Looking for a 27" 2560x1440 monitor

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2022 at 11:27

I fancy an upgrade from my Dell S2721DGF, which isn't to shabby to be fair!

I already have a CX48 for 3rd person OLED so this addition would be for 1st Person K&M gaming at high refresh (120+) and general desktop use. I want to stick with 1440p for the higher frames and I also want to avoid Ultrawide as compatibility issues are a PITA. Needs to be IPS as I want the colours to be nice.

Has anyone bought something that's impressed them lately or awaiting something interesting releasing soon?

Budget is around £600.

LuckyBenski · 8 Nov 2022 at 11:38

Out of interest, have you tried driving the OLED at 1440p? People avoid upscaling but the OLEDs do it better than anything.

Or are you specifically looking for a smaller screen to get up close to?

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2022 at 11:52

LuckyBenski said:
Out of interest, have you tried driving the OLED at 1440p? People avoid upscaling but the OLEDs do it better than anything.

Or are you specifically looking for a smaller screen to get up close to?

Yea, it drives fine at 1440p when required.

I use the OLED for "couch" gaming and movies etc. and I use the Dell (that I'm looking to replace) for up close K&M gaming and also productivity.

I hate the OLED for productivity use, it's just too big and the desktop looks awful in OLED due to Windows being crap with OLED.

MrRockliffe · 8 Nov 2022 at 11:55

Not really sure there's anything worth upgrading from - as a PC gaming monitor, I want low pixel response, high refresh, decent contrast and good colours. Your Dell checks all these boxes :-)

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2022 at 11:58

MrRockliffe said:
Not really sure there's anything worth upgrading from - as a PC gaming monitor, I want low pixel response, high refresh, decent contrast and good colours. Your Dell checks all these boxes

This LG looks like it may provide an option I hadn't thought of - 4k with the option to drop to 1440p if required. It also supports HDMI 2.1

Is 27" too small for 4k?
Would 1440p look OK on a 4k monitor? - I know the OLED upscales well, but not so sure about IPS?

And, yes - maybe sticking with the Dell is actually the best option!

My basket at OcUK:

1 x LG 27" 27GP950-B 3840x2160 4K NANO IPS 144Hz 1ms FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible LED Widescreen Gaming Mo (SKU: MO-162-LG) = £798.95

Total: £798.95 (includes delivery: £0.00)

MrRockliffe · 8 Nov 2022 at 12:23

Dirk Diggler said:
This LG looks like it may provide an option I hadn't thought of - 4k with the option to drop to 1440p if required. It also supports HDMI 2.1

Is 27" too small for 4k?
Would 1440p look OK on a 4k monitor? - I know the OLED upscales well, but not so sure about IPS?

And, yes - maybe sticking with the Dell is actually the best option!

My basket at OcUK:

1 x LG 27" 27GP950-B 3840x2160 4K NANO IPS 144Hz 1ms FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible LED Widescreen Gaming Mo (SKU: MO-162-LG) = £798.95

Total: £798.95 (includes delivery: £0.00)

Not that many, if any, monitors do perfect integer scaling, but 1440p isn't a perfect integer anyway, so in my experience it looks a little blurry.

EsaT · 8 Nov 2022 at 14:36

Dirk Diggler said:
Is 27" too small for 4k?
Would 1440p look OK on a 4k monitor? - I know the OLED upscales well, but not so sure about IPS?

Depends on distance.
For small table and short distance 27" 4K would work.
For bigger table and if you like to lean back in chair, not so much.

For non-integer scaling you'll need some better processing.
Doubtfull you would want to play at 1920x1080, so it would done from 2560x1440, or some middle resolution between in and 3840x2160.
AMD has sharpening for use with scaling for all games without need for game developer support:
https://www.techspot.com/article/1873-radeon-image-sharpening-vs-nvidia-dlss/
And high pixel density should makes upscaling from lower resolution less detectable than if you were trying to scale 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 monitor.

