Advice needed on Gaming PC Monitor Brands and Features

[Guest]

I am planning to replace my HP 2311x monitor next month on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I am looking for a 1080p gaming monitor with a screen size between 23 and 27 inches with a price range of $250 +/-$25. However, with the exception of refresh rates and response times, I am not very knowledgeable on monitor features. The monitor that I buy will initially be connected to an ASUS GTX 970 GPU via HDMI using adaptive vertical sync, but I plan to rebuild or replace my gaming PC this coming summer and am currently leaning toward a GTX 1070, 1080, or 1170 (dependant on the latest model available by Nvidia) when I replace my current hardware unless Radeon offers a comparable GPU at a significantly lower price. My questions are as followed:

1. What additional features should I keep an eye on when selecting a replacement monitor?
2. What monitor brands or models would you recommend based on the descriptions I listed above?
3. I looked over G-Sync, Freesync, vsync, and adaptive vsync. Does adaptive vsync negatively impact GPU feeds and communication to the monitor? If so, how?
4. If the monitor I purchase has AMD's Freesync, would I be better off getting a Radeon GPU or will I still be alright with an Nvidia GPU?

Right now I am currently considering the ViewSonic XG2401 23.6" 144Hz Monitor as a potential candidate.
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/rY98TW/viewsonic-monitor-xg2401

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chugalug_]

Go for a high refresh rate with an IPS panel optimally.
G-Sync/Freesync just makes the image look much smoother.
It depends on what your budget is, if you plan to get a 1070/1080, i'd kick up a bit more cash and go with a 1440p 144hz option such as the XF270HU which has an IPS panel, or the TN Dell S2417DG if you want a 24" 1440p model. Not sure how the latter is though, but it has G-Sync, and the 27" version was very good.
Links: XF270HU (IPS): http://pcpartpicker.com/product/sqp323/acer-monitor-xf270hu
S2417DG (TN): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOO4SGK/?tag=pcpapi-20
XG270HU (TN): http://pcpartpicker.com/product/spbkcf/acer-monitor-umhg0ee001
If you got a freesync monitor, it would work with an Nvidia card fine, just without the freesync function.

 

[weberdarren97]

1. Viewing Angle, Contrast Ratio, maximum and minimum brightness, display technology.

3. None of them affect output in a negative way. V-Sync will slow down the output of the graphics card to match the refresh rate of the monitor. Adaptive V-sync does basically the same thing. Freesync only works on AMD cards. GSync only works on Nvidia cards. When the GPU is able to output frames faster than the screen can display, these two technologies act as Vsync. However, when the GPU outputs frames slower than the screen's display rate, it adapts the screen's display rate to eliminate frame stutter and reduce image ghosting.

4. Freesync only works with AMD cards. Gsync only works with Nvidia cards.

For your budget, I would recommend one of the following: Nixeus NX-VUE24B I'm aware that this model is Freesync, but I couldn't find any Gsync panels within your budget that hadn't made compromises to refresh rate or contrast ratio to get the price down. I find it disgusting that Nvidia charges to put a Gsync controller thingy in the panel.

 

[weberdarren97]

Go for a high refresh rate with an IPS panel optimally.
G-Sync/Freesync just makes the image look much smoother.
It depends on what your budget is, if you plan to get a 1070/1080, i'd kick up a bit more cash and go with a 1440p 144hz option such as the XG270HU which has an IPS panel, or the TN Dell S2417DG if you want a 24" 1440p model. Not sure how the latter is though, but it has G-Sync, and the 27" version was very good.
Links: XG270HU (IPS): http://pcpartpicker.com/product/sqp323/acer-monitor-xf270hu
S2417DG (TN): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOO4SGK/?tag=pcpapi-20
If you got a freesync monitor, it would work with an Nvidia card fine, just without the freesync function.

Both of your recommendations are well outside of OP's $250 budget.

 

[Chugalug_]

@weberdarren97, he states that he is going to upgrade to a 1070/1080/1170 in the future, if you were to get a 1080 for example, and a 1080p 144hz BenQ monitor, you wouldn't be getting a good experience.
I'm putting options out there, just because it's in budget doesn't mean it is the best option for the user.
I actually forgot to add in one option above, I meant to put in a TN 1440p 144hz monitor without G-Sync which goes for about $380.
Edited now.

 

[weberdarren97]

Oh okay... Information like that would have been better said up front, rather than just now saying it after I pointed out the budget bit. I'm not trying to be rude, just constructive criticism.

I do agree with your thinking, that what will fit into OP's budget isn't the best that he could get to pair with the graphics cards that he's looking at. However, not everybody can just increase their budget so easily. I mean, when it comes to the end of the month, I'm usually down to about $200-300.

 

[rhysiam]

OP - given that you already have a 1080P 23" display, I'm no sure that "upgrading" to a ~$250 display is going that make that much difference. Then, as others have already pointed out, if you're looking at a 1070/1080 tier of card next summer, it's going to be entirely pointless unless you then upgrade your monitor again.

You're better off (IMHO) living with your current display and putting your monitor budget aside until you purchase the GPU upgrade. We are seeing widescreen and/or high res/frame rate gaming monitors become increasingly affordable. And you can also then ensure that your new display is a perfect fit for whatever GPU you choose at the time.

 

[weberdarren97]

OP - given that you already have a 1080P 23" display, I'm no sure that "upgrading" to a ~$250 display is going that make that much difference. Then, as others have already pointed out, if you're looking at a 1070/1080 tier of card next summer, it's going to be entirely pointless unless you then upgrade your monitor again.

You're better off (IMHO) living with your current display and putting your monitor budget aside until you purchase the GPU upgrade. We are seeing widescreen and/or high res/frame rate gaming monitors become increasingly affordable. And you can also then ensure that your new display is a perfect fit for whatever GPU you choose at the time.

I agree completely.

However, I believe that OP has the right to decide if he needs to upgrade now or if he can save up and buy the monitor at a later time. He may not be able to purchase the graphics card and monitor at the same time down the road if he's tight on cash.

 

[rhysiam]

However, I believe that OP has the right to decide if he needs to upgrade now or if he can save up and buy the monitor at a later time. He may not be able to purchase the graphics card and monitor at the same time down the road if he's tight on cash.

Well of course OP has the right to do whatever she/he wants with his/her money! At what point has anyone suggested otherwise? I even put "IMHO" up front just to be sure that what I was writing was taken for what it was: advice/suggestion/recommendation. OP is entirely free to disregard it and go their own way.