Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

This one was saved as a PNG:


And this is what happens when I copy and paste directly into Illustrator:


Both files ended up being about 12 kb 😵

Jesse Sanchez4 said:It’s got absolutely nothing to do with the graphics card.

Come on, don't be ridiculous... Just turn off the monitor and hit print screen. You can still take a screenshot even if the screen is dark—which proves it isn't a monitor issue—then just flip the monitor back on and paste the image into Microsoft Paint or Photoshop... 🙂

velvetcobra6 said:this was saved as a PNG:

and this was just a copy/paste straight into Adobe:

Both sit right around 12 kb 😵

Look, your first image measures 622x452 pixels. If you trim away all that useless white space, you're looking at 543x278.

That second one is 1241x766, which crops down to 1019x523 if you cut it tight.

1019 / 543 = 1.88
523 / 278 = 1.88

The math holds up; both dimensions share the exact same resize factor, so there aren't any massive aliasing issues here.

That being said, your original file is running on a very low resolution.

There are a few ways this could have happened:

* you're staring at a low-res monitor while she’s working on a 4K display.

* she might be zooming in on specific sections—like the part you sent—to fill her screen, then taking a snippet and pasting it where it needs to go.

* whatever software you guys are using likely has an "export" or "save as" function where you can manually set the output pixel dimensions.

P.S. Don't listen to Ronald Bishop58.

Thanks to both of you 🙂

I completely overlooked one more option, which is having her save her work as an SVG so you can just import it directly into Adobe.

Honestly, the path of least resistance would be to just sit down and watch her workflow or simply ask 😁

Jesse Sanchez4 said:Forgot one more thing—she could just save as an SVG and import that straight into Adobe Illustrator.

Honestly, the easiest fix is just to watch her workflow or ask 😁

👍👍

It’s pretty wild to see that The New Guy has been tirelessly helping people hunt down the right gear for over six years now. Mad respect. 😁

I'm looking to pick up a monitor for my laptop setup (running an i5-7300, GTX 1060 6GB, and 16GB of RAM). It’s got both HDMI and Mini DisplayPort inputs.

I was leaning towards grabbing a 34" curved monitor. I won't be using it for heavy gaming or running anything too demanding, just general use.

The first one that caught my eye was the 34" Xiaomi Mi Curved v2, 144Hz, 4ms—that would definitely fit into a decent budget...

If anyone has other suggestions, please let me know. Also, just looking for some reassurance that the Mini DisplayPort connection shouldn't give me any trouble. Thanks.

Lawrence Ortiz2 said:Looks like The New Guy has been grinding for over 6 years now, still tirelessly helping people hunt down the right gear. Respect. 😁

This time, I need a monitor for my laptop (i5-7300, 1060 6gb, 16gb). It’s got HDMI and Mini DisplayPort inputs.

Thinking about grabbing a 34" curved monitor. Won't be gaming on it or running anything super heavy.

First one that caught my eye is the 34" Xiaomi Mi Curved v2, 144Hz, 4ms. That would fit my budget..

Looking for other suggestions if you've got them, and just need confirmation that the Mini DisplayPort won't be an issue. Thanks.

Mini DisplayPort shouldn't be a dealbreaker; you'll just need a Mini DisplayPort to DP cable or a dongle.
Since that laptop packs a GTX1060, there's a chance the HDMI port is 2.0 standard. If so, it can probably handle full resolution and a decent refresh rate through a regular HDMI cable.

I own that monitor. It's solid. The curve isn't extreme, making it fine for work. I'd recommend it if you specifically need width. But, if vertical space matters more, you're better off with a standard 32" 1440p monitor—they're taller and actually give you more total surface area. These ultrawides have less total area despite the larger diagonal.

Regarding the specific model, you'd be better off hunting for an IPS panel if you have options. This one has pretty mediocre viewing angles, and the backlight bleed is noticeable in the corners.

This one is likely a better/higher quality choice for productivity.

https://www.nabava.net/monitori/iiya...-21-9-97544571

wiredotter14 said:Mini DisplayPort shouldn't really be an issue for you; you just need to pick up a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable or a decent dongle and you're good to go.
Since that laptop is packing a GTX 1060, there's a good chance the HDMI port is actually version 2.0. If that's the case, it should be able to handle the monitor at full resolution with a decent refresh rate using just a standard HDMI cable. No need to overcomplicate things.

