SubJeff on 30/1/2018 at 19:42
I've never used an Ultrawide screen. At work I have 2x22" widescreens, and at home I have 1x27" widescreen.
I used to have 2x27" screens but one went on the blink.
I'm not sure I need 27" monitors but I do like having a lot of screen space so I can have multiple documents/windows open at the same time (e.g. email, a browser, a pdf, word). I could probably cope with slightly smaller height than the 27" provides.
So what does the panel (ho ho) think/recommend?
One Ultrawide or 2 Widescreen monitors? And which ones?
I don't play FPSs much anymore, though I'm planning on Dishonored 2 at some point.
SubJeff on 8/2/2018 at 21:54
Really? No one has one?
heywood on 9/2/2018 at 23:12
Some people have started getting ultrawide monitors where I work. I think they are awesome. Having a single screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio is much nicer to work with than two separate 16:9 monitors side by side. The aspect ratio is more useful, and working with a single screen is easier. I want one.
However... I don't think they're probably the best choice for gaming, especially if you like to engage in some legacy gaming like I do.
A big 4K monitor is another option to consider. 4K monitors render sharper text, can play 4K video (obviously), and are better for viewing high resolution photos. The 16:9 aspect ratio is better for game compatibility. But the extra width of the 21:9 ultrawides makes it easier to work with more windows side by side. My advice is if your primary use for the monitor is web browsing and productivity, get an ultrawide. If you play a lot of games, watch a lot of video, or do a lot of photo work, get a 4K monitor.
EvaUnit02 on 10/2/2018 at 18:28
I dunno about "productivity usage" but pretty much every AAA game release on PC within the last couple years has ultra-wide support. The exceptions are usually games from Japanese developers because of course they are.
heywood on 11/2/2018 at 14:42
I rarely play new AAA games anymore, maybe one a year. When I can carve out time to play a game, it's usually an old favorite or an indie.
One nice thing about 4K vs. ultra-wide is you can play games at 1920x1080 on a 4K display and they look as sharp as they do on a native FHD display (or very nearly so). That's nice if you have a midrange card that can't give you smooth frame rates at 2560x1440 or 3440x1440 on some games, or if you're playing older games that can't support those higher resolutions. It's also better for displaying 1080p video.
Another thing I like about 4K for gaming is that if you do have a high end card and can run games at 4K, the pixel density is high enough that you can turn off anti-aliasing, and then things look really sharp. And one more argument for it is 4K gaming consoles.
You'd have to trade that off against the benefits of a wider FOV.
SubJeff on 12/2/2018 at 06:18
Will I'll keep my 16:9 27" that I run at 1080p so that's no issue.
Any ideas on a good model to match it? Ideally I'd like them to be the same height.
heywood on 12/2/2018 at 12:58
The screen of a 34" 21:9 ultrawide is only a few mm taller than a 27" 16:9. They're likely the same vertical resolution (1440p) and thus have about the same pixel pitch as well.
If you're not going to use if for gaming, my pick would be the Dell U3415W or U3417W because of their color accuracy. The main difference between the two is the curvature. The U3415W is relatively flat while the U3417W is more curved. I think they are both 60 Hz monitors though, so if you have an interest in high refresh rates you'd have to look for a more gaming oriented model.
SubJeff on 12/2/2018 at 19:55
I'll use it for gaming too so those aren't for me I guess.
heywood on 13/2/2018 at 13:46
If you want to stay in the mainstream price range, my next choice would be the LG 34UC88-B. It does 75 Hz and supports FreeSync, and LG's higher end monitors are usually pretty good with image quality
Another one I checked out in person was the Samsung C34F791. I wanted to like this one because it uses a VA panel, so it has deeper blacks and less backlight bleed. It's supports 100 Hz and FreeSync. The colors are blown out in its standard PC mode or game mode. It was better when I switched it to "Basic Color" (sRGB), but it still has a noticeably cool color temperature. I spent about 10 minutes faffing around with custom color temp and gamma settings, but couldn't seem to get accurate color out of it. I have the same problem with a Samsung TV in my bedroom, and it's a deal-killer for me since I do some photo editing and my current monitor is a very accurate Eizo prosumer model.
If you have a high end NVidia card and want G-Sync, you'll have to spend a few hundred more. There are options from Asus, Acer, AOC, and Alienware with 100+ Hz refresh rates and G-Sync. I haven't really looked at any of them. To me, FreeSync/G-Sync and high refresh rates aren't worth the extra cost (monitor + higher end card). 60 Hz is smooth enough for the games I play.