Should I get; one 144Hz monitor, one 120Hz monitor, or three 60Hz monitors?

[ThatSweetGamer]

My build will be;

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KMv9

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KMv9/by_merchant/

Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KMv9/benchmarks/

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($219.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($156.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: OCZ Agility 3 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  (Purchased For $110.91) 

Storage: OCZ Agility 3 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  (Purchased For $110.91) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($84.98 @ Outlet PC) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card  ($649.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.98 @ Outlet PC) 

Power Supply: Corsair RM 550W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($106.10 @ Amazon) 

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($18.49 @ Amazon) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($85.87 @ Outlet PC) 

Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K95 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($129.99 @ Amazon) 

Mouse: Razer Naga Epic Wireless Laser Mouse  ($99.86 @ Amazon) 

Total: $2084.04

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-04 13:36 EDT-0400)

 

The 144Hz monitor is; http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vg248qe

The 120Hz monitor is; http://pcpartpicker.com/part/benq-monitor-xl2720t

The three 60Hz monitors are; http://pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-h236hlbid

 

Which option will play most games maxed out?

[Joshua]

What I voted for is entirely my personal preference. It is completely up to you. Do you want the 144hz/120Hz? Do you want the great colour reproduction or do you want 3 monitors? Up to you. 

[TheSLSAMG]

Awesome machine, but I would personally go Haswell if it costs the same. As for the screens, I would personally prefer a triple monitor 60Hz setup.

[Cacao]

I would go for a single 120hz/144hz since you only have one card, not sure if it would be enough to power 3x 1080p on high+ settings. 

[helping]

Two 120hz if you can spring it, play your games on one monitor even if you get multiple.

Speaking from my own experience, once you go triple display you can't go back. I don't use it for eyefinity but having all the space when I'm doing research/referencing multiple documents is invaluable.

[Joe3417]

Do you want the smoothness of a higher hertz monitor. Do you play alot of fps games that you need an advantage over your opponent? If you answered no to at least 2 of the questions then go for tri monitors

[MoYo]

Maybe a cheap korean 1440p monitor with samsung display? (qnix or x-star) a lot of people also have been able to overclock them to 100hz+

[ThatSweetGamer]

Awesome machine, but I would personally go Haswell if it costs the same. As for the screens, I would personally prefer a triple monitor 60Hz setup.

FInally! I made an awesome machine on my own! 

[ThatSweetGamer]

Maybe a cheap korean 1440p monitor with samsung display? (qnix or x-star) a lot of people also have been able to overclock them to 100hz+

I like to play on 1080p so I can record true 1080p videos. 

[BigD1970]

Thats purely a personal preference.

[Bobert]

Two 120hz if you can spring it, play your games on one monitor even if you get multiple.

Speaking from my own experience, once you go triple display you can't go back. I don't use it for eyefinity but having all the space when I'm doing research/referencing multiple documents is invaluable.

 

This. I game on one monitor and use the other 2 for various things. It is extremely handy and convienent, and I hate it when I do not have at least 2 monitors to use nowadays.

[sonarctica]

Maybe a cheap korean 1440p monitor with samsung display? (qnix or x-star) a lot of people also have been able to overclock them to 100hz+

Yeah no, cheap korean monitors with panels that didn't pass certification process, and overclocking them is impossible. It might say 100Hz but in reality it just adds blur which causes an illusion that makes people think it's smoother. 

[Cyberpunk177]

Yeah no, cheap korean monitors with panels that didn't pass certification process, and overclocking them is impossible. It might say 100Hz but in reality it just adds blur which causes an illusion that makes people think it's smoother. 

You just made me LOL :lol: 

[sonarctica]

indeed

[mdrejhon]

Yeah no, cheap korean monitors with panels that didn't pass certification process, and overclocking them is impossible. It might say 100Hz but in reality it just adds blur which causes an illusion that makes people think it's smoother. 

 

Actually, people found that while it didn't completely eliminate the streaking part, it doesn't worsen it either.  It reduces the motion blur slightly.  Not fully halved motion blur of 60Hz, but far less motion blur than 60Hz.   Viewing the ghosting test at www.testufo.com/ghosting shows clear improvements from the overclocking, albiet not nearly as much as with LightBoost.  (See Photos: 60Hz vs 120Hz vs LightBoost )   It was found that the overclock quality improvements stopped approximately around 96Hz, and 120Hz was marginal due to the slowness of the panel, so many people are just running the overclocks at just 96Hz because of this, which is a less GPU-hungry refresh rate.  To top it off, there's less input lag at higher refresh rates.

 

(NOTE: For a list of overclockable monitors, and a list of LightBoost monitors, there is a good listing of 120Hz monitors.)

[Alex(PlayMedium)]

The difference between 120hz and 144hz is so insignificant, don't differenciate between monitors based on that. The way I look at it is:

60hz

120hz&120hz+

The difference is neglegable, I would never notice if someone turned my monitor from 144hz to 120hz.

