Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

I urgently need a new monitor for my NUC.

I'm honestly terrified of buying another Dell. I was so disappointed with my last one, and the Philips model I had my eye on isn't even in stock right now.

I'm looking for a 21.5-inch screen, and since it's for a NUC, it definitely needs an HDMI port.

My old Dell just gave up the ghost yesterday. It only lasted three years! To make matters worse, the screen had been flickering intermittently all year. And I paid a ridiculous $245 for it, too.
My previous Philips lasted me a solid 15 years.

What's your take on this Dell model?

I really wanted to grab this Philips instead, but I can't afford to wait that long.

So, what’s the verdict on Acer monitors regarding build quality?

I've got my eye on this specific one.

Quick follow-up question: I’m currently using a replacement monitor my IT guy lent me until I get a new one, but it’s acting up. I can't tell if it's a cable issue or something else, but whenever I record audio, there's this constant buzzing—like static electricity—right in the recording. I really don't want to buy a new monitor only to run into the exact same interference. I tried unplugging every extra cable I could find to troubleshoot, but honestly, it's just some ancient piece of tech.

EDIT: I couldn't wait any longer for replies. 😁
I went ahead and ordered that Dell from the first link.

It's actually bothering me how a monitor can just die after only three and a half years. I'm praying it's just a quick fix and not something that forces me to drag it all the way to a repair shop. 🤦
The IT specialist who came over to check it out initially thought the PC was the culprit since there was no signal coming through, but then he complained that the monitor wouldn't even let him navigate the menus. Once he plugged his own monitor into the computer, we realized the PC was fine—everything displays perfectly on his screen. It's definitely the monitor.

Hey everyone! I'm looking for some recommendations for a 24" monitor that features a USB-C connection. I'm planning on using it to hook up my laptop, but honestly, I'm just an average user—nothing fancy or high-end required for my setup. Any suggestions?

Do you actually need USB-C charging—like, the monitor powering your laptop—or just a USB-C port for the connection?

If it's just the connection, honestly, just grab any monitor you want and pick up a cable that runs from USB-C on one end to either HDMI or DisplayPort on the other, depending on what the monitor supports. It's way cheaper than hunting down those specific USB-C monitors, which are pretty hard to find anyway.

So, I’m kind of mulling over a system upgrade—my gut is telling me to go for a "future-proof" setup and just stick with 1080p, maybe picking up a high-refresh gaming monitor instead.

I was thinking about a 27-inch 1080p screen, but then I start reading stuff online saying 27 inches at 1080p is... well, kind of borderline when it comes to image quality and seeing those pesky pixels, you know?

At my job, I use a 27-inch 1080p monitor all day and honestly, I don't really notice the resolution being an issue.
I mean, okay, nobody's exactly running AAA games at the office, but still...

For the actual upgrade, I'm looking at jumping from a Ryzen 3 1200 to a Ryzen 5 3600, and swapping out my RX 580 8GB for something like an RTX 3060 or something in that ballpark.

I've been eyeing this monitor here:

Do you guys have any better suggestions?
Also, I’d totally appreciate some advice on the GPU side of things too.

This would be the final upgrade for this specific platform, so I really want it to hold up for the next few years.

Budget? Man, I’m just trying to keep things somewhat reasonable. I haven't set a hard number yet.

Hey everyone!

So, what do you guys think—is this monitor any good??
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-U2412M-Monitor/dp/B00E9Z7A6G

Thanks in advance.

Ronald Bishop58 said:Hey everyone!

Is this monitor any good??
https://www.amazon.com/dell-monitor-p2314h-23

Thanks in advance.

Take a look at this one instead.

https://www.amazon.com/dell-ultrasharp-monitor-axkq--2672797

It hits 75 Hz (compared to your 60 Hz), has a slightly better response time at 4ms versus 8ms (though manufacturers love to fudge those numbers, so who knows if it's actually true), and supports G-Sync, which helps if you're running an AMD card (though I think you can probably coax Nvidia cards into working with it too). The downside is it lacks a built-in USB hub, whereas yours has one.
Depends on what you need it for. If you're gaming, I'd go with the higher refresh rate.

urbanheron4 said:Check this one out instead

It’s got a 75 Hz refresh rate (yours is just 60 Hz), a slightly better response time at 4ms compared to 8ms—though honestly, those specs are always a bit sketchy—plus G-Sync support, which helps if you're running an AMD card (though I'm pretty sure you can make Nvidia play nice with it too). The downside is it lacks a built-in USB hub, unlike the one you've got now.
Depends on what you need it for, but if you were gaming, I'd definitely go for the higher refresh rate.

Thanks! Quick question though—what's the point of having a USB hub on a monitor??

