Decent wide-screen monitor with G-sync

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

Ok - time to buy a wide screen monitor - any decent mid-priced suggestions- there are so many to choose from I have NO idea.

Edit:
Some specs would be 21:9 / 34” / Flat or curved / for gaming with Free/G-sync not more than £500 ish.

Morbad · Jul 21, 2021

Might want to specify some criteria like exact aspect ratio (typically 16:9 and 16:10 are widescreen, 21:9 and 21:10 are ultrawide and 32:9 is super-ultrawide or double-widescreen), screen curve preference, resolution, intended use case, and budget.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

Morbad said:
Might want to specify some criteria like exact aspect ratio (typically 16:9 and 16:10 are widescreen, 21:9 and 21:10 are ultrawide and 32:9 is super-ultrawide or double-widescreen), screen curve preference, resolution, intended use case, and budget.

Some specs would be 21:9 / 34” / Flat or curved / for gaming with Free/G-sync not more than £500 ish.
I edited OP

Surefoot · Jul 21, 2021

LG 34gn850 is one of the best (gsync, 34", 21:9, 144/160Hz, IPS..). It's curved though like all ultra wides. You do not notice it when sitting in front. It's above the £500 mark though. You might start from there and explore the LG range... But £500 tops for a g/free/sync 34" ultrawide with good refresh rates AND a good display, you have to drop something there.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

Surefoot said:
LG 34gn850 is one of the best (gsync, 34", 21:9, 144/160Hz, IPS..). It's curved though like all ultra wides. You do not notice it when sitting in front. It's above the £500 mark though. You might start from there and explore the LG range... But £500 tops for a g/free/sync 34" ultrawide with good refresh rates AND a good display, you have to drop something there.

ooohhh - thats nice and it should be at that price.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

I notice that there’s a real price hike if I go from sRGB to P3 colour space. !!

Alec Turner · Jul 21, 2021

IF you can get one my personal recommendation would be the Samsung Odyssey G7 (available in 27" and 32" varieties).

I wrote some stuff about why I chose it (and why I sent back my original first choice) over here ..

SAMSUNG HAS CHANGED THE GAME!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yRhk8iB2YU

forums.frontier.co.uk

I should also add that I believe Samsung fixed the flickering issue I mentioned in that post with a firmware update and personally I never experienced it anyway.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

Alec Turner said:
IF you can get one my personal recommendation would be the Samsung Odyssey G7 (available in 27" and 32" varieties).

I wrote some stuff about why I chose it (and why I sent back my original first choice) over here ..

SAMSUNG HAS CHANGED THE GAME!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yRhk8iB2YU

forums.frontier.co.uk

I should also add that I believe Samsung fixed the flickering issue I mentioned in that post with a firmware update and personally I never experienced it anyway.

Ohhh - thats also nice - I quite like the 34" G55T UWQHD Curved Gaming Monitor and its in price range. I do some modelling, artwork and teaching so the extra space is nice.

PC Monitors | Computer Monitors & Screens | Samsung United Kingdom

Browse the full range of PC monitors, desktop computer monitors & screens. Compare models by price, specs & features. Plus, enjoy free delivery at Samsung UK.

www.samsung.com

£400

Alec Turner · Jul 21, 2021

Fishman said:
Ohhh - thats also nice - I quite like the 34" G55T UWQHD Curved Gaming Monitor and its in price range. I do some modelling, artwork and teaching so the extra space is nice.

PC Monitors | Computer Monitors & Screens | Samsung United Kingdom

Browse the full range of PC monitors, desktop computer monitors & screens. Compare models by price, specs & features. Plus, enjoy free delivery at Samsung UK.

www.samsung.com

£400

Have you used a curved screen before? It's brilliant for gaming but is slightly weird for normal desktop use. You get used to it eventually but straight lines (e.g. even just the edges of window borders) will all seemed curved at first (basically because, unless your eyes just happen to be in the PERFECT position for any given line, they are curved). I only raise that because you mention things like modelling and artwork.

Robert Maynard · Jul 21, 2021

Here's a selection at skinflint: https://skinflint.co.uk/?cat=monlcd19wide&xf=11939_34~11941_21:9~11992_Adaptive+Sync

Morbad · Jul 21, 2021

For modern budget 34" ultrawides the main options are:

Acer Nitro XV340CK

AOC CU34G2X
ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B
GIGABYTE G34WQC
MSI Optix MAG342CQR
Samsung G5 LC34G55TWWNXZA

The Acer is a flat IPS panel, all the others are curved VA panels.