MrRockliffe said:
...decent contrast and good colours. Your Dell checks all these boxes

LG's 27" 2560x1440 Nano-IPS doesn't check contrast even from 15 years ago.
1000:1 was achieved by IPS panels already then... and it was LG making those panels!

Dell S2721DGF Review, The New 1440p 165Hz Gaming Monitor Champion

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedBuy relevant products from Amazon, Newegg and others below:Dell S2721DGF - https://geni.us/ISaP...

youtu.be

And good 2560x1440 IPS panels reach 40+% higher contrast.

MrRockliffe · 8 Nov 2022 at 14:41

EsaT said:
Depends on distance.
For small table and short distance 27" 4K would work.
For bigger table and if you like to lean back in chair, not so much.

For non-integer scaling you'll need some better processing.
Doubtfull you would want to play at 1920x1080, so it would done from 2560x1440, or some middle resolution between in and 3840x2160.
AMD has sharpening for use with scaling for all games without need for game developer support:
https://www.techspot.com/article/1873-radeon-image-sharpening-vs-nvidia-dlss/
And high pixel density should makes upscaling from lower resolution less detectable than if you were trying to scale 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 monitor.

LG's 27" 2560x1440 Nano-IPS doesn't check contrast even from 15 years ago.
1000:1 was achieved by IPS panels already then... and it was LG making those panels!

Dell S2721DGF Review, The New 1440p 165Hz Gaming Monitor Champion

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedBuy relevant products from Amazon, Newegg and others below:Dell S2721DGF - https://geni.us/ISaP...

youtu.be

And good 2560x1440 IPS panels reach 40+% higher contrast.

900:1 is decent enough in my opinion.

I have the 27GL850 and it's fine - I also have an OLED, so if it was going to bother me, it would have done. Moving to 1200:1 really doesn't make much of a difference in person.

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2022 at 16:33

I think if I'm changing then I'll stick to my original criteria and go for 2560*1440 for the higher FPS.

mattyfez · 10 Nov 2022 at 17:17

Dell now do a 32" version of the Dell S2721DGF.. Basically the same monitor but 32 rather than 27" and with usb-c connectivity too.
Looks pretty sweet.

Dell 32 Inch USB-C Gaming Monitor (G3223D) : Computer Monitors | Dell UK

View the Dell 32-inch USB-C QHD Gaming Monitor (G3223D) with a 1ms GTG response time & AMD FreeSync PremiumPro, or shop all external computer monitors at Dell.com.

www.dell.com

zom247 · 15 Nov 2022 at 19:35

Dirk Diggler said:
I fancy an upgrade from my Dell S2721DGF, which isn't to shabby to be fair!

I already have a CX48 for 3rd person OLED so this addition would be for 1st Person K&M gaming at high refresh (120+) and general desktop use. I want to stick with 1440p for the higher frames and I also want to avoid Ultrawide as compatibility issues are a PITA. Needs to be IPS as I want the colours to be nice.

Has anyone bought something that's impressed them lately or awaiting something interesting releasing soon?

Budget is around £600.

Have you bought anything yet? Looking to upgrade my years old S2716DG for another 27".

Dirk Diggler · 15 Nov 2022 at 19:55

zom247 said:
Have you bought anything yet? Looking to upgrade my years old S2716DG for another 27".

I've looked around but can't justify anything that's significantly better than the Dell.

I'm considering a move to 3440*1440 because I had a X34a previously and UW is awesome, but I get frustrated when games don't support it which is why I moved to the Dell.

zom247 · 15 Nov 2022 at 21:29

Dirk Diggler said:
I've looked around but can't justify anything that's significantly better than the Dell.

I'm considering a move to 3440*1440 because I had a X34a previously and UW is awesome, but I get frustrated when games don't support it which is why I moved to the Dell.

