macOS, open the Apple menu, choose System Preferences, and then click Displays. Under the Arrangement tab (which will only appear once you’ve connected to a second screen), you can change the relative positions of your displays—which one is on the left screen and which is on the right. Using the Mirror Displays checkbox, you can also switch between mirrored mode (the two screens act as duplicates) and extended mode (the two screens act as one display). In addition, you can set the screen resolution from this same menu.

If you’re on a Chrome OS computer, click the information panel in the lower right-hand corner (where the clock is). Then select the cog icon, go to the Settings panel, and choose Displays. From this menu, you can configure whether the second display acts as an extension or a duplicate of the first one, set the resolution and orientation of your displays, and position them in virtual space.

When you’re done, sit back and enjoy using your second screen. If you’re operating in extended mode, you can drag program windows between displays and maximize them on either screen. And whenever you disconnect or switch off the second monitor, your operating system will automatically revert back to its default configuration.

Having access to multiple displays makes nearly every facet of my daily routine easier, whether I’m taking notes during a meeting or keeping an eye on Slack conversations and emails while hammering away at a story. And when it’s time to stop working and start playing some games, my second monitor is invaluable for looking up walk-throughs or interacting with my Twitch chat.

If any of these use cases apply to you, you’ll get a whole lot out of a dual monitor setup. And fortunately, there’s no real wrong way to add a little extra screen real estate to your workspace. But since the sheer number of monitor and accessory options out there can be overwhelming, we’ve assembled some pointers and products (including the monitors we’ve tested extensively) that will help you create the dual display setup of your dreams.

So whether you’re looking to boost your productivity or just want to be able to check email during boring Zoom calls (we won’t tell anyone), here’s everything you need to know about building a good dual monitor setup.

A dual monitor setup is exactly what it sounds like — by plugging in two displays to your desktop or laptop (typically via HDMI or DisplayPort connections) you can significantly expand the amount of screen real estate you have for work or play. There’s no real wrong way to put a dual monitor setup together, whether you want to mix and match screens or have two identical displays mounted together for a seamless ultrawide experience.

I personally use a basic, asymmetrical setup consisting of a Dell S2417DG as my main display and an Acer KG221Q as my secondary screen. The Dell monitor has a crisp 24-inch, 2560 x 1440 display that lets me get immersed in my favorite PC games or hammer away at Google Docs with minimal eye strain, while my smaller 1080p Acer monitor allows me to keep an eye on emails or monitor my chat when I stream on Twitch. My particular Acer monitor is hard to find these days, but this $93 model (Acer SB220Q) makes for a good alternative if you’re looking for a dependable and cheap second display.

If you want a more organized two-monitor setup, there are plenty of displays that are optimized to sit side by side with each other. The Lenovo L24q-30, our pick for the best computer monitor overall, is perfect for a dual display setup, thanks to thin bezels that can create a nearly seamless viewing experience when you place two of them side by side. The L24q-30 also supports VESA mounting, meaning you can mount several of them together on walls or various types of stands (more on those later).

It’s also worth considering monitors that can be positioned vertically when putting together a dual monitor setup. Vertically oriented monitors are especially ideal for programmers, thanks to their ability to show multiple lines of code, and also simply save desk space — something not everyone has a ton of in their home office. The $124 HP VH240a is a popular and inexpensive option that supports vertical orientation as well as VESA mounting if you want a more elaborate two-screen setup. And yes, you can switch between vertical and horizontal on the fly.

You can simplify your dual monitor setup a bit by daisy chaining, which essentially means combining your various display outputs into a single wire that goes into your computer. To boil it all down, one monitor connects to a second monitor, with that display sending both signals to your PC with only one cable to worry about. It’s a nice feature that’ll make your setup a little cleaner, though not all monitors support it.

