Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

I’ve been using a Dell XPS 24 monitor—specifically the U2414H model—for my work setup, but since they aren't really stocked in stores anymore, I'm looking for a solid successor... just something reliable for professional use.

Sent from my LG-H815 via Reddit

Are you seriously telling me they’re out of stock everywhere? 🤔

You can find them whenever you want:
https://www.amazon.com/dell-monitor-27...38-169-5468081

Basically, looking at the catalog, this click is his replacement. Those last two digits actually indicate the model year. Just a heads-up: stay away from edigital
when you're shopping.

Thanks, I’ll take a look at the newer model then—hopefully they actually made some meaningful improvements since 2014... though my old one still runs perfectly fine.

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Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on a gaming monitor. My budget is up to $1000.

Someone put together a PC build for me over on the SmartThings desktop forum, so I'd like to find a monitor that matches those specs.
Thanks.

ASUS ROG Motherboard
Intel Core i5 x NVIDIA RTX 3060
iChill GeForce GTX1070 x3, INO-C107V3-1SDNP5DNX
EVGA SuperNOVA Power Supply, 550 Watt EVGA Power Supply, US Version
Corsair PC Case, black with window, no PSU, ATX
CRUCIAL MX500 250GB SSD, 2.5” 7mm (with 9.5mm adapter), SATA 6 Gbit/s, Read/Write: 560 MB/s / 510 MB
WD Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 3 WD10EZEX Hard Drive
2x Kingmax 1x8GB DDR4 3000 GZNG, KIN-8GB DDR4 3000RGB

Drew Roberts3 said:Hi there,

I’m looking for some advice on a gaming monitor. My budget is around $1000.

Someone put together a build for me over on the SmartThings PC forum, so I’d like a monitor that fits well with those specs.
Thanks.

ASUS ROG Motherboard
Intel Core i5 x NVIDIA RTX 3060
iChill GeForce GTX1070 x3, INO-C107V3-1SDNP5DNX
EVGA SuperNOVA Power Supply, 550 Watt EVGA Power Supply, EU Version
Corsair PC Case, black with window, no PSU, ATX
CRUCIAL MX500 250GB SSD, 2.5” 7mm (with 9.5mm adapter), SATA 6 Gbit/s, Read/Write: 560 MB/s / 510 MB
WD Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 3 WD10EZEX Hard Drive
2x Kingmax 1x8GB DDR4 3000 GZNG, KIN-8GB DDR4 3000RGB

I forgot to mention, I assume it should probably be a 27”.

For a 27" screen, you really want to aim for 1440p resolution—just make sure you check if your GTX 1070 can actually handle the performance hit at that resolution. If you settle for 1080p, it might not be the best move if you sit close to the screen; the image tends to look a bit grainy due to the lower pixel density.

$1000Based on user reviews, this Dell is an excellent buy. On the other hand, if you're looking for the cheapest 1440p, IPS, 27" option currently in stock, it would be this one.

Timothy Kim60 said:For a 27" screen, I think 1440p would be ideal (though you might want to check if the GTX 1070 can actually handle 1440p performance). If you stick with 1080p, it might not be the best move if you sit close to the screen, since the image could look a bit grainy due to the lower pixel density.

I guess this $1000 Dell model looks like a solid buy based on the user reviews. On the other hand, the cheapest 27" 1440p IPS option currently available seems to be this one
.

Thanks. I think the Dell would be my first choice. Just to confirm, is that suggested monitor compatible with the setup I mentioned earlier?

Of course, all monitors are compatible, except for those ancient models that only feature a VGA connector—in those cases, you'll just need to use an adapter.

Timothy Kim60 said:Of course, all monitors should be compatible, unless you're dealing with ancient ones that only have a VGA connection—in which case, you'd just need an adapter.

Great. One more question.
So, my kid is starting high school soon. He’ll mostly be using the computer (and monitor) for schoolwork, YouTube, gaming, and stuff like that. He already has a 32” TV in his room where he currently plays his Nintendo Switch.

Now, I'm wondering if it would be better to go with a Dell 27 Monitor or maybe something smaller? I guess a smaller screen, say a 25”, might be easier to manage for schoolwork.

Thanks

It all comes down to resolution. Personally—and I think a lot of people agree on this—if you're running 1080p, I wouldn't go any larger than a 24" or 25" screen. If you move up to 1440p, you really need at least a 27" display, and if you're stepping up to 4K, you should be looking at a minimum of 32".
Smaller isn't always better when it comes to clarity. In fact, running 1440p on a Dell 27 Monitor actually gives you a higher pixel density than a standard 22-24" 1080p setup, so I'm certain he won't find the size overwhelming.

Timothy Kim60 said:It really depends on your resolution. Personally—and I think a lot of people feel this way—if you're sticking with 1080p, I wouldn't go bigger than 24 or 25 inches. If you move up to 1440p, you probably want at least a 27-inch screen, and if you're looking at 4K, 32 inches is probably the minimum.
A smaller screen isn't always easier to see. In fact, a 27" 1440p monitor will likely have a higher pixel density than a 22-24" 1080p one, so it shouldn't feel too overwhelming.

Thanks. I think I'll go ahead and order the suggested Dell 27 Monitor with 1440p.

Best to everyone.

