Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

So, I’ve been messing around with the settings on this Dell, and I’ve run into a bit of a weird situation where Windows just won't let me bump the refresh rate up from 60Hz to 75Hz at FHD resolution; apparently, the 75Hz option isn't even showing up in the menu, so I'm stuck at a max of 60, even though the monitor itself is definitely rated for 75Hz. I guess the only way I can actually toggle it over to 75 is if I lower the resolution first, which seems kind of counterintuitive, doesn't it?

Hey everyone!
I noticed there’s a big sale going on over at Best Buy right now..
And one specific thing caught my eye: an LC-ov monitor

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor-34-inch...

I was wondering what you all think about this model.. or if there might be something even better out there in this price range? 🤔
Thanks so much for any input!

Look, you can find just about anything within that budget if you're looking at different types of monitors, but if you really want an ultrawide—specifically a 34" with 3440x1440 resolution—then go for it. That size and resolution combo is absolutely perfect for that aspect ratio. Right now, there isn't really any other monitor of that specific type available at that price point. Don't sweat the brand too much, either; LC-ov has actually become a pretty decent company. Besides, almost all screens are manufactured by just a handful of big players like LG or Samsung anyway.

Hey,

Looking for some monitor recommendations under $667. I'm running a GTX 960 right now. I'm not exactly a hardcore gamer, but I play things occasionally. Most of my work involves video editing up to 4K quality.

I came across these

If you guys have anything better to suggest, let me know.

Since you don't buy monitors every day, I might even stretch my budget for a higher-end model. Looking for advice.

27" and 28" screens are just too small for 4K resolution. You’re going to wreck your eyes, especially when you're working in video editing software where all the interface elements are tiny. The pixel density (PPI) ends up being way too high. Plus, that 28" model uses a TN panel, which means you get the worst possible color reproduction and viewing angles—definitely not what you want for video or photo work.

As for that other 27" 144Hz option, it makes zero sense here. A 144Hz refresh rate is meant for gaming, but running 1080p on a 27" screen isn't sharp enough at all. It’s essentially the exact opposite of the first two options because the PPI is far too low.

A better middle ground would be looking at some 31.5" 1440p IPS monitors—

Hey everyone, I'm looking at picking up one of these two monitors. Just wondering what you guys think—which one should I go with? A few people were leaning toward the first one...
not sure if I'd be making a mistake if I just grabbed that one.

Dana Jackson83 said:Hi everyone. I'm looking at buying one of these two monitor models. I was wondering what you all think about which one I should pick. A few people told me the first one
might be the safer bet if I go with that one.

https://www.amazon.com/lcd-monitors/benq...0-68-58-cm-27-

https://www.amazon.com/lcd-monitors/asus...onitor-vz279he

If I had to choose between those two, I guess I'd take the first one. But both are just 1080p stretched over a 27" screen, which isn't really ideal. Also, they're both 60Hz.

For the same price, you could probably get a 31.5" AOC with 1440p resolution and a 75Hz refresh rate. It might not sound like much of a difference, but maybe it actually is.

https://www.amazon.com/aoc...ne?tab=reviews

The only thing is that the AOC uses a VA panel, while yours are IPS.

Well, you can actually find those AOC models with IPS panels too.

https://www.amazon.com/aoc-monitors/b?node=162695411

Dana Jackson83

Is there any specific reason why you're zeroing in on those two 27" 1080p models?

They don't really stand out to me—not in terms of features, and certainly not in value. For that kind of cash, you could easily pick up something with 144Hz for gaming, or even jump up to a 31.5" 1440p display instead.

Timothy Kim60 and boldseal9, thanks a ton, but I think I finally pulled the trigger and ordered
this BenQ
for a 1920x1080 resolution. I guess should I set it to 75 or 65 hz? maybe one is better than the other

It’s a 60Hz monitor, nothing more

Hey everyone, I’ve been struggling with a monitor that’s honestly pretty terrible—it’s been causing me some serious eye strain lately. I decided to head down to a local electronics store the other day to find an upgrade, and I specifically asked the clerk to recommend something that wouldn't wreck my eyes. He handed me this spec sheet, so I was hoping someone here who actually knows their stuff could weigh in on whether this is genuinely eye-friendly (or at least, not a total disaster) 👍

Monitor: HP EliteDisplay E241i
HP EliteDisplay E241i color: Black-Silver
Dimensions: 21.9 x 2.2 x 14.3 inches - without stand
Display Type: LED-backlit LCD
Backlight Technology: WLED
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Contrast: 1000:1 (dynamic 5,000,000:1)
Brightness: 250 cd / m²
Color Support: 16.7 million colors
Horizontal Viewing Angle: 178°
Vertical Viewing Angle: 178°
Screen Size: 24"
Inputs: USB 2.0 upstream
2 x USB 2.0 downstream
DVI-D (HDCP)
DisplayPort (HDCP)
VGA

Is this used, and what’s the price tag? I’m assuming it’s pre-owned since nobody really sells 16:10 monitors anymore, and you can't find them on Best Buy or Amazon. It’s a solid monitor if the price is right.

At the end of the day, there isn't some magical marketing gimmick that makes a monitor "eye-friendly." The real question is what specifically bothers you about your current setup—is the screen too small, or is the brightness just too dim? Based on the ergonomics and the specs, that HP is perfectly fine.

Look, if you want to save your eyes, you really need to grab a solid VA panel with some decent eye-care tech. The contrast is way better, the colors don't hit you in the face quite as hard, and you won't deal with that annoying IPS glow.

https://www.nabava.net/monitori/benq...x1080-17272451

Check this one out.

https://www.benq.com/en-ap/monitor/stylish/gw2470h.html

Timothy Kim60 said:Is this used, and what's the asking price? I'm assuming it’s pre-owned, since you don't really see 16:10 aspect ratio monitors being sold anymore—not that you can find them on Best Buy or anything. It's a decent enough monitor, provided the price is reasonable.

At the end of the day, there isn't some magical marketing gimmick that makes a monitor "easy on the eyes"—it really comes down to what specifically bothers you about your current setup. Is it too cramped? Maybe the brightness is just too dim? As far as ergonomics and raw specs go, that HP is perfectly fine.

Yeah, it's a used monitor. $233 is the price.
Peter Green, I'll give it some thought.

Thanks to both of you. 👍

Timothy Kim60 said:Is this used, and what's the price tag? I’m assuming it’s pre-owned—I mean, 16:10 monitors aren't really a thing anymore, and you won't find them sitting on Best Buy's shelves. It's a decent enough monitor, provided the price is reasonable.

At the end of the day, there isn't some magic marketing label that makes a monitor "eye-friendly"—it's more about subjective experience, I suppose. The real question is what specifically bothers you about your current setup—is it too cramped, maybe the brightness is just too harsh, or something else entirely? In terms of ergonomics and raw specs, that HP unit is perfectly fine.

The only thing I can actually pin down is that my current monitor feels way too bright.
I can't really point to anything else specific, though I figured there might be some technical parameters—things you wouldn't notice at first glance—that impact eye strain.
I'm not exactly a tech expert, so I can't give you any deep insights, but it seems like the light is just too intense for me, even when I have it turned all the way down to the minimum setting.

The biggest culprit here is eye strain, mostly caused by staring at a screen for too long without taking breaks. Honestly, there isn't a single piece of tech out there that can fix that 😁

For example, I use a VA panel with an "eye care" mode enabled. It’s just a basic adjustment of settings like contrast, brightness, and color that you could easily tweak yourself. When I turn mine on, the screen turns so yellow I don't even want to look at it 😁

Unless you have hawk-like vision or absolutely need razor-sharp clarity for work, you might actually be better off picking up a 27" monitor with standard 1080p resolution (which is basically the opposite of what most gamers 😁 recommend). Because the pixels are larger, it’s much easier on your eyes if you struggle with vision issues. Just make sure you grab an IPS/PLS or VA panel

Like this one, for instance: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=GW2480E

They also push all that modern "low blue light" and "flicker-free" marketing lately. If you go with one of those, you’re checking all the boxes on paper, and they aren't exactly expensive

Can anyone give me some advice on picking out a new monitor? Honestly, I’m about as clueless as they come when it comes to this stuff.

My GPU is a GTX 1070. Let's say the screen needs to be at least 21.5''—though obviously, bigger is better. I need at least Full HD, but again, higher resolution is always preferred. Maybe up to 1600-$567 max. Thanks.

Are you asking specifically about gaming performance? Just keep in mind that higher resolutions demand more from your hardware, which usually leads to a noticeable drop in frame rates. Right now, an RTX 3070 serves as a solid 1080p GPU for most titles, but trying to push to 1440p would be a real struggle in many games—you'd likely end up having to dial back your graphics settings or settle for lower FPS.

If you decide to go the 1440p route, I'd recommend looking at this 31.5" model (provided you aren't sitting right on top of it, like within six inches of the screen) https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=Q3279VWFD8

Alternatively, you could stick with a 24" 144Hz IPS monitor. Having that 144Hz refresh rate can be a massive advantage if you play a lot of multiplayer shooters.

Gaming is definitely my main thing. I honestly thought the 1070 would handle 1440p just fine—I haven't actually put it to the test yet, but that's what everyone on Reddit seemed to say. 🤷

It really depends on how old the article you were reading actually is. 😁
The specific games you have in mind matter just as much. If we’re talking about titles like Fortnite or CS:GO, you'll be perfectly fine at 1440p.

However, we're seeing a surge in modern titles that would struggle to even hit 60 fps at 1080p on high settings, and honestly, that trend is only going to accelerate as tech evolves.