The difference between 60hz and 120hz however is breathtaking, I can not believe I could play on 60hz panels for all these years.

Yes, with the 60hz IPS ones you'll get better colors, but to me at least the increased snappyness is far more noticable. Just moving the mouse on a 60hz monitor feels laggy and fast paced games are a whole different world. Games like audiosurf are a LOT easier at 120hz because you actually are able to see how things move and not just a stuttery blur, which is how it looks when going back after using a 120hz monitor.

[mdrejhon]

The differen between 120hz and 144hz is so insignificant, don't differenciate between monitors based on that. The way I look at it is:

60hz

120hz

120hz+

The difference is neglegable, I would never notice if someone turned my monitor from 144hz to 120hz.

 

Don't forget the difference between non-LightBoost 120Hz and LightBoost 120Hz, too.  There are people who said the difference between 120Hz-vs-LightBoost is bigger to some people than the difference between 60Hz-vs-120Hz (it depends on the person and the game -- but this maximal improvement happens during framerate-locked 120fps @ 120Hz).  Have you tried the new ToastyX Strobelight utility that allows easy turning ON/OFF of LightBoost via a key press?  (It works on ASUS / BENQ 120Hz monitors).   So if you buy a 120Hz or 144Hz monitor today, make sure it supports LightBoost.   The updated easy LightBoost instructions are in the LightBoost HOWTO.

 

See the other LinusTechTips thread: LightBoost: Say Goodbye To Your CRT.  

Granted, LightBoost is not for everyone due to drawbacks such as colors quality, but lots of blur-sensitive people like it, if motion blur elimination is more important than colors, etc.  (At least until IPS and VA strobe backlights arrive for the gaming monitor market.  The new Eizo FDF2405 VA strobe backlight is good news, but still too expensive.)

[Alex(PlayMedium)]

Don't forget the difference between non-LightBoost 120Hz and LightBoost 120Hz, too.  There are people who said the difference between 120Hz-vs-LightBoost is bigger to some people than the difference between 60Hz-vs-120Hz (it depends on the person and the game -- but this maximal improvement happens during framerate-locked 120fps @ 120Hz).  Have you tried the new ToastyX Strobelight utility that allows easy turning ON/OFF of LightBoost via a key press?  (It works on ASUS / BENQ 120Hz monitors).   So if you buy a 120Hz or 144Hz monitor today, make sure it supports LightBoost.   The updated easy LightBoost instructions are in the LightBoost HOWTO.

Well my monitor supports it, but I ahve an AMD gpu and afaik there is no way to use the lighboost hack with radeon cards, I'd love to try it

[mdrejhon]

Well my monitor supports it, but I ahve an AMD gpu and afaik there is no way to use the lighboost hack with radeon cards, I'd love to try it

 

The ToastyX Strobelight app allows LightBoost on Radeon now.  You no longer need nVidia graphics drivers to enable LightBoost.  Be noted that LightBoost will affect color quality, in exchange for the motion clarity improvements (but only at triple-digit framerates, though).  It's a tradeoff, but worth trying and you can easily turn it ON/OFF with the Strobelight app.

[MoYo]

Yeah no, cheap korean monitors with panels that didn't pass certification process, and overclocking them is impossible. It might say 100Hz but in reality it just adds blur which causes an illusion that makes people think it's smoother.

There are a lot of great reviews about these monitors, logan even made some videos about them.

[sonarctica]

There are a lot of great reviews about these monitors, logan even made some videos about them.

Logan makes videos of quality monitors too doesn't he. I wouldn't trust these korean monitors one bit because

 

1. They use panels that didn't pass certification

2. Chassis is made cheaply, therefore you can't adjust it a lot if at all

3. No on screen menu, only few brightness settings

3. Higher chance of dead pixels and backlight bleeding

4. Sometimes the warranty is complete BS, you have to pay the duties and shipping back if your monitor is 

 

I'll just quote what GoodBytes has said before since he explains everything so well and in detail. 

 

 

Dells17, I am afraid your budget is not big enough for a proper 27inch 1440p monitor. The Best value for your money is the the Dell U2713HM. I would check out for refurbished monitors. That might be much closer to your current budget. Dell usually has excellent refurbished. It's is a high end consumer level monitor. So the build quality is there, and I can assure you that it will be worth every penny.

Here are my thoughts on these cheap Korean 27inch monitors:

Short version: You get what you paid for.

Long version:

-> Really cheap everything

-> Glossy everything

-> Crappy white LED back light, (low grade)

-> While the panel is fine, they are rated as "A-" panels, where the batch or a panel from the batch didn't meet all specification or quality standard, and the frab machines required recalibration or maintenance. This does not mean that it will have dead pixels or bright pixel per say, but other problems, including and not limited to durability issues

-> non adjustable stand

-> non on screen menu with only a few brightness level (5 to 8 depending on the model)

-> no warranty, or support

-> panel virtually directly connected to the DVI plug, which means graphic card compatibility problems. If you don't' plan on upgrading your graphic card card in the next 5 to 7 years, and your graphic card is compatible, at least with the current drivers, then you are good. Else, it will be a new monitor. (usually you have a monitor for 5 to 7 years, if it doesn't have a manufacture error or no longer fits your needs).

