Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

I’d vouch for this monitor. I don't use it for photo editing, but otherwise, it's solid.
It's great for movies—honestly, I wouldn't go any smaller than 31" for that. It's just the right size if you're watching from bed and sitting relatively close.
Color coverage is 100% sRGB and 89% Adobe RGB.
https://www.amazon.com/search?q=Q3279VWFD8

Best bet is to read a full review first to see if it actually fits your needs.
https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/aoc-...r_reproduction

Daniel Robinson59 said:What do you guys think about this monitor?

https://www.mediamarkt.at/de/product...e-1810215.html

I actually stopped by the store yesterday to check it out in person, and I ended up hooking my phone up to it just to scroll through YouTube and see how it handled everything.
Basically, I’m looking for a solid display for video editing, watching stuff on YouTube, movies, series, all sorts of videos and photos... I'm barely doing any gaming, maybe just a little bit here and there.
Most of the reviews I've seen on YouTube seem really, really positive.

So, I went ahead and bought it... now I just need to build a new PC.

Need some advice here. My kid is looking to pick up a monitor that can actually handle 120Hz on his PlayStation 5. But he stumbled onto some info online saying just seeing "120Hz" on the spec sheet isn't enough—apparently, there are other technical hoops the monitor has to jump through, and he needs to do some digging before dropping any cash.
He’s currently eyeing this "monitor Dell 27"
—it's listed as a VA, gaming, G-Sync, 240Hz setup with 2xHDMI, DP, 1500R Curved, Full HD.
So, how do I actually verify if a specific monitor will play nice with 120Hz on a PlayStation 5?

Thanks.

The PlayStation 5 theoretically supports 4K at 120Hz via HDMI 2.1, but those kinds of monitors are hard to find and, honestly, the console can't actually push those specs in most games anyway.

We’re talking about 1080p at 120Hz here, so there shouldn't be any real bottlenecks. You just have to plug it in through HDMI—since the PlayStation 5 doesn't support DisplayPort—and G-Sync/VRR should kick in just fine.

As for the monitor itself, that 240Hz refresh rate is basically useless to you since the PlayStation 5 caps out at 120.

wiredotter14 said:The Xbox Series X technically supports 4K at 120Hz via HDMI 2.1, but those kinds of monitors are hard to find and, honestly, consoles just can't push those specs in actual games.

We’re talking about 1080p at 120Hz here, so there shouldn't be any real bottlenecks. You'll have to plug it in via HDMI (since the Xbox doesn't have a DisplayPort), and G-Sync/VRR should kick in just fine.

As for the monitor itself, that 240Hz refresh rate won't do you any good since the Xbox caps out at 120.

Thanks, @wiredotter14/">@@wiredotter14.
Since the kid is currently stuck using a 60Hz monitor, I'm figuring 120Hz is basically the ceiling for what he'll actually see, so we might look for something a bit more budget-friendly.
Could someone break down what "G-Sync/VRR should work" actually means, and also what "Xbox doesn't have DP" implies?
Much appreciated.
lp.

gentlemarlin10 said:Thanks @wiredotter14/">@@wiredotter14.
Since the kid is currently stuck using a 60Hz monitor, I figure he can get his money's worth out of 120Hz, so we'll look for something cheaper.
Can someone explain what "G-sync/VRR should work" means? And also, what's this about "Xbox Series X doesn't have DP"?
Thanks a lot.
lp.

It’s not that the monitor isn't a good deal—it seems fine—but you could definitely hunt for 120/144Hz options instead.

DP stands for DisplayPort. The Xbox Series X doesn't use it because consoles are mostly hooked up to TVs via HDMI. Doesn't matter for you, just make sure whatever monitor you grab has HDMI (which is basically all of them).

G-Sync and FreeSync are "variable refresh rate" technologies that sync the monitor's refresh rate with the output from your PC or console. Google it if you want to go down the rabbit hole. Long story short: it cuts down on screen tearing and stuttering.
I used the term VRR because, as far as I know, it isn't called G-Sync (Nvidia tech) or FreeSync (AMD / open source) on an Xbox; it's just HDMI VRR, even though the Xbox hardware uses AMD.

