Conflicted on a new monitor

I currently have (and am looking to sell) an Acer XB280HK external monitor. It's G-Sync capable and does 4K/60Hz but is limited to a single DisplayPort input.

I have need of a new display that has both DP and HDMI, but I'm conflicted about what to get. Whatever I decide on must support G-Sync. I like having 4K and a 27-28-inch screen, but Windows scaling is still far from perfect. Gaming at that resolution is not going to be ideal for some current and probably many future titles since all I have is a GTX 1070. 2560x1440 would is probably the sweet spot, and these displays, such as the Asus PG279Q or Acer XB271HK, can be had with 144Hz refresh rates, IPS, and be useful without any scaling at all. I did order a Viewsonic XG2703, which uses the same panel as the aforementioned Asus and Acer models, but I had to send it back due to massive light bleed and other quality control issues. I fear having similar problems if I were to go with one of the other displays. There's also the cost: The Asus PG27AQ (4K/60, IPS) is ~$815; the Acer XB271HU (1440p/144, IPS) is $899; the Asus PG279Q (144p/165, IPS) is $750. The Asus PG278Q seemed like an ideal middle ground, but it doesn't have an HDMI input.

That leaves option 3: The Asus PG248Q, which is a 24-inch, 1080p TN display that can do up to 180 Hz. Best Buy, which is the only place in the US to get one new, had it on sale yesterday for $300, marked down from $449. I went ahead and purchased it but have not opened it. When I tried it at the store, I was surprised at how decent it looked. I'm pretty sure I can make it work, and 1080p gaming on the 1070 will be sufficient for a long, long time. I just worry about missing the extra screen real estate, though I'm not sure it'll be enough to justify spending more than twice as much to get it.

Thoughts? BTW - please don't recommend an ultrawide. I don't like them.

 

I'm not to knowledgeable on the the difference between the connections, scaling and light bleed but I can say that my Dell 27 1440p 144Hz Gsync monitor is amazing. Many people disregard dell but it's worth a peek.

 

My suggestion: Spend more, and get the more expensive monitor that you want. The reasons are:
1) Your monitor is something that you will probably keep for the next 5-10 years.
2) You use your monitor 100% of the time that you are using your computer. It defines your computing experience; much more than a faster CPU, more RAM, better GPU, etc will do.

Your specs are:

• G-Sync Support (from GTX 1070 GPU)
• HDMI and DisplayPort inputs
• 1440p resolution preferred
• >60Hz refresh rates preferred

I have two suggestions for you:

1. Get the Asus PG279Q. It's the monitor that checks all of the requirements you have; and the previous model (PG278Q) was widely lauded as the best gaming monitor on the market.
   
   OOOOOOOORRRRRRRRR......
   
   
2. Treat yourself to a true "upgrade," and go 34" ultrawide. The model(s) you want are the Asus PG348Q, or the Acer Predator X34 / X34a. Out of those three, I'd suggest the Asus PG348Q, because of its superior on-screen menu interface. Otherwise, the panels and monitors between those three models are equivalent.
   
   Ultrawide is a godsend for productivity use. It compares to the experience of a dual external monitor setup, without the bezel in the middle of the two screens.
   
   Ultrawide is a fantastic gaming experience. People who have tried both 1440p --> 4K and 1440p --> Ultrawide have said that Ultrawide is the much bigger leap in gaming experience. They compare it to the leap you get when you go from 1080p --> 1440p. And worst case scenario, if a game doesn't support the 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio, just set the resolution to 2560x1440; which will put black bars on the sides of the image, and display an image in equivalent size and pixel density to a 27" 1440p monitor.
   
   If you do game streaming, Ultrawide is the way to go. Play your main game in a 2560x1440 windowed mode, and use the remaining 880x1440 screen real-estate for windows for Twitch, YouTube, Discord, other chat, etc.

 

Asus PG348Q.

Do it.

You know you want to.

Ascend to the Ultrawide Master Race, my friend. Do it.

 

Not happening. Not now. Not ever.

 

Can I ask why?

But back to the original question... If you don't want ultrawide, I'd say just spend the extra money to get the Asus PG279Q. Because if you get anything less, you will be second guessing yourself every time you use your inferior monitor.

