Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

Drew Roberts3 said:Thanks. A kid I know is working a little job over the summer and plans to donate his earnings. He’s eyeing this one:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor-27-inch-4k-uhd-display-with-hdr-and-high-refresh-rate/5058232.p?skuId=5058232

It seems pretty pricey, but maybe we'll end up going with it.

Best,

The only thing I don't get is what makes this one different from this model for $667 less?

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/27-inch-gaming-monitor-with-144hz-refresh-rate/6513245.p?skuId=6513245

Could someone give me a simple explanation?☕

Basically, the pricier one has a higher refresh rate, 165Hz vs 144Hz. There's also the tech gap: the cheaper model supports FreeSync—which is free for AMD cards—while the expensive one handles G-Sync, which usually comes with a premium for NVIDIA users. It’s all about that adaptive sync tech to kill screen tearing. I'm running around right now, so someone else will probably give you a deeper dive. Sorry.

Well, we’ve swung from one extreme to the other now. 😁

The real question is what kind of games he actually intends to play. He isn't going to be hitting north of 100 FPS, let alone 165 FPS at 1440p, in most modern titles using an RTX 3060 (honestly, even a top-tier RTX 3080 would run into those same walls in certain heavy hitters). Usually, you only aim for those kinds of refresh rates if you're into competitive gaming—think lighter titles like Overwatch, CS:GO, WoW, World of Tanks, Dota 2, LoL, or Fortnite. If that's his scene, then it's fine. But if he's looking to dive into AAA single-player experiences with heavy graphics, like Far Cry 5, Watch Dogs 2, or Assassin's Creed, then he really doesn't need that level of speed.

Timothy Kim60 said:I suppose we're looking at the opposite extreme now. 😁

The real question is what kind of games he actually plans to play. I guess he won't be hitting 100 fps, let alone 165 fps at 1440p, in many titles using an RTX 3060 (even a top-tier RTX 3080 would likely struggle with that in certain games). Usually, those high refresh rates are meant for competitive gaming—titles that aren't quite as demanding, like Overwatch, CS:GO, WoW, World of Tanks, Dota 2, League of Legends, or Fortnite. If that's his thing, then sure. But if he's more into heavy AAA single-player games like Far Cry 5, Watch Dogs 2, or Assassin's Creed, he probably doesn't really need it.

Simpler games.

So, maybe a decent monitor around $1333 would be fine.

Hey, looking for some advice on picking up a gaming monitor. I’ll be spending about 75% of my time on Call of Duty and maybe 25% on Battlefield or whatever else is on the Xbox One. My current card is an RTX 3080. Given what I play, would it be better to go with 1080p G-Sync or 1440p G-Sync? Though, 1440p is probably overkill for my budget. I'm aiming for around $550. Ideally, 1440p at 144Hz with G-Sync would be the sweet spot. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

Update:
Is a Dell Alienware AW2721H for $540 overkill for what I'm looking for?

I think I’ve finally made up my mind on a laptop! At first, I was trying to stick to a $3,000 budget, then maybe $3,500, but I’m starting to feel like this is actually the best bang for my buck right now:

Dell Latitude 3510

I guess the only thing is, if there’s some crazy reason why I shouldn't go with this specific Dell series, please let me know. But if you guys have any other advice, I’m all ears! Honestly, I don't think I need anything more powerful than this configuration. And I'm intentionally picking one that comes with Windows 10

Looking for some advice on a new gaming monitor. I’ll be spending about 75% of my time on Call of Duty and the other 25% on Battlefield V via an Xbox One, plus whatever else comes along on that console. My current GPU is a GTX 1080. I'm debating between 1080p with G-Sync or jumping up to 1440p with G-Sync—though the latter might blow my budget. Ideally, I'd love a 1440p 144Hz G-Sync setup if I can find one under $550. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry about the double post, just rushing around.

granitescout said:Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice on picking out a gaming monitor. My playtime is roughly 75% Call of Duty and 25% Battlefield V on my Xbox One (plus a few other console titles here and there). My GPU is a GTX 1080... so, given my setup, would it be better to go with 1080p G-Sync or jump to 1440p G-Sync? Though, 1440p might end up being too pricey. My budget is around $500. Ideally, a 1440p 144Hz G-Sync setup would be the sweet spot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

edit:
Something like an Acer predator XB271HUAbmiprz for about $540—is that overkill for what I'm doing?

