You’re excited about your new 6 monitor setup, and you can’t wait to get started but something isn’t quite right. Perhaps you’re getting some technical glitches? Alternatively, it might just feel awkward to use, and you can’t seem to know where to look. If it’s all starting to feel a bit overwhelming, don’t worry because there are some simple things. Of course, if you haven’t invested in your 6 monitor setup, you can also plan ahead.
Common Mistakes with a 6 Monitor Setup
Here are some of the most common mistakes with a 6 monitor setup. These can be both frustrating and a huge drain on your time and energy:
- Choosing the wrong monitors
- Buying an inadequate computer
- Governed by cables
- Mismatched displays
- Overwhelmed by the screens – use your shortcuts
- Painful ergonomics
- Performance drop due to wrong drivers
1- Monitors
It’s important to make sure that you choose the right size monitor that works for you as this will impact resolution. However, you can improve this with the right settings. However, one point to note is that there are 3 different types of LCDs available on the market. Most people, including traders, are pleased with the cheaper Twisted Nematic (TN) panels with more than adequate resolution. However, if you‘re a gamer, you might prefer the Vertical Alignment (VA) or the even higher resolution In-plane Switching (IPS) panels.
Of course, you might already have your 6 monitor setup, and in that case, it might be worth checking your resolution settings. Clearly, you’re going to be limited by the in-built resolution of the actual equipment. However, you can still go into Display Settings, then Display Resolution and choose something that works for you.
2- Computers
Not all computers can support multiple monitors. There are specialized trading computers designed to cope with the energy and display requirements of a 6 monitor setup. For example, they have an in-built graphics card that is essential for running all your images effectively and for more information you can visit TradingComputers.com
You would also need to check what output and input connections you have before buying your cables. There currently exists a range of different ports, including VGA, HDMI, USB, and USB Type-C. If you’re not sure, don’t worry too much and just take a photo to bring to your computer shop to give you the right cables.
3- Cable Management
Hindsight is always a wonderful thing. However, it can be very frustrating when you think about how you could have drilled the right holes into your desk to hide your cables. The more you plan where your cables could be tucked away then the more likely you’ll have a 6 monitor setup you’re happy with. Of course, nothing is stopping you from disconnecting everything and starting again once you’ve DIY-ed your desk and space. Sometimes it’s worth doing that.
4- Mismatched Displays
For whatever reason, you might have ended up with monitors from different brands or that are of different sizes. This might make your text or images have different sizes across the different screens. You can, however, change the scaling to make things look roughly the same. In Windows, you would go to Display Settings and then Scale and Layout. On the other hand, for a Mac, you would go to Display and then disable ‘Mirror Displays’ before choosing ‘scaled.’
5- Leverage shortcuts
Yes, a mouse is handy, but it can be awkward to use over time. It also becomes more of a strain when working across multiple monitors. Depending on your operating system then both Windows and Mac have some great shortcuts that you can research. Furthermore, you can find some beneficial apps that give you even more options, for example, DisplayFusion.
6- Ergonomics
Perhaps it’s obvious how you want to sit and view your 6 monitor setup. Nevertheless, it’s so easy to get into bad postures that strain our neck and shoulders or even our hands. The worst part is that you don’t notice straight away and it’s only when the damage has been done. Therefore, make sure you get the right chair at the right height for your body. Also, do you tend to do most of your work on your primary monitor, or is it evenly split across several monitors? You can then adjust your screen angles and distances accordingly.
7- Optimize performance
This one is as simple as making sure that your drivers are up to date with all the relevant software downloads. If you’re not getting these automatically, it’s important to visit the relevant websites, whether through Intel, Mac, or whatever you have.
Final Recommendations for Dealing with 6 Monitor Setup Mistakes
Mistakes are part of life, and it’s how we learn. Unfortunately, some mistakes are more expensive than others. Nevertheless, before you despair and buy a whole load of new equipment, you should first try some of the above suggestions. Hopefully, you’ll then be able to find a way forward that makes you happy and productive. Look at it as an experiment and try to have fun with it. After all, it’s part of the learning experience to build your perfect 6 monitor setup.
