Question True 4K monitor vs 2560 x 1080 with HDR10?

[consptheory77]

I am in the market for a new, sharper, monitor but I am unsure whether to go with the full 4K at normal ratio or UltraWide (and cheaper) but still with HDR. The HDR seems more important than the actual resolution. I don't want to spend much more than $300. Does anyone have experience with these models or have any alternate recommendations?

 

[mihen]

HDR10 isn't that important in a modern monitor. Most people will fail to notice the difference on IPS or VA panel monitors due to the low threshold these panels would need to achieve at least DisplayHDR 400. Pretty much any modern IPS or VA panel would have HDR10 attached to it. With HDR I would recommend at least DisplayHDR 600. The cheaper 4k monitors tend to be cheap for a reason even though some strides have been made in recent years. These two technologies would be putting you in the $500 range to have a good recommendation.

With 27" in your price range I would opt for a 1440p HDR monitor. 1440p seems to be the sweet spot for 27" and HDR would imply that it was made recently since it can be difficult to shop for recent monitors. The issue with a 4k display is that most graphics cards are not capable of displaying games at a consistent 60fps or above. The real question is do you want more contrast ratio (VA) or better color accuracy (IPS)?

 

[consptheory77]

What I already have:
a Dell U2412M, which is 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz 300 cd/m² 82% color gamut
a RX580, but I don't do much PC gaming although I might do more if I had a three monitor set up (the dream!)

and I recently got, by way of contrast, a 43 inch 4K Roku Series 4 TV, which maxes out at 250 nits, way below par for the technology, I know, but the difference is still a discernable and pleasant upgrade.

So I'm not sure if the contrast or the color accuracy is more important to me. I am also not sure I would like the curved monitors. I do want more desktop space for multitasking, a window for an online game, a window for social media, one for reading books, one for composition and note-taking.

This LG is HDR600 @ $500

https://www.amazon.com/LG-32UL750-W-Monitor-Display-Silver/dp/B07NS7JKJH/

This Samsung is 1440p @ $450
(looks "considerably better in sRGB" than in psuedo-HDR, one customer says)

Amazon.com: Samsung C27HG70 27" HDR QLED 144Hz 1ms Curved Gaming Monitor with FreeSync (C27HG70QQN): Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: Samsung C27HG70 27" HDR QLED 144Hz 1ms Curved Gaming Monitor with FreeSync (C27HG70QQN): Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

This Acer is 1440p VA 95 sRGB @ $500

Amazon.com: Acer Nitro XZ342CK Pbmiiphx 34" 1500R Curved WQHD (3440 x 1440) VA Gaming Monitor with AMD Radeon FREESYNC, VESA Certified DisplayHDR400, 95% sRGB, 144Hz, 1ms VRB (Display Port & 2 x HDMI 2.0 Ports): Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: Acer Nitro XZ342CK Pbmiiphx 34" 1500R Curved WQHD (3440 x 1440) VA Gaming Monitor with AMD Radeon FREESYNC, VESA Certified DisplayHDR400, 95% sRGB, 144Hz, 1ms VRB (Display Port & 2 x HDMI 2.0 Ports): Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

Viewsonic has the highest rated 1440p panel on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-VG3448-Inch-Ultra-Wide-DisplayPort/dp/B07S3ZYP94/

but if I'm paying $500 I'm thinking of staying with Dell
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086H26XWV

 

[consptheory77]

Watching this video, I'd say the VA monitor looks better

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YziWErIr_w


Linus says sweet spot for gaming is 1440p@144Hz but 2160p is better for TEXT, so if I read a lot of PDFs on the monitor maybe the higher resolution would be better?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehvz3iN8pp4


Apparently IPS panels have more durability than VA ones, although of course I wouldn't be subjecting my monitor to the same conditions

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3vf48DUafM

 

[consptheory77]

After several days of contemplating this, I think I have to give pixel density x price range the edge in terms of the criteria that are most important. While I have been enamored for some time of the notion of an ultrawide monitor for productivity purposes, I really think I have to let that go because 28 inches @ 1080p is a no-no, let alone 32 inches. 4k@32 inches ultrawide is out of my price range. 1440p@32 inches is possible, but my choices are narrow, and ironically, 4K@28 inches is more affordable by about half. I can use third party software to split the screen on a 4K, and in fact, I will have more to do so, the aspect ratio need not be a dealbreaker, and in fact some have said that the 21:9 AR doesn't "feel" high enough.

So I'm down to weighing these two very nearly identical options, the main difference seeming to be the increased brightness of the Samsung display:

https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/comparison/502a308aa

 

[consptheory77]

"But these are all TN panels - I thought you were concerned about HDR?"

I know, which is why I'm back down to the Dell Ultrasharp option mentioned above.

$500, no installment payments, I will have to wait.