Ultra Wide monitor compatibility query

[jammiedodgers]

Hi guys, I guess I'm what you would call a newbie to PC tech, but I've been reading up and looking around lately, and gathered some good basic knowledge.

So anyway, just purchased a HP Envy 700-311na a few days ago, still hasn't arrived, and the specs are as follows:

Processor - i7 4790 (running at 3.6 GHz, 8MB cache)

RAM - 16GB DDR3

Graphics - AMD Radeon R9 270 (2GB GDDR5)

3TB HDD, 7200 rpm

Motherboard - Intel Z87

So I'm looking to buy a 34" Ultra Wide monitor, resolution 3440 x 2160, aspect ratio 21:9, to go with it. Like the LG 34UM97 or AOC U3477PQU.

My question is, if you haven't guessed already, is will the graphics card be able to output at the native resolution of 3440 x 2160 (through displayport) on these monitors? Keep in mind, I'm not looking to game, just run windows, browse, daily tasks, watch movies and work.

Which leads me on to my next question: I have a PS3 for gaming and I'm happy with that, although I don't game much. But it would be nice to occasionally plug in my PS3 into the monitor and play. I understand that PS3 games won't output at that resolution or aspect ratio, so is it too horrendous to play on such a wide screen with a smaller centred image and black bars on either side? I'm planning to be sitting on a sofa about 4-5 feet away. Will that be so horrendous that it will be unplayable? Has anyone had experience of this?

Finally, I'm undecided on which 34" Ultra Wide monitor to get (there's not much choice really). But I'm considering getting the curved ones. While that's fine for sitting directly in front of the monitor, I'm also planning on watching movies from a sofa about 4-5 feet away (big movie buff). I understand that to get the benefits of a curved screen, you have to be sitting centre to the screen. I'd much rather be able to move around as I please without being restricted to sitting in one place. So will the image look distorted if I move around from 4-5 feet? Or at that distance, will it not make a difference? Has anyone had experience of this?

At the moment I've decided to get a cheap IPS monitor and get by with that while I make my mind up about Ultra Wide monitors. Because I do know that Dell and Samsung will also be coming out with their own versions, so it maybe wise to wait a little longer.

Thanks for reading, I realise it was a long one, and I look forward to your replies. Thanks.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

An R9 270 will support up to 4096x2160 resolution with a DisplayPort cable (this needs to be version 1.2 compatible).

I believe that most PS3 games output at 1280x720 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio, which personally, I wouldn't be happy with on an ultra-wide, high resolution monitor, but that's just me.

I recently went to look at some curved TVs and was disappointed with the viewing angles. Like you said, unless you were smack in the middle, the picture just looked odd. The transition from the curve to the straight, when viewed at an angle, felt like it was cutting off a part of the picture. Again, that's just my opinion, so you should go and check it out for yourself.

 

[jammiedodgers]

Thanks.. I agree that PS3 gaming on the Ultra Wide monitors won't be pretty... but it could be something I could live with, I'll just have to see. I've just been wowed by those monitors.

I haven't come across any curved monitors in my local electrical stores, so next time I'm inside, I'll keep a look out for curved TVs, there's plenty of those. That should give me an idea of how adequate curved monitors would be for my needs. But I suspect we're both right about those.

Thanks again.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

No worries, happy shopping.