Monitor size and Resolution - what is best size larger than 27"

[HVAC-Novice]

We have the current Revit version and W10. i have two 27" (2560x1440) main monitors. I drop Revit on one monitor and place the panes (Properties, project browser) on the other monitor to get more Revit space. i also use a 3rd 24" HD monitor as a scratch place. 

i don't really have multiple views visible at the same time (i.e. having a 3D view of the same thing i do in 2D) because the monitor is too small. More real estate would allow me to work better with that. 

For my work in Revit I need PDF's open, Excel spreadsheets, browser  etc. So you imagine I'm juggling what I have open and that is before I have to deal with the "suddenly upcoming things" unrelated to Revit work. so I need more real estate. Good news is we are about to remodel our office, which could make us change things for the better with new electric moving-up/down desks etc. 

My first idea was to buy a 4K 55" or 60" TV and split screen. Well, i tried that at home with a private 55" TV, and I was bothered by it being too tall while being close to the screen. Maybe that would work when being farther away from the screen. i also though the picture is a bit blurry when seeing letters. note i don't have Revit at home, so i couldn't test that properly. 

My next idea are 32" 4K monitors. in W10 ( can scale each monitor, so the letters shouldn't be too small. they cost around $300-$400 each and buying 3 of them may be feasible. Or get 2 and reuse one of my 27" as parking space.

there also is the option to use 43" 4K monitors for maybe $500. 

Another alternatives may be two ultrawide (21:9, 5K) screens. However, they seem to be much more expensive and I would have to check if my graphics card can handle them. and they probably would require 

In an ideal world I would just try out each configuration for a few days. But in this world I kind of need to know what works best before I try. 

Could anyone who made a similar transition or tested different monitor sizes what is the mot useful monitor size and configuration (no, the current 27" isn't... :-)? Please also add if you sit away from the monitors. Since we will get new office furniture, I may be able to get more than the 30" deep desk. whatever I buy now, I probably will have to live with for many years. 

[HVAC-Novice]

bumping to check if anyone has advice on what >27" monitor setup is best. or what pros and cons the options have.

Summarizing, would going to one 55", two 32", two 43" or a combination be best? 

(I know trying out would be best, but that isn't an option before I commit to buying)

[David_Knight]

In the new 2020 version of revit you can detach views and have them open on different monitors now.

It's pretty cool tbh, and better allows for multiple monitor usage... i personally don't think using a big ass tv is the right choice.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/EN...

[bill_gilliss]

Think about the overall screen and work surface layout you would be the most comfortable with before getting too hung up on size alone: three-across? two-over-two? three-over-three? With any three-across setup, consider an L-shaped desk with a 45-degree chamfer on the inside corner about 20" long for the keyboard, whether on the desk or on a slide below it.

And what is your preferred working distance? For me , 24" is just about optimum, and three 27" screens at that range is as wide as I care to go without getting side-to-side whiplash injuries. From where I sit, my head is centered and perpendicular to each screen. It's very disconcerting to have screens you are doing any serious work on not be perpendicular to your line of sight.

There are a number of multi-display solutions you might want to take a look at, like Zenview. Stock traders often have this kind of setup, to be able to keep track of as much as possible at the same time:

Of course then you'll need a multi-head graphics card (or two), and a bigger power supply, and... and...

A nice problem to have.

[pendean]

Why not go with two or 4 27" instead in a curved "surround vision" layout like almost all of us do? Literally, +/-90% of us in CAD do it this way, especially if you are moving over to Revit2020.

Seriously, assuming you have access to one at home or at work, pull up a chair within 2-feet of a large 55" monitor and see how not-best-option that is on many levels.

HTH

[HVAC-Novice]

David Knight: thanks, i didn't know about this and tried it out. Cool feature. so i still need more monitors...

Bill: that command center layout looks cool, but I doubt I can get that. Depending on what our IT charges, i hope to get two 32"or two 43" if that. I doubt i will get a large layout any time soon. 

Pendean: yeah I tried the 55" TV at home and it wasn't great. Hence my idea of multiple smaller screens.

I currently have two 27" and that is too small. I realize many designers only have 27", but that doesn't mean it is some optimal size. Last time I got new monitors (may have been 5 or so years ago?) 32" monitors were very expensive. Nowadays they are very reasonable. 

[loboarch]

I recently got (maybe a year ago) an ultrawide 38" monitor and I love it. Basically the same screen area as 2 monitors but without the "joint".

This is the one I have:

https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-38UC99-W-ultrawide-monitor

[HVAC-Novice]

loboarch: do you have a second monitor, or is that wide-38"all you have? 

i got a new size theory.... since we ultimately create construction documents, the monitor should be the same size like Arch-d for example. in the old days of paper rafting everybody used Arch-D size to create Arch-D sheets. the only reason monitors are smaller, is because cost was high (and resolution low)

[pendean]

"too small" for what exactly? Is this a problem better fixed with higher res displays (you are onoly running at 1920x10180 or lower) or, mmm, new eye glasses (not meant to be rude)?

I use dual curved 32" monitors in the office each at 2560x1440 display, no issues here as far as room is concerned. A few of our production guys use three, one nut does four (stacked 2+2). The possibilities are endless 🙂

[HVAC-Novice]

pendean: maybe you need a larger monitor too. My OP states my 27" monitors have 2560x1440 already :-). Sorry, couldn't help it. 

I just need more real estate and be able to fit more in. So multiple higher resolution and larger monitor will make things better. 

I also add that I don't use any paper if I can help it. Everything I need to design in Revit comes from a 3rd party software, PDF, websites, spreadsheets etc. So everything that other people have laying all over their desktop has to be on the monitors. 

