What Resolution is Best for "my" Gaming?

[smogsy]

Disclaimer: We really unsure where to put this, it could go in GPU/Monitor/PC Game section
Feel free to move it, but i think the GPU section Is a good place to start for good conversation

I want to give my Experience on What I feel is best Monitor Resolution for Gaming & how to best pick the right one for you.

Spoiler: details of my experience

What experience do i have?
i have had almost every Resolution/refresh rate/Screen type Combo their is, Currently have 10+ monitors in my collection which i often swap around with. These includes Gsync/Freesync & no Sync.

Few monitors i own & use for various reasons:
1080p:
SA27950D - 1080p 120hz VA
Acer Predator - 27" 1080p 240hz TN
Dell 2913WM 1080p ultrawide VA

1440p
PG278Q - 1440p 144hz TN
PG279QE 1440p 165hz IPS
Acer X34A - 1440p Ultra wide 100hz IPS

4K
PG278AQ - 4K 60hz IPS
LG CX 48 - 4k 120hz OLED

So the question remains what resolution is best for me?

1080p / 1080p High refresh rate
This monitor resolution i define as the "just Works" resolution, you can pick up most Graphics cards & computers & have a good experience out of the box. This is where Casual People should normally sit

Benefits

• Low Graphic card requirements
  
• Cheaper than other resolutions
• Extreme High refresh rate is truly the best experience for Real Competitive esports ("professionals")
  
  Drawbacks
• Need a Fast CPU if you want to go for 144HZ+
• Less Visual Quality compared to 1440p+
  
  How hard is it to go back from 1440+ to 1080P?
  1080p feels bury after going to 1440p & can take many days or weeks to get over the feeling that your missing clarity
  
  Possible Use case:
• Don't want to upgrade your PC every 1-3 years
• Low on Budget
• want high refresh rate for low resources.
• play esports only
  
  Card to Suggest:
• Nvidia xx6x
• AMD x6x or x7xx

1440p / 1440p High refresh rate

• This monitor resolution i define as the "Works with Eye candy" resolution, you can pick up most Graphics cards & computers & have a good experience out of the box. This is where people sit who wants Both Eye candy & refresh rate.
  
  Benefits
  • Cheaper than other resolutions
  • High refresh rate gives good FPS experience
  • less requirement on the CPU
  • better visuals over 1080p
    
    Drawbacks
  • Need a Fast CPU if you want to go for 144HZ+
  • Less Visual Quality compared to 4K+
  • more expensive
    
    How hard is it to go back from 4K to 1440p ?
    1440p feels bury after going to 4K & can take many days or weeks to get over the feeling that your missing clarity
    
    Possible Use case:
  • Don't want to upgrade your PC every 1-2 years
  • want both eye candy and high refresh rate
  • want high refresh rate and dont mind spending £300+ on GPU
    • Card to Suggest:
    • Nvidia xx6x
    • AMD x7x or x7xx

1440p / 1440p Ultra wide / High refresh rate

• This monitor resolution i define as the "Tweaker" resolution, you need to pick up a high end Graphics cards to have a good experience out of the box. This is for tweakers as most games have issues with ULtrawide, & you may want to edit .ini files or configs to get older games to run correctly.
  Benefits
  • less requirement on the CPU
  • better visuals over 1440p
  • Ultrawide experience is great
    
    Drawbacks
  • Less Visual Quality compared to 4K+
  • more expensive
  • need to tweak many games to get a good experience
    
    How hard is it to go back from 4K to 1440p UW ?
    its fine to be honest.
    
    Possible Use case:
  • happy to upgrade often for good eye candy
  • want both eye candy and high refresh rate
  • Don't mind spending £500+ on GPU
    • Card to Suggest:
    • Nvidia xx7x
    • AMD x8x or x8xx

4K / High REfresh rate 4K!
This monitor resolution i define as the "Want everything & eat it" resolution, you need to pick up a very high end Graphics cards to have a good experience out of the box. This is where you want the best of the best.
Benefits

• almost NO requirement on the CPU
• better visuals over 1440p
• HIgh Visual qaulity
  
  Drawbacks
• Less Visual Quality compared to 4K+
• expensive, Expensive Expensive
• need to tweak many games to get a good experience with good frame rate
  
  
  
  Possible Use case:
• you play story games/ single player most/ you can sit back from your screen
• want all the eye candy
• Don't mind spending £600+ on GPU
  • Card to Suggest:
  • Nvidia x8x
  • AMD x8x or x8xx