PS: It’s not for gaming. I don't game, I just need it as a second screen for my laptop... 🙂

A USB hub is basically just an extension for your USB ports. If your laptop is running low on connections, this is how you beef them up.
Something like this

https://www.amazon.com/usb-hubs/b?node=12578651

It’s not a dealbreaker for a monitor. You can always just buy one separately later, and they aren't exactly breaking the bank.

If you aren't gaming, it honestly doesn't matter much either way. You could even find a cheaper option. Just make sure you get an IPS panel and check that it has a DisplayPort and an HDMI input, or whatever you're planning to use to hook it up to your laptop.

If I had that kind of cash, I’d be looking at a 27" 1440p monitor instead.

wiredotter14 said:Honestly, if I had that kind of cash, I’d just grab a 27" 1440p monitor instead.

Jane, could you drop the link for that?

One quick thing though... I'm planning to use this as a second screen for my laptop—it's just running integrated graphics and the native resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels.

So now I'm wondering, can a laptop actually handle pushing a higher resolution to an external monitor??

Ronald Bishop58 said:Jane, could you drop the link for that?

One thing though... I’d be using this as a second screen for my laptop—it's just running integrated graphics with a standard 1080p resolution.

So, I'm wondering, can the laptop actually handle driving a monitor with a higher resolution than its own screen?

For instance, this one caught my eye... https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor.../p/EK000252413

urbanheron4

Lawrence Phillips said:I'm kind of mulling over an upgrade for my rig. Everything I read seems to point toward going for a more future-proof setup—maybe just sticking with 1080p for now but picking up a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor. Just thinking out loud, really.

I've been chewing on the idea of going with a 27-inch 1080p monitor, but honestly, everything I read says it's kind of... iffy. Like, you start seeing those individual pixels if you look too closely, and the whole image quality thing feels a bit hit-or-miss at that size. Not sure yet.

I'm sitting here at work staring at a 27-inch 1080p monitor, and honestly? I don't really notice the resolution. It's not exactly cutting-edge, but it doesn't exactly kill me either.
So, people don't exactly spend their shift gaming at work, but still...

If I were looking at an upgrade path, I’d probably swap out that Core i3-8100 for a Core i5-9600K, and ditch the old RX 580 8GB for something like an RTX 3060 or whatever else is sitting on the shelf.

So, I'm looking at this monitor here:
So, I was browsing through some specs for the Acer Nitro VG270S, and honestly, looking at these monitors can feel like a full-time job if you stare too long. It’s one of those standard gaming displays—nothing groundbreaking, but nothing that's going to make you cry either. It sits right in that middle ground where you aren't spending a fortune on a high-end pro setup, but you also aren't playing on a potato from 2005. It's got the usual stuff you'd expect: decent refresh rates, okay color accuracy, and enough ports to keep things moving. It's fine. It really is. Just a solid, unremarkable piece of hardware that does exactly what it says on the box. If you need a monitor and don't want to overthink it, this is probably in the running. Or not. Who knows? My brain usually shuts off after reading the first three rows of technical data anyway.

Got any better suggestions?
Also, I could probably use some help picking out a GPU. Any recommendations?

This is the final upgrade for this build. I'm hoping it actually lasts me a few years without needing more tinkering.

Budget? I mean, I’d like to keep things somewhat reasonable. Haven't actually settled on a specific number yet.

If we're talking hardware—specifically looking at newer parts—the Core i5-9600K is... $100 It’s cheaper than a Core i5-9600K. If you really want the ultimate upgrade, though, go for the Core i7-12700K. Right now, the LGA 1200 platform is basically running circles around everything else in the US—selling more units than the LGA 1700 and LGA 1200 setups combined. For a GPU in that same budget range, you can't really beat an RTX 3060 Ti.

The monitor is alright. Honestly, at that price point, I'm not sure you can really do much better.

Ronald Bishop58 said:Jane, can you send me the link?

There’s one more thing to consider. I’m planning to use this monitor as a second screen for my laptop, which only has integrated graphics and a 1080p resolution.

So, I'm wondering—could a laptop actually handle running a monitor with a higher resolution?

Of course it can handle a higher resolution. You’re looking at at least 1440p at 60Hz through HDMI 1.4, practically guaranteed. Just let us know exactly which laptop you're running so we can actually verify it.

Ronald Bishop58 said:For instance, this one really caught my eye... I can't pull anything useful from that link. It’s just a broken URL to an empty page. If you want me to look at a specific product or deal, try sending a working link next time.

Going ultrawide is a different beast entirely. Honestly, 1080p still holds up fine because the monitor isn't as tall—it's wider instead. A standard 27" 1080p setup that isn't ultrawide? That would actually be a pretty bad experience.

You’ll have to figure that out for yourself. Decide if you actually want an ultrawide or not.
Regarding the 16:9 aspect ratio—this one looks decent enough to me. (Though, heads up: it’s from a shop based in Canada!)

