Help me pick monitor(s) for new computer i9-9900k 32GB 2080ti 970SSD

[jevs]

I already have a nice system, but I decided it to pass it on to one of the kids so we will have 3 nice rigs.
We currently run Predator X34's, but I am considering passing mine on and doing something else. I just don't know what?
I do mostly desktop apps. Spreadsheets, business related stuff, PDF's, Internet, CAD, editing, 3D printing, CAM, Vinyl cutting, etc. but I also want a very capable gaming system.

This is the build I am doing and everything is ordered. The only thing left to decide on is displays.
I9-9900K
Thermaltake Core P3 Tempered Glass Snow Case
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GAMING OC 11G
CORSAIR Vengeance RGB PRO 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz C16 LED Memory - White
ASUS Prime Z390-A
Windows 10 Pro
SAMSUNG 970 EVO M.2 2280 1TB
CORSAIR RM750x White P/S
CORSAIR Hydro Series, H115i RGB PLATINUM Cooler
CORSAIR - M65 RGB Elite Wired Optical Gaming Mouse - White
CORSAIR - Gaming K70 RGB MK.2 SE
MM800 RGB POLARIS Gaming Mouse Pad

I just have no idea which way to go. I feel like multi-monitor might be better for productivity, but at the same time the ultrawide screens are probably nicer for gaming?

The whole proprietary Gsync thing really kills the options too (if I should even limit to these options).

Some considerations are a bigger higher resolution single ultrawide like the Acer CZ380CQK 37.5" WQHD+ 75Hz, but it does not have Gsync and it is a bit slower than the X34.

Another consideration is a triple 27" 165hz 1440 gysnc setup. This would work the system and actually use it's power and give multiple monitors for productivity and speed for gaming. It would however have the smaller width center screen than my 34 now, but faster if the system can keep up. This is of no concern for anything but games which I currently cannot even do because of time constraints, but I want to plan for having that time!

Another consideration is something in the 4k range of things, but they all start getting slow (60hz). The fast one is too small to limit to one screen and the larger ones are slow. In the past 60hz has never bothered me because I never have the time to game that I would like to. However, I need to hope that can change some day

I could also do three 32" 1440's (slower, but nice and big).

Also, a larger 4k screen in the center and two 27" on the sides or something could be done.

I could even do three 4k monitors, which would likely be very nice for most of what I do, but might get slow on games if they will even support three 4k screens.

Anyway, I am all over the place and cannot decide what would be best. I know the pixel load gets high on some of these hi res triple setups, but why else do I need this computer build anyway if I am not going to tax it a little. My i7 and a 1080ti runs my x34 just fine really.

So, I am just looking for some discussion on the best setup for me. I am not really worried about money within reason. I use my computer a lot, so I don't mind putting money in it.

Desk space is not an issue either. I just ordered a big sturdy 72x30 Benchpro Kennedy workbench for my new desk.

I am just opening up some discussion while I continue researching also. I already spent a ton of time looking and figure I would see what some other people think.

Thanks!

 

[thtran6]

you could also get a TV to use instead of a monitor.
The main limitation with using TV as a computer monitor is that it has slow response time and consequently ghosting/clouding during fast moving scenes.
However, there are certain TV on the market right now that has been designed to "mitigate" this limitation as much as they could.
Take a look at the samsung nu8000 and read some review/video about and see if you would like it. Although it is a little low on the refresh rate (Hz), the 49'' screen 4k hdr10 plus a bunch of color and image enhancement features should beat any gaming monitors.
Just throwing it out there for ya.

I have also done 3 Dell Alienware AW3418DW (ultrawide 3440x1440p 120Hz Gsync and IPS panel) monitors at one point but it was a lot of neck work. Truly immersive in first person perspective game though. Idk but you might like it.

 

[jevs]

you could also get a TV to use instead of a monitor.
The main limitation with using TV as a computer monitor is that it has slow response time and consequently ghosting/clouding during fast moving scenes.
However, there are certain TV on the market right now that has been designed to "mitigate" this limitation as much as they could.
Take a look at the samsung nu8000 and read some review/video about and see if you would like it. Although it is a little low on the refresh rate (Hz), the 49'' screen 4k hdr10 plus a bunch of color and image enhancement features should beat any gaming monitors.
Just throwing it out there for ya.

I have also done 3 Dell Alienware AW3418DW (ultrawide 3440x1440p 120Hz Gsync and IPS panel) monitors at one point but it was a lot of neck work. Truly immersive in first person perspective game though. Idk but you might like it.

I actually did this a few years back on a 980 video card. I had a 49" 4k TV that would run 60hz. It was one of a couple out at the time that could do it. I used this for a long time. This was "okay", but I don't want to go that big and I do want to steer clear of TV's. They just don't adjust out like a monitor. You have to play with the sharpness and all of that and they just never look quite as good. It also just stretches the pixels out and makes you look all over when it is that big. The top of the screen ends up not getting used as much.

With that said, I am not considering TV's, but larger 4k monitors are still on the table as options.
Would be nice if a computer wouldn't kill an OLED TV with burn in I switched our TV's in the house to OLED and I can never go back.....nothing compares (no matter what the sales people of the others try to tell you ).

