Monitor Upgrade

[smokeyjoe]

Hey folks,
Long time member, random poster here. I'm looking for advice on a monitor(s) upgrade.. been using 2 of these NEC 20WMGX2 monitors (16:10) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824002320) for oh, like, 10 years now. Well, one for 10 years and the other one for about 4 or 5.

Anywho, just f'n great monitors and have held up well over time but I'm looking for a size upgrade (that's what she said..) and want to keep the same quality or better. I'm primarily a gamer and like to game on one monitor and have the other one available for internet/music/alt-tab/etc. I think I paid about $600 for the first NEC I purchased and much less when I bought the second. I don't want to spend that again, maybe $600 for two if possible.. but where I'm lost is if/when/what an upgrade would be? Looking at current resolutions, I'd have to go to 1440p or 4k for an upgrade.

I'm in the process of upgrading to an i7 6700 and a GTX 1070 so want something that is complimentary to those. Considering I've been gaming at 1680 x 1050 since WoW came out (I don't play it but just sayin'..) I want displays that will WOW me (pun intended)!

Appreciate the input, people!

 

[aniket93]

I am currently rocking a LG 29 inch ultrawide monitor...21:9 gaming is the best

 

[smokeyjoe]

I am currently rocking a LG 29 inch ultrawide monitor...21:9 gaming is the best

That's a nice monitor indeed but I don't want an UW as my understanding is that a lot of games don't support the resolution.

I'm looking at 16:10 or 16:9 1440p monitors atm..

 

[repoman0]

Would you consider using one of your old NEC monitors as the second? You'll be able to get a nicer / larger primary monitor that way. Also is there any way you can try both 1440p and 4k in person to decide what you prefer in the desktop? A lot of people shy away from 4k if their system can't handle it, but I just moved from 27" 1440p to 32" 4k and have found games still look great if I use GPU scaling to display 1440p. Then some games I can run 4k if my system is powerful enough, and I get a higher resolution desktop.

 

[casiofx]

I upgraded from 1080p TN 60Hz to 1440p IPS 165Hz, it wowed me. Also I'm on 660k + 1070 now

But 1440p IPS 165Hz monitors running around $700-800

 

[bigboxes]

Hey folks,
Long time member, random poster here. I'm looking for advice on a monitor(s) upgrade.. been using 2 of these NEC 20WMGX2 monitors (16:10) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824002320) for oh, like, 10 years now. Well, one for 10 years and the other one for about 4 or 5.

Anywho, just f'n great monitors and have held up well over time but I'm looking for a size upgrade (that's what she said..) and want to keep the same quality or better. I'm primarily a gamer and like to game on one monitor and have the other one available for internet/music/alt-tab/etc. I think I paid about $600 for the first NEC I purchased and much less when I bought the second. I don't want to spend that again, maybe $600 for two if possible.. but where I'm lost is if/when/what an upgrade would be? Looking at current resolutions, I'd have to go to 1440p or 4k for an upgrade.

I'm in the process of upgrading to an i7 6700 and a GTX 1070 so want something that is complimentary to those. Considering I've been gaming at 1680 x 1050 since WoW came out (I don't play it but just sayin'..) I want displays that will WOW me (pun intended)!

Appreciate the input, people!

Yeah, I have a 29" LG ultrawide 1080p. Handed my 20WMGX2 to my wife. I miss that monitor. It was a lot better. Wish I could get something like it, but in a 32" 4K version.

 

[smokeyjoe]

Would you consider using one of your old NEC monitors as the second? You'll be able to get a nicer / larger primary monitor that way. Also is there any way you can try both 1440p and 4k in person to decide what you prefer in the desktop? A lot of people shy away from 4k if their system can't handle it, but I just moved from 27" 1440p to 32" 4k and have found games still look great if I use GPU scaling to display 1440p. Then some games I can run 4k if my system is powerful enough, and I get a higher resolution desktop.

I have considered using one of my NECs as the second monitor.. I guess I am hesitant to do so due to the resolution and refresh rate difference with the one I plan on getting. Maybe I'm just making that up, will it even be an issue?
I also don't really have a way to test 1440p vs. 4k.. I am leaning to 1440p though just because I think I can find that cheaper.

I upgraded from 1080p TN 60Hz to 1440p IPS 165Hz, it wowed me. Also I'm on 660k + 1070 now

But 1440p IPS 165Hz monitors running around $700-800

Wow, that is a lot and sort of what I wanted - a 1440p IPS 144Hz monitor, which run around $600 from what I'm seeing.

Yeah, I have a 29" LG ultrawide 1080p. Handed my 20WMGX2 to my wife. I miss that monitor. It was a lot better. Wish I could get something like it, but in a 32" 4K version.

This is what I'm scared of.. these 20WMGX2's are just great monitors and I really don't want to lose that to gain some size.

Thanks for the replies all

 

[tg2708]

I upgraded from 1080p TN 60Hz to 1440p IPS 165Hz, it wowed me. Also I'm on 660k + 1070 now

But 1440p IPS 165Hz monitors running around $700-800

This what people need until hdr monitors come if it can be afforded. The experience is second to none and if they can shave off at least 120 off it would be an instant winner. Got the acer gsync version and it has been great minus backlight bleed that mine has.

 

[smokeyjoe]

It's just ridiculous that I see all these quality issues with the high end IPS 1440p 140hz monitors.. I mean, for the price you're paying you shouldn't have to RMA it repeatedly to get a good one.

 

[repoman0]

I have considered using one of my NECs as the second monitor.. I guess I am hesitant to do so due to the resolution and refresh rate difference with the one I plan on getting. Maybe I'm just making that up, will it even be an issue?
I also don't really have a way to test 1440p vs. 4k.. I am leaning to 1440p though just because I think I can find that cheaper.

Resolution may be a PITA just because your mouse will catch when switching screens. Refresh rate difference is nothing to worry about. Personally I would take the slight PITA when switching screens to get one nice monitor, but I can understand wanting matching vertical resolution too. Really it depends what's more important to you.

Since you keep your monitors for 10 years apparently you might as well grab a single quality one and plan to upgrade your second NEC later.

 

[smokeyjoe]

Resolution may be a PITA just because your mouse will catch when switching screens. Refresh rate difference is nothing to worry about. Personally I would take the slight PITA when switching screens to get one nice monitor, but I can understand wanting matching vertical resolution too. Really it depends what's more important to you.

Since you keep your monitors for 10 years apparently you might as well grab a single quality one and plan to upgrade your second NEC later.

It's funny, my 10 year old NEC has just started randomly flickering today.. usage hours are 30,392 and 5 minutes. The other one I got is only at 7000 hours so I guess I got plenty of more usage to go there!

And yea, just looking at the cost of the monitors that I want, there is no way I'm buying 2 just to match.. one nice 27" will be just fine. Now if I can find a glossy one

Also, how can I get a mod to move this thread? I didn't realize there was a separate section just for Displays.