Look, if you're running a GTX 1080 and want G-Sync, 144Hz, and 1440p, then that's exactly what you should aim for. Whether you actually *need* all of that is really up to you. If you're playing multiplayer Call of Duty, that 144Hz will definitely give you an edge, and 1440p is the perfect resolution to pair with a card like yours. The only catch is whether you insist on G-Sync; that feature tends to drive the price up significantly and really limits your options when it comes to specific monitors and panel types.

https://www.amazon.com/acer-xf270huab...roizvod/226705

I guess that's pretty much your only real option...

And what’s the deal with this https://www.acer.com/ac/en/GB/conten...l/UM.HX1EE.A01

That’s why I’m asking—is it actually worth dropping the extra cash for G-Sync? Like, does it even make a difference in the specific games I play?

Where on earth are you finding that for such a low price?

Acer predator XB1 - $1116

He might be talking about this FHD 24".

I went a little over budget—can't really drop money on a new monitor every month—but I snagged the predator XB271HUT for $650, so I think I'm all set.

Hey,

Looking for some monitor advice. I don't plan on upgrading again anytime soon, but I'm trying not to blow too much cash since I’m saving up for a car over the next few months—aiming for maybe $3k, though if there's a killer monitor that's slightly more expensive, I might bite. Probably pulling the trigger this Tuesday.

Mainly just play single-player stuff, mostly big AAA titles, and the occasional online match here and there... nothing crazy.

Thanks!

Here's my current rig:

ASUS Prime B350-Plus motherboard, AM4 socket
AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 3.40GHz, 16MB Cache, AM4 socket YD2600BBAFBOX
Samsung 860 250GB EVO SSD, SATA, Read: 550MB/s, Write: 520MB/s, 3D-NAND TLC, MZ-76E250B/EU
Fortron CMT110 case, black
Fortron 550W Hexa 85+ PSU, ATX 2.4
8GB (1x8GB) DDR4 PC4-24000U 3000MHz CL16 G.Skill Aegis, F4-3000C16S-8GISB
Gigabyte GTX1070Ti 8 g gaming, 8GB GDDR5, 256-bit, 1683/2000MHz, GV-N107TGAMING-8GD
2x Arctic F12 Silent Fan, 120mm, 800rpm, 62.9m³/h, ACFAN00027A
1TB WD Blue HDD, 3.5", 7200RPM, 64MB Cache, SATA3, WD10EZEX

It might not be the absolute king of monitors under $3K, but man, is this thing a massive bargain!

Go with the IPS version:

https://www.bestbuy.com/monitor-31-5...m_medium=click

Or grab the MVA version:

https://www.newegg.com/aoc-monito...m_medium=click

I'm a bit lost on the whole IPS vs. MVA thing, though. Any advice on which one would pair better with my build? Would appreciate it.

Regarding panel types (you can find plenty of comparisons on YouTube), VA panels offer superior blacks and contrast, whereas IPS panels tend to deliver more vibrant colors.

If you're looking to maximize your budget, here's my take:

https://www.amazon.com/27-inch-gaming-monitor/s?k=27+inch+gaming+monitor

But look at it this way—even though the second option is technically higher quality, you have to ask yourself if it really makes sense to pay nearly double for a screen with the same resolution, a smaller size, and an identical refresh rate.

Alright, thanks. I'll make a call this afternoon—the price is pretty much the same anyway..

Disclaimer upfront—I know how this marketplace works. 😁 If I decide to take the risk, is this monitor actually any good?

I do some gaming here and there, plus a bit of photo/video editing. But neither is really my main focus. Most of my time is spent staring at documents and writing—usually having Word open alongside one or two windows showing my sources (I'm a historian). Because of that, I’m looking for either a 34" ultrawide or a dual 27" setup. And all of this needs to be under $450. 🙂

Right now, I'm making do with an ancient 22" and a 19" pivot setup. It works, I guess, but it's definitely time for an upgrade. 🙂