-> Propitiatory power connector.

-> No features of any kind for most models

-> Default monitor panel colors (no calibration by you or manufacture possible due, as mentioned, lack of any circuit)

"Overload computer", is the same monitor as the Korean one. You have 1 company making multiple brands, you can call then send your logo, and they'll print it on their plastic casing.

"Overclocking the monitor" makes me laugh the most. You are not. You are just playing with the back light refresh rate... flickering the backlight faster give the illusion of more frames, while you don't have more frame. This is the same ticks that TV uses when they say "200Hz", "400Hz". The panel is still 60Hz. You can force this in the monitor (and slowly breaking your back light as unlike TV they were not designed for), as the monitor is virtually directly connected to the DVI plug. This is why you also have the graphic card compatibility problems with those monitors. Some graphic card will not work with this monitor, as mentioned above.

Now there is a specific monitor, some time ago, where you could actually increase the refresh rate of your panel. These were refered as hacing the "2B" circuit. Which was the only identification code found on the circuit board if you opened the monitor internals.

However, even with the 2B board, you don't have true 120Hz.

In order to support 120Hz properly, the LCD panel must successfully FULLY display the next frame (and not in the process of) in 8.33 ms - This is NOT THE G-to-G RESPONSE TIME. No one has the equipment to measure this. You need very sensitive and precises tools to measure something this quick. So if it's 12ms, it looks faster than 16ms, but between 8 and 12, you don't really see it, but it's enough to smear things around and get this weird looking thing. The monitor panel just can't do it, and at the same time you are breaking the transparent transistors.

Beleive me, if 120Hz IPS panels were possible, it would be all over CES, especially on TV's where there is actual competition for the best 3D experience. So, yea, no, you don't because you can't. Now I am not saying you will never see 120Hz IPS panels. IPS panels did amazing innovations in term of speed increase without the loss of image quality, or sharpness. It's been what? 2008'ish you started to see IPS panels that you can safely say that they are perfectly fine for gaming and non competitive FPS gaming? So 120Hz IPS panel are coming.... but not now.. maybe in 3-5 years.

 

source: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/2984-looking-for-a-good-1440p-monitor/

[MoYo]

Logan makes videos of quality monitors too doesn't he. I wouldn't trust these korean monitors one bit because

1. They use panels that didn't pass certification

2. Chassis is made cheaply, therefore you can't adjust it a lot if at all

3. No on screen menu, only few brightness settings

3. Higher chance of dead pixels and backlight bleeding

4. Sometimes the warranty is complete BS, you have to pay the duties and shipping back if your monitor is

I'll just quote what GoodBytes has said before since he explains everything so well and in detail.

source: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/2984-looking-for-a-good-1440p-monitor/

Well he clearly has an opinion about these monitors and he is able to say it very convincing. But he does not own one of these monitors himself and he cannot confirm his statements.

[R4STABAN]

If you play FPS games I would recommend a single 120 or 144hz screen (barely any difference - the benq zl2411t for example is a 144hz panel they chose to market as 120hz because 120hz was the buzzword).

 

Then I'd get a cheaper 60hz panel for auxiliary.

 

Honestly it's hard to answer without knowing what you plan to do and what your budget is.

 

I would not recommend triple-screen gaming (although having 3 monitors for multitasking is great).

[Slinkey]

Well he clearly has an opinion about these monitors and he is able to say it very convincing. But he does not own one of these monitors himself and he cannot confirm his statements.

His statements are facts, so there is no need for confirmation.

This is not something he is coming up with, he is simply re-listing what people have experienced with these monitors.

Do you really think you will receive a top quality monitor with the latest technology for that price? 

There is a reason these monitors didn't make it into the official production.

[MoYo]

His statements are facts, so there is no need for confirmation.

This is not something he is coming up with, he is simply re-listing what people have experienced with these monitors.

Do you really think you will receive a top quality monitor with the latest technology for that price?

There is a reason these monitors didn't make it into the official production.

These monitors have indeed rejected Samsung or Apple panels but that does not mean they are bad, as Logan said these panels are A- instead of A+. But they cannot notice anything bad or broken about the panels (I only mean the display not the crappy stand or those buttons). And you also can't just ignore how many positive reviews they have. Of course there are always some people that get unlucky and get a defective one but that happens with almost every product. I agree on the warranty part, it won't be so easy to replace it of the monitor is dead on arrival but you can most of the time get your money back trough paypal. I'll be getting a 'pixel perfect' model myself to have the least possible chance of any problems when it arrives. If the monitor is broken or has some weird issues I'll apologize to you guys