Question Best budget 32" gaming monitor

[Mechanicos]

Hi everyone, i am having a hard time deciding on what budget gaming monitor to purchase.
This is what i am looking for:

1. 32"
2. WQHD
3. 2K resolution, 4K would be very expensive
4. 1ms (GtG) ( not sure this is possible for a budget monitor)
5. Display Port
6. HDR 10 (again not sure if this is available for budget monitors) probably it would be HDR 400
7. Curved
8. 144hz
9. VA Panel

Samsung Odyssey G5 32" is one of the monitors i am considering that has all the above specs except the 1ms (GtG) at a good price.
However, I have seen reviews where they say that the Samsung G5 Odyssey is not very bright, it has low contrast ratio and also doesnt support wide gamut colours.
I am not really interested on a particular brand. https://www.samsung.com/za/monitors/gaming/odyssey-g5-32-inch-144hz-1ms-curved-lc32g55tqwrxen/

 

[CompuGuy71]

What is your actual budget?

"Budget" is a subjective measure.

 

[Aeacus]

Besides the Samsung G5 one, here are 3 more, 2K monitors, that mostly meet your requirements;

1. ASUS TUF Gaming 32" (VG32VQ1B) - amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088MKF848
2. ASUS TUF Gaming 32" (VG32VQ) - amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VFKSGRW
3. SAMSUNG Odyssey G7 32" (LC32G75TQSNXZA) - amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088HHZBGJ

Read each monitor review to find the best one for you.

 

[Mechanicos]

What is your actual budget?

"Budget" is a subjective measure.

I would say around 400euros excluding VAT

 

[Mechanicos]

Besides the Samsung G5 one, here are 3 more, 2K monitors, that mostly meet your requirements;

1. ASUS TUF Gaming 32" (VG32VQ1B) - amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088MKF848
2. ASUS TUF Gaming 32" (VG32VQ) - amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VFKSGRW
3. SAMSUNG Odyssey G7 32" (LC32G75TQSNXZA) - amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088HHZBGJ

Read each monitor review to find the best one for you.

The ASUS TUF 32" VG32VQ looks good at a reasonable price.

 

[Aeacus]

The ASUS TUF 32" VG32VQ looks good at a reasonable price.

In-depth review here,
link: https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/tuf-vg32vq

While it isn't 100% perfect in every category, it's cheap price makes it good monitor at that price range.

 

[Mechanicos]

I know, neither the SAMSUNG G5 neither the ASUS VG32VQ are perfect but for a WQHD resolution this is very cheap.

However i am now reconsidering the samsung g5 1000R curve, i think that its too much since i am also doing a lot of work on my PC, i use BIM software for architectural and structural modelling.

 

[Why_Me]

Check MSI while your at it.

https://www.msi.com/Monitors

 

[Aeacus]

Check MSI while your at it.

https://www.msi.com/Monitors

From MSI, there are only two monitors that seemingly would fit OP's requirements.
Comparison between the two: https://www.msi.com/Monitors/Produc...compare=T3B0aXgtTUFHMzIxQ1FS,T1BUSVgtQUczMkNR

But neither of the two has HDR, so they both are out.
For having HDR, monitor brightness, at minimum, must be 400 cd/m². These two MSI monitors have them at 300 cd/m² and 250 cd/m², making them SDR monitors.

 

[Mechanicos]

I have been doing a bit more research and i have canceled out GIGABYTE and AOC due to bad customer service.

I am leaning towards ASUS monitors now. I already have an Asus graphics card and an asus motherboard...from what i remember they have good customer support in Germany, which is from where i get my stuff from but i am located in Cyprus. Also they are a big brand with good quality products.

 

[Colif]

I would suggest mine but its not curved. Probably does everything else though.

 

[Mechanicos]

ROG STRIX XG32VC

Is this one worth the extra bucks above the TUF gaming VG32VQ?

 

[Mechanicos]

I would suggest mine but its not curved. Probably does everything else though.

Is it also IPS and ASUS? I have been looking at one....

 

[Colif]

No, I was more talking about your 9 points. Its from LG.

in hind sight its also only qhd
https://www.lg.com/au/it-monitors/lg-32GK650F-B

 

[Mechanicos]

Can someone compare these two for me?

ASUS ROG STRIX XG32VC
ASUS TUF GAMING VG32VQ

I mean, is there something specific about the XG32VC that is worth the 100extra euros, other than then response time?

from what i see, brightness and contrast are the same.

What about their HDR technologies, i dont understand their differences or which is best?

 

[Aeacus]

Can someone compare these two for me?

ASUS ROG STRIX XG32VC
ASUS TUF GAMING VG32VQ

I mean, is there something specific about the XG32VC that is worth the 100extra euros, other than then response time?

From what i can tell (there could be more differences, didn't look that in-depth);
ROG - 170 Hz, USB-C, USB Hub: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, Lighting effect (Aura) : Aura Sync, power consumption: 39W
TUF - 144 Hz, HDMI 2.0 (TUF has two HDMI ports, ROG has one HDMI port), power consumption: 90W

ROG has more features, has higher refresh rate, some RGB eyecandy, consumes 2.1 times less power and overall, is justified in price gap compared to TUF.

What about their HDR technologies, i dont understand their differences or which is best?

Both monitors have HDR10, so it doesn't matter which one you go for, in terms of HDR.
Further reading about what HDR is: https://www.viewsonic.com/library/photography/what-is-hdr-hdr-vs-sdr/

 

[Mechanicos]

Thank god i didnt gi with a budget VA panel monitor, i would have hated the black smearing for sure.

I decided to go with a budget IPS panel, well it was once not that budget friendly.

I am going with the GIGABYTE AORUS FI32Q, cant beat that price, the only thing closest is 100 euros more and its the LG 32GP850-B

https://www.gigabyte.com/Monitor/AORUS-FI32Q#kf

https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-32gp850-b-gaming-monitor

 

[Aeacus]

I am going with the GIGABYTE AORUS FI32Q

Compared to both Asus VA panels above, that IPS panel has poor contrast ratio of 1000:1. <- This is one of the flaws of IPS panel, since this doesn't make blacks look black, instead gray or some form of blue. Now, VA panel is made taking the best of both panels, TN and IPS. Due to that, with VA panels, min contrast ratio they have, is 3000:1, where only VA panel is capable of producing the deepest and richest blacks.
Contrast ratio wise, TN panel is equal to IPS panel, 1000:1.

Further reading about contrast ratio: https://www.cnet.com/culture/contrast-ratio-or-how-every-tv-manufacturer-lies-to-you/

Overall;
TN - best performance (refresh rate, response time etc).
IPS - best color accuracy, best viewing angles.
VA - overall best including best contrast ratio. VA is like jack of all trades.

 

[Mechanicos]

Yes i did read about the contrast of IPS panels, however i am willing to sacrifice that over the black smearing of VA panels. After watching the above video i dont think i could bear black smearing while gaming, even if other panels have lower black smearing than the video illustrates.

After all i already have a samsung 1080p IPS panel and still the graphics where fine. Therefore the AORUS FI32Q is a major upgrade for me.

Since i am already used to IPS panels i dont want to be surprised with how bad black smearing may be.

 

[Aeacus]

Since i am already used to IPS panels i dont want to be surprised with how bad black smearing may be.

After all i already have a samsung 1080p IPS panel and still the graphics where fine. Therefore the AORUS FI32Q is a major upgrade for me.

That's fine. I upgraded from TN panel to VA panel, so i was blown away how good VA panel is, both color accuracy and rich blacks, that TN panel never can achieve.