Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

Alright folks, I’m looking for some recommendations for a 1440p/144Hz monitor—ideally something with G-Sync support. I'd prefer an IPS panel if possible. Budget isn't really an issue here... mostly because there is no budget. LP

Adam Barrett7 said:Alright folks, I need some recommendations for a 1440p/144Hz monitor featuring G-Sync. Ideally looking for a "best buy" type deal, preferably with an IPS panel. Budget isn't an issue—well, actually, money is tight. Cheers.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

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

Basically the only real option in the US market that hits the IPS requirement along with everything else.

Kevin Patel2 said:Hey everyone, I could use some help picking out a monitor.

I'm not exactly an expert when it comes to displays, but I'm looking for something at least 27" with a 144Hz refresh rate. If possible, I'd love thin bezels—more screen and less plastic around the edges.

Thanks in advance, and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Best!

If you want something cheaper than what I linked above, you'll have to settle for a TN panel and 1080p resolution. Honestly, you can probably skip the TN panels entirely if you can afford it.

https://www.microcenter.com/mo...m_medium=click

Timothy Kim60 said:There's no such thing as a free lunch.

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

It’s practical—basically the only real option you'll find in the US with an IPS panel and those specific specs.

If you want to spend less than what's listed above, you're looking at a TN panel and 1080p resolution. Honestly, you might be able to dodge the TN panel altogether if you pivot.

https://www.newegg.com/monitors/...m_medium=click

Man, for that kind of cash, you're better off grabbing a 27" 144Hz monitor with G-Sync and pairing it with a used RTX 3080 or 4070 rather than sticking with a G-Sync/Vega 64 combo.🤔

Unless I hold out for Nvidia—hmm.

Anyway, thanks, wearypilot59.

The price jump for 1440p at 144Hz is significant, especially since you're paying a premium for that IPS panel. Plus, G-Sync isn't much more expensive than G-Sync.
To handle that resolution, you’re going to need a beefy GPU. As games get more demanding, neither a Vega 64 nor an RTX 3080/4070 is really the sweet spot for high-end performance at those specs—unless you're just playing light titles.

If you drop just one requirement, the cost drops drastically. For example, you could go with 1080p at 144Hz with a non-TN panel, or stick to 1440p but at a lower 60/75Hz refresh rate.

In my opinion, these two options represent the best value depending on what you're after:

https://www.apple.com/monitor...m_medium=click

https://www.amazon.com/search.php?q=Q3279VWFD8

I can confirm that Asus makes absolute garbage monitors 👍

currently running an rx480, but waiting on Nvidia 😬

At 60 or 75 Hz, you might see a drop if you went with an ultrawide setup 😁

Honestly, 1440p at 144Hz is non-negotiable for me. I don't mind tweaking a few settings to keep things smooth—I think an RTX 3080 would handle it just fine. I'd even consider giving up an IPS panel if I had to 😉

We'll see. There's still plenty of time before Christmas rolls around 😁 😁

Adam Barrett7 said:Maybe if it were ultrawide you could drop down to 60/75 Hz😁

1440p and 144Hz are non-negotiable. I can always tweak a few settings to keep the framerate up, so I figure an RTX 3080 would handle it just fine. Honestly, I'd even consider ditching the IPS panel if I had to😉

We'll see. Still got some time before Christmas arrives😁😁

If anything, don't pass up on the IPS... IPS is amazing. Refresh rate isn't that big of a deal unless you're some pro gamer grinding FPS titles. For anything else, you don't really need 144Hz.

Look, some people act like 144Hz is this life-changing miracle you can never live without again...

But honestly, you can't really miss something you've never actually experienced. If you're still rocking a TN panel at 60 or 75Hz, you've still got plenty of options for which direction you want to take your setup.

Quick question!! Is there actually any way to check how many hours a monitor has been running??

I haven't heard anything about that sort of thing

Look, I know you can do this with TVs—I’ve messed around with the service menus on GE and Apple sets before. Once you actually get into that side of things, you finally see what you're really working with, like the actual panel specs or the total hours it's been running. You can even tweak some settings, assuming you actually have a clue what you're doing. So, I figured the same logic would apply to monitors.

I finally pulled it off, but honestly? What was even the point? All those hours I spent grinding were basically for nothing, because now I’m right back where I started—staring at a screen knowing absolutely nothing except for the damn manufacturing date...

I was able to pull that off on my old monitor—hopefully, the one I have now can handle it too.

Actually, I wanted to see if anyone knows what the deal is with 24-inch IPS monitors lately. What’s actually worth buying right now? I’m specifically looking for a 16:10 aspect ratio, and it absolutely has to have height adjustment. Is Dell still the go-to for the mainstream crowd? Like, maybe an Ultrasharp model? Or should I just bite the bullet and go for something more high-end? I'm thinking along the lines of a premium brand... though I'm not sure if it's worth the jump. I plan on keeping this thing for a good decade, so I want to get it right.

