New PC build for a friend?

Oh, sure, because they’re just going to suddenly drop a game—neither her nor her friends nor some distant relative... right? And I guess PlayStation will work perfectly on an HP, provided you shove your face directly into the screen.

HP becomes a 40-inch retina display while Dell is basically stuck at 28 inches from your eyes...

https://www.designcompaniesranked.co...s-this-retina/

My wife has her own $667 setup specifically for her monitor, so there’s zero excuse for her not to grab the high-end one. The price point is basically the same anyway—Dell is actually $50 more expensive. And honestly, when it comes to Photoshop and color grading, you can really feel the difference.

darkowl72 said:Oh sure, they'll just never release any games—not her, not her friends, not some descendant down the line... please. And Photoshop will run just fine on an HP, unless you plan on shoving your face directly into the screen.

The HP becomes a "retina display" at about 39 inches while the Dell is sitting at 28 inches from your eyes...

https://www.designcompaniesranked.co...s-this-retina/

Look, if a game ever does get dumped, the least you can do is drop the resolution or tweak the settings. Nobody's actually claiming they're going to play anything.

There's a massive gap between 28 and 39 inches. 39 inches is pretty standard for 1080p monitors, and you really feel the difference compared to higher resolutions.

That’s usually considered the sweet spot for gaming since the screen size and resolution/detail ratio works out well.

But for Photoshop, resolution is king. You need that sharpness for all the heavy lifting and precision work.
Besides, that sharpness actually gets used because you're working on high-res images; it's not like the pixels are going to waste.
An enormous 4K display would be ideal, but let's be real, that's way over budget.

Why wouldn't you just grab a 2K setup

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X6M9L6V

Just buy a laptop and all your problems disappear

It would be best if she could just test out some 1440p resolution running Adobe Photoshop on a 24" monitor herself before deciding.

Based on general user experience—at least when we’re talking about macOS and standard software—the consensus is pretty much settled:

For 1080p, stick to 24" monitors.
For 1440p, you really need at least a 27" screen (though some might find even that too small, but that's the average).
For 4K, you should go with at least 32".

Keep in mind that as the PPI jumps up, things can start looking tiny to some people, but those are the standard diagonal sizes for those resolutions.

Regarding that famous 31.5" Samsung monitor linked above, the PPI is actually identical to a 24" 1080p setup. She wouldn't see any increase in sharpness, she’d just have a physically larger image.

I would've included a photo, but this is just a budget Best Buy monitor meant for gaming (standard size + 1440p + 75Hz + Freesync?)

When I was digging through the reviews, people weren't exactly raving about the color accuracy. Doesn't matter much for gaming, sure, but if you're using Adobe Photoshop, color is way more important than resolution.

Dell is hands down the superior choice if you’re actually trying to do photo editing. The panel is better and the resolution is higher, which basically means you get colors that don't lie and an image that isn't a blurry mess. Why on earth would you tell your wife to drop the same amount of cash on a WORSE monitor? 😁 Seriously, why are we even having this debate in the first place? 😁

Thanks for the input and advice. It looks like the budget for the monitor will be lower than expected, so we'll have to look at cheaper options. Do you think any of these meet our requirements? We'll obviously be watching movies on it. I doubt there will be any gaming involved, but one can never be sure.

https://www.amazon.com/lcd-monitors/hp...m_medium=click

https://www.bestbuy.com/samsung-lcd-ips...%2DEs/product/

https://www.bestbuy.com/monitor-dell...%2D09/product/

Look, we’re talking about monitors in the exact same ballpark here. Dell is charging a bit more just because they’ve got that big-name status, but honestly? There isn't a massive difference in the actual panels. If you’re looking at certifications or extra bells and whistles, the HP model actually edges them out slightly. On the flip side, if you care about aesthetics, the Samsung or the Dell look a lot cleaner on a desk. At the end of the day, you're basically looking at the same thing regardless of which one you pick, so it really just comes down to your vibe.

1. Just grab the one that looks best to you.
2. Or, you know, save some cash and go with the cheaper option.

If I were in your shoes, I'd snag that HP for $300. It’s a total steal right now, especially since it usually retails for over $180 everywhere else. I don't see the point in dropping an extra $75 or $133 on something that doesn't actually give me anything extra. That said, it’s not all about the panel specs, color accuracy, or raw performance—sometimes you just want something that looks good and fits the setup. 😁

Look, they're all pretty much in the same ballpark. We tend to get too caught up in the technical specs that 99% of users won't even notice. First things first: pick a monitor that actually fits your setup and purpose, and second—make sure you actually like how the picture looks. Honestly, if you're serious, just head down to a Best Buy or something, look at the floor models while they're powered on, and see which one catches your eye...

All three of these use IPS panels and they all have blue light filters. That ASUS eye care tech isn't some magic bullet; everyone has something similar. If you need features, the Dell is the most well-equipped. You can tilt and swivel it, it’s loaded with USB ports, and it has an anti-glare coating. The Samsung and HP models come with built-in speakers...

They all have the same resolution and all come with a 3-year warranty. The real difference between the cheapest one and the priciest one is $133... If you're watching every penny, grab the cheapest option. If you've got the cash to burn, go with the Dell. But if you can actually go see them in person, that's the smartest move.

I recently decided to pick up this monitor for myself, and honestly, I don't think you can find anything superior at this specific price point: https://www.nabava.net/monitori/lg-2...x1080-22928661

There is a 24'' version available as well, though it comes with a significantly higher price tag of $467. If you happen to require advanced ergonomics—specifically things like tilting, swiveling, pivoting, or having integrated USB ports—then perhaps the Dell model would be the better choice. However, in my particular setup, I have the display mounted on a VESA arm, which effectively renders those physical adjustments unnecessary for my needs.