Need a replacement 4K monitor, what should I choose?

[johnm7115]

Hello,

 

I need to replace my 9 year old 4K monitor soon as it's starting to show signs of hardware problems. I'm having trouble deciding on what to buy since my ideal choice of a monitor still doesn't exist yet. There are 2 routes I could take right now, a cheap monitor that meets my minimum requirements and get my ideal monitor later down the road, or a monitor that comes close to my ideal monitor. $1500 CAD is around the max I want to be spending right now. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Uses: Around 9 hours per day on average. Close to 90% for normal use (programming, browsing the web, etc.), remaining 10% of the time for gaming and media consumption. I WFH and currently use the laptop from work beside it as the computer, a mic, webcam, and extra monitor during work.

 

Requirements:

• Resolution: 4K
• Size: 28 - 32 inches
• 1 DP input and 1 HDMI 2.0/2.1 input

Ideal monitor:

• Everything in the requirements plus:
• Variable refresh rate down to 24 Hz (does Freesync work with VLC and browser based video players?)
• Amazing colours and reasonably colour accurate
• Good HDR and desktop use experience
• KVM
• 10 bit colour, 120 Hz without DSC  (I'll need a new GPU for this, but I'm planning to keep the monitor for a long time)
• QD-OLED? (I'm not sure about this since I do use it desktop use most of the time)
• VESA mountable

GPU: RTX 2070

Current Monitor: Samsung U28D590D 28 inch, 4K monitor which I use at 100% scaling

 

Thanks.

[DarkKratoz]

Good HDR limits the choice a fair bit, and so does KVM.

There are no QD-OLED 4K 27-32" panels. I know, I would buy one if they existed lmao.

Here are my suggestions;

Samsung Neo G7, it hits the HDR requests (if you can find it, they appear to be sold out)

 

Gigabyte M32U, it's lacking in HDR but it has decent colour and a built in KVM switch, and is pretty cheap

[rotexen]

27 minutes ago, johnm7115 said:

Hello,

 

I need to replace my 9 year old 4K monitor soon as it's starting to show signs of hardware problems. I'm having trouble deciding on what to buy since my ideal choice of a monitor still doesn't exist yet. There are 2 routes I could take right now, a cheap monitor that meets my minimum requirements and get my ideal monitor later down the road, or a monitor that comes close to my ideal monitor. $1500 CAD is around the max I want to be spending right now. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Uses: Around 9 hours per day on average. Close to 90% for normal use (programming, browsing the web, etc.), remaining 10% of the time for gaming and media consumption. I WFH and currently use the laptop from work beside it as the computer, a mic, webcam, and extra monitor during work.

 

Requirements:

• Resolution: 4K
• Size: 28 - 32 inches
• 1 DP input and 1 HDMI 2.0/2.1 input

Ideal monitor:

• Everything in the requirements plus:
• Variable refresh rate down to 24 Hz (does Freesync work with VLC and browser based video players?)
• Amazing colours and reasonably colour accurate
• Good HDR and desktop use experience
• KVM
• 10 bit colour, 120 Hz without DSC  (I'll need a new GPU for this, but I'm planning to keep the monitor for a long time)
• QD-OLED? (I'm not sure about this since I do use it desktop use most of the time)
• VESA mountable

GPU: RTX 2070

Current Monitor: Samsung U28D590D 28 inch, 4K monitor which I use at 100% scaling

 

Thanks.

get the Gigabyte M32U 32" 4k if you're on budget or get the Samsung Odyssey G7 NEO 32" 4k if you want something better

[BuzzingBee]

2 hours ago, johnm7115 said:

• Variable refresh rate down to 24 Hz (does Freesync work with VLC and browser based video players?)

Monitors nowadays have LFC (low framerate compensation). When fps dipped below freesync range the monitor can multiply refresh rate so it reaches back within freesync range. E.g. Monitor with 48-144hz freesync, 30fps = 60hz, 22fps = 66hz and so on. 

 

I don't think VRR works with media players, but I do use MPC-BE with madVR plugin and one of its setting allows changing fixed refresh rate automatically when viewing video.  Unfortunately I don't know much about VLC whether it has that option nor something to remove judder if fps is mismatching refresh rate. 

 

2 hours ago, johnm7115 said:

• QD-OLED? (I'm not sure about this since I do use it desktop use most of the time)

Better be safe not to get OLED for work primarily as it can eventually cause burn-in, but currently there's no 4k 27-32 inch OLED. 

 

Agreed with other posts, Gigabyte M28U / M32U fits your requirements and Samsung Neo G7 may have the most ideal list. 

[xg32]

5 hours ago, johnm7115 said:

Hello,

 

I need to replace my 9 year old 4K monitor soon as it's starting to show signs of hardware problems. I'm having trouble deciding on what to buy since my ideal choice of a monitor still doesn't exist yet. There are 2 routes I could take right now, a cheap monitor that meets my minimum requirements and get my ideal monitor later down the road, or a monitor that comes close to my ideal monitor. $1500 CAD is around the max I want to be spending right now. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Uses: Around 9 hours per day on average. Close to 90% for normal use (programming, browsing the web, etc.), remaining 10% of the time for gaming and media consumption. I WFH and currently use the laptop from work beside it as the computer, a mic, webcam, and extra monitor during work.