Bottom line: it should work if the monitor supports FreeSync or G-Sync. It's mostly just a branding difference.
If I were you, I'd just order it online so you can return it within that 14-day window if it turns out to be a dud.

Thanks again!
Even I can follow all that!
Lp.

gentlemarlin10 said:Thanks again!
Even I get it now.
Cheers.

👍👍👍

btw, just realized VRR for the Xbox Series X is just rolling out (or already here), so you'll need to update the console.

Hey there,

I'm looking for some recommendations for a monitor with roughly these specs:

- 27 inches
- QHD
- 120Hz or higher
- I need a stand that isn't too deep since my desk is only about 24 inches
- Ideally height-adjustable
- Mostly using it for office work—nothing heavy, no photo editing or anything like that
- Some occasional gaming, so I'd definitely prefer a decent refresh rate when I do jump on
- Budget is around $833, maybe a little more if it's worth it

Thanks!

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for some advice on a solid 27-inch monitor. It needs to be strictly for programming work, and my budget is roughly $1167.
Thanks.

Good evening.

I’m currently on the hunt for a new monitor since my trusty old Dell finally decided to call it quits after twelve years of service. I’m leaning toward staying within the Dell ecosystem because I have them set up both at home and in the office, and I’ve grown quite fond of their consistency. My workload involves a heavy amount of time spent in Photoshop and Illustrator, so high-end gaming specs aren't really a priority for me.

I’ve narrowed it down to two 24-inch models—I don't really want to go any larger than that—one being the P2421D from 2020, and the other the U2419H from 2018. Both fit comfortably within my budget (under $667).

The pricing is fairly similar, though the P model is slightly more expensive, which I assume is just because it’s a newer release. Now, generally speaking, isn't the UltraSharp line supposed to be superior to the Professional line? Yet, when I look at the side-by-side specifications, aside from maybe some connectivity options, I can't see how this U model is actually better; in fact, the P model seems to outperform it in terms of both resolution and brightness. It leaves me wondering, though, because shouldn't an UltraSharp offer a sharper image and better contrast than a Professional model? Just because one looks better on paper doesn't necessarily mean it translates to real-world performance, does it?

I was wondering if anyone here might have some insight or advice on which of these two would be the smarter investment.

Thanks in advance!

That P model is QHD, while the other one is just 1080p. We're talking two completely different leagues here, regardless of how good the panels are.
If you're doing design work or whatever, go for the higher resolution. 1080p on a 24" monitor is fine, I guess, but it feels pretty mediocre when you're staring right at it.
In my opinion, your sweet spot would be 1440p on a 27" screen.

Plus, the P model hits 300cd brightness, which is decent. That other one only does 250cd—pretty underwhelming, especially if your room gets a lot of light.

As for the actual panel quality or color reproduction... I don't know. You'll need to dig up a specific review from someone who actually tested those specs.
Either way, it's going to be a massive upgrade over a twelve-year-old monitor. If color accuracy is what matters to you, make sure to look into how they stack up there.

Thanks 👍

Hey there, 🙂 I'm looking to pick up a 27-inch monitor—something that can actually handle both heavy gaming sessions and movie marathons without looking like trash... my budget is capped at around $667...

Peter Rodriguez10 said:Hey. 🙂 Looking for a 27-inch plus monitor... mostly for gaming and movies... budget is around $667...

Something like this

https://www.amazon.com/lenovo-monitor-gaming/dp/B0XXXXXX

Interesting🙂 thanks🙂

Peter Rodriguez10 said:Interesting.🙂 Thanks.🙂

If we're talking movies, I’d definitely go with 32" and 1440p. As for gaming, 75Hz AMD FreeSync is plenty fine.

Honestly, if you’re just looking at Max streaming on the go, it’s totally fine 🙂 plus some gaming on the side. BTW, is there anything specific I should be checking regarding my GPU? My rig is already two years old—don't want to end up with a literal kaboom when I boot it up 🙂

Peter Rodriguez10 said:It works fine for streaming services🙂 and gaming. btw, should I be worried about my GPU? PC is 2 years old. Don't want anything blowing up.🙂

Obviously you need to check. What are your specs?
You can always just dial back the settings.

The GPU is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti