Quad Monitor Setup Diary (feat. LG DualUp style)

I was using a triple monitor setup with two leftover portable monitors...

(Link: Making an Ultra-wide out of surplus portable monitors : Clien)

But I recently picked up a 240Hz gaming monitor, so I ended up with a quad-monitor config. Here are some quick thoughts on the setup and usage.

1. DualUp and Ultra-wide Coexisting

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If I install a vertical monitor arm, those two 27-inchers will look way more seamless.

Stacking a 27-inch on top of another 27-inch makes it feel like using an LG DualUp. Swapping between the Dual-Up ratio and the 32:9 ultra-wide ratio is super versatile. It's especially handy for things with lots of vertical scrolling like Google searches, YouTube, or AliExpress shopping—you see so much more info without scrolling.

2. Utilizing Shortcuts

Since I’m constantly moving windows and changing ratios, shortcuts have become a necessity. I stashed a cheap Chinese Stream Deck knock-off, made my own icons, and set up macros for virtual desktop shortcuts. (Even without a dedicated macro pad, most mice and keyboards have hotkey features. I've seen people use the horizontal scroll wheel on the Logitech MX Master 3S for switching virtual desktops. Managing windows and desktops is a breeze once you get the macros down.)

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Setting up hotkeys makes utilizing virtual desktops incredibly convenient.

Below are some issues I ran into during the process:

3. DP Port or DP Cable Issue?

I hit a snag right when I was plugging everything in. When I connected the new monitor to the last remaining DP port, all three monitors connected via DP suddenly hit me with a 'No Signal' glitch. I wasn't sure if it was the port or the cable, but DP seems really finicky. I tried a few things I found online and this fixed it instantly:

1) Turn off the PC/monitors and unplug all video cables (1 HDMI / 3 DP) from both the PC and the monitors. 2) Flip the PSU switch or unplug the power cable to drain any residual current. 3) Reconnect the video cables to the monitors and GPU. 4) Plug the power back in and turn on the monitors. 5) Flip the PSU switch and boot the PC.

4. GIFdesk Issues

I use GIFdesk (a program that lets you set GIFs as wallpaper) as a screensaver to prevent burn-in, but on Windows 11, the GIF was only applying to some of the monitors.

The fix is simple: you just need to edit the INI config file and change the X/Y coordinates of the spanned GIF based on the top-left corner of Monitor 1. (The values will vary depending on your specific resolutions.)

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Once you fix the coordinates, the GIF displays properly across all monitors as shown below.

5. Game Windowed Mode Resolution Problems

Since it's not a single wide monitor, certain games won't let me run wide aspect ratio resolutions in windowed mode.

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In 'Hogwarts Legacy,' for example, I can't find 21:9 or 32:9 options in windowed mode.

I feel like there's a way to force it... if anyone knows how, please let me know!