Monitor Upgrade: 1080P, 1440P, maybe Ultrawide

[Delirious133]

Hello Everyone,

I have been looking into new monitors lately given I am looking to upgrade my systems GPU from my current HD 7850 to a GTX 1070. My current monitors are listed below that I have mounted to a Vesa mount that will support up to a 34" display. Overkill for my current but I figured I might as well get a decent mount to meet any needs in the future. I use the system for gaming, everyday browsing and current some content creation with photo editing.

Current Monitors:
Main Panel: Asus VG248QE
24", 1080p, 144Hz

2nd Panel: Asus VE248H
24", 1080p, 60Hz

Games Played:
- Diablo 3
- Overwatch
- League of Legends
- Starcraft 2
- Battlefield 1
- Other various AAA titles

I was looking to potentially jump to 1440P since the GTX 1070 will be capable of it. But then I started looking at various 21:9 monitors and am torn between looking at a 1080p 21:9 format monitor like an Acer Z35 with a higher refresh rate. Or just spending the extra bit and looking into a Acer X34 or models like it. I would use this monitor to replace the VE248H and use it as my main panel while my VG248QE could be a 2nd panel. Or is there any other panels worth potentially waiting for that might be coming out that I am not aware of?

The only thing I am certain of is that I don't want to go back to a 60Hz panel.

 

[Mr Kagouris]

First thing I'd like to say is that you can use this handy tool to compare monitor sizes.

To maintain picture quality in terms of resolution, with ultrawides I'd recommend either a 2560x1080 29" or 3440x1440 34" display.

As for specific ultrawide displays, the cheapest ultrawide I can recommend is the LG 29UM58-P, which is a 29" 1080p ultrawide that runs at 75Hz. After that there's only really comparable 29" 1080p panels, and then you get into the obscenely expensive 3440x1440 34" displays, the cheapest of which is the Acer Predator XR341CK, which also runs at 75Hz. If you want more than that you'll really have to go with a Predator X34, but that'd be a significant investment.

Other than ultrawides, there's the usual large assortment of 27" 1440p 144Hz displays, which wouldn't be a gigantic upgrade over your current main display.

 

[Delirious133]

I'll take a look at that site and compare some options and thanks for the input. I just want to make sure my reasoning is sound.

I had a feeling that the larger ultrawides I was seeing at 1080p wouldn't be that great in terms of everyday use. A lot of the reviews I was seeing stated that outside of gaming the monitor tended to look pixelated when viewing text or web browsing. Main one I was looking at was the Z35 given the refresh speed.

I know getting the GTX 1070 card would be able to push most titles to fully utilize a 144hz monitor at the 1080p but might not on a 1440p monitor.

I was on the fence with just going with a standard aspect ratio (16:9) 1440p monitor with a higher refresh rate just for the jump in resolution. I know I have seen photos showing the detail increase in gaming from 1080p to 1440p but I haven't felt blown away by them. Plus to get a Asus PG279Q, for example, I would only be a couple hundred US off from just making the push to get an X34 or 34" 1440P Ultrawide option.

Currently I am more sold on the Ultrawide aspect ratio given the better gaming immersion than just jumping up from 1080p to 1440p on a 16:9 aspect ratio

 

[Mr Kagouris]

As you can see, 34" 3440x1440 is basically stretched 27" 2560x1440, and 29" 2560x1080 is basically stretched 24" 1920x1080, which are the recommended sizes for those resolutions. the size and resolution choice is really up to you since you're the one paying for it. A 1440p ultrawide would offer a significantly better visual experience, but you should consider whether it's worth paying three times the price of a 1080p ultrawide (note: the X34 Predator also features G-Sync support).

 

[Delirious133]

As you can see, 34" 3440x1440 is basically stretched 27" 2560x1440, and 29" 2560x1080 is basically stretched 24" 1920x1080, which are the recommended sizes for those resolutions. the size and resolution choice is really up to you since you're the one paying for it. A 1440p ultrawide would offer a significantly better visual experience, but you should consider whether it's worth paying three times the price of a 1080p ultrawide (note: the X34 Predator also features G-Sync support).

For the 29" LG that you stated above. I know that it runs at 75Hz. Is there really a noticeable difference when going from 144Hz display down to 75Hz? I know in some reviews of other ultrawides that are pushing 100Hz they state the difference between 60Hz and 100Hz is a noticeable jump but the 100Hz to 144Hz not so much. Can't really find to many reviews between the refresh rates.

 

[Mr Kagouris]

The noticeable difference gets exponentially smaller, but between 100Hz and 75Hz I'd say it's noticeable, especially to an eye used to 144Hz.

 

[Xabache]

DO NOT Buy the Samsung LS32F351FUN: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3321308/samsung-ls32f351fun-worries-correct.html