I've spent enough time with this monitor to form an opinion. It’s solid. The curve isn't some aggressive, eye-straining thing, which makes it actually decent for productivity. If you're looking for a single-monitor setup and you really value horizontal screen real estate, I’d give it a thumbs up. That said, there's a catch. If your workflow depends more on vertical space—you know, scrolling through long documents or code—you’re probably better off just grabbing a standard 32" 1440p monitor. Those things are significantly taller, giving you more total surface area overall. With these ultrawides, you end up with less actual screen space because of that wider aspect ratio on a smaller diagonal. It's one of those trade-offs you don't realize until you're staring at your desktop wondering where all your windows went.

If you've got options, honestly, you'd be much better off hunting down an IPS panel. This specific model just doesn't cut it—the viewing angles are pretty disappointing, and the backlight bleed is noticeable enough that light leaks out from the corners of the screen. It’s just not ideal.

For actual work, this is probably the better, higher-quality monitor.

I was scrolling through some listings earlier and stumbled upon this Dell monitor. It’s one of those mid-range panels that sits right in that weird middle ground—not quite high-end professional gear, but definitely more than just some cheap office screen you'd find at a discount warehouse. Looking at the specs, it seems decent enough if you aren't asking too much from it. It’s got that standard setup you'd expect, though I always find myself wondering why certain brands push these specific configurations when a slightly better version is usually just a few bucks away. It’s fine, I guess. It does the job. It reminds me of those endless debates we see on tech forums where people argue over whether a slightly higher refresh rate actually matters for everyday tasks. Honestly, unless you're trying to win a professional gaming tournament or doing high-level color grading, most of us are just looking for something that won't give us a headache after eight hours of staring at spreadsheets or code. This fits that "functional" category perfectly. Nothing flashy, nothing revolutionary, just a tool.

Thanks. Honestly, at this point, your username has been around here just as long as mine—if not longer. 😁

I mean, I don't think it should be an issue. I was just curious if the Mini DisplayPort is capped by resolution or by the refresh rate.

Yeah, I was looking at that Dell monitor too because the IPS panel caught my eye, but the only downside is that it isn't curved. 🙂

My eye keeps twitching. It’s driving me a little crazy. I was browsing through some hardware listings earlier and stumbled upon this specific monitor setup. It’s one of those things that looks straightforward on paper, but when you actually start digging into the specs, you realize how much the market has shifted toward these ultra-wide configurations. It’s an interesting piece of kit, though I can't help but feel a bit cynical about how many "premium" features are just marketing fluff these days. You see these high refresh rates being tossed around like candy, and while they aren't useless, I often wonder if the average user—the person just trying to get through a workday without their eyes bleeding—actually cares. Probably not. Most people just want something that won't break the bank and looks decent on a desk. I saw a comment from Jesse Sanchez4 regarding similar panels recently, suggesting that the color accuracy on these mid-range models isn't quite where it needs to be for serious design work. They have a point. If you're trying to do heavy lifting in Adobe Illustrator, you might find yourself reaching for a professional-grade Dell display instead of saving a few bucks on something like this. But then again, for general productivity? It’s fine. It does the job. It’s just one of those items that sits in that weird middle ground: too good for a basic office cubicle, but maybe not quite robust enough for a dedicated creative studio. Still, it's worth keeping an eye on if you're looking to upgrade a home office setup without feeling like you've been robbed by big tech.

It’s a bit pricier than the Xiaomi option.

Lawrence Ortiz2 said:Yeah, I had my eye on that Dell too because of the IPS panel, except it isn't curved.🙂

In my opinion, flat is better if you care about color accuracy over gaming. A 34" ultrawide isn't overkill for a flat panel.

This Gigabyte model uses a VA panel too, so it’ll likely feel almost identical to the Xiaomiu in daily use—only difference is the peak brightness (350 vs 300 nits).

Bottom line? Try to find an IPS if you can. If not, neither the Xiaomi nor the Gigabyte are bad bets.

BTW, don't sleep on a 1080p ultrawide (2560x1080). At that height, the pixel density isn't actually that bad since a 34" ultrawide has way less surface area than a standard 34" screen.

