Advice on 1080p or 1440p monitor

[Drunkcowboy]

So I have just finished finalizing the Pc I want to build but I have one more choice I need to make. 1080p or 1440p? I am running a gtx 1070 with an I5-8600k (full list is here; https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9BtB2R ). I usually don't play AAA games, but I plan on playing Star citizen when 3.0 is out. I ,like many others, want to get the absolute amount of years out of this PC ( so I am curious if the 1440p monitor will hinder that in any way? Is the 1070 overkill for the 1080p, or will it power the 1440p very well for years to come? Should I just get a 144hz 1080p monitor or just get a gtx 1060 instead? Thanks, any advice or monitor recommendations would be very helpful.

 

[elbert]

The 1070 is a low end 1440p video card so I suggest a low price 1440p. This monitor can hit 165hz which is great but it is TN panel and only 23 inches.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: Dell - S2417DG 23.8" 2560x1440 165Hz Monitor ($406.30 @ Amazon)
Total: $406.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-05 20:58 EST-0500

 

[Drunkcowboy]

The 1070 is a low end 1440p video card so I suggest a low price 1440p. This monitor can hit 165hz which is great but it is TN panel and only 23 inches.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: Dell - S2417DG 23.8" 2560x1440 165Hz Monitor ($406.30 @ Amazon)
Total: $406.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-05 20:58 EST-0500

Thanks for your response! Since you say the 1070 is a low end 1440p video card, do you think it would just be better to get a nice 1080p monitor? Thanks.

 

[Darkbreeze]

The GTX 1070 won't do over 100fps at 1440p on every title at max settings, but it probably will at high settings on the games it doesn't reach above 100 on at Ultra, so if you plan to get a 120 or 144hz monitor then be prepared to drop some settings in a few games.

I think a 27" or larger 1440p monitor is perfect for the GTX 1070, and I think it will be for a few years to come. Dropping settings on the most demanding games isn't that big of a deal, things still look terrific at high or with a few things turned off entirely. Besides, in most games it won't even be an issue. I would certainly not drop down to a GTX 1060 though unless you don't plan to ever game above 1080p.

If you go with a 1080p monitor, I'd probably want it to be an IPS panel as well. There are IPS panels with very good resonse times now, it's not like it used to be where you have to choose between fast response times or great display quality.

 

[elbert]

The 1070 is a low end 1440p video card so I suggest a low price 1440p. This monitor can hit 165hz which is great but it is TN panel and only 23 inches.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: Dell - S2417DG 23.8" 2560x1440 165Hz Monitor ($406.30 @ Amazon)
Total: $406.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-05 20:58 EST-0500

Thanks for your response! Since you say the 1070 is a low end 1440p video card, do you think it would just be better to get a nice 1080p monitor? Thanks.

Na a 1070 is good enough for 1440p and the monitor is Gsync so works great together. This or get a 1080p 144hz which still will cost you a good amount. the 1070 is overkill on 1080p. The 1060 is about all you need at that resolution.

Here is a good 1080p 144hz monitor.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: Asus - VG248QE 24.0" 1920x1080 144Hz Monitor ($246.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $246.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-05 21:23 EST-0500

 

[Darkbreeze]

And then there's this to consider. The GTX 980TI was WAY overkill for 1080p, even with max settings, on everything except Witcher 3, when it was released. After they made a few months worth of optimized changes to Witcher 3, it was more than enough for that even on Ultra settings.

Now, it still works on 1080p Ultra with most game titles, but the hardware requirements have gone up due to advances in game technology, and it's definitely NOT overkill anymore. So even if you get the 1070 ONLY for 1080p, even if it's a little bit overkill now, the titles that come out in one or two years may seriously change that and you'll be glad you went overboard rather than wishing you'd just spent a bit more for a better card.

Personally, I think the hundred dollar difference between the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 makes it more than worth it to go for the 1080 considering with that you'll be good at 1440p for a good long while. But of course it's another 100 to 200 bucks depending on which model (Dual fan aftermarket models only) you are looking at.

If you really want 1440p, you have to decide how much you can live without when it comes to in game settings and kind of let that be your guide.

For me, high settings at 1080p are good enough for now but when I make a move to a new gaming hardware setup I'll definitely be looking at 1440p at max settings, and I want it to stay that way for a while, so I'll wait and jump on a 1080TI when prices come down along with a decent 1440p G-sync IPS panel. I expect that to happen in the next six months or so and last me probably four or five years.

