Monitor recommendations. What's good?

I have to say that I'm very happy with my Acer XB271HU. It's an IPS panel at 144Hz refresh rate. (Theoretically, it overclocks to 165Hz, but I tried it and didn't see any difference. When I got it, I sort of had an internal bet with myself that I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 60-72Hz and 144Hz. (I lost to myself.) I've had it since February, but it was originally a backordered Black Friday deal from B&H.

The odd thing is that I don't so much as notice when it's on as much as when it's not. I've had more than one Nvidia driver update reset the refresh rate to 60Hz. When that happens, I'm like "What is wrong with this game? ... Oh, wait a minute .. (Check Nvidia Control Panel, reset refresh rate to 144Hz, and restart the game) ... Ahhhhhh."

Anyone have thoughts on the Acer XB271HK? I recently built a new rig with a RTX 2080 Super and am trying to take a foray into the 4K realm. My old monitor is a 7 year old Samsung 1080P TN monitor and is really showing its age.

Ideally I would like to spend less than $700 on a new monitor.

My 24 inch BenQ 144hz monitor has just died and I think I want to go to 27, also 144hz at 2560x1440 (I think).

I have a 1080ti which is throttled by an old cpu so dont need to go full 4k

There seem to be a ridiculous number of options out there, so any steers would be very welcome!

I have zeroed in on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q, 27 Inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) Gaming Monitor, IPS, Up to 165 Hz, DP, HDMI, USB 3.0, G-SYNC...

... but am happy to be persuaded otherwise!

Thanks

I am very interested in something like this as well! Curious to see any suggestions people have. I have been looking for a while for the exact same specs! And can never decide.

LondonLoo wrote:

My 24 inch BenQ 144hz monitor has just died and I think I want to go to 27, also 144hz at 2560x1440 (I think).

I have a 1080ti which is throttled by an old cpu so dont need to go full 4k

There seem to be a ridiculous number of options out there, so any steers would be very welcome!

I have zeroed in on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q, 27 Inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) Gaming Monitor, IPS, Up to 165 Hz, DP, HDMI, USB 3.0, G-SYNC...

... but am happy to be persuaded otherwise!

Thanks

No clue for how long but the one i have is on sale for almost the same price is that on Amazon

Acer Predator Gaming Z321QU bmiphzx Curved 31.5" WQHD Monitor with NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology

I recently tried out that predator, the Asus monitor mentioned above, and a 31” 2560 x1440 AOC monitor with free sync. I ended up going with the predator. They were all gorgeous, but in the end it came down to g sync and size/curve, and I went with the Predator. I loved the larger 31 inch curved form factor and 2k resolution. Free sync on the AOC monitor was very hitchy with my nvidia 2070, but g sync on the Predator was like butter. First new monitor in almost 12 years, and I love it.

ranalin wrote:

No clue for how long but the one i have is on sale for almost the same price is that on Amazon

Acer Predator Gaming Z321QU bmiphzx Curved 31.5" WQHD Monitor with NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology

That is lovely - will have to measure my desk now

[Edit: maybe I wont as its not available in the UK yet according to Amazon]

LondonLoo wrote:

I have zeroed in on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q, 27 Inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) Gaming Monitor, IPS, Up to 165 Hz, DP, HDMI, USB 3.0, G-SYNC...

So, I basically have this same monitor, except made by ViewSonic, the XG2703-GS.

All of the 27" 1440p 165hz G-Sync IPS (technically AHVA) monitors use minor variations of the same AU Optronics panel, the M270. Acer and AOC make M270-based panels as well.

The one thing that would give me pause about buying one of these monitors now is the shifting of the market towards universal FreeSync support. Right now, if you buy an appropriate FreeSync monitor, it will support VRR with both AMD and NVIDIA cards. These G-Sync monitors are unlikely to ever support VRR with an AMD card. Future G-Sync monitors will support FreeSync, but NVIDIA says it "will NOT be possible to update firmware to any existing native G-Sync screen, or request updates to allow your current G-Sync screen to be updated so that it would work with AMD graphics cards".

I think a current gen G-Sync monitor has become a harder purchase as a result. I think it would be iffy if they were priced right in line with their FreeSync alternatives. To have them priced at a significant premium over the FreeSync screens makes even less sense.