Looks like I've finally made up my mind on the Dell monitor. Appreciate all the input from everyone 👍

I picked this one up, and honestly, I couldn't be happier with the decision.
https://eu.aoc.com/en/gaming/product...ors/cu34g3s-bk

Hey there!
My PC is about five years old now, and the monitor has probably seen ten years of service. Lately, the resolution keeps jumping around on me. One day I turn it on and everything looks fine, but the next time, the image is stretched out and all my icons are massive... It’s been happening more often lately; maybe once every ten times it actually boots up looking normal, while the other nine times it's just a mess.
I'm planning on picking up a new monitor, but I'm wondering if this resolution headache is just because the old monitor is dying, or if it could be something else entirely? I really don't want to drop money on a new screen only to run into the exact same issue. I'm not exactly an expert on this stuff, so if anyone knows what might be going on, I'd love some help. Thanks!

shouldn't be an issue with the monitor

drop the PC specs, what monitor model are you running, and how are they hooked up (which cable)

Hello everyone,
I am looking to purchase a new monitor for my home setup. At work, I currently use:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/dell-p2720dc-27-monitor/product_id/1554141

I was considering buying the exact same model, but then I came across this one:
https://www.amazon.com/monitor-deals/example-link

It seems superior to me in every way, yet it costs less. Am I overlooking something important?

Do you have any suggestions for a third option that would be a true best buy in this category?

I’ve got a bit of a monitor dilemma on my hands, here’s the situation 😉
Right now, I’m working with a 21.5" (1920x1080) monitor on my desk. It isn’t exactly tiny, but let’s just say I’m feeling seriously cramped... there's just not enough room to breathe. Since I’m currently building a brand new PC, I want to grab a new monitor to go along with it. Given what the new rig can handle, I’m definitely looking to jump up to 4K

The thing that’s really giving me pause is the size—should I go with a 27-inch or a 32-inch? Honestly, coming from a 21.5", anything would feel like an upgrade (and yeah, even a 24" would work), but these two specific sizes have me torn. My desk isn't particularly deep either, probably sitting at about 24 inches from my eyes
My main priority is being able to tile at least two documents side-by-side... you know, having email and Excel open at the same time without everything overlapping... I haven't touched a video game in about 20 years, so we can completely leave gaming out of this equation

My budget isn't bottomless, but I don't need to pinch every single penny either

https://pxcalc.com/

21.5" 1920x1080
DPI: 102.46
Dot Pitch: 0.2479 mm

The closest thing to what you’re currently staring at is

27" 2560x1440
DPI: 108.79
Dot Pitch: 0.2335 mm

That setup essentially gives you slightly smaller icons and windows than the ones you're squinting at right now.

If you're looking for the specific scenario that seems to be "troubling" you, it looks like this:

27" 3840x2160
DPI: 163.18
Dot Pitch: 0.1557 mm

30" 3840x2160
DPI: 146.86
Dot Pitch: 0.173 mm

Attempting to use those without OS scaling—which is just an invitation for visual chaos—is practically impossible for most people.

If your goal is to maintain almost the exact same object size on screen while jumping up to 4K resolution, you would need something along these lines:

42" 3840x2160
DPI: 104.9
Dot Pitch: 0.2421 mm

But you can forget about that option for obvious reasons.😁

Now, if you want to run windows side-by-side without cluttering your desk with a dual-monitor setup, an ultrawide QHD is your only real path; they usually sit at 3440x1440p with a 34" diagonal, which yields this:

34" 3440x1440
DPI: 109.68
Dot Pitch: 0.2316 mm

It’s a decent middle ground, provided you don't mind the fact that most of these panels use VA technology, which means you'll likely deal with frustrating black crush.

Did that clear things up for you? No? Fine.😁

Just buy two monitors or stick to a single 27" 2560x1440.

Jesse Sanchez4 said:[
It seems alright, though I suspect those monitors use VA panels, which means you'll probably get absolutely wrecked by black crush... seriously...

Did I help you out? No? Well then... 😁

Just grab two monitors or go with a single 27" 1440p setup.

Well, you didn't exactly help me, but you did give me some food for thought, and that link you shared is actually top-notch!

Every now and then (using the same desk and sitting at the same distance), I use my

13.3" 2560 x 1600 laptop screen
DPI - 226.98
Dot Pitch - 0.1119

Nothing looks "tiny" or hard to read there, so if my understanding is correct—and that "smaller" size is compared to a 27" or 32" 4K display—why on earth would I even need scaling?

Well, in that case, I suppose I should offer my congratulations; you clearly possess eagle-eyed vision or perhaps some superhuman visual acuity (unless, of course, you have scaling enabled without even realizing it). Of course, give it a few more years and the inevitable march of aging will likely ensure you 😁

(For my part, I stick to 81.59 DPI with a 0.31 pitch. It’s just right for me.)

You’ve got a point there, I actually went back to double-check everything 😉

1440 x 900 on a 13.3" screen
DPI 127.68
Dot Pitch 0.199

When looking at a 32-inch display, we're getting pretty close...

On a 32-inch, you have 3840 x 2160
DPI 137.68
Dot Pitch 0.1845