Are you wanting an IPS panel or can you live with a good 1440p TN panel? Obviously TN is a lot cheaper, but there are some pretty reasonably priced units that offer both.

This is probably about the best 27" IPS 1440p monitor that is suitable for gaming and isn't ridiculously expensive. With a 4ms resonse time and a really good panel, it's probably going to be my next monitor as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: AOC - Q2781PQ 27.0" 2560x1440 60Hz Monitor ($339.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $339.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-06 00:32 EST-0500

It also got rave reviews here at Tom's and a lot of other sites as well.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/aoc-q2781pq-ips-qhd-monitor,5068-6.html

 

[Drunkcowboy]

And then there's this to consider. The GTX 980TI was WAY overkill for 1080p, even with max settings, on everything except Witcher 3, when it was released. After they made a few months worth of optimized changes to Witcher 3, it was more than enough for that even on Ultra settings.

Now, it still works on 1080p Ultra with most game titles, but the hardware requirements have gone up due to advances in game technology, and it's definitely NOT overkill anymore. So even if you get the 1070 ONLY for 1080p, even if it's a little bit overkill now, the titles that come out in one or two years may seriously change that and you'll be glad you went overboard rather than wishing you'd just spent a bit more for a better card.

Personally, I think the hundred dollar difference between the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 makes it more than worth it to go for the 1080 considering with that you'll be good at 1440p for a good long while. But of course it's another 100 to 200 bucks depending on which model (Dual fan aftermarket models only) you are looking at.

If you really want 1440p, you have to decide how much you can live without when it comes to in game settings and kind of let that be your guide.

For me, high settings at 1080p are good enough for now but when I make a move to a new gaming hardware setup I'll definitely be looking at 1440p at max settings, and I want it to stay that way for a while, so I'll wait and jump on a 1080TI when prices come down along with a decent 1440p G-sync IPS panel. I expect that to happen in the next six months or so and last me probably four or five years.

Are you wanting an IPS panel or can you live with a good 1440p TN panel? Obviously TN is a lot cheaper, but there are some pretty reasonably priced units that offer both.

This is probably about the best 27" IPS 1440p monitor that is suitable for gaming and isn't ridiculously expensive. With a 4ms resonse time and a really good panel, it's probably going to be my next monitor as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: AOC - Q2781PQ 27.0" 2560x1440 60Hz Monitor ($339.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $339.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-06 00:32 EST-0500

It also got rave reviews here at Tom's and a lot of other sites as well.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/aoc-q2781pq-ips-qhd-monitor,5068-6.html

So I think I may have a good solution, please give me your advice. Currently I had a decent 1080p 60hz monitor that I'm using right now. So what I was thinking is once I get a 1440p monitor I will just keep the 1080p and switch between the 2 depending on the games. Do you think this is a viable option? or just sell the 1080p and get a 1440p or just stay 1080p. Thanks.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd keep it anyhow if it were me. Run dual monitors. That's what most of us do these days anyhow. Having one monitor displaying just whatever you happen to be browsing on the internet along with your game on the other one. There is very little additional load added by a non-gaming display so it really shouldn't affect your gaming performance at all.

And like you say, if you find something to be too demanding on the 1440p screen, you can just shift the game over to the other screen and reduce the pixel count which will alleviate the problem. But if you NEED to sell the other monitor for financial reasons, then by all means, I mean, that's up to you isn't it? I like two, three or four monitors anyhow. I'm a display wh#$%, so I'll always go with the "keep it" option. LOL.

 

[Drunkcowboy]

I'd keep it anyhow if it were me. Run dual monitors. That's what most of us do these days anyhow. Having one monitor displaying just whatever you happen to be browsing on the internet along with your game on the other one. There is very little additional load added by a non-gaming display so it really shouldn't affect your gaming performance at all.

And like you say, if you find something to be too demanding on the 1440p screen, you can just shift the game over to the other screen and reduce the pixel count which will alleviate the problem. But if you NEED to sell the other monitor for financial reasons, then by all means, I mean, that's up to you isn't it? I like two, three or four monitors anyhow. I'm a display wh#$%, so I'll always go with the "keep it" option. LOL.

I think this is what I’m going to do. You were very helpful, thanks a lot.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Anytime at all. Best of luck to you.