You’ll need a monitor with a DisplayPort 1.2 connection with Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology in order to make daisy chaining work. The $229 ViewSonic VP2468 is a well-regarded daisy chain monitor if you want an affordable 1080p display, while the $423 Dell U2721DE is a popular option if you need a higher-end 1440p screen.

It’s easy enough to plop two monitors onto your desk, but what if you want to clean things up a bit? That’s where stands and wall mounts come in. By mounting your monitors, you can save yourself precious desk space and gain even more freedom for adjusting your displays and finding that perfect viewing angle.

For those looking to connect multiple monitors to their laptop (or just simplify their mess of cables), a USB-C hub is worth looking into for your dual monitor setup. And if you’re a true power user, a KVM switch, which can connect peripherals to two computers at once, will allow you to use your dual displays across multiple machines with ease. Here are some accessories worth checking out to make the most of your dual monitor setup.

The Vivo Dual LCD Monitor Desk Mount Stand is one of the most popular stands on the web, allowing you to mount two monitors ranging from 13 to 27 inches and up to 22 pounds each. Each arm of this stand is highly flexible and allows you to swivel your displays up to 180 degrees or rotate them 360 degrees for when you need some portrait mode action. The stand’s clamp is built to fit securely on any desk up to 4 inches thick, and it includes detachable cable clips for keeping all of your wires organized.

If you’d rather mount your monitors to a wall, Wali’s dual display mount is a popular and relatively affordable way to do so. This wall bracket fits any monitor up to 27 inches with a 75-by-75-millimeter or 100-by-100-millimeter VESA mount, with a ton of articulation points, including a 90-degree swivel and 360-degree rotation for positioning your monitors vertically. Wali’s Dual LCD Monitor mount also sports an adjustable gas spring, which allows the mount to offer increased or decreased tensions based on how heavy your monitor is.

Many modern laptops are slim on port options, meaning you might have trouble connecting to multiple displays right out of the box. That’s where a USB-C hub like the Totu 9-in-1 Triple Display adapter comes in. One of our picks for the best USB-C hubs you can buy, this affordable gadget can power up to three displays thanks to its dual HDMI ports as well as its single VGA connection. There’s enough power here to run two displays side by side at 4K, or have a total of three monitors running at 1080p. We also love this hub for its sheer amount of ports for the price, with lots of handy connections that include three USB 3.0 slots, SD and microSD card readers, and a USB-C port that supports fast charging for your laptop.

For power users or Twitch streamers who are using multiple computers with their dual monitor setups, a KVM switch is well worth looking into. These switches give you a single connection point for your monitors as well as your mouse and keyboard, allowing you to go from controlling one computer to another at the touch of a button. This well-rated Steetek switch supports both full HD and 4K monitors, and packs an extra two USB ports for sharing accessories such as printers or external drives across multiple PCs.

Before you invest in a dual monitor setup, it’s also worth considering whether an ultrawide monitor is more suited to your needs. As their name suggests, ultrawide displays usually have a 21:9 aspect ratio (compared to 16:9 for a traditional display), giving you lots of horizontal screen space for doing heavy multitasking. Just look at the $699 Samsung CJ791, our current best computer monitor pick for large displays, which offers a generous 34-inch-wide, 3440 x 1440 screen for juggling multiple apps or getting more immersed in your favorite games or movies.

Ultrawide monitors have a few benefits over dual monitor setups. For one, these monitors involve less setup and can potentially save you money, as you’ll only need to purchase and set up a single display for your work area. You also get the benefit of a truly seamless screen that can take advantage of games, movies and shows that have been optimized to fit a 21:9 aspect ratio. And many ultrawide monitors are curved, allowing for greater immersion while preventing your eyes from having to strain too much when moving from side to side.

However, dual monitor setups give you a level of versatility that’s hard to top. The freedom to mix and match displays means you can invest in a high-end 4K monitor as your main screen while picking up a cheaper 1080p model for web browsing and work calls. And you’ll quite literally have greater flexibility when it comes to positioning, whether you want to have one screen sit vertically or adjust the height and angle of both of your monitors independently on a wall mount.

