Monitor advice needed

[ste91]

Currently using a TV but am looking to upgrade to a proper monitor soon, but the amount of choice is a bit confusing, resolution, refresh rate, sync, etc... I'm really not sure what to go for.

I've got an RX580 and the box hasn't been opened yet so I do have the option of selling it and upgrading to a 1070 but I'm not sure if it's worth the extra cost, the RX580 seems capable enough at 1080@144hz or 1440@60hz on most games depending on the settings and since I'm only on a 720p@60hz TV at the moment either of those would be an improvement.

I mainly play a mix of FPS and RPG games with the odd strategy game as well, so I'm leaning more towards 1080p@144hz.

I've watched a few videos on it but I still don't fully understand Freesync, in simple terms does Freesync just smooth out the refresh rate i.e. if the game is running at around 100FPS on a 144hz monitor and then drops to 70FPS occasionally does Freesync just smooth things out so that your don't notice the drop in frame rate? Whereas if you were using V-Sync and the frame rate dropped you'd be able to notice it?

Also what size monitor should I be looking for is there a recommended size for each resolution? 24" for 1080 seems popular.

 

[ste91]

After looking at the extra cost of a 1070 and the cheapest G sync monitors being around £400 I've decided to keep the RX580, since it can run 1080@144 or 1440@60, and there are a few Freesync monitors in the £250-£300 price range that suit both of those settings.

So for FPS/RPG games with the occasional strategy game would I be better off with a faster refresh rate or a higher resolution?
Am I right that 1080@144hz is the better "long term" option as I can keep running newer games at 1080p but with a slightly lower but still resaonable frame rate whereas new games in a few years might require settings turned down to maintain 1440@60?

 

[aatu]

I would concur with your reasoning. Many people rave about the 1440p, but that ultimately depends on your own preferences. I'm using a 32" 1080p 144Hz FreeSync monitor, myself. And I LIKE it!

As for brief summary for FreeSync:
FreeSync basically allows your monitor and GPU to communicate dynamically. Before adaptive sync technologies, the GPU would calculate frames the fastest it could, and the monitor would accept to receive them on fixed time intervals (60Hz => 16.66ms, 144Hz => 6.9ms). If the GPU misses the rhythm by even one millisecond, it would have to wait until the next refresh. Depending on the settings, this would either result in tearing or higher input lag.

With adaptive sync, the monitor can accept the frames more freely, so the GPU can keep churning all the time and send the frames forward whenever it's ready. For example, when a game faces a more demanding part (open terrain with detailed foliage with longer viewing distances), the GPU needs to calculate longer, and thus frame rates would drop. With adaptive sync, the monitor will change its refresh rate accordingly.

But there's no magic, it won't make 30fps into 60fps. It will feel smoother though, because it will sort of "stabilize" the frame rates.

I would recommend looking at FreeSync 2 monitors, as from what I've understood, that mandates the monitor manufacturer to include LFC-support, which is an essential part for FreeSync, I think.

Ps. And indeed, the G-Sync brings a price premium of around £200 (~£300 on higher end monitors). There is no such premium on FreeSync monitors.