What gaming monitor to get?

I'm debating between the 2 gaming monitors right now...but there's a few things I would like to weigh.

Should I stick with my ASUS PG27UQ [4k 144Hz] or go with the ASUS XG279Q [2K 170Hz] for my monitor?

I've come to realize that no GPU currently can even handle 4k resolution with 144Hz...and I've read a lot online that the new generation of GPUs coming out soon won't be able to handle it either probably. It makes me think it's pointless keeping the 4k monitor and honestly switching between 4k and 2k on a 27 inch monitor is hard to notice any difference to the baked eye. With that being said maybe I should downgrade my monitor to the XG279Q in thinking. In the end too I think there will be future computer 4k 144Hz monitors that will be coming out that will be better anyways utilizing new DP port versions. I really enjoy higher framerates as smooth gameplay is nice. I would to utilize high/ultra settings with good frames and it seems like in the end a 2k monitor maybe the way to go. I'll be honest I do know my GPU isn't even good enough to do 4k with 100+ frames per second but I was planning to upgrade to the 3080/3080Ti when it's out. I currently run some games in 4k at 60 frames per second.

Would anyone be able share some input on their thoughts of which monitor is the way to go. I feel like the PG27UQ is not being utilized to its full potential because there is no GPU that is capable out there right now to do it. Any input would be appreciated!

I would sell my PG27UQ for probably $1050 and pick up the XG279Q for about $500.

My current specs:
i9-9900k
EVGA 2070 - regular not SUPER
32 GB 3600MHz
2 TB SSD

 

I game on the OG Acer XB273K (G-Sync Module version) 4K 144Hz monitor and I absolutely love it. It took me awhile to get used to the slightly slower pixel reponsiveness that came with IPS, but I've gotten very used to it and I love it. I came from a 1440p 144Hz G-Sync Dell TN 27" panel with around 3ms of pixel reponse time. The IPS on this panel is around 6ms with the actual usable overdrive setting. Luckily there is a service menu that can be accessed with a keycode and you can manaully tweak the OD to a more usable level and get the pixel reponse to an even better state than the preset values on the normal menu.

On to your question you asked about what you should do. I would wait and upgrade. The new GPUs are just around the corner, and even a 3080 is rumored to be 20% faster than 2080 Ti. That will be enough to drive 4K 144Hz with some reduced settings in a lot of titles. Currently I use the 2080 Ti with a nice OC and I get over 100, most of the time I hit 138fps g-sync limit of my monitor (driver imposes 138fps with v-sync also selected to ensure you stay in g-sync range). I game mostly FPS games, with medium settings and ultra textures and filtering. This gives the best image clarity and removes all the BS that removes your ability to be as competetive. With you gaming on a 2070, ya I can imagine your experience is sub par. You really need an overclocked 2080 Ti to drive this monitor and even then you are reducing some settings. That said, the 4K image quality with medium settings is far far superior to anything 1440p could ever hope to achieve. Honestly go back to a 1440p monitor and it will be like comparing 1080p to 720p or worse. It's really bad once you've used 4K.

Currently I am waiting on the LG 27GN950-B 4K 160Hz (with OC) HDR600 and G-Sync compatible to release in the US. It's biggest attraction for me is the new IPS 1ms panels, and use of Display Stream Compression to achieve 4K 144Hz with no need to chroma sub sample. In practice I don't notice chroma sub sampling on my XB273K with my 2080 Ti, but if I switch to a 1070 I have laying around then it's there and really bad. I'm not quite sure how that works since they both use DP 1.4, but it's really nasty on the 1070. The 2080 Ti looks just like normal 444. I assume at some level this GPU is using DSC even though the monitor isn't certified for it. 10 series does not support DSC.

The downside to the GN950 is the loss of the actual G-Sync module and with that is the loss of variable overdrive. Having used a G-Sync compatible non-certified panel for a bit, I didn't really notice anything off. It worked pretty flawlessly with no screen tearing which is all I really care about. I still would have rather had an actual G-Sync module and paid the g-sync tax, but as long as adaptive sync is working I'll be happy with that cut.

 

I just bought the G-Sync compatible version of the XB273K, the one that requires two DisplayPort cables to run at 4K/144. I use one DP input for my desktop and the other for my laptop. While this limits the display to 4K/120 Hz, I am able to use G-Sync with both. Anything above 60 Hz is great, and the extra pixel density with 4K versus the 1440p/144 Hz monitor I had before is making a bigger difference than I thought. The other attractive aspect to going 4K is NVIDIA Integer Scaling, which allows games to run at 1080p with a much lower hit to image quality than would be possible otherwise. I'm not particularly sensitive to response times, probably because I've been using LCD monitors since the early 2000s, back when 25ms was considered revolutionary.

Saw that up for pre-order on B&H and was surprised to see that it's not going to be outrageously priced. Guess that's what happens when you don't have to pay the hardware G-Sync tax. I've not had any issues using VRR, even with monitors that aren't on NVIDIA's officially supported list, but I don't play games competitively or even online for that matter.

 

Very nice! The diffrence between 144Hz and 120Hz is very small and I doubt anyone would notice that small change and your 2080 Super should drive that nicely. I think I might end up stick with this XB273K for another gen until we see some substantial changes in monitor tech. For me this thing is crystal clear, I use 150% scaling on the desktop and while you lose desktop space the text and image is superb. I've also tried out that GPU scaling tech with Nvidia GPUs and it looks great in games. Most games also include resolution scaling sliders and running at 90% is really not too noticeable vs native.

 

I'm waiting on next gen (Been running my 5700XT AE for about a year now) either 3k series or big Navi before moving to 4k, but I'd prefer an IPS display 30-35" in size @ 4k. I'm still running a 2560x1600 30" HP (two of them actually) and before that a 2560x1600 30" Apple. The LG 27GN950-B looks really nice and priced competitively though.

 

I would sell and buy a 1440P Gsync 165Hz monitor or something equivalent, or use what you have for future growth. That monitor will last you years! A heavily overclocked 2080Ti that is getting around 17K timespy graphics score can push my resolution of 1440P very well, at a very high frame rate in practically any game. Anymore resolution, and you lose that super smooth feeling in the mouse.

From what I have seen and researched a leaked RTX3090 or RTX3080Ti scores around 18,200 timespy graphics stock. So, we have an idea of how powerful they will be.

We just aren’t yet ready for 4K 144HZ, but we may finally master 1440P 165Hz though. And with next gen, the average mid range GPU will maybe provide that power.

I think 1440P 165HZ or 170HZ is plenty. And there will always be a game that pushes high end GPU’s.

Monitors seems to outlive multiple generations of GPU’s they are just ahead of there own time usually. I run a Asus PG278QR. But really it is identical almost to the PG278Q which originally released back in mid 2014. That is incredible, that even all of these years later this monitor is actually best suited in 2020 lol.

So if you keep your 4K 144HZ monitor, you might be able to use it all the way to 2025 lol easily!