Of course, if money and space aren’t issues, you could enjoy the best of both worlds and pick up multiple ultrawide displays. But for most people, an ultrawide monitor gives you simplicity and immersion, while a dual screen setup allows for more flexibility.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home office or your gaming den, a dual monitor setup can make a huge difference. You’ll have more screen space for bouncing between emails, Slack chats and video conferences with ease, and can better monitor your broadcasts on your road to Twitch or YouTube stardom.

It’s worth considering a stand or wall mount if you want a cleaner, more flexible setup, as well as an ultrawide monitor as a simpler alternative to getting two displays. But no matter how you go about it, increasing the amount of screen space on your desk will boost your productivity — and help you have more fun — in a big way.

Connecting your laptop to a monitor is simply a matter of using the appropriate cable; most Windows laptops use HDMI or USB, and MacBooks will use USB or Thunderbolt.

You might need to get an adapter to connect your monitor to a MacBook if the display doesn"t have the appropriate connector for your laptop (USB-C or Thunderbolt).

No matter the size of your laptop"s display, adding a second monitor can make for a more convenient and productive experience. It"s a simple matter to connect an external monitor to most laptops, and then you can configure the display with a few clicks. You can choose to extend the display to the second monitor — giving you more screen space — or duplicate the display on both screens.

5. You should now see numbered boxes which represent the laptop and additional display — usually, number 1 is the laptop"s built-in display, but to verify which is which, click Identify, and the numbers will briefly appear on the two displays.

Depending on your MacBook, you"ll either have the option of connecting with a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection. If you can connect your monitor directly to the laptop — if your monitor has a USB-C port, great — use that. If not, you need to use an adapter or hub that can convert the monitor"s connector to the format used by your MacBook.

7. If you want both monitors to display the same thing, click Mirror Displays. Otherwise, leave the checkbox blank to extend the screen to the second monitor.

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he"s also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

If you’re looking for a less expensive 24-inch monitor, we recommend the Asus VA24DCP, typically priced around $170. It also has a USB-C connection that can charge most laptops, but it lacks features like a fully adjustable stand, and it doesn’t have a USB hub or the ProArt’s great color accuracy.

The USB-C port on the Asus ProArt PA247CV makes it a fantastic 24-inch 1080p IPS display to use alongside a notebook PC. The 65 watts of charging over USB-C means it will charge most laptops, and the sturdy, adjustable stand means you can use the monitor in a variety of configurations. It’s fairly color accurate out of the box, with great contrast and especially nice reproduction of white and grays, so you shouldn’t notice weird tinges of color when staring deeply into your blank Google Doc page. It also has a USB hub that can add four USB ports to your laptop.

For less than $175, the Asus VA24DCP is a capable 24-inch 1080p IPS display that has full USB-C charging at 65 watts. It’s a great basic monitor for those who want something to hook up to their laptop or PC to browse the internet and get some office work done, as its colors look good for day-to-day use, and it has better contrast than many higher-cost monitors. For $100 less than our top pick, you’re giving up a better, more adjustable stand, a USB hub, and some color accuracy, but if those aren’t important to you, this is a nice monitor for a great price.

The Dell U2421E has a taller aspect ratio than our other picks, which means it offers extra vertical space that’s useful when scrolling through big spreadsheets or long web pages and documents.

The Dell UltraSharp U2421E is a 24-inch monitor with a 1920×1200-pixel resolution, rather than the typical 1920×1080. These extra 120 vertical pixels mean a little less scrolling in large documents or spreadsheets, and more room for your apps and games without taking up more space on a desk. The U2421E comes with a higher price than our 1080p picks, but it has incredibly accurate colors, a USB-C port with 90W of charging for high-powered ultrabooks and the MacBooks Pro, and a USB hub that includes an additional USB-C port.

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