Looking for a new monitor

[8bit]

Currently using an LG 32" HDTV as a monitor. Have just moved the PC into another room in the house and the big TV is just too big for the room really, so I'm looking to get a new monitor of a more reasonable size as a replacement.

PC is mostly used for general duties, internet/email/Office-type apps but also some music editing and a bit of gaming. I quite like the look of the Ultra-Wide ones so am keen to hear of any experience with any of those, but I'm not set on it. My graphics card is an AMD/ATI one but it doesn't support Freesync as far as I'm aware.

Budget would be around £realistic

[Murph7355]

I've just bought a 24" Dell Ultrasharp as the first monitor I've bought in nearly 20yrs. It's very good and was a good chunk under £200 I think.

Not ultra wide-screen though.

[PorscheGT4]

I run the new Dell 34" ultra wide curved , it's amazing.

I run out of res on a 1080 screen, so rules out most for photo's

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Monday 18th May 18:09

[grumbledoak]

Dell monitors are very good.

As an alternative I just bought an Asus 24" wide-screen HD with 2ms response and am happy with it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GGQFO5I

[8bit]

Thanks so far. I had a Dell 24" widescreen a few years ago, which went pop one day. I've also had a few similar ones at work go pop after a couple of years so I'm a bit concerned about their longevity.

Is that Asus one fairly standard, i.e. doesn't require proprietary software to work right? I ask because I've had a couple of Asus motherboards and sound cards that seemed very good but relied on some frankly horrible software to get the best of them, which kind of ruined the brand for me a bit.

Since posting, I've been looking at this - http://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/lg-34UM67 - which looks very nice. I know they do another one with a better resolution but it's around £200 more expensive and for my porpoises that's probably overkill. Anyone seen one of these or similar?

[RJames]

You mentioned the 32 was too big, 27" seems to be a happy medium and there is a fair number of great screens at that size now days with good resolution 1440p - take a poke around: http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/m...

[grumbledoak]

8bit said:

Is that Asus one fairly standard, i.e. doesn't require proprietary software to work right? I ask because I've had a couple of Asus motherboards and sound cards that seemed very good but relied on some frankly horrible software to get the best of them, which kind of ruined the brand for me a bit.

Yeah, I just plugged it in via VGA, no software. Windows 8 shows it as "Generic PnP monitor" driver, though it has got the name "ASUS VS247" from somewhere.

[Oakey]

8bit said:

Thanks so far. I had a Dell 24" widescreen a few years ago, which went pop one day. I've also had a few similar ones at work go pop after a couple of years so I'm a bit concerned about their longevity.

I have a 24" Dell 2405fpw sat next to me, it's getting on for ten years old and still going. The DVI port is fked but that was my own doing.

Dell monitors use (or used to at least) Samsung panels so should be fairly reliable.

[8bit]

RJames said:

You mentioned the 32 was too big, 27" seems to be a happy medium and there is a fair number of great screens at that size now days with good resolution 1440p - take a poke around: http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/m...

Yeah, it's sort of between a 34" Ultrawide or a 27" regular 16:9 or 16:10 screen. Anything you can recommend in either size?

ETA - it's the height of the 32" TV that's the issue rather than the width - hence a 34" ultrawide would still work as they're not nearly as tall.

Oakey said:

I have a 24" Dell 2405fpw sat next to me, it's getting on for ten years old and still going. The DVI port is fked but that was my own doing.

Dell monitors use (or used to at least) Samsung panels so should be fairly reliable.

It was a 2405fpw I had too. In fairness it did last about 5 years in the end but for the money it cost at the time I'd have expected better longevity. They do make a good monitor though, have two in front of me at work right now.

Edited by 8bit on Tuesday 19th May 15:45

[130R]

I've got an AOC Q2770Pqu (27 inch / 1440p) and think it's very good. 5ms response is fine for gaming IMO unless you are a really serious FPS gamer: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AOC-Q2770Pqu-Widescreen-Mu...

[Zod]

PorscheGT4 said:

I run the new Dell 34" ultra wide curved , it's amazing.

I run out of res on a 1080 screen, so rules out most for photo's

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Monday 18th May 18:09

I have that one too. It's fabulous.

[LordGrover]

Dell Ultrasharp are very good for computering, no idea about gaming/media.
Their professional range okay but definitely a lower division.

[ZesPak]

Just to throw something in the mix, I've got an Iiyama 27" is with 1440p. It's a great monitor and in terms of picture quality (to my eyes at least) as good as the equivalent Dell at 60% of the price. It has one VGA, Dvi, HDMI, DP. Where the Dell almost has two of each, but I never missed them.

[jimmyjimjim]

Zod said:

PorscheGT4 said:

I run the new Dell 34" ultra wide curved , it's amazing.

I run out of res on a 1080 screen, so rules out most for photo's

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Monday 18th May 18:09

I have that one too. It's fabulous.

Have either of you (or anyone else) run one of the 30" screens as a comparison? My 30"er is getting a bit elderly (now ~10 years old), and while the latest 30" panel (or the 32", but that's a bit too pricey) is the logical replacement, I'm tempted by the 34" Ultra wide. Just interested to see how it compares.

[Foliage]

get 144hz it gives an edge when gaming

[8bit]

Foliage said:

get 144hz it gives an edge when gaming

Surely that's a moot point unless your graphics card(s) can deliver 144 FPS?

[Zod]

jimmyjimjim said:

Zod said:

PorscheGT4 said:

I run the new Dell 34" ultra wide curved , it's amazing.

I run out of res on a 1080 screen, so rules out most for photo's

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Monday 18th May 18:09

I have that one too. It's fabulous.

Have either of you (or anyone else) run one of the 30" screens as a comparison? My 30"er is getting a bit elderly (now ~10 years old), and while the latest 30" panel (or the 32", but that's a bit too pricey) is the logical replacement, I'm tempted by the 34" Ultra wide. Just interested to see how it compares.

Nope, but I have a 27" Dell alongside it and a 27" iMac. It's not just size, but the widescreen aspect that makes the 34" special. It's the same vertical pixel density as the 27" (1440), but 3440 pixels wide, rather than 2560. The 30" screens are deeper at 2560x1600 pixels, but offer less total screen.

[jimmyjimjim]

Thanks, appreciated. I'm quite tempted now, though I don't need it just yet. What card are you driving it with?

[mp3manager]

Whatever monitor the OP ends up getting, ditch the supplied stand and get a desk clamp, it will free up desk space and revolutionize the way you use the monitor.

I've got a Silverstone clamp for my Acer G-Sync.

[ZesPak]

mp3manager said:

Whatever monitor the OP ends up getting, make sure it is VESA-ready, ditch the supplied stand and get a desk clamp, it will free up desk space and revolutionize the way you use the monitor.

I've got a Silverstone clamp for my Acer G-Sync.

EFA