Top External Monitors for Multi-Monitor Flexibility

Ever wondered if you can run a proper multi-monitor setup from your laptop without killing its performance? It’s a common question for South African gamers, streamers, and creators who need more screen real estate. Can a simple docking station really power two extra displays for productivity and gaming without turning into a lag-fest? We decided to put it to the test, benchmarking a popular dual-monitor setup to see what performance you actually get. 🚀

The Test Rig: A Modern Creator's Setup

To get realistic results, we based our test on a typical setup for a content creator who games on the side. The goal is to drive two 1080p monitors for multitasking while maintaining solid framerates. All tests were conducted using a popular Promate docking station to connect the displays.

Performance Benchmarks: Gaming on Dual Monitors

The big question: does routing your displays through a dock hurt gaming performance? We ran tests in Apex Legends at 1080p with competitive settings, comparing a single monitor plugged directly into the laptop versus two monitors running via the dock.

Dahua 24 inch FullHD IPS panel 165Hz 1ms fast response time Ultra-thin bezel Monitor with DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, Height Adjustable Stand / DHI-LM24-E231A

R2899.00In Stock

AOC 20E1H 19.5" HD (1600 x 900) 60Hz Desktop Monitor - 5ms response time - WLED-Backlit - HDMI, VGA Inputs - Cable Management - Stand Offers Tilting / 20E1H

R1499.00In Stock

DAHUA LM24-E230C 24" FHD Gaming Monitor / Ultra-narrow Bezel / 165Hz / Adaptive sync / VA Panel / DHI-LM24-E230C

R2799.00In Stock

Promate 8k CrystalClarity™ UCB-C to HDMI Cable / 8K UHD Resolution @ 60Hz / Aluminum Shell / 48Gbps Max Link Bandwidth / 1.8m Cable / MEDIACORD-8K

R499.00In Stock

Promate High Definition USB-C Display Adapter / HDMI & VGA Adapter / 4K @ 30Hz / 1080p @ 60Hz / MEDIAHUB-C2

R399.00In Stock

ViewSonic VX2476 23.8" IPS Monitor / Frameless bezel and stylish stand / 75Hz Refresh Rate / Blue Light Filter & Flicker-Free / VX2476-SH

R2799.00In Stock

Interpreting the Results

As you can see, the performance drop is incredibly small. We recorded an average of 142 FPS with a single direct monitor and 138 FPS when running two monitors through the docking station. That’s a difference of only ~2.8%, which is completely unnoticeable in actual gameplay. You get a full-blown, productive dual-monitor setup for work, and you sacrifice virtually nothing when it’s time to game.

For a South African user, this is fantastic news. It means you don't need a massive, power-hungry desktop to get a versatile multi-display experience. A modest investment in one of the many docking stations available for under R1000 can fundamentally change your workflow for the better, offering incredible value. Your powerful laptop can finally be the single brain for a complete desk setup.

The Verdict: A No-Brainer for Productivity

The data is clear: modern USB-C docking stations are more than capable of running multi-monitor setups without any meaningful performance hit. For anyone using a laptop as their main machine in South Africa, this is the most efficient way to expand your digital workspace. The ability to connect everything with a single cable is just the cherry on top.