Monitor shopping is so overwhelming. I don't know where to even start.

[KF9]

I have been using the same 1080p 144hz BenQ monitor for the last 10 years. I was looking at upgrading my gtx 1080 but the gpu guys said I should use the money to upgrade my monitor, than wait for the 4000 series. But I have no idea where to even start. Do I want 4k, 1440p? Curved, flat, or ultra wide? Do I spend $10,000 on a top of the line  or spend $500 on a  good value screen? Where should I even begin? All I know is that 99% of my gaming time is single player games. I would like stunning visuals, in a smooth immersive experience, that won't cost so much i have to sell my house.

 

Thanks guys 

[Slottr]

1440 is versatile. Generally modern mid tier gpus can run 1440 games at high fairly decently on a good framerate.

Ultrawide? Up to you if you want the aspect ratio, pros/cons of it.

 

VG27AQ, 27GN800 and S27DGF are all good displays.

[SupaKomputa]

1440p ultrawide 21:9 seems to be the go to for gamers nowadays.

Your 1080 will work harder for that monitor, a reason to upgrade the gpu.

Curved ultrawide is okay, but big no no for regular size screen. Its a matter of taste really.

[xg32]

34 minutes ago, KF9 said:

I have been using the same 1080p 144hz BenQ monitor for the last 10 years. I was looking at upgrading my gtx 1080 but the gpu guys said I should use the money to upgrade my monitor, than wait for the 4000 series. But I have no idea where to even start. Do I want 4k, 1440p? Curved, flat, or ultra wide? Do I spend $10,000 on a top of the line  or spend $500 on a  good value screen? Where should I even begin? All I know is that 99% of my gaming time is single player games. I would like stunning visuals, in a smooth immersive experience, that won't cost so much i have to sell my house.

 

Thanks guys 

short version the best 1440p monitor is still the MSI 274QRF-QD for 400usd, just get that one

 

long version, make a checklist of what's the most important for you

 

ultrawide, hdr, oled, gamut, contrast etc.

 

the "perfect" monitor that checks almost all the boxes just came out

 

AW3423DW, but it's 1300usd

[dizmo]

I'm going to assume there's a lot of exaggeration there, as the top end monitor won't cost you anywhere near $10k, and a good value monitor won't cost $500.

A lot of the things you listed come down to personal preference, so no one is really going to be able to help you decide; it's something you have to figure out yourself.

The 1440p vs 4k argument is pretty easy; if you're buying a mid tier card, stick with 1440p. If you're buying a top tier card, I'd probably go 4k.

Personally I'd go ultrawide. I don't think I'll ever go back since I bought my first one a couple of years ago.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[Stahlmann]

Most stuff about aspect ratio, resolution and size comes down to personal preference.

 

The monitor that ticks most boxes is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW. As it's an OLED display it's inherently superior in many aspects compared to most gaming monitors.

 

If $1300 is too much for your wallet then you'll have to put up with LCD monitors. There it all gets much blurrier with differences across models becoming much smaller to the point where we're splitting hairs to find out which ones are the best. Here we need a budget and some more details about your preferences to steer you in the right direction.

[IPD]

You really need to determine how big you want it before you start trying to narrow down the field.  I play a lot of single player games, and my personal "smooth and immersive" experience is a 40" 4k, 16:9.  Now that's certainly not the correct size for everyone, to be sure.  However, there's a lot of variables that are difficult to account for, for example:

 

-How close to the screen are your eyeballs on average?

-How big (depth) is the desk you are going to use (if it's a new setup)?

-How comfortable are you with peripheral vision and things that approach your peripherals?

-How much granularity can you stand at the ideal screen size for your use (i.e. how much PPI?)

 

From what I've seen, almost every setup has 6" or more of space between the bottom edge of the monitor and the desk surface.  So even if you went with a bigger monitor that only gave you 3" of space between desk/monitor--imho it would still be comfortable and not dissimilar to using a laptop (where the screen bottom is about 1" above the keyboard.

 

That's my counter-argument to the pro-widescreen hubbub; the golden ratio is ~1.618.  16:10 is 1.6.  16:9 is 1.66667.  Those are the two aspect ratios closes to the golden ratio--which is (imho) the most aesthetically appealing and natural-feeling aspect ratio.

 

I would suggest you experiment by placing your eyes artificially close to your existing display--while test-gaming--and figuring out what is the absolute closest you can be to feel "comfortable" with the display size.  That measurement (eyes to screen) distance will then provide a good rule of thumb for you to follow about sizing.

 

p.s.

I have also found that (for example) it is preferable to view 30" display from 30" rather than view a 15" display from 15"; even if the "net viewable area" is roughly equal in the eyes of the viewer.  Therefore, unless you find yourself craning your neck backwards and typing at arms length--because the display is so large--you can probably go bigger without issue.

[KF9]

On 3/22/2022 at 6:26 PM, xg32 said:

short version the best 1440p monitor is still the MSI 274QRF-QD for 400usd, just get that one

 

long version, make a checklist of what's the most important for you

 

ultrawide, hdr, oled, gamut, contrast etc.

