Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

Timothy Kim60 said:Why not just grab the one I linked from Best Buy? You get an IPS panel, 144Hz, and it's FreeSync/G-Sync compatible—all while staying right within your budget.

That one is actually perfect for me—it’s exactly what I’m looking for, provided it’s a 27" model. I’ll keep an eye on the price; maybe there will be some sort of sale before the end of the year. If I’ve been able to wait this long, I suppose I can manage another few months.

The worst part is that I spotted it somewhere on $567 just a day or two before Black Friday... but I was fully expecting it to show up in the holiday sales.

Timothy Kim60 said:Why don't you just grab the one I linked from Micro Center? You get an IPS panel, 144Hz, and it's FreeSync/G-Sync compatible—all while staying right within your budget.

Now that I see it, the ASUS VG279Q is actually available at $667. Comparing it to the AOC, doesn't it seem like a slightly better option...?

They’re floating around in there somewhere. Honestly, the AOC has better color reproduction and a higher pixel density, whereas the ASUS packs more brightness. You can't really lose either way; you'll end up in the same spot regardless of which one you grab. The only real call you're making is whether you want 24" or 27".

Peter Green said:They’re floating around in there somewhere. Honestly, the AOC offers superior color reproduction and a higher pixel density, whereas the ASUS edges ahead on sheer brightness. You can't really lose either way—it's essentially a wash. The only real distinction you'll face is choosing between 24" and 27".

No, no, no—if I were actually pulling the trigger, I’d be going for the AOC 27G2U.

I appreciate the insight. Since I usually play in a darkened room, brightness isn't exactly a dealbreaker for me...

Hello, I am planning to retire my old Dell u2412m (24", 16:10, IPS, 60Hz). I want to move up to a 144Hz monitor, specifically 27", since moving to a smaller screen than what I have now doesn't seem logical to me. So, I am looking for the following:

27"
IPS
144Hz
FreeSync
1440p

I will probably be buying this on a payment plan, so if anyone has recommendations from a major US retailer, that would be helpful. Oh, I have been looking at prices and noticed the gap between 1080p and 1440p is massive—it feels like the 1440p models cost almost double. I read somewhere that 1080p doesn't look very good on a 27" screen... Is it really that bad that it justifies such a price difference? 🤔

I was looking at that Gigabyte Aorus monitor; it seems decent on paper and the price is okay too. 😬 Does anything offer better value for the money?

I am planning to spend between $300 and $500 on this monitor.

We don't exactly have a massive selection of high-end FreeSync monitors over here in the States, so if you're dead set on an IPS panel, that Gigabyte Aorus is really one of only two or three decent paths you can take. It's a killer gaming monitor, honestly; the only real headaches are the price tag and the fact that in a dark room, the blacks look more like a murky dark gray.

Personally, I’m leaning towards this Aorus—it’s got a curved 27 setup with a VA panel, FreeSync 1440 tech, and a 165Hz refresh rate. VA panels generally crush it when it comes to contrast, though sometimes the colors can feel a little chilly. Since this is a top-tier VA panel, they kept that issue to a minimum, but I still wouldn't suggest it to anyone doing professional photo editing.
https://www.amazon.com/gigabyte-gaming-monitor/
$1300

Then there's the Acer nitro XV272UP. This thing comes factory calibrated, so the colors are great right out of the box—and by great, I mean actually usable for professional work. The price is pretty reasonable, too. The downside? It lacks FreeSync 1440 and only has basic HDR, but there's a good chance you won't even care about either. If you need a solid hybrid monitor that handles design, photo work, and gaming without breaking a sweat, you can grab this one without any drama.
https://www.bestbuy.com/acer-nitro-xv272up/
$1100

Thanks. 🙂

That Gigabyte looks interesting, though those $1300 are the cash price. It doesn't really matter, I guess; there's only about $167 difference between the VA and IPS models.

Anyway, I use my PC for gaming about 90% of the time, and I'm always in a bright room. Now I just have to decide which of those two models to go with. IPS is probably a bit faster, but I suppose that isn't such a huge deal since either one would be a massive upgrade over what I'm using right now.

Look, every single piece of tech comes with its own set of pros and cons. Personally? I’ve always leaned toward VA panels over IPS. For my setup, having decent contrast matters way more than obsessing over slight shifts in color temperature. As for speed, let's be real—it's all pretty much in the same ballpark. That tiny 2ms difference? Nobody is actually noticing that during a real-time gaming session; it's basically just marketing fluff to get people to open their wallets. At the end of the day, whatever you decide to pick up, you aren't really going to regret it.

