Monitor buying guide (mega-thread)

Timothy Kim60 said:Man, you listed everything—4K, IPS/VA, G-Sync. You’re gonna have to drop at least 5 to 7 $0.00 if you want all that

The most overpriced G-Sync monitor with just a 1080p TN panel is still $3$1333 minimum, so yeah, none of that...

If you're looking for value, maybe look at the ones people always bring up, those two from the posts above yours, or that Samsung I mentioned back in post #124

Most of that is just nice-to-have stuff, especially since I'm not really a gamer.
If it's there, cool. If not, as long as it's a decent all-rounder, that's fine by me.

I've been digging around a bit, and this one keeps coming up: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-ultrasharp-27-monitor/spd/dp001 . Would that actually work for what I need? Or is there something better out there? Like maybe https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/monitors-tablets/monitors/lenovo-ips-27-inch-monitor/lenovo-27-inch-ips-monitor?

goldenjackal39 said:Most of that stuff is just nice-to-have, especially since I'm not really a gamer.
If it's there, cool. If not, but it's a solid all-rounder, that works too.

I did some digging and saw this https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/monitors/dell-ultrasharp-u2723qe/spd/27-monitor-u2723qe/lcd-monitor-u2723qe--monitor-category mentioned. Would that actually work for what I need? Or is there something better out there? Like maybe https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/monitors-display/lenovo-thinkvision-27-lenovo-thinkvision-27-lenovo-thinkvision-27-ips-monitor-27-inch-27-inch-27-inch/65v5801-monitor?

Or maybe something like this?
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-27-monitor-s2721qs/5021151.p?skuId=5021151

People rave about this Dell UltraSharp, but I can't say the same for Lenovo. This latest Dell model sits in the S-tier, which basically means it's a step below the UltraSharp line. Honestly, looking at the price tag, I'm not convinced it's worth it when you could just grab one of those highly recommended 31.5" AOC monitors for way less cash.

Following up on my previous point—unless you're a serious gamer, paying extra for G-Sync is like throwing money down the drain, and there's really no reason to shell out for 144Hz monitors either.

Timothy Kim60 said:People talk up this Dell UltraSharp a lot. Not sure about Lenovo. This newer Dell is basically an S-tier model, which means it sits just below the UltraSharp line. Honestly, looking at the price tag, I don't see why you'd pick it over those highly rated 31.5" AOC monitors you can grab for way less cash.

Regarding that previous point—if you aren't a gamer, there's really no reason to pay a premium for G-Sync or 144Hz refresh rates. It's kind of a waste.

So, meaning U2715H is still worth it even though it's from 2014? I guess since it’s still holding its value, that might be a good sign. Plus, people seem to bring it up on forums pretty often.

I’m honestly not sure if it’s actually "worth it" when that AOC model is sitting there at an 80% discount, though I have to admit, users on the forums have been singing its praises quite a bit.

Timothy Kim60 said:I guess I'm not sure if it's actually "worth it" when that AOC model is like 80% cheaper, though people on various forums seem to swear by it.

Are you talking about this one? https://www.amazon.com/AOC-monitor-Q32...5-1356647.aspx

Maybe 32" is just a bit too big for me...

Sure, you can find it cheaper elsewhere. And yeah, unfortunately, it’s way too big for people who sit too close to their desks. I only brought it up from a pure "value" standpoint. If you can snag one of those for around $1,600-$567, while this Dell is sitting at $933, you can't really call the Dell a steal—it's just a solid monitor overall.

Timothy Kim60 said:Yeah, that one, you can find it cheaper too. And yeah, unfortunately, it’s huge if you're sitting too close. I was just mentioning it from a "value" standpoint. If you can snag one of those for $1600-$567, and this Dell comes in at $933, I guess you wouldn't call the Dell a steal, but it's still a solid monitor

I sit about two feet away, so it'll be way too big. Anything bigger than 27" feels pointless to me. Since Black Friday is coming up, maybe I'll find a Dell on sale 🙂
Or maybe it's worth just pulling the trigger on a 4K if something like this is a good deal? https://www.bestbuy.com/details...spx?gid=155325

4K on a 27" screen is just going to feel way too cramped. You really need a much larger diagonal to make sense of it. It’s essentially like trying to cram four FHD displays into a space that's barely even standard for a single FHD monitor

Timothy Kim60 said:4K on a 27" screen is going to feel way too cramped. You'd need a much bigger diagonal for that. It's basically like cramming four FHD screens into a space that's barely even standard for one FHD.

Thanks.
I've been looking at some reviews, and I guess the Dell seems better.

As someone currently typing away on a 34" screen, I'm not convinced anything larger than 27" actually makes sense. :P

ruggedeagle40 said:Look, I'm typing on a 34" right now, and trust me—anything bigger than a 27" is just overkill. :P

👍

A 32", or 31.5" if you want to be precise, feels just right. Especially for work.
Having that extra distance makes it easier on the eyes.

Hey everyone,

Does anyone have recommendations for a budget-friendly monitor? It’s for an older user, and they'll mostly just be using it for web browsing.

Thanks!

Best,

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 via Reddit

This is a solid deal for that kind of cash

😁

Hey everyone,
I’m still stuck in indecision regarding my next monitor choice.
I've been combing through all your suggestions.
That last one mentioned really caught my eye, mostly because the price tag is so much lower.
monitor Dell S2421HS, 23.8" IPS, VGA, HDMI
Could someone please walk me through why this specific model
monitor Samsung Odyssey G5, 24", VA, FHD 1920x1080px, 1ms, VGA, DP, 2xHDMI, NVIDIA G-Sync, 144Hz, curved... is considered superior when it costs twice as much?
I'm trying to figure out if it'll play nice with my current NVIDIA RTX 3060 and all the port configurations.
Right now, I'm working with a 27'' HP monitor that's currently in the shop for repairs—it was honestly fantastic. At the moment, I'm squinting at some cheap 20'' junk I found. I could use some solid recommendations up to $500, or let me know if the more expensive one is actually a legitimate "deal" up to $600. If anyone can get back to me today so I can pull the trigger on an order, I'd be immensely grateful!

P.S. I suspect a 32-inch screen might be overkill for gaming when sitting just 20-24 inches away like I am... so maybe stick to recommendations for 27 inches or less.

Thanks!

It’s priced higher because it offers superior performance—specifically that 144Hz refresh rate which makes a world of difference for gaming—plus you get a much better ergonomic stand and similar perks. If it fits within your budget, and you find that the AOC monitor is too small or the resolution is just too demanding for your setup, then this is definitely the way to go.

In that case, I’ll just go ahead and opt for the curved one. Thanks for the tip!

In my opinion, if you aren't a hardcore gamer playing competitive multiplayer titles, there’s really no reason to overspend. You could easily go with something half the price of a 60Hz or 75Hz model and still be perfectly fine.

Well, I tend to spend the vast majority of my time in multiplayer modes—mostly just diving into various online gaming sessions.

I’ve got a general question for the group: what’s the deal with the long-term reliability of AOC monitors? Like, how do they actually hold up after a few years of heavy use?