There are 4k monitor options out there that feel plenty big now. They are just 60hz though.
Something like a LG 32UD59-B or Samsung UJ590 are only $350. Too bad they are both Freesync and VA panels though. I guess the VA is a little better than TN. Honestly I am not sure I would notice they are not IPS once they are setup. 3 of these could be an option, but without Gsync that would be some serious pixels to deal with. However, for desktop stuff maybe it would still be good?

There are some smaller 27" 4k monitors with Gsync that are only 60 hz too. I just don't know how three 4k panels would work. A single 27" 4k is out for me. I cannot go that small on one monitor even with the high res. I would rather have my 34" 1440 widescreen.

Edit *refreshing my knowledge on panel types* VA panels might not be a bad idea for me. The better contrast could be pleasing and the little bit of extra blur would not even be noticed doing desktop apps, but they could look better. If I end up stuck at 60hz, then these are seeming viable.....however three 4k monitors? Not so sure this is going to work out in a game...?

 

[rustigsmed]

you could also get a TV to use instead of a monitor.
The main limitation with using TV as a computer monitor is that it has slow response time and consequently ghosting/clouding during fast moving scenes.
However, there are certain TV on the market right now that has been designed to "mitigate" this limitation as much as they could.
Take a look at the samsung nu8000 and read some review/video about and see if you would like it. Although it is a little low on the refresh rate (Hz), the 49'' screen 4k hdr10 plus a bunch of color and image enhancement features should beat any gaming monitors.
Just throwing it out there for ya.

I have also done 3 Dell Alienware AW3418DW (ultrawide 3440x1440p 120Hz Gsync and IPS panel) monitors at one point but it was a lot of neck work. Truly immersive in first person perspective game though. Idk but you might like it.

low on the refresh rate (nu8000)? it can do 120hz in 1080p and 1440p (although 1440p has some colour issues at the moment apparently). input lag down to under 10ms in some settings and freesync.

 

[jevs]

you could also get a TV to use instead of a monitor.
The main limitation with using TV as a computer monitor is that it has slow response time and consequently ghosting/clouding during fast moving scenes.
However, there are certain TV on the market right now that has been designed to "mitigate" this limitation as much as they could.
Take a look at the samsung nu8000 and read some review/video about and see if you would like it. Although it is a little low on the refresh rate (Hz), the 49'' screen 4k hdr10 plus a bunch of color and image enhancement features should beat any gaming monitors.
Just throwing it out there for ya.

I have also done 3 Dell Alienware AW3418DW (ultrawide 3440x1440p 120Hz Gsync and IPS panel) monitors at one point but it was a lot of neck work. Truly immersive in first person perspective game though. Idk but you might like it.

low on the refresh rate (nu8000)? it can do 120hz in 1080p and 1440p (although 1440p has some colour issues at the moment apparently). input lag down to under 10ms in some settings and freesync.

That is high input lag compared to just about anything I have looked at (double or more). Freesync is useless if your running Nvida GPU, so regular vsync is still all you can get. You then still have the TV issues to deal with on how sharpness and the other things a TV does that kinda make it not as good as a monitor. So, TV is still out for me unless something in the 4k 32" range beats a monitor that I am not aware of?
If your going to run a TV, then 1080p and 1440p numbers would be meaningless to me. If I was going TV, then 4K would have to be the option.

I went to Microcenter last night to look around and I still don't know what to do. Picking monitors to utilize a 2080ti is and a decent computer build is trickier than one might think. It is pretty much overkill to me if your running a single 34" widescreen alone because of the price difference from a 1080ti which runs one pretty darn well with a good rig to back it.

If you start looking at triple 2560x1440, it gets interesting, but then you lose the nice things about the center widescreen. You also do not get anything bigger or better resolution in the center unless you step up to a slower refresh rate 32" 2560x1440. However, you can get speed if you buy expensive ones (at least to the point the system can run all these pixels). I am not sure what games even support triple screens like this without issues other than maybe racing sims. It would be decent for desktop work though. This option is still on the table.

Going to one small 4k 27" seems to be a downgrade from the 34" widescreen to me other than you get a little better picture quality and they do sell a really expensive fast one.

The 32" gsync 4k is $700 and maxes out at 60hz, but this could make a decent option for the center screen and then add something on the sides, but then you would have different size monitors on the sides which may not work great for any games. It would be good for productivity though. If you went with 3 of these 4k monitors it would be a heck of a lot a pixels for a game and the system to keep up with. It would probably be fine for desktop apps. 3 of them would be north of $2k also.

Going to a larger 5k widescreen could be decent, but the ones out have no Gsync (thanks again Nvidia for make this all way harder!)

There is also an option of sticking to a fast Gsync 34" widescreen and adding a second monitor somewhere to help with productivity, but because of the width about the only option is to go above it. Going to the sides of a widescreen might just wear your neck out.

So, this is some of my thoughts and I have no clue which way to go yet. I welcome more opinions. There seems to be no perfect answer yet and they all have compromises. I do think I have to put desktop productivity above gaming though. In reality I have not had time to play a game on my computer in a very long time (even though I would love to).

I did get a low speed 32" 2560x1440 for my main screen at work recently. I am kind of liking that, however since it has no gsync and I don't think its a great panel, I wouldn't get this one for myself. But I am liking the idea of something in the 32" range for a center and possibly all three...so you could at least run a racing sim etc.