I checked out that Samsung monitor deal on eDigital. It’s an Odyssey G7. Honestly, looking at the specs, it’s fine, but I’m not sure if the hype matches the reality. The refresh rate is decent, but you really have to weigh whether the curve is actually comfortable or just a gimmick for certain games. If you're looking for a high-end gaming experience, it’ll do the job, but don't expect it to change your life. Just another piece of hardware in a crowded market.

If you're planning on watching movies or whatever, then yeah, 31.5" is the sweet spot.
I'm looking at this AOC monitor. Specs seem decent on paper, but I've seen enough "great deals" turn into headaches to be skeptical. It’s an ultrawide, 21:9 aspect ratio. Good for multitasking, I guess, if you actually have the desk space for it. Price is okay, but you have to look at the panel type and the refresh rate. If it's just a standard 60Hz or low-end VA panel, don't get too excited. It’s fine for office work or some light media consumption, but if you’re trying to game seriously, you might find it lacking compared to something with G-Sync support. Just my two cents. Check the reviews before you drop the cash. Most of these mid-range brands promise the world and deliver a mediocre experience once you realize the color accuracy is trash.

wiredotter14 said:Sure, it can handle higher resolutions. You're looking at at least 2560x1440 at 60Hz—that should work fine over HDMI 1.4. Just let us know which specific laptop you're rocking so we can be certain.

So, I've got these two laptops

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron.../p/EK000467298

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/laptop-asus-...brni-014200166

I ended up grabbing the newer, cheaper version of that monitor from my previous link, which is this one: https://www.newegg.com/monitor-lg-29wn6...ign=nabava.net

What's the verdict??

Ronald Bishop58 said:I have these two laptops

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08...

https://www.bestbuy.com/laptop-asus-...

Plus I managed to snag a newer, cheaper version of that previous monitor from the link—this one here: https://www.newegg.com/monitor-lg-29wn6...

What do you think??

The specs don't list the exact HDMI version for these laptops, but it's definitely at least 1.4, so you won't run into any issues.

That monitor is a solid deal for an ultrawide IPD.

Just watch out for two things:
- A 29" ultrawide isn't as big as it sounds. It’s basically the same height as a standard 24" monitor, just wider (21:9 instead of 16:9).
- 250 nits of brightness is fine for most setups, but if your room gets hit by direct sunlight, it’s going to struggle. The one on Amazon claims 300 nits. Also, that Newegg listing is from a third-party seller with a spotty reputation.

I'm looking for some monitor recommendations. I'm currently using a MacBook Pro 2018 and have my eye on the Dell U3421WE. Is there anything better out there within this price range?

Sam Diaz2 said:If we're looking at parts—brand new—the R5 3600 is actually $100 cheaper than the R5-5600. Honestly, if you want the ultimate upgrade, you'd probably go for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Over in Germany right now, the AM4 platform is basically king—it's selling way more than LGA 1700 and s1200 combined! For a GPU in that price range, I'd say look at the RX 6650 XT.

The monitor seems solid. At that price point, I don't know if you can really find anything better.

Thanks for the reply! I think I'm still gonna end up going with the 5600 anyway.😁
I'll grab the monitor too.
As for the GPU... I guess I'll just let that wait a little longer...

wanderingsurfer4 said:I need a monitor recommendation. I'm using a MacBook Pro 2018 and currently looking at the Dell U3421WE. Is there anything better in this price range?

If you want that specific resolution, size, and curved screen, go for it. I assume you aren't using a Mac for heavy gaming—it probably isn't the best choice there due to the lower refresh rate—but for productivity and movies, it should be perfect. Dell usually delivers decent image quality.
One tip: try connecting via a USB-C (Thunderbolt) cable to get more bandwidth. Even then, DisplayPort should suffice. I'm not entirely sure which DisplayPort version is built into that MacBook Pro or how it handles mirroring versus an extended desktop.

Lawrence Phillips said:I'm looking at this monitor, for example:
https://www.newegg.com/acer-nitro-vg270s/p/N82E16824133537

It really depends on what kind of games you play. The main draw here is the high refresh rate and response time, which is great for competitive shooters or fast-paced stuff. But, like you mentioned, 1080p on a 27-inch panel is pushing it. Also, the brightness looks a bit low to me.
If you're into strategy games, adventures, or anything less frantic, it might make more sense to grab a 1440p monitor with a lower refresh rate. You'll likely have to pay a bit more, though.

It's not for gaming; I need this strictly for work. I’m definitely looking for a 34'' ultrawide, and while a curved screen isn't a dealbreaker, it would be a nice plus. My plan is to connect via Thunderbolt, but I've been seeing some reviews mentioning potential issues with macOS, so I was wondering if anyone here has actually used one of these? If you have, does anyone have a better suggestion?