Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

It also depends on how close you sit to the screen... A 27" display is just right for 1440p because 1080p can look incredibly grainy if you're sitting too close. At that size, 1080p only gives you about 81.59 ppi, whereas 1440p hits a much smoother 108.79 ppi.

... when it comes to gaming, well... pretty much everything under the sun...
I don't really have a specific genre I stick to.
but I'd love for everything to feel smooth and responsive...

I'm planning on picking everything up around Black Friday, so these current prices aren't really my main concern right now.
for instance, I see used 3700x units going for maybe $240-$270 lately.
so I might try to snag a 3070, or maybe a new RX if I can even find one in stock somewhere.

honestly, from what I gather, jumping to 1440p gives me more pixels, but I lose out on the FPS.
(all my monitors have been 144Hz or higher)

that's why I mentioned earlier that for 1080p, a Ryzen 3600 paired with an RX 5700XT delivers decent frames and does the job just fine, but at 1440p the FPS drops significantly, which means I'd probably need a beefier GPU and a better processor too.

I'm starting to wonder if it's even worth making the jump to 1440p if the difference isn't actually that noticeable...
I haven't seen the two resolutions side-by-side in person, so I wanted to see what people who actually own that kind of setup think about it.
everything I see on YouTube doesn't even look all that impressive to me...

analogtiger19 said:It really comes down to how close you sit to the screen... A 27" display is pretty much the sweet spot for 1440p because 1080p can look incredibly grainy if you're sitting too close, given that 1080p at that size only hits about 81.59 ppi, whereas 1440p gives you a much smoother 108.79 ppi.

Well, great, that was actually what I was looking for... alright, point taken...

If you're picking up an RTX 3070, aim for 1440p resolution. If you go with the RX 5700 XT, stick to 1080p at 144Hz. That's my take. 😁

Timothy Kim60 said:If you're grabbing a 3070, aim for 1440p, but if you go with the 5700XT, stick to 1080p at 144Hz... there it is 😁

says: basically

You can run at 1440p 75Hz if you want. Technically, 1440p at 75Hz puts the same load on the GPU—in terms of pixels rendered per second—as 1080p at 133Hz, so it sits somewhere right around 1080p 144Hz.
As far as the CPU goes, pushing 75Hz is always going to be easier on the processor than trying to hit 144Hz, regardless of what resolution you pick.

Bottom line: the option is there. If you're stepping up to 1440p, you don't necessarily have to force the 144Hz refresh rate.

If I might jump in here, there’s a bit of a difference when you're talking about gaming versus general desktop use; you often notice much less grain—or sometimes nothing at all—when the PPI is slightly lower, like on a 24" 1080p setup or a 32" 1440p monitor. For that reason, I might actually lean toward a 32" 75Hz screen just to get that extra sense of immersion, don't you think?

I picked up a MacBook Air about a month ago, though I haven't even unboxed it yet since I've been sticking to my old Mac Pro. 😁
Anyway, I just saw on the news that a new MacBook Air with the M1 chip has dropped, and the price point looks identical to what I paid. Now I'm torn—should I just head back to the store and swap mine for this latest model? To be clear, I only use my laptop for basic personal stuff like browsing the web; nothing high-end or professional...

Is it actually worth making the switch, or should I just stick with what I have?

13-inch MacBook Air
Retina display with True Tone
1.1GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz
8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory
512GB SSD storage
Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Backlit Magic Keyboard
Touch ID
Force Touch trackpad
Two Thunderbolt 3 ports

Specs for the new one if I decide to trade up:
Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU, and 16‑core Neural Engine
8GB unified memory
512GB SSD storage¹
Retina display with True Tone
Magic Keyboard
Touch ID
Force Touch trackpad
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports

To a layman like me, these specs look pretty much the same. 😁
I've heard some chatter about how the M1 doesn't even have a fan, but then there's talk about the memory being different, or something... honestly, I have no clue. I could really use some advice here... 😁

They’ve swapped out the standard x86 processors—like those from AMD or Intel—for their own in-house ARM chips. If it were me, I’d stick with the Intel builds. Those are legitimate, high-performance processors, whereas who knows what kind of compromises they made to squeeze those "M1" chips into shape?

At the end of the day, the real story isn't about some massive leap in technology; it's simply about how Apple is maximizing its profit margins.😁

Thanks, guys. In that case, I'll just stick with what I already bought. 👍

I've been running an old Mac Pro i7 for nine years now, and honestly, it hasn't let me down once... 🙏 I'm really hoping this new Air i5 treats me with the same kind of longevity.

Timothy Kim60 said:Look, the point isn't some breakthrough in tech. It's just that Apple is squeezing every last cent out of us. 😁

Of course, they aren't exactly Catholic Charities.
For a casual user, it could be great. Longer battery life, optimized apps, better long-term support. Personally, I wouldn't touch an x86 MacBook right now—support is only going one way.
Look, for basic stuff? It doesn't matter. Apple will definitely keep supporting it from a security standpoint for a long time. If you're happy with the device right now, there’s zero reason to swap it out.

Hey there!

I’m looking for some help—or maybe just some solid advice or recommendations—on picking out a new monitor.

Since I’ve been working from home for the last few months—ever since this spring season kicked off—and my current monitor is basically on its deathbed, I figured it was finally time to go out and hunt down a new one.

I mostly just use my monitor and computer for office stuff—which, in my case, really just means grinding through emails, browsing the web, working in Word and Excel, and keeping up with Slack.

I don't really play anything besides Football Manager—which, let's be honest, is pretty static stuff—and I definitely don't use my computer for watching movies.

I’m spending anywhere from 6 to 10 hours a day in front of my monitor—Monday through Friday, that is.

So, since I’m constantly juggling multiple windows—usually having a document open right next to my browser, or sometimes even two different documents side-by-side—I’ve finally come to the realization that my current setup just isn't cutting it. My current 23-inch 1080p screen feels way too cramped for this kind of multitasking! I'm starting to lean heavily toward picking up a 34-inch 21:9 1440p ultrawide... that extra horizontal space would be such a game-changer for my workflow. Then again, I’m also seriously weighing the option of a 31.5-inch 4K 16:9 display. It's a tough call—that extra real estate vs. that crisp resolution—but man, I definitely need more room to breathe!

So, if you're looking to set a rough ballpark budget for picking up a new monitor—I mean, let's be honest, there are so many options out there now that it can get a little overwhelming—you really have to decide what kind of setup you're aiming for! It's all about what you need it for, right? Whether it's just some basic office work or something more intense... anyway, I'd say it really depends on whether you're looking for something entry-level or if you're ready to go all out on a high-end display. $1167.

Given my budget—and honestly, given what I’m actually looking for in a machine—the field has narrowed down quite a bit. It’s funny how that works, right? You start with a thousand possibilities and suddenly you're staring at just three options. So, after some serious thought, I've boiled everything down to these three models:

Philips
Xiaomi
Philips Xiaomi Iiyam

For me, the biggest selling point with the Philips setup is definitely that USB-C connection—it's just so convenient. I’m planning on upgrading my laptop sometime in the near future, so knowing I can use the exact same cable for both charging and video output is a massive win in my book. Plus, it’s packed with all those extra ports you actually need—like the USB hub and Ethernet—which makes everything so much cleaner.

I’ve gotta say—it feels like Xiaomi really hits that sweet spot where you get so much bang for your buck!

The Philips model is definitely the most budget-friendly option here—plus, it comes with an IPS panel, which is what I’ve always been used to. It's got a flat screen, too. Honestly, I’ve never actually messed around with a curved monitor or a VA panel before... I'm just sitting here wondering if that's something you really have to "train" your eyes to get used to, or if it might end up causing me some sort of headache down the road.

• Out of those three models, is there one that stands out as actually decent for a designer—or are they all just such a massive letdown that I should just strike them from my list immediately?
• Given that budget—which, let's be honest, is pretty tight considering what I'm hunting for—is there anything else out there worth taking a look at?
• Would a 32-inch 4K monitor be the better move here? — just thinking out loud!

It might be just as important to keep in mind—I’d probably be running everything on a MacBook Air 2017 i5 / HD Graphics 6000.

If there’s anything else you guys need—any extra details that might help me paint a clearer picture of what I’m actually looking for—just say the word! I'm happy to dive deeper into the specifics. 🙂

Honestly, the 75Hz model is probably your most logical bet. Unless you're some hardcore competitive gamer, you really don't need to jump up to 100Hz or 144Hz; otherwise, you're just paying extra for specs you won't even notice. Plus, it features an IPS panel, which is what you're already used to and likely your best move here.

I’m definitely adding my vote to the Iiyamu camp. Honestly, an Ultrawide VA panel—even if it were curved to help minimize image distortion at the edges—doesn't really sound like my cup of tea. Is deep black level even a dealbreaker when you're just running Football Manager? It's certainly not like I'm sitting there watching cinematic blockbusters on it anyway...

Thanks so much for all the advice and the recommendation—the Iiyama option definitely makes sense to me.

I’m nowhere near being a "gamer," let alone a hardcore one—I usually just squeeze in about two or three hours of NFL head coach simulator a week.

Given how I actually use a monitor, I totally agree that having good viewing angles is way more important than a high refresh rate... plus, it's the most budget-friendly choice out of the three.

I might wait a couple of weeks to see if any Black Friday deals pop up, though I'm honestly a little skeptical that we'll see any truly amazing offers this year.

I've settled on 4K at a 16:9 ratio—actually, I completely ruled out 32-inch 16:9 monitors because once I mentally mapped them out in my workspace, they just felt way too massive... and I feel like I get more bang for my buck in terms of productivity by focusing on extra horizontal space.

I briefly toyed with the idea of a 29-inch ultrawide (21:9), but I eventually decided it would be just too small for what I need.

Thanks again!

You can actually snag some killer Black Friday deals on Amazon sites across the USA. Check out this group search engine for American Amazon storefronts—definitely worth browsing every day.

https://www.hagglezon.com/

Just keep in mind that you won't pay that exact sticker price right away; you'll need to account for the sales tax and shipping costs. The site will walk you through those final totals during the checkout process before you commit to the purchase.

Thanks for the link! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on that—who knows, maybe something good will pop up.

As of right now, though, these early Black Friday deals are basically the same price once you factor in shipping costs.

I'm really holding out hope that something better comes along soon. 😁

Hi there,
I’m looking for some solid recommendations for a 27-inch gaming monitor, ideally staying under $667.
If anyone knows of any deals coming up for Black Friday, I’d love to catch a discount...
Thanks!

Don't go expecting any miracles from retailers this Black Friday. Most of these deals are just illusions created by hiking up prices back in September or October only to pretend they're "on sale" now. Or they’ll slash a price tag that was never even real to begin with. 😁

Anyway, what kind of graphics card are you running? Are you aiming for 1440p at 75Hz, or are you looking to hit 1080p at 144Hz?