But the wildcard in that equation is quality. FreeSync can be slapped into any ol' piece of crap monitor. There really isn't such a thing as a garbage G-Sync monitor. AMD is establishing stricter requirements for FreeSync 2, but we're only seeing a few FS2 monitors at this point.

If I were buying my monitor again, I would look really hard at whatever the absolute best FreeSync monitor is in the size and spec that I want. If I could find one that matches the quality of these AUO panel G-Sync ones, I would choose it.

Can anyone recommend a good dual mount that won't break the bank? Would you recommend two singles over a dual?
I'm playing with an XB240H (gaming, right side) and a 29WK500 (media, left side) if it matters.

Old Man Pi wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good dual mount that won't break the bank? Would you recommend two singles over a dual?
I'm playing with an XB240H (gaming, right side) and a 29WK500 (media, left side) if it matters.

I have a couple of these in my shopping cart at the moment. (There's a coupon to take an extra 20% off 2019WM) Workstream by Monoprice, but I stalled out at the $36.94 shipping fee. I have been spoiled and it feels weird to 'lose' a discount just to have something delivered to me.

As pretty as that one is, shipping to Canada is going to run me as much as the mount itself!
Edit: Was able to find that specific on Amazon Canada for 104, deliverable via Prime.

I was about to suggest amazon canada. I bought two single monitor arms for under a 100 each and they have been rock solid! I love them!

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...

The discount + shipping was still cheaper than Amazon, so I closed my eyes and hit purchase. I'm also trying out some Monoprice monitors and those came with free shipping so *shrug*. Monoprice 32in Zero-G Monitor - WQHD, 144Hz, 5ms, FreeSync, HAS, VA. One for me (plus my current Asus VG248QE) and one for my spouse (plus a Dell 2408FPW).
Currently on sale for $299 each and that's about the right price for testing VA panels. Edit: If curved displays are your thing, the curvy version of that display is also $299.
The normal one.
The one that's slightly better for watching porn at mom's house.

I hope you don't get hit with Duty.

First impression of the Monoprice 32in Zero-G Monitor: Wow.
Will update once I run some tests.

I bought some Ergotron ones off Amazon and I've been very happy with them.

The two or one arm choice depends on how you're going to use them. I got a double stacked set of arms so I could arrange my monitors vertically stacked. You probably couldn't do that with two single arms, depending on your monitor sizes. The tech docs for the arm will tell you how far they swing. Since you're not just using the normal monitor stands think about where you want to move them and that'll tell you if you need two singles or a common. I found the price was pretty equivalent.

This article was helpful too.
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/be...

Any recommendations as far as ultra-wide monitors go?

I just picked up one Rting's recommendations for gaming focused usage, the LG 34GK950F.

They have other recommendations if you have different usage requirements, but so far I feel like their recommendation was well made.

My list of desires was as follows:
- 34" ultrawide monitor with a 3440x1440 resolution, since that's what my old monitor was, and I'm okay with the costs of keeping a system capable of driving that resolution.
- Freesync or Gsync support, since all the kids rave about it.
- HDR support, mostly as a curiosity and to be ready for what I hope will be better support after the new console generation ships.

Incidentally, even though I currently use an Nvidia card, I went with that monitor (which is Freesync) because who knows where I'll land in the future, and Nvidia's grudging support for Freesync is good enough for me.

As for HDR, it's good enough, but that world still is pretty rough in a lot of ways for PC gaming. This monitor's performance in that realm is acceptable, but if you've experienced really good HDR in the TV realm (such as the LG C9 I bought last fall), you probably won't be terribly impressed -- no blacks as dark as the darkest night here, that's for sure.

But honestly, if I wasn't interested from a technical hobbyist perspective and seriously interested in future proofing my purchase, I probably wouldn't go chasing HDR on a monitor for PC gaming right now. Aside from uninspiring hardware options, the current implementation in Windows 10 is mediocre at best and support in games is extremely spotty. The list of games with any support is VERY short, and only some of those is it something you'd actually want to use.

Destiny 2's implementation, for example, is nearly unplayable. I'm tempted to reinstall it on my Xbox One X just to see if it's that wild with a console feeding the C9, but it felt like I had installed some edgelord's extreme postprocessing shader set or something, no matter how I adjusted the HDR settings. Yes, there was an impressive representation of light and dark, but all of the warm, delightful, vibrant color space in that game was gone, and zero thought seemed to have been given to the impact of color and visibility on gameplay.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey, on the other hand, was quite good once I found the right HDR settings! The menus were a bit washed out (a thing that is seems to be common in many games -- seems that developers maybe don't often have the time to devote to updating UI to present well in the wider color space), but other than that the game looked more alive and vibrant without extreme effects that would hamper your ability to play. In fact, it's inspired me to go back and play through more of the content in that game that I didn't get around to when I played last year.

And then in the middle ground were Forza 7, Forza Horizon 4, and F1 2019. All of them did better jobs updating their menus and UI to work well in HDR, but the in game effects were maybe a bit more subtle, at least at first blush. Honestly, though, in many cases that's desirable, and I suspect that as I play those games more and bump into more of the kind of scenarios where HDR shines, there will probably be very striking results. Just, nothing that jumped out as immediately great like in Odyssey, or bad as in Destiny 2.

Clumber wrote:

Any recommendations as far as ultra-wide monitors go?

I have an Alienware AW3418DW (34" ultrawide) and it is absolutely glorious for gaming. 3440x1440 at 120Hz, paired with a GeForce RTX 2080. And yes, you can turn off all the LED craziness. I think it's probably at the upper limit of size for daily usability. At first I found myself reading web pages that were a central block of text with huge white spaces on either side. More recently I've been using the snap function in Windows 10 to essentially use it as two monitors for regular use, and a single huge monitor for gaming. I have it paired with an Acer XB270HU in portrait mode, which gives me a large amount of real-estate for long-form reads, and when I want a guide or something similar up while I'm playing.

Anyway, I can whole-heartedly recommend the Alienware AW3418DW.

Coldstream wrote:
Clumber wrote:

Any recommendations as far as ultra-wide monitors go?

I have an Alienware AW3418DW (34" ultrawide) and it is absolutely glorious for gaming. 3440x1440 at 120Hz, paired with a GeForce RTX 2080. And yes, you can turn off all the LED craziness. I think it's probably at the upper limit of size for daily usability. At first I found myself reading web pages that were a central block of text with huge white spaces on either side. More recently I've been using the snap function in Windows 10 to essentially use it as two monitors for regular use, and a single huge monitor for gaming. I have it paired with an Acer XB270HU in portrait mode, which gives me a large amount of real-estate for long-form reads, and when I want a guide or something similar up while I'm playing.

Anyway, I can whole-heartedly recommend the Alienware AW3418DW.

Another vote for the AW3418DW. My favorite monitor ever in 25 years of PC gaming.

It's also been great WFH during the pandemic, with plenty of real estate for multiple side-by-side windows.

Another vote for AW3418DW. I think I sold Coldstream his. But anyways, no issues at for the last 2 years. Ultrawide is really awesome for games that support it, which in my experience, most do.

Playing RDR 2 right now. Looks amazing with the 2080ti

Balthezor wrote:

Another vote for AW3418DW. I think I sold Coldstream his. But anyways, no issues at for the last 2 years. Ultrawide is really awesome for games that support it, which in my experience, most do.

Playing RDR 2 right now. Looks amazing with the 2080ti

That's right! And it has been a beast. I've been really happy with it.

Ok, didn't know this thread was a thing. Been rocking this lovely beaut for a few years now...

Acer G236HLBbd 23.0" 1920x1080 60 Hz Monitor

The older one I had died... I would like to make this the older one and get something a bit more modern. Ideally something better than 60 hz and bigger than 23".

As this is a crosspost from the PC build thread... Was looking to upgrade my 970 a bit as well. (Basically it would be nice if it looked ok with a 970 for a few months if I decide to go monitor upgrade first.)

Problem is I have not kept up with technology trends... I know Freesync, HDR and 4k and what not are things... but not what's worth worrying about if I don't want to drop $600 on a monitor. I have a relatively small desk depthwise so that might be a consideration as well.

