Advice on a non-gaming monitor

MrFunex · 4 Dec 2020 at 12:00

We've got an 'office'-type PC. It's got an awful 10-15+ yr old LCD panel attached to it.

My wife has started using this computer more to do graphic design, a bit of photoshop, image editing for crafting, that kind of thing.

Any recommendations for a screen, about 27", excellent image quality, which will absolutely not ever be used for gaming (so 144/300Hz screens are not required!). Not bothered if it's a shiny or matte finish on the panel. Ideally, it won't cost the earth...

Does such an item exist?

bremen1874 · 4 Dec 2020 at 12:04

I've bought a few Dell S2721DS displays recently which are pretty decent for the money.

I'm running two of them alongside my older, but much more expensive, Dell U2715H and there's no obvious difference (once calibrated).

MrFunex · 4 Dec 2020 at 12:24

bremen1874 said:
I've bought a few Dell S2721DS displays recently which are pretty decent for the money.

I'm running two of them alongside my older, but much more expensive, Dell U2715H and there's no obvious difference (once calibrated).

Thanks - that seems to tick all the boxes! :cool:

pp111 · 4 Dec 2020 at 15:47

MrFunex said:
Thanks - that seems to tick all the boxes!

If you are interested in calibrated then try ViewSonic VP2768

TheReflex · 4 Dec 2020 at 15:54

Dell (in particular the Ultrasharp range) would always be my recommendation for design/image editing. Just from looking at specs, the U2719D seems to be an outstanding choice, but it also depends on your definition of "won't cost the earth"

MrFunex · 4 Dec 2020 at 16:14

I see the Dell S2721QS is on offer for £300 at the moment. That’s sort of the upper limit, price wise. Wonder if I’d need/notice 4K over 1440p...?

bremen1874 · 4 Dec 2020 at 16:18

1440 @ 27" works well at native scaling.

4K @ 27" is going to be very small or need to be scaled.

nlel1975 · 4 Dec 2020 at 16:24

My 4K monitor scales to 150% at 3840x2160 by default. I can run 2560x1440 at 100% scaling but it’s better at the higher resolution despite of the scaling.

bremen1874 · 4 Dec 2020 at 16:30

Is an office type pc going to be able to drive a 4K monitor? It's worth checking.

MrFunex · 4 Dec 2020 at 17:14

bremen1874 said:
Is an office type pc going to be able to drive a 4K monitor? It's worth checking.

I did look into this, a valid comment! Apparently the onboard graphics max out at 2560x1600, so would require the additional purchase of a cheap dedicated graphics card, I guess a GeForce 1030 or similar would be fine?

pp111 · 4 Dec 2020 at 17:23

MrFunex said:
I did look into this, a valid comment! Apparently the onboard graphics max out at 2560x1600, so would require the additional purchase of a cheap dedicated graphics card, I guess a GeForce 1030 or similar would be fine?

"Cheap" and "graphics card" are two things rarely seen together in the same sentence!
I would not get 4K. It's just too fine for a 27" monitor in my opinion and the higher the screen resolution the slower various applications will be, certain photo edits are painfully slow on a 4K screen. Just my humble opinion of course, I would get a 2560x1440.

Double07 · 4 Dec 2020 at 20:34

Photo edits at 4k (or any resolution) aren't really "done" by the GPU, it's a CPU intensive task for the most part. If it's an old PC with a fairly dated CPU then you should probably go for lower resolution but a better quality monitor, so yeah something along the lines of the Ultrasharp. Doesn't sounds like what you are after is too taxing so a good quality 27" 1440p with good colour accuracy would sound like the sweet spot in my opinion.

colincarter · 4 Dec 2020 at 22:34

If you want a monitor for graphic design ‘ photography head over to EIZO and pick one that matches your budget.

bremen1874 · 4 Dec 2020 at 22:41

OP wants something halfway decent at a reasonable cost to replace a what they describe as an 'awful 10-15+ yr old LCD panel'. By post #13 people are suggesting spending Eizo type money! WTF!

Harnser · 5 Dec 2020 at 08:34

TheReflex said:
Dell (in particular the Ultrasharp range) would always be my recommendation for design/image editing. Just from looking at specs, the U2719D seems to be an outstanding choice, but it also depends on your definition of "won't cost the earth"

Dell's current Cyber Week deals are decent savings on their monitor range.

I'm eyeing up an U2719D to complement my Benq GW2765.

colincarter · 5 Dec 2020 at 08:55

bremen1874 said:
OP wants something halfway decent at a reasonable cost to replace a what they describe as an 'awful 10-15+ yr old LCD panel'. By post #13 people are suggesting spending Eizo type money! WTF!

sorry I didn’t see his budget post, my bad.

Quartz · 5 Dec 2020 at 09:26

MrFunex said:
Does such an item exist?

Dell Ultrasharp. 4k with scaling. Scaling will make the text look nicer. And the images will be sharper on a high ppi monitor.

MrFunex · 5 Dec 2020 at 19:24

What’s the verdict on scaling? Would a 1440p monitor being run at native resolution look better/worse than a 4K monitor upscaling from 2560x1600?

Quartz · 5 Dec 2020 at 23:07

MrFunex said:
What’s the verdict on scaling? Would a 1440p monitor being run at native resolution look better/worse than a 4K monitor upscaling from 2560x1600?

Don't run a monitor at a resolution lower than native. Use Windows' scaling.

I have a 27" 4K monitor (150% scaling), a 24" 4K monitor (175% scaling), and a 34" 3440x1440 monitor. Text is noticably nicer on the two 4k monitors with smoother curves but I'd be hard-pushed to differentiate between the two of them.