Honestly, if you're dead set on a 16:10 aspect ratio, Dell is pretty much the only game in town. You don't have many options there unless you start looking into super niche professional brands like Eizo.

Try searching on Amazon for the U2412M or the U2415.

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could offer some recommendations for a monitor, ideally 24 inches or larger.
I'm looking to pair it with my current setup, specifically a Gigabyte GTX 1060.
If there happen to be any good deals running at Best Buy right now, please let me know. Thanks!

Timothy Kim60 said:Honestly, nothing else even comes to mind besides a Dell in 16:10—your options for that specific aspect ratio are basically non-existent. I mean, I don't know about those super niche markets like Eizo, but for anyone else...

Just search Amazon for a U2412M or a U2415.

I wasn't trying to jump the gun by naming specific models, but I was thinking specifically about Dell's UltraSharp line. It’s their premium tier, after all.
Look, I realize the U2412 is an old model at this point, but the fact that it's still even available tells you something. When it first hit the market, it was the gold standard—highly recommended and top-tier—but I'm still torn on whether it's actually a smart buy today considering it lacks USB 3.0 or HDMI. All you get is DisplayPort among the newer inputs.
Then you've got the U2414 and U2415 sitting at similar price points, though the oldest one has definitely proven its durability over time.
If you look at other brands in that same price bracket, you probably won't go wrong with Fujitsu or NEC, but they're pushing $2500-$1000. And Eizo? That's way out of this league.

urbaneagle4 said:Hey there,
can anyone recommend a monitor that's 24 inches or larger?
I'm looking to pair it with this GPU: a Gigabyte GTX 1060.
Ideally something from Best Buy if there's a sale running right now, thanks!

You actually have two pretty solid deals on the table right now.

https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=AOC + C24G1

It stands out because of its great price point for a 144Hz refresh rate. Interestingly, it doesn't use a TN panel, which is what you usually find in cheaper 144Hz models.

Or, you could go a different route—1440p.

https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=Q3279VWFD8

This is a 31.5" IPS 1440p 75Hz display. It’s an incredible value for the money, but just keep in mind that your GPU isn't really built for high-end 1440p gaming, and for some people, a screen that size can feel overwhelming if they sit within 20 inches of the monitor.

velvetskipper8 said:I didn't mean to jump straight to specific models, but I was thinking about Dell's UltraSharp series. It's definitely their premium line.
I know the older models are quite dated, but the fact that they're still available says something. They were highly recommended when they first hit the market and always got great reviews, but I'm debating whether it's still a smart move to buy one without USB 3.0 or HDMI. It only features DisplayPort among the modern inputs.
You can also find similar options at that price range like the other Dell models, though the oldest one has certainly proven its durability over time.
Other brands in that price bracket that would likely be safe bets are Fujitsu or NEC, though they run closer to $250. High-end brands like Eizo are even more expensive.$1000.

Look, I'll admit that brands like Eizo or NEC aren't really my specialty; I don't know that niche very well. Personally, I'm not convinced they justify such a massive price gap compared to mainstream monitors. At the end of the day, you're still looking at 24" 1200p displays, yet you're paying prices comparable to much larger 1440p or 4K mainstream monitors.

Thanks! I'll definitely take a look at that. Best,

Hey everyone.

I'm looking for a new monitor.
Right now I'm using a 22" Samsung SyncMaster T220 I picked up about 10 years ago, hooked up to a 17" Asus ROG G751JY-T7204. Ever since I got my laptop (about 3 years back), the difference in picture quality between the two has been pretty obvious, but I didn't bother upgrading because my desk was tiny. I finally got a new desk, so I guess it's time for an upgrade.

I mostly use my computer for general stuff—browsing, YouTube, Netflix, Microsoft Office—not much gaming. I usually work in a dark room. I'll probably stick with the laptop plus monitor setup since that's just what I'm used to.

I don't want anything bigger than 27", and curved screens aren't really my thing, so I'd prefer a flat one.

Any recommendations? 4K or not, IPS vs VA, should I care about G-Sync (my laptop has it, so maybe it's worth having on the monitor too)? If you have links to reliable review sites, feel free to drop them so I can do some digging.

Budget isn't a huge deal. Black Friday is coming up, so maybe I can find a deal, but let's say $2,500 is the ballpark. I wouldn't mind going over if it actually makes sense.

Thanks.

You’ve certainly listed quite a wishlist there—4K resolution, an IPS or VA panel, and G-Sync support? You better be prepared to shell out anywhere from $500 to $700 $0.00 to pull that off.

Honestly, even the most high-end G-Sync monitors with just a 1080p screen and a TN panel are going to cost you at least $300 $1333, so you aren't getting all those premium specs for cheap.

If your main goal is finding actual value, I’d suggest looking at the usual suspects everyone talks about: those two options mentioned in the posts above yours, plus that Samsung model I pointed out in my post #124 earlier.