Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

https://www.bestbuy.com/lcd-monitors/lg-...m_medium=click

Something like this. I guess there isn't much else to choose from if you're looking for an ultrawide under $3k.

Thanks a lot 🙂 What's the deal with Amazon? Better than Best Buy?

Everything beats eDigital 😁

I think they're fine, but you can't find a single thing online regarding their warranty claims or returns. I got my motherboard, but I wouldn't exactly call it an "experience"—getting exactly what you ordered is just basic business. For context, I bought it from a boutique retailer based out of Chicago, though my board actually shipped out from a warehouse in Indiana.

Need a hand here. Budget is roughly $333. Looking for a 24" setup—nothing crazy, just movies, browsing, maybe some light FPS gaming.

What’s the deal with different panels? And does that curve on the Apple model actually do anything useful?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S6Z6M6N

Honestly... just stay away from TN panels. This one’s an IPS with 75Hz, plus it has G-Sync if you happen to be running a newer Intel card.

I'm currently in the market for a new monitor and my eyes are leaning toward the Dell UltraSharp U2717D. From what I can gather, there’s also the newer Dell UltraSharp U2719D available; I assume it's the successor, and looking at the specs, they seem nearly identical, with the exception that the newer version features an 8-bit panel (6+FRC)
https://www.displayspecifications.co...ison/024b627c5
The price gap is roughly $67. To be honest, I actually prefer the aesthetics of the older model—it feels more established, and the reviews have been consistently solid.
Should I bother upgrading to the 2719, or stick with the other? My usage is strictly limited to web browsing and office suites; I won't be touching any gaming or heavy media work.

crimsonstag84 said:https://www.bestbuy.com/site/monitor-24-inch...black-100300330

Look... stay away from TN panels. Get an IPS/75Hz setup, and grab something with G-Sync if you're running a newer Intel card.

Is it worth dropping another $133 on this Acer?
https://www.amazon.com/monitor-27-acer...m_medium=click

Does 4ms vs 1ms even matter? Like, am I actually going to notice that as a "regular" user?

For most people, a 27" screen isn't the sweet spot for 1080p if you're sitting close—say, about 20 inches away—because you start losing that crisp image clarity

As for the 1ms versus 4ms debate, you honestly won't feel the difference. It’s mostly marketing fluff and gimmicks; those numbers are basically arbitrary anyway. You might notice response times on a 144Hz monitor, but that's not what we're looking at here. Even then, you should actually test them yourself instead of just blindly trusting the specs printed on the box

If you are dead set on going with a 27" 1080p setup, I’d suggest checking this out instead

It has solid reviews, runs at 75Hz, and features G-Sync

Alright, I'll just stick with the 24" then, since I'm gonna be sitting right up in the monitor's face anyway...
Thanks!

It isn't set in stone; what looks fine to one person might be a dealbreaker for someone else. Your best bet is to head down to a Best Buy or a similar showroom where they have 27" FHD monitors on display so you can judge for yourself. If you stay more than about two feet back, you can probably get away with

I could really use some advice here,

I'm looking to pick up a new monitor by $700, and my main workflow involves Photoshop and some video editing.

This is actually kind of urgent—I've been eyeing those ultra-wide models lately, specifically this one:

My big concern, though, is whether the image quality is sharp enough for professional work.

I’m honestly on the fence about whether it’s sharp enough for high-precision visual work, especially if you’re doing this professionally

It’s essentially the same situation as what Bryan Adams6 mentioned earlier; the only difference is we're looking at a 21:9 aspect ratio instead of 16:9. Since those extra pixels are only added to the width, it’s effectively the exact same thing—just different proportions



For those specific screen sizes, you'll want to go with 1440p resolution (which is 2560x1440 for a 27" 16:9 monitor, or 3440x1440 for a 34" 21:9 monitor)

Also, if you need to stick to just one retailer, I'd suggest Best Buy, particularly if you're in a rush. It's not that they can't get orders out the door, but they can be a massive headache if anything goes sideways—think returns, shipping errors, or getting your money back

I'll definitely keep an eye on eDigital,
but does anyone know if there's a monitor in that price range ($700 ) that actually offers 1440p resolution?

Look, those AOC monitors are widely considered the absolute best-buy option if you're hunting for a 32" 1440p setup (it’s basically like having the pixel density of a 24" 1080p screen, which is perfectly fine for most people). You can grab it in two different versions depending on whether you want an IPS or a VA panel:

https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=AOC+Q3279VWF

A ton of people over on the PC Gamer forums use them—there's even a huge thread dedicated to monitors larger than 27"—and our own moderator, Smartic, uses one too. I have heard a few complaints regarding the build quality, specifically some backlight bleed through the plastic seams, but honestly, that usually just comes down to the specific unit you get. It's the same deal with the panels; it's a bit of a lottery, but from what I can gather, most users are pretty satisfied. In terms of pure value, it's insane. It's rare to see this kind of screen real estate at 1440p with a non-TN panel for such a low price point. Plus, you're getting 75Hz and G-Sync support, though that's mostly a perk for the gamers out there.

crimsonstag84 said:https://www.amazon.com/monitor-23-8...black-100300330

Look... just don't even bother looking at TN panels. Go with IPS/75Hz, and grab one with G-Sync if you're running any newer Intel graphics card.

Is there actually a massive difference between 60Hz and 75Hz? I found a monitor online, but the local Best Buy in San Diego doesn't even stock this specific model. So, here's my question. Is it worth waiting a few days for shipping, or should I just grab whatever 60Hz model they have on the shelf right now? I'm guessing for browsing the web or watching streams, it won't matter much, except maybe for gaming. Looking for some answers. Thanks..

Also, let's be honest—an experienced gamer can actually feel the difference during gameplay. When you're watching a video, it doesn't matter much since most stuff runs at 24, 30, or 60 fps.

But you have this happening down in San Diego

Timothy Kim60 said:Look, any seasoned gamer can feel the difference during gameplay. For video? Who cares? It’s mostly just 24, 30, or 60 fps anyway.

You’ve got this happening in San Diego

Thanks for the input, but I actually picked up a Dell UltraSharp from Links. The box claims it's 76Hz, but honestly, it feels sketchy... if you check the official specs on the manufacturer's site, they list it at 60Hz. If that's the case, I'm taking it back tomorrow to swap it for a standard 60Hz model that won't rip me off. Does anyone here actually know anything about this specific monitor? Is it even worth having?

Returned my Dell UltraSharp. Seriously, this thing is bright enough to serve as a stadium floodlight. I tried every single trick in the book to dial down that killer brightness, but nothing worked! I managed to take the edge off a little bit using Windows Night, but even then, it was way too intense compared to my old Dell Monitor, that TFT panel... I mean, do all other IPS-enthusiasts deal with this level of glare??? If they do, we’ve got a serious health problem on our hands here.

🤦I sent back my Dell UltraSharp. Seriously, this monitor shines like a freaking stadium floodlight. I tried everything—every setting imaginable—to dial down that killer brightness, but nothing worked! I managed to tone it down slightly using Windows Night, but even then, it was way too intense compared to my old Dell Monitor TFT... I mean, do other IPS-enthusiasts deal with this much glare??? If this is the standard, it’s gotta be a health hazard.

Hey, I need some help picking out a new monitor.

I’m not exactly an expert on this stuff, but here’s the deal: I want at least a 27" screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. Most importantly, I want minimal bezels. I want screen real estate, not a massive plastic frame choking the display.

Thanks in advance. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Best,