I tried a S2721DGF back in April but had to send it back as it triggered my Menieres, was fine when I went back to my old S2716 though.

mattyfez · 15 Nov 2022 at 21:46

zom247 said:
I tried a S2721DGF back in April but had to send it back as it triggered my Menieres, was fine when I went back to my old S2716 though.

That's interesting, was it due to the high 165hz frequency? You can knock it down to whatever you want, 60hz, 120hz, 144hz?

zom247 · 15 Nov 2022 at 22:31

mattyfez said:
That's interesting, was it due to the high 165hz frequency? You can knock it down to whatever you want, 60hz, 120hz, 144hz?

No idea, I did try at 144hz which is what I use now but got severe dizzies so sent it back. Not tried anything else since.

mattyfez · 16 Nov 2022 at 00:18

zom247 said:
No idea, I did try at 144hz which is what I use now but got severe dizzies so sent it back. Not tried anything else since.

you can also change the response time in the OSD menu, game sub-menu between fast/super fast/ and extreme.

EDIT.. it's also a very bright monitor out of the box, I had to knock the brightess down to less than 50% otherwise it just burned my eyes out.

rare · 23 Nov 2022 at 21:24

zom247 said:
I tried a S2721DGF back in April but had to send it back as it triggered my Menieres, was fine when I went back to my old S2716 though.

I also have Ménière’s. I also had to get rid of mine for the exact same reason!!

I have been struggling to find a monitor for years that doesn’t trigger vertigo/migraines.

I’m tempted to try a MAG281URF as they are on sale currently but I can’t find much feedback about them on the forums.

ltron · 24 Nov 2022 at 14:33

Dirk Diggler said:
I fancy an upgrade from my Dell S2721DGF, which isn't to shabby to be fair!

I already have a CX48 for 3rd person OLED so this addition would be for 1st Person K&M gaming at high refresh (120+) and general desktop use. I want to stick with 1440p for the higher frames and I also want to avoid Ultrawide as compatibility issues are a PITA. Needs to be IPS as I want the colours to be nice.

Has anyone bought something that's impressed them lately or awaiting something interesting releasing soon?

Budget is around £600.

There is that new LG 240Hz OLED but it's $999. Then there is the Coolermaster Tempest 27Q Mini LED, supposedly at only $500. However, VRR and local dimming don't work together at the moment which to me is unacceptable. Coolermaster promise to fix it in a firmware update, if they succeed it's definitely worth a look as it's the only true HDR monitor in your price range.

zom247 · 24 Nov 2022 at 15:25

rare said:
I also have Ménière’s. I also had to get rid of mine for the exact same reason!!

I have been struggling to find a monitor for years that doesn’t trigger vertigo/migraines.

I’m tempted to try a MAG281URF as they are on sale currently but I can’t find much feedback about them on the forums.

Sorry to hear you suffer from this horrible illness too, if you ever want to chat drop me a message. I've had it for over 23 years now so got plenty to gripe about

I'm going to go and try the MAG274QRF-QD, it's on offer but gonna wait till tomorrow just in case it drops a few more quid

. Not seen the monitor you are looking at but there's a video here in case you've not seen it:

MSI Optix MAG281URF Review, Is This Cheaper 4K 144Hz Monitor Worth It?

Gigabyte competition: https://www.facebook.com/AorusANZ/posts/3045298622354765Gigabyte's B660 range: https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Intel-B660-H610Supp...

www.youtube.com

I'll let you know how I get on with the monitor when I get it.

Dirk Diggler · 24 Nov 2022 at 15:36

ltron said:
There is that new LG 240Hz OLED but it's $999. Then there is the Coolermaster Tempest 27Q Mini LED, supposedly at only $500. However, VRR and local dimming don't work together at the moment which to me is unacceptable. Coolermaster promise to fix it in a firmware update, if they succeed it's definitely worth a look as it's the only true HDR monitor in your price range.

I'll get a look there, thanks.