@Peter Green/">@@Peter Green - I can see you actually know your stuff, so I've got a question

AOC C32G1 31.5" curved 27" VA LED FHD (1920x1080) FreeSync 1440 Gaming monitor. (VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort) - Black

What’s your take on this monitor? I’m looking at pairing it with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and an RX 5700 XT...

Or if you have something else to suggest—the main thing is that it needs to be curved and at least 27". I'm shopping around the States, so I'll just hunt for whatever deal looks best online...

Running FHD on a 32" monitor is honestly a disaster waiting to happen. It’s just not a great move. If you lean in even a little bit, you're basically going to be counting individual pixels. 😁 For an FHD setup, you really want to stick to a 24-inch screen to keep things looking decent.

You didn't mention what kind of budget we're working with here. But hey, if you've got 1440p on the table, I’d strongly suggest grabbing this 27" model instead. Yeah, it'll run you maybe a hundred bucks more, but trust me, it is absolutely worth the extra cash.
https://www.amazon.com/MSI-WQHD-Optix.../dp/B07MW4RZGS

I’m looking for some solid advice on picking up a new monitor, ideally in the $250 to $1167 range.
The main thing here is photo editing—that’s my priority—though I do plan on doing some gaming as well.
Personally, I’m really not interested in anything smaller than a 27" screen.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.nabava.net/monitori/acer...x1440-77080091

Honestly, you can't beat this thing. Right out of the box, the colors are killer—totally solid if you're doing any kind of pro work. Plus, you've got an IPS panel hitting 144Hz paired with FreeSync.

If you want to nerd out on the specifics, check out this reliable review here:
https://www.displayninja.com/acer-xv272u-review/

Peter Green said:Running FHD on a 32" monitor is a mistake. Not a great choice at all. If you sit even slightly close, you're going to be counting individual pixels... 😁 For an FHD setup, stick to a 24-inch screen if you want it to look decent.

You didn't mention what kind of budget we're working with here. If you can swing QHD resolution, I’d honestly suggest this 27" model instead. It'll run you maybe a hundred bucks more, but it's worth every penny.
https://www.amazon.com/MSI-WQHD-Optix.../dp/B07MW4RZGS

My budget is $300. Between the new PC (which isn't even fully assembled yet 😁 ), two desks, extra peripherals, and two gaming chairs, most of my money is already gone...

So basically, I just need to make sure it's higher than 1920x1080?

Kyle Torres60 said:my budget is $300, but since I'm building a whole new PC (which isn't even fully bought yet 😁 ) plus two desks, double peripherals, and two gaming chairs, I've already blown way too much of my cash

so you're saying I should look for something higher than 1920x1080?

In that case, go with this one. You can grab it at Best Buy for around $250. It’s still FHD resolution, but on a curved 27" screen, you won't notice the pixel density issues nearly as much as you would on a 32".

https://www.bestbuy.com/mo...m_medium=click

Peter Green said:In that case, go with this one. You can probably snag it online for around $270. It’s still FHD resolution, but on a curved 27" screen, you won't notice the pixel density issues nearly as much as you would on a 32"...

https://www.bestbuy.com/mo...m_medium=click

Thanks. I was actually leaning toward that one at first, but then my wife chimed in asking why I wouldn't just get something bigger, like a 32"...

And then they tell you size doesn't matter to women... 🤣

How bad does FHD actually look on a 27" monitor? Is it bad enough to justify the extra cost for QHD?😬

80 vs 110 ppi

Look, the difference in pixel density and overall image crispness is definitely there, but if you’re sitting about three feet back from the screen, it shouldn't really bother you.

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some solid monitor recommendations in the $1200-$$500 range. I need something between 24" and 27". For usage, it’ll be mostly standard stuff—photo and video editing, plus the occasional session in Illustrator or similar design software.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.nabava.net/monitori/dell...-16-9-69549231
If you're looking at this price point, honestly, this one's got the best color accuracy by far.

Thanks! Any recommendations on choosing between Saint Dominic or Ellipse? I’ve got a discount there, so it might be worth picking up something in that range—or maybe even stepping it up a notch if there's something similar available.