Timothy Kim60 said:It really depends on your resolution. Personally—and I think a lot of people feel this way—if you're sticking with 1080p, I wouldn't go bigger than 24 or 25 inches. If you move up to 1440p, you probably want at least 27", and for 4K, I'd suggest at least 32"
A smaller screen doesn't necessarily mean better visibility. In fact, a 27" 1440p setup actually has a higher pixel density than a 22-24" 1080p one, so I doubt it would feel too large for you.

So, some people assume a 27" screen is just too big and decide a 24" 1080p monitor is the better choice since it's plenty large enough for most tasks.
The problem is that the 27" model costs almost twice as much.

While I might prefer a larger screen, I'm stuck deciding between these two options. I'd really value the input of those who use their monitors daily for gaming and other work.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor-24-inch-black $0.51

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor-27-inch-black $284.90

I'll probably head down to a local Best Buy to check them out in person, but I'd still love to hear what those of you who live by your screens think about this.

Best regards.

It all boils down to how much you're willing to shell out. For $1000 you obviously aren't going to be looking at 1080p or a 24" screen
. Moving up to 1440p gives you a much sharper image, though you'll definitely feel the hit to your gaming performance. For that same reason, a 27" 1440p setup isn't overkill because the pixel density stays balanced. Of course, depending on what you're used to, it takes a few days to adjust—I've even known people who found 1440p on a 27" to be surprisingly small. On the flip side, sticking with a 24" 1080p setup is a massive money saver, and you still end up with a solid monitor and better frame rates for gaming.

Timothy Kim60 said:It really just comes down to your budget. For $1000 I assume you wouldn't want to settle for 1080p or a 24" monitor either
Going with 1440p gives you much sharper visuals, though it does take a bit more of a toll on your gaming performance. For the same reason, a 27" screen at 1440p shouldn't feel oversized because the pixel density is higher. Of course, depending on what you're used to, it might take a few days to adjust; I've heard some people even find 1440p on a 27" to be a little small. On the flip side, a 24" 1080p setup is a huge money saver, and you still end up with a decent monitor and better frame rates for gaming.

If I were putting this together for my kid, I'd tell them: look, learn, work, and have fun. I could go bigger or smaller. You can't really go wrong with having more screen real estate, so I might lean toward a larger display initially. But then again, if that extra size isn't being utilized well—or worse, if it isn't practical for schoolwork—I'd probably opt for a smaller one at half the price. In a few years, those larger screens will be much cheaper anyway, so I could just buy it then and end up with two monitors for the price of one 27" right now. It seems like common sense to me.
Still, I wouldn't want my kid complaining that I tried to skimp on his screen.🤦🙄

Drew Roberts3 said:I’d want to put this together for my kid, and honestly, I just want him to learn, work, and have some fun. I could go with a larger screen or a smaller one. You can never have too much gear, so my first instinct would be to grab the bigger monitor. But then again, if that extra size isn't actually useful—or worse, if it's distracting for schoolwork—I might just stick with a smaller one for half the price. In a few years, those bigger screens will be even cheaper, so maybe I can just pick one up then and end up with two monitors for what the 27" costs now. It seems like common sense, I guess.
I also wouldn't want my kid thinking I was trying to cut corners on his screen.🤦🙄

I've ordered the following setup:

ASRock B450M-PRO4, AM4, 90-MXB8F0-A0UAYZ
AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 3.40GHz, 16MB Cache, s.AM4, YD2600BBAFBOX
Kingston A1000, M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x2, speed: 1500/800 MB/s, SA1000M8/240G
MS DARK SHADOW PRO Gaming Case, tempered glass, dust filter
EVGA SuperNOVA Power Supply, ATX 2.4
DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) PC4-25600U 3200MHz CL16 G.Skill RipJaws, F4-3200C16D-16GVKB
Gigabyte GTX1070Ti 8G WF2, 8GB GDDR5, 256-bit, 1721MHz, GV-N107TWF2-8GD
1TB WD Blue HDD, 3.5", 7200RPM, 64MB Cache, SATA3, WD10EZEX

I think I explained my dilemma regarding the monitor.

https://www.amazon.com/monitor-27-inch-black-100333175

Or maybe a smaller one like:

https://www.amazon.com/monitor-25-inch-black-100300191

https://www.amazon.com/monitor-24-inch-black-100333174

https://www.amazon.com/monitor-24-inch-black-100300055

https://www.amazon.com/monitor-24-inch-black-100333124

Anyway, at least the computer is ordered. The decision on the monitor can wait, I suppose.

Best regards and thanks, Timothy Kim60

@Drew Roberts3/">@@Drew Roberts3

Since you're already grabbing that GPU, it’d be a total waste not to pick up a 27" 1440p monitor too...

Whatever you decide is fine (either a 24" 1080p or a 27" 1440p), just whatever you do, don't go with a 25" 1440p setup. It’s way too pixel-dense, and you don't want your kid squinting at the screen all day.

Timothy Kim60 said:Whatever you end up going with should be fine (either a 24" 1080p or a 27" 1440p), but I'd really suggest avoiding a 25" 1440p monitor. It might be too small, and I wouldn't want your kid straining their eyes.

🙂🙏 Superman, thanks!

analogtiger19 said:@Drew Roberts3

Given the graphics card we've picked out, I suppose it would be a real shame not to go with a 27" 1440p monitor...

Thanks. My little brother is working a bit over the summer and wants to donate his earnings toward this one:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor-27-l...m_medium=click

It’s pretty pricey, but maybe we'll end up pulling the trigger on it.

Best regards.