TN panel? I wonder how great this would've looked on an IPS.
60Hz? I bet this would look awesome at 144Hz.

Don't worry too much about 1440p vs 4K. 4K resolution is nice, but it's not a must-have. Especially on a 27" monitor.

Also, a GTX1070 will be fine driving a 1440p panel. There will be situations & games where you dip below 144 fps; but that is fine, because G-Sync covers you there, and basically "hides" the fact that your framerate is fluctuating. You won't notice framerate drops until you get down to around 30fps - 40fps, where you notice that there's a slight delay in your input. But above that, I personally don't even notice or realize any framerate fluctuations between 40Hz - 100Hz (the max refresh of my monitor).

 

1) I hate the curved screen
2) I don't have room on my desk

 

Makes sense. BTW, I updated the previous post with suggestions.

I probably won't convince you... but I also hate curved screens, but the curve on the Asus PG348Q and Acer Predator X34 is so subtle you don't notice it. The newer Acer Predator x34a has an obnoxious curve, however.

As for room on desk? Vesa mount it. Ends up using nearly zero desktop footprint, because it "floats" the monitor above your desk surface.

 

VESA mount isn't an option because my "desk" is in front of a window. The setup is a bit unusual in that it's basically an extension of my kitchen countertop, so it can't be moved at all. Also, the ultrawide will obscure part of my laptop's display by virtue of how I have it set up. Again, this is a limitation of the physical work space. I don't use built-in screen often, but it does come in handy when needed.

 

Makes sense.

Good luck on your decision. Go for the Asus PG279Q!

 

HDMI standards are all over the place. That is why it will be hard to find a good monitor with one.
And HDMI cant do anything over 100hz AFAIK.
Even for 4k 60hz you need 2 X HDMI vs a single Display Port. (Depending on the port version)( and finding proper HDMI cables for high bandwidth diaplays Is a PITA)
The ASUS 144HZ / 165 HZ IPS is your best bet. You can always use a converter / splitter.

 

The HDMI ports on these monitors are all 1.4, and I'd be using them for connecting consoles and other PCs, so I don't need more than 1080p/60. My P670RS would be all DisplayPort all the time. That's why I was thinking about going with one of the 4K displays, as 1080p scales better with it versus 1440p.

 

Definitely understandable.

I would suggest looking at powered display hubs / splitters. Will add a bit to the cost but is much easier to use and setup.
Also for console you should be good with DP TO HDMI cables.

 

I found someone locally selling a Dell S2716DG, which is 1440p/144. Despite being a TN panel, it actually looks decent especially once you calibrate it with a combination of the on board and NVIDIA driver controls. Even 1080p doesn't look terrible, at least in games, but the 1070 does perfectly fine at 1440 so that's not really an issue. I also like the 4 USB ports and the fact that they stay active after the display goes to sleep; the latter was an issue with the Acer 4K display.

I will say the monitor is definitely not worth its new price of around $620 on Amazon. At $500 from Dell direct, it's a decent deal, but you'll be waiting weeks to get it as it's been on back order for some time. I paid less than $400 and got the original box plus cables and documentation. For that cost, I am well pleased.


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Dell 27" ultrasharp. Its a sweet monitor.

 

I don't think any of that line supports G-Sync, which is a requirement for me going forward.

While it's not a huge thing, the S2716DG is far and away the most aesthetically pleasing G-Sync monitor out there. The Acer Predator is a bit too Z0MG G4M3R for my liking. Even the Asus ROG is that way, albeit to a lesser extent. The Dell has a professional, understated look to it.

 

Yeah, I like the understated, clean look.

 

The (slightly) updated version the S2716DRG was 338 from dell outlet a few weeks ago. It goes on sale pretty regularly.

Before that it was 314. Early October it was 292 dollars.

 

And with sales tax it would cost more than what I paid. Not to mention no guarantee that you'd get a good one. I at least was able to see mine in person to confirm it was all in working order.

 

You're trying hard to be unhelpful aren't you? Are you planning on selling yours, or what's your point? Dell Outlet has a fantastic return and guarantee policy.

p.s. I don't have 33% sales tax in my state.

 

I was talking about what I paid. Yes, the Dell Outlet is a good price if you are able to get one. It wasn't available at the time I bought mine and would have been more expensive anyway once sales tax was figured in.