I ruled out anything below 1440p (1080p is just garbage, and the budget rules out anything higher than 1440p) and anything below 120Hz (these are all 144-170Hz). There are may other models that would fit your criteria, but most of them are permutations or older models of these.

I haven't used any of these except the AOC, which isn't bad, but it's missing some controls I find critical and doesn't have particularly good overdrive presets.

Were I to try another one of these, I'd probably give the ASUS a shot first.

You can obviously spend a lot more, but in this size and form factor I think it's waste of money to do so.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

ahhh - I hadn’t thought about straight line issues - I don’t think my OCD could cope. I have an AOC at mo but its really cheap one. You’ve all been really helpful.

Gully Foyle · Jul 21, 2021

Morbad said:
For modern budget 34" ultrawides the main options are:

Acer Nitro XV340CK

AOC CU34G2X
ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B
GIGABYTE G34WQC
MSI Optix MAG342CQR
Samsung G5 LC34G55TWWNXZA

The Acer is a flat IPS panel, all the others are curved VA panels.

I ruled out anything below 1440p (1080p is just garbage, and the budget rules out anything higher than 1440p) and anything below 120Hz (these are all 144-170Hz). There are may other models that would fit your criteria, but most of them are permutations or older models of these.

I haven't used any of these except the AOC, which isn't bad, but it's missing some controls I find critical and doesn't have particularly good overdrive presets.

Were I to try another one of these, I'd probably give the ASUS a shot first.

You can obviously spend a lot more, but in this size and form factor I think it's waste of money to do so.

I’ve been planning to get one of those ASUS monitors for months, I really like their build quality.

Surefoot · Jul 21, 2021

Gully Foyle said:
I’ve been planning to get one of those Asia monitors for months, I really like their build quality.

Beware, for monitors you usually get what you pay for. Be prepared for compromises in image quality, responsiveness / flickering, color shifts, etc.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 21, 2021

the Acer Nitro is on overclockers - I’ll go look at some reviews

Surefoot · Jul 21, 2021

https://tftcentral.co.uk/ is an excellent source too

Morbad · Jul 22, 2021

TFT Central and Hardware Unboxed/Techspot generally have the most informative display reviews, with most other review sites missing increasingly critical data until we get down to some that have no real methodology, and insufficient equipment to provide more than vague anecdotes. Unfortunately the better review sites can only manage to review a handful of what's out there and it's rare for anyone to have access to more than one or two samples of a product.

Also, the sample to sample variance with all but the highest-end displays is such that you can often put two monitors of identical model side by side and be hard pressed to get them to look or behave the same without advanced calibration tools, and that doesn't even factor in defects that cannot be calibrated away.

Ultimately this means that reviews are rough guidelines and you are eventually going to need to pick something and experience it yourself. Unless a product is extremely new, I don't buy one unless I'm sure I could tolerate the product I see in competent reviews...and I still end up sending back about three out of four of the displays I purchase due to damage or defects.

Alec Turner · Jul 22, 2021

Fishman said:
ahhh - I hadn’t thought about straight line issues - I don’t think my OCD could cope. I have an AOC at mo but its really cheap one. You’ve all been really helpful.

Oh yeah, a curved monitor is definitely an OCD trigger!

I do love it but the weirdest thing (for me) is that whenever I now sit down at a flat screen (as I am right now at work), I completely preceive the screen as being bent backwards.

CMDR Von Abrahart · Jul 22, 2021

Alec Turner said:
Oh yeah, a curved monitor is definitely an OCD trigger!
I do love it but the weirdest thing (for me) is that whenever I now sit down at a flat screen (as I am right now at work), I completely preceive the screen as being bent backwards.

I’m not sure I could cope - I might just get a simple 16:9 34” that should be big enough

Surefoot · Jul 22, 2021

Fishman said:
I’m not sure I could cope - I might just get a simple 16:9 34” that should be big enough

You definitely can cope. Holding a straight object like a ruler in front of the screen feels weird though - the ruler seems bent.
But yeah a completely flat 27" and more - lines will appear to bend outwards. Curved screens are made to at least manage a bit that perspective issue.