Best Gsync Freesync Monitor for the £350 mark
- Thread starter Watlinguk
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Sep 2016
- Posts
- 11,463
Preference for screen type, VA, TN, or IPS?
Gaming or desktop? If gaming want higher refresh than 60hz?
16:9 or 21:9?
Flat, curved?
Gaming or desktop? If gaming want higher refresh than 60hz?
16:9 or 21:9?
Flat, curved?
Hi thanks for the reply. I've always been told IPS is the way forward but I don't have much knowledge on the types.
This is used only for gaming so a high refresh rate would be more than welcomed. I had a TN panel before and all the colours where shocking and dark. Not sure if that was that particular model or the panel type.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Sep 2016
- Posts
- 11,463
Apparently TN is the better panel for games, as it has fast GTG.
Also more info what is your GPU, what PPI are you looking for, what size.
16:9, 16:10, or ultra wide?
Also more info what is your GPU, what PPI are you looking for, what size.
16:9, 16:10, or ultra wide?
I have a 970 SLI setup so hopefully i should be able to push 1440P. A 27"-34" would be nice. I'm not to familiar with different aspect ratios. I think I've had 16:9 in the past
If you are playing serious-competitively (meaning you get money for it), then TN is probably the way to go. But if you are like most users, and purchasing the monitor for regular home usage (including gaming), then IPS and VA are better. And IPS has indeed been the "go-to" recommendation for many years, but VA has risen in popularity in the last two years. Partly because of IPS' recent quality control issues.
In general terms, TN has the best pixel response times, so there is no blurring. But that's the only good thing about TN, it basically sacrifices everything else for it. Indeed, IPS and VA are better in every other category, exchanging punches with each other.
Here's a summary (there are individual exceptions, but this is the average):
Pixel response time: TN > IPS > VA
Viewing angles (*): IPS >= VA >> TN
Color accuracy: IPS > VA > TN
Deep blacks: VA > IPS >> TN
Contrast: VA > IPS > TN
(*): Theoretically, IPS has better viewing angles, but it also has IPS glow, which deteriorates the image at bigger angles. I personally see the overall result as better for VA. But bear in mind, VA has "gamma crush". But it isn't as bad as it used to, and isn't as bad as IPS glow, in most cases. Then there's TN with its color inversion, which is in a class of its own.
Some people will say that the "premium" TN panels have good angles, too. No. Just no. A £500 "premium" TN still loses to a £200 IPS or VA in viewing angles. It simply doesn't compare. It might be ok for 24" monitors from a reasonably long viewing distance, assuming you don't move much from the center. But any bigger than that, and you'll start facing problems. The bigger you go, the worse it gets. That's also the reason why you'll have a hard time finding anything above 27" as TN, nowadays.
Price-wise, TN used to be cheaper, but lately the difference isn't that much, and certainly not worth the negatives. VA is slightly cheaper than IPS, but usually they are in the same range.
So, you have an nVidia rig. Then next you'll have to decide whether you're willing to increase the budget and spend £200-300 extra to get G-Sync compatibility. Because £350 will only get you the very bottom of the barrel for G-Sync (**). FreeSync doesn't bring the same sort of price premium, but you can't benefit from it with an nVidia setup. But if you're NOT going for G-Sync, then you should definitely still get FreeSync, in case you'll purchase an AMD card later, or nVidia starts supporting FreeSync. FreeSync has taken the lead in variable refresh rate war - which was to be expected with the current price difference.
Ps. I have the Acer XZ321Q, and I'm very happy with it. But I know it's too big for most people, so the 27" might be better for you. Although, if you have a big/deep desk, then 32" (31.5") is indeed marvelous.
Ps. (**) Actually, if you shop around, you might find the Lenovo Y27G. It's normally a £500 27" VA 144Hz G-Sync monitor (pretty much the same as the Acer Z271, which is the G-Sync counterpart of XZ271), but it's currently around £300 (~40% discount). I see it on discount on multiple stores around EU, so apparently they're dumping inventory or something, not sure. But you'd better act fast, I don't know how long the campaign (or stock) will last. It's a real steal, seriously consider it, if you can find it for <£350.
In general terms, TN has the best pixel response times, so there is no blurring. But that's the only good thing about TN, it basically sacrifices everything else for it. Indeed, IPS and VA are better in every other category, exchanging punches with each other.
Here's a summary (there are individual exceptions, but this is the average):
Pixel response time: TN > IPS > VA
Viewing angles (*): IPS >= VA >> TN
Color accuracy: IPS > VA > TN
Deep blacks: VA > IPS >> TN
Contrast: VA > IPS > TN
(*): Theoretically, IPS has better viewing angles, but it also has IPS glow, which deteriorates the image at bigger angles. I personally see the overall result as better for VA. But bear in mind, VA has "gamma crush". But it isn't as bad as it used to, and isn't as bad as IPS glow, in most cases. Then there's TN with its color inversion, which is in a class of its own.
Some people will say that the "premium" TN panels have good angles, too. No. Just no. A £500 "premium" TN still loses to a £200 IPS or VA in viewing angles. It simply doesn't compare. It might be ok for 24" monitors from a reasonably long viewing distance, assuming you don't move much from the center. But any bigger than that, and you'll start facing problems. The bigger you go, the worse it gets. That's also the reason why you'll have a hard time finding anything above 27" as TN, nowadays.
Price-wise, TN used to be cheaper, but lately the difference isn't that much, and certainly not worth the negatives. VA is slightly cheaper than IPS, but usually they are in the same range.
So, you have an nVidia rig. Then next you'll have to decide whether you're willing to increase the budget and spend £200-300 extra to get G-Sync compatibility. Because £350 will only get you the very bottom of the barrel for G-Sync (**). FreeSync doesn't bring the same sort of price premium, but you can't benefit from it with an nVidia setup. But if you're NOT going for G-Sync, then you should definitely still get FreeSync, in case you'll purchase an AMD card later, or nVidia starts supporting FreeSync. FreeSync has taken the lead in variable refresh rate war - which was to be expected with the current price difference.
Ps. I have the Acer XZ321Q, and I'm very happy with it. But I know it's too big for most people, so the 27" might be better for you. Although, if you have a big/deep desk, then 32" (31.5") is indeed marvelous.
Ps. (**) Actually, if you shop around, you might find the Lenovo Y27G. It's normally a £500 27" VA 144Hz G-Sync monitor (pretty much the same as the Acer Z271, which is the G-Sync counterpart of XZ271), but it's currently around £300 (~40% discount). I see it on discount on multiple stores around EU, so apparently they're dumping inventory or something, not sure. But you'd better act fast, I don't know how long the campaign (or stock) will last. It's a real steal, seriously consider it, if you can find it for <£350.