 

Requirements:

• Resolution: 4K
• Size: 28 - 32 inches
• 1 DP input and 1 HDMI 2.0/2.1 input

Ideal monitor:

• Everything in the requirements plus:
• Variable refresh rate down to 24 Hz (does Freesync work with VLC and browser based video players?)
• Amazing colours and reasonably colour accurate
• Good HDR and desktop use experience
• KVM
• 10 bit colour, 120 Hz without DSC  (I'll need a new GPU for this, but I'm planning to keep the monitor for a long time)
• QD-OLED? (I'm not sure about this since I do use it desktop use most of the time)
• VESA mountable

GPU: RTX 2070

Current Monitor: Samsung U28D590D 28 inch, 4K monitor which I use at 100% scaling

 

Thanks.

good hdr means the m32u is out, bnseline would be a neo g7

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort-Adjustable/dp/B09ZH1Q6TT?th=1

or a 32m2v

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCK1K44F/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A2SHWIYMNRTTNZ&psc=1

the 32m2v has better colors than the g7, the 27m2v is a better deal atm but ur requirement is 28-32inch

[johnm7115]

Thank you all for your responses.

 

On 7/8/2023 at 10:52 AM, DarkKratoz said:

Good HDR limits the choice a fair bit, and so does KVM.

There are no QD-OLED 4K 27-32" panels. I know, I would buy one if they existed lmao.

I definitely noticed all of that when I was searching. Back when I got my current monitor, I was like I'm going to use this for a few years and get an OLED 4K monitor when it comes out, but 9 years later there are still none of reasonable size and somewhat affordable.

On 7/8/2023 at 1:13 PM, BuzzingBee said:

Monitors nowadays have LFC (low framerate compensation). When fps dipped below freesync range the monitor can multiply refresh rate so it reaches back within freesync range. E.g. Monitor with 48-144hz freesync, 30fps = 60hz, 22fps = 66hz and so on. 

 

I don't think VRR works with media players, but I do use MPC-BE with madVR plugin and one of its setting allows changing fixed refresh rate automatically when viewing video.  Unfortunately I don't know much about VLC whether it has that option nor something to remove judder if fps is mismatching refresh rate. 

 

Very interesting, thank you!

-----

 

Based on what I'm seeing, I'm going to skip out on the OLED due to burn in risk with lots of static content. 

I haven't had any luck with finding any stores to try out a Neo G7, which from what I heard, some people like the curvature, some heat it, and also see how the viewing angles are in person.

The Innocn 32M2V was another one that looks close if I couldn't have my ideal monitor, but decide to get something close.

 

Alternatively, I wonder if I should just get some placeholder monitor and wait for something better to come out. Is there anything of note coming out soon?

[saintlouisbagels]

4 hours ago, johnm7115 said:

The Innocn 32M2V was another one that looks close if I couldn't have my ideal monitor, but decide to get something close

Alternatively, I wonder if I should just get some placeholder monitor and wait for something better to come out. Is there anything of note coming out soon?

You're always going to be waiting for something better.

We only finally got reasonably-sized OLED panels this year with LG's Ultragear stuff, and last year we finally got 42-inch OLED TVs and monitors.

 

You sound like you want to buy the bleeding edge which also means you're going to have to accept that you're going to be a guinea pig for any first generation issues.

Mini-LED is still a new-ish technology with a high price premium, and micro-LED is still insanely expensive.

This is my first time hearing about this INNOCN monitor but the RTINGS review (for the 27") looks favorable.

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/innocn/27m2v

 

If you're willing to take the risk of buying a monitor that seems suspiciously affordable- $1000 compared to the similar $1800 ROG Swift PG32UQX and the $2500 ViewSonic XG321UG- and will probably have difficult after-sales support (looks like they're HQ'd in Shenzhen, China), then this looks like a great option.

Edited July 10, 2023 by saintlouisbagels

[BuzzingBee]

20 hours ago, johnm7115 said:

Thank you all for your responses.

 

I definitely noticed all of that when I was searching. Back when I got my current monitor, I was like I'm going to use this for a few years and get an OLED 4K monitor when it comes out, but 9 years later there are still none of reasonable size and somewhat affordable.

Very interesting, thank you!

-----

 

Based on what I'm seeing, I'm going to skip out on the OLED due to burn in risk with lots of static content. 

I haven't had any luck with finding any stores to try out a Neo G7, which from what I heard, some people like the curvature, some heat it, and also see how the viewing angles are in person.

The Innocn 32M2V was another one that looks close if I couldn't have my ideal monitor, but decide to get something close.

 

Alternatively, I wonder if I should just get some placeholder monitor and wait for something better to come out. Is there anything of note coming out soon?

Unfortunately I'm not up to speed as to what monitors are coming, but if I were to guess OLEDs are currently trending so expect more of that. I also heard about IPS-black panel but they're currently not in gaming monitors yet. 

 

IMO if you can't deal with Neo G7's curve then you're stuck with IPS panel, which is possibly the best middle solution for work and gaming. I also didn't hear about Innocn 32M2V until @xg32pointed out, as it turns out it's not available in my country.

 

But I still cannot say whether to get placeholder monitor like M32U or go all-in on say 32M2V. My own way would be to get seperate work monitor then get another OLED screen just for gaming/watching. 

 

[NKND1990]

On 7/8/2023 at 10:52 AM, DarkKratoz said:

Good HDR limits the choice a fair bit, and so does KVM.

There are no QD-OLED 4K 27-32" panels. I know, I would buy one if they existed lmao.

Here are my suggestions;

Samsung Neo G7, it hits the HDR requests (if you can find it, they appear to be sold out)

 

Gigabyte M32U, it's lacking in HDR but it has decent colour and a built in KVM switch, and is pretty cheap

 

Amazon.com: SAMSUNG 32" Odyssey Neo G7 4K UHD 165Hz 1ms G-Sync 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor, Quantum HDR2000, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Ultrawide Game View, DisplayPort, HDMI, Height Adjustable Stand, Black, 2022 : Electronics

 

Not sure where the OP is located, but I am also looking for a new monitor. In my search I found the G7 ins tock on Amazon marked dow to $849. A killer deal TBH.