[HVAC-Novice]

I did some more research. The way our IT buys monitors it seems a 32" 4K monitor is only $12 cheaper than an equal 43" 4K monitor. A lower level (no energy star, no height adjustment) 43" is even $100 cheaper than that 32". Don't know why and how, but that makes me think buying 43" makes more sense at identical cost.

Using a TV seems to require Chroma 4:4:4 and other features that make a TV more expensive or as expensive as a monitor. The high resolution also seems to work better with Display port.  so there isn't a real saving using a TV, unless you get a cheap one. But since I look at that thing all day and don't have renewable eyes, I need something "good". So the 55" TV idea is out. Here some testing of TV and some information on that. 

There is an important PPI (Pixels per inch) number. It seems one wants to be above 90 PPI and unless you have eagle eyes don't need huge PPI. Here is a PPI calculator. 

- 24" @ HD (1920x1080): 91.8 PPI

- 27" @ 2560x1440: 108.79 PPI

- 32" @ 4K (3840 x 2160): 137.7 PPI

- 43" @ 4K: 102.5 PPI

- 55" @ 4K: 80.1 PPI

So the 43"  4K monitor is right in between 24" and 27" monitors, which work fine for my eyes (besides the lack of real estate, of course). With just $12 to save per monitor, I don't see a good reason to buy 32" monitors. 

Hope this helps someone else with thee same problem. If there is a significant price difference between 32"and 43", the 32"may make sense. just not in my case. 

Here some information on what DPI/PPI is used for what typical viewing distances. For monitors at 2.5 ft distance there is a target of around 100 PPI.

[loboarch]

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@HVAC-Novice wrote:

loboarch: do you have a second monitor, or is that wide-38"all you have? 

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Yes this is the only monitor I have. I actually like having only one monitor as opposed to 2 monitors side by side. I find the 38" ultra wide really gives me plenty of space to do my work and still have other things open and visible.

[HVAC-Novice]

I now have two 43" 4K monitors and it is perfect! I can't even imagine to use smaller monitors. No more constant zooming in and out and I can use multiple views at once.  

Those monitors are also great to review PDF of larger plans, spreadsheets etc. I really recommend that to everyone. 

The only downside is, now I can't use my home 27" monitors anymore and had to buy a 43" monitor for home use as well. So be warned, once you go big, you can't go back! Since I'm cheap my home solution is just the one new 43" monitor and the two old 27" monitors stacked on each other. Not as great as a real 2x43" setup, but good enough for working from home for now. 

Due to COVID I'm only 2 days in the office and work from home the remainder of the week. And I have to say, I really look forward to go to the office just to have decent monitors (no one else is here, so it is safe).

[megoyette]

Enkus,

What model are your 43" displays?  And are you still liking them?

[HVAC-Novice]

I have the Dell U4320. I really like them. I have two monitors from work. but for the home office we also purchased the same monitors (purchased privately) for my wife. 

If your IT department has an account with Dell, you may get the cheaper. I work for a company with 2,500 employees, so we paid less than MSRP. 

Many of the cheaper monitors don't have good adjustable stands. These monitors also have a built-in 90w USB-C power supply. I'm working from home and spent 100% of my workday looking into them 

[megoyette]

Thank you enkus, I will look into them!

[FacebookGroupMember]

bumping to check if anyone has advice on what 27" monitor setup is best. or what pros and cons the options have.

Summarizing, would going to one 55", two 32", two 43" or a combination be best?

(I know trying out would be best, but that isn't an option before I commit to buying)




Source Message URL: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/monitor-size-and-resolution-what-is-best-siz...

[HVAC-Novice]

If you look at dpi numbers, the 24"at HD, the 27" at 2560x1440 and 43"at 4K are relatively close to each other. so if you deviate, especially with lower dpi, you see the pixels.

the 43" at 4K is pretty optimal for 2 monitors side by side. One gets Revit, the other gets supplementing documents, like PDF, spreadsheets etc. that have information necessary to use in Revit. I have them in an 160° angle and on a 6' desk they hang over a bit. Having an actual monitor stand helps (a typical TV stand with the wide feet would be weird). You also want height, turn and tilt adjustment.

You get used to the space. if anything, I would like larger or additional monitors (like one above). i also say i barely use paper. 

I had for a minute tried a single 55"4K TV, but didn't like it. It is too small to be used as single monitor. I guess  two 55" monitors would work if you have the space. 4k still should work with that. 

I came from two 27" monitors, and they look like smartphone screens now. You really don't want that assuming you are someone who works with the computer and not one of the people that just use the computer to supplement their paper work

[Anonymous]

Hi Loboarch,

I would like to know how do you like working on a curved screen when using Revit? Did you experience any issue or need to adept your way of working from flat screen to curved? This week I have to buy a monitor to work from home using Revit software and BlueBeam. What do you recommend?

Thank you for helping. 

Marcia 

[loboarch]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hi Loboarch,

I would like to know how do you like working on a curved screen when using Revit? Did you experience any issue or need to adept your way of working from flat screen to curved? This week I have to buy a monitor to work from home using Revit software and BlueBeam. What do you recommend?

Thank you for helping. 

Marcia 

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I don't work in Revit all the time like I might if I was working in an office instead of Autodesk. As far as working in Revit on the curved screen I don't have a problem with it. Typically though I have Revit only open on part of my screen. I can make it bigger when I need it, but usually I keep it about the size it might be on one smaller sized screen. then it is just easier to go from one application to the other. I like the one big curved screen much better than 2 screens side by side.