Just curious.
If I get a monitor with usb c for video, will it charge my laptop? ( the monitor has separate power)
I too am looking for something better for my laptop based home office. The 14in laptop is fine for quite a bit of browsing and writing but lacks for art software and especially screen sharing in Zoom.

There is a viewsonic 1440p 27in display that is USB C only which would be really handy for cable management. There is a 24" version that is only 1080p and not discounted enough @ $369.
The problem is that at the closest viewing distance it would be marginally bigger than a 17in in my lap. It is also $400 which seems a bit high.
I don't fps so input lag is less of an issue and it wouldn't bother me if I did fps on a regular basis. So something like that TLC 43in or 50in 4K tv for $230-270 looks much more appealing.

But cable management and portability (I will have to remove the tv from the coffee table after work hours so the wife can watch tv on our real tv) is key and 43in tv's are hard to put away. I have been fussing over this so much that I have looked at portable projectors and found a really neat expanding 50" projection screen.

So if I could find a 30+ inch 1440p tv that uses usbc (only or has seperate power but can charge the laptop) for $300 or less, I am all over it.

Also note that once I heal my shoulder, I might go back to using my desktop. So a 43" screen on a desk doesn't seem ideal

Why DO they make this so hard?

fangblackbone wrote:

Just curious.
If I get a monitor with usb c for video, will it charge my laptop?

Yes, though how effective it is will depend on how much power the monitor provides and how much your laptop needs. I have a monitor for work that claims to provide 100W via USB-C. That's generally been enough to slowly charge my old Macbook Pro and current Dell Precision, but under heavy load both require their own power supply.

manta173 wrote:

Problem is I have not kept up with technology trends... I know Freesync, HDR and 4k and what not are things... but not what's worth worrying about if I don't want to drop $600 on a monitor. I have a relatively small desk depthwise so that might be a consideration as well.

I'm in a similar position here -- looking to upgrade from a(n even older) basic Acer 23" monitor, and don't know where to start choosing.

At what display size does it make sense to go from 1080 to 1440? How do people prioritize refresh rate vs. resolution?

I'd say 26-27" or above for 1440p. 1440p 144hz seems like the sweet spot these days.

I dont think either HDR nor 4K is worth getting currently, unless you go above 30" screens where 4K might make sense. Whereas HDR for PC just seems to be severely lacking currently.
Freesync/Gsync is quite nice however.
Freesync is probably better these days, since Nvidia has somewhat given up their monopoly fight, and are supporting some Freesync monitors, unlike with Gsync where you are locked to Nvidia GPUs. Freesync is also cheaper.

Is there a consensus on best panel type?

My very basic take:
TN: bad color accuracy, fast response, bad viewing angle
IPS: good color accuracy, slow response, good viewing angle
VA: kind of in the middle of those two

So I look at that and think that as a gamer, TN is where it's at. I'm not doing photo/video editing, so I can sacrifice some color accuracy.

Thoughts?

Jonman wrote:

Is there a consensus on best panel type?

My very basic take:
TN: bad color accuracy, fast response, bad viewing angle
IPS: good color accuracy, slow response, good viewing angle
VA: kind of in the middle of those two

So I look at that and think that as a gamer, TN is where it's at. I'm not doing photo/video editing, so I can sacrifice some color accuracy.

Thoughts?

The response time advantage of TN panels has faded to a great extent. There are some decent TN panels out there, but I would only buy/recommend IPS. The price advantage of TN isn't worth the downsides in my opinion.

I had a laptop malfunction while working from home during this pandemic and was saddled with a TN display on the new one versus an IPS display on the old one. The brightness and color shift even with a slightly 20 degree change in viewing angle is distracting and unpleasant. I would rather drag a window to my external monitor than look at it on the laptop's display, which is rather unfortunate as that cuts my useable workspace in half. Someday I'll drive into the office to pick up a few more monitors, but *effort* and *exposure*.

Edit:
I would likely take a flier on a VA panel as they're a *lot* closer to IPS than TN monitors, but I've never personally owned one, so I'm not qualified to speak on them.

My view is IPS>VA>>>>>>>>>>TN

Never tried a VA, but it sounds like good ones can be very close to IPS; and even surpasses them in a few areas (black level, no annoying IPS glow). I'll never own a TN again, those viewing angles is a killer.