Help me choose a monitor please!? - between 3 monitors.

Monkeyspaz5000 · 7 Feb 2016 at 15:45

Hi folks...

First of all I'm currently using an old Acer 24" S243HL monitor. It's far from decent, but it's simply what I had lying around for this build.

In the past I've owned the PG278Q which I thought was decent and I had no issues with it. I've also owned the AOC G2460PG.

I'm have a 980ti graphics card.

I'm kinda torn between a couple of monitors at the moment -

Predator Z35 - I love the idea of the large curved screen. I also think the 980ti will easily be able to drive this without giving me the urge to buy a second card (which I don't really want to do). I've read some things about this monitor and some people saying it's not that great. My thinking is that it's going to be a lot better than what I'm using currently.

ASUS PG279Q - A step up from the previous ASUS monitor, but again with this I've been ready a lot of horror stories with regards to issues and quality control.

Predator XB271HU - people seem to be possible favouring this over the PG279Q although it seems pretty hard to get a hold of.

What I'm thinking is that anything will be a step up from the 60hz panel I'm using at the moment. With regards to the 1440p resolution I think I would rather have higher FPS. What I mean is if a certain game was struggling at 1440p it would drive me mad! (I'm that kind of person).

Anyway... a ramble of sorts!

Any opinions/advice would be appreciated!

thanks.

altus · 7 Feb 2016 at 18:39

I took the plunge last week on the Predator Z35.
I am on a single 980ti also, was using a 27" 120hz / 1080p benQ.
I was aware of the pros and cons of the Z35 panel after reading TFTcentral/PCM
reviews that were very helpful.
I decided if I wasn't happy it would be obvious to me very quickly and could be sent back.
I am delighted with it and keeping it, currently playing ROTTR\BOP3\BF4\Quake live.
Main use is gaming and absolutely love the curve, ive not tried over 144hz yet
or ULMB but I think G-sync works well.
If I had had 1440p before I may not be so happy with 1080p, but for me its fine.

Monkeyspaz5000 · 7 Feb 2016 at 18:55

Thanks for the reply.

Do you notice any issues at all the the Z35? I know whatever I get will be a huge improvement over what I have currently.

Legend · 7 Feb 2016 at 19:51

I would not recommend the Z35... 35" at 1080p, seems mad to me. Maybe if you'd only ever used 1080p it wouldn't be so bad, but the pixel density will be noticeable with a monitor that size, and as you had 1440p with the PG278Q, I don't think you'd enjoy the step back to 1080p, even at 21:9.

I would never recommend the PG279Q to anyone. Just look at the threads on various forums... you may get lucky, but odds are you will not. Lots of issues with both it and the XB270HU, of which I went through 4 myself before giving up.

The XB271HU does seem to have made some improvements to the backlight assembly, so the odds are better on that one, but by no means guaranteed based on what I've been seeing. It's not actually been properly released in the UK yet, but it will be sometime in Feb so I've heard. This would be my choice out of the three you've suggested anyway. If you get a good one, it will definitely be a big step up for you.

Games will of-course run out of steam quicker at 1440p than at 1080p, but the tradeoff in the overall experience is worth notching down a few details (if you have to, but a 980Ti is made for 1440p anyway). That's just my personal view, and you may feel different, but 1440p really is SO much better and with a 980Ti 1080p really would make it feel a bit sad.

altus · 7 Feb 2016 at 20:38

Monkeyspaz5000 said:
Thanks for the reply.

Do you notice any issues at all the the Z35? I know whatever I get will be a huge improvement over what I have currently.

The only issue ive noticed is a slight smearing if I drag the dark steam friends window across the desktop, i can live with that, games seem fine.
No screen is perfect, they all have their own inherent issues or strong points, its about trade offs, would I use a Z35 for serious design work, no.
High frames\hz is more important to me than 1440p, I don't see the pixels without putting my face close to the screen, I guess im lucky =]

Monkeyspaz5000 · 8 Feb 2016 at 18:32

altus said:
The only issue ive noticed is a slight smearing if I drag the dark steam friends window across the desktop, i can live with that, games seem fine.
No screen is perfect, they all have their own inherent issues or strong points, its about trade offs, would I use a Z35 for serious design work, no.
High frames\hz is more important to me than 1440p, I don't see the pixels without putting my face close to the screen, I guess im lucky =]

Good to know.

TBH my current monitor is incredibly poor! I just opened my friends on steam window and dragged it about. I have a lot of ghosting and god knows what else going on!!

Even if the Z35 has small issues like the smearing it would be a big improvement over my current monitor.

Monkeyspaz5000 · 12 Feb 2016 at 20:14

I went for the Z35 in the end. It came today and wow!! What a screen!!

Huge, imposing! Curve is awesome.

The text looks totally fine for me at 1080p on a screen this size.

altus · 12 Feb 2016 at 23:05

Sweet Monkeyspaz, its an awesome monitor if you can get on with the rez.
Your single 980ti will power this for a good while, enjoy.

Monkeyspaz5000 · 12 Feb 2016 at 23:36

altus said:
Sweet Monkeyspaz, its an awesome monitor if you can get on with the rez.
Your single 980ti will power this for a good while, enjoy.

Cheers! Very impressed.