 

the "perfect" monitor that checks almost all the boxes just came out

 

AW3423DW, but it's 1300usd

I'm getting a 3080ti. I was looking at the AW3423DW and I think I might get that one. However it's only 1440p. If I'm looking for great visuals, should I go with a less technologically advanced but 4k display?

[xg32]

23 minutes ago, KF9 said:

I'm getting a 3080ti. I was looking at the AW3423DW and I think I might get that one. However it's only 1440p. If I'm looking for great visuals, should I go with a less technologically advanced but 4k display?

while the 3080ti does better at 4k, it still drives 100-144fps for most games on 1440p uw (just not warhammer), there isn't anything at 4k atm that comes close in color gamut+contrast+hdr+response time. The PG32uqx is a 3000usd 4k monitor but the response time isn't really comparable.

 

The OD-OLED just made alot of the other monitors outdated. visually it's the best you can get atm.

[KF9]

22 hours ago, xg32 said:

while the 3080ti does better at 4k, it still drives 100-144fps for most games on 1440p uw (just not warhammer), there isn't anything at 4k atm that comes close in color gamut+contrast+hdr+response time. The PG32uqx is a 3000usd 4k monitor but the response time isn't really comparable.

 

The OD-OLED just made alot of the other monitors outdated. visually it's the best you can get atm.

Just as an update to anyone that cares. I was looking at the AW3423DW. Dell said they could not ship the monitor until June 29th, and because I live in a remote location in Canada it would take at least another 2 weeks to get to me. No thanks.

I as browsing on Amazon, and decided on the Odyssey G7. I had it in my cart and I was reading everything to make sure it was from Amazon themselves not a sketchy seller. Near the bottom of the page, it showed me similar items but with no pricing. I clicked on the Odyssey G9 and it showed $1999.99 CAD. I added it to my cart to check with taxes and it said redirecting me to Amazon warehouse deals. I had never heard of it and quickly realized it was for open box and used items. I noticed a bunch of sketchy sellers with spelling mistakes in there about me sections, but than found sold by warehouse deals. I quickly realized that it was amazon themselves re selling used or open box items. I clicked on them as a seller and quickly popped up a "like new" (product box was damaged in shipping, item was never used. Item was inspected and no functional or cosmetic damage was found). The price you may ask? $499.99 CAD!!!!!!!!! I guessed it was a G5 that they labeled as a g9 and wouldn't accept returns or refunds. So I checked the policy and found as long as you have prime you can return for a full refund like normal. Did I just score the deal of the century? Considering I waaaaayyyy over spent on my 3080 ti ($2000 CAD including tax) I feel a lot better now. 

Edited March 26, 2022 by KF9
spelling and grammar mistakes

[worstalentscout]

On 3/23/2022 at 8:53 AM, KF9 said:

I have been using the same 1080p 144hz BenQ monitor for the last 10 years. I was looking at upgrading my gtx 1080 but the gpu guys said I should use the money to upgrade my monitor, than wait for the 4000 series. But I have no idea where to even start. Do I want 4k, 1440p? Curved, flat, or ultra wide? Do I spend $10,000 on a top of the line  or spend $500 on a  good value screen? Where should I even begin? All I know is that 99% of my gaming time is single player games. I would like stunning visuals, in a smooth immersive experience, that won't cost so much i have to sell my house.

 

Thanks guys 

 

a monitor can last 10 years ??!!

 

so BenQ is that durable or perhaps yours is a high-end rarity ??

[Stahlmann]

On 3/26/2022 at 11:55 PM, KF9 said:

Just as an update to anyone that cares. I was looking at the AW3423DW. Dell said they could not ship the monitor until June 29th, and because I live in a remote location in Canada it would take at least another 2 weeks to get to me. No thanks.

I as browsing on Amazon, and decided on the Odyssey G7. I had it in my cart and I was reading everything to make sure it was from Amazon themselves not a sketchy seller. Near the bottom of the page, it showed me similar items but with no pricing. I clicked on the Odyssey G9 and it showed $1999.99 CAD. I added it to my cart to check with taxes and it said redirecting me to Amazon warehouse deals. I had never heard of it and quickly realized it was for open box and used items. I noticed a bunch of sketchy sellers with spelling mistakes in there about me sections, but than found sold by warehouse deals. I quickly realized that it was amazon themselves re selling used or open box items. I clicked on them as a seller and quickly popped up a "like new" (product box was damaged in shipping, item was never used. Item was inspected and no functional or cosmetic damage was found). The price you may ask? $499.99 CAD!!!!!!!!! I guessed it was a G5 that they labeled as a g9 and wouldn't accept returns or refunds. So I checked the policy and found as long as you have prime you can return for a full refund like normal. Did I just score the deal of the century? Considering I waaaaayyyy over spent on my 3080 ti ($2000 CAD including tax) I feel a lot better now. 

Amazon Warehouse has the same return policy as new items sold by Amazon. You can always send it back if it's broken.