4K is getting more affordable, and at lower settings things like the 980 and 290x can do fairly competent 4k gaming. But 21:9 is also pretty affordable now and doesn't take as much gpu power so we can turn the settings up. a 2560x1080 can be handled on a 280/960 at decent settings or throw in a high end card for max settings on pretty much everything. A 3440x1440 is not too far off in price from a 4k monitor, but offers unique experiences and will let you turn the eye candy up more. 4K is nice, but still more of the same 16:9. I'm leaning towards the 21:9 being the next big thing over 4K, what does everyone else think?
Personally, I'd much rather have a 21:9, or even more preferably a 3x1080p panel VESA mounted setup than a single large 4K or 1440p panel.
It's all personal preference though.
[innuendo]I'm all for wider things. I don't like tall cake, giraffes, or tall monitors.[/inuendo]
1st True real 4k is:
4096 × 2160
I want more monitors at that resolution.
21:9 are great for multitasking. I personally say wait on both because prices are going to go down to be more affordable and you need at least two high end cards to play on them at decent settings.
Both (but 3440x1440 for 21:9)
You can get a large 4k monitor and have it only display at 21:9 with black bars.
I have the LG 34UM67 and I fucking love it! It really does help a lot with multi-tasking and immersion in games because of the extra peripheral vision. I can also see advantages in strategy games as well being able to see more of the map. Also very close to cinematic aspect ratio, so watching movies in their native format is also a plus... if you can find them. I'm sold on 21:9 (literally and figuratively).
What is this nonsense? I've looked at 32" 16:9 monitors, and they were hideous. Even the 4K ones. It's much better to display a 16:9 image in a 21:9 monitor than vice-versa. Even looking at a 16:9 picture, I get a 28" picture on my 34" screen. 34" 16:9 wouldn't do nearly as well displaying a 21:9 image, especially since 27" 21:9 monitors are already very small.
Still the same or even higher pixel count that a real 21:9 monitor, with the option of using 4k (which is becoming the next standard). You just need to make sure that you have a large enough display to keep the ppi down to a reasonable level.
That is my "dream" monitor. Next step is to get that in a 21:9 version. I don't think there is too much benefit of 4k rather than 1440p below 30ish inches. IPS @ 144hz and Gsync and/or Freesync at 1440p just sounds really good to me, especially if they make a 21:9. I think that people will go with 4k before 21:9, but I do prefer 21:9 for that extra horizontal view. Also PCs can run at 1440p 16:9 and 21:9 better than 4k so people will get better performance on those monitors. This is more of a personal thing as some people do have varying preferences in their view. Some people may get a couple 16:9s, and for more immersion get a VR headset (if supported) (what I would do if I had some C@$h).
I like the idea of 21:9, especially for gaming (no bezels). I'd love to get my hands on a 3440x1440 IPS monitor. I'm sure there will be more affordable options sooner rather than later.
I give it two or so years before those, and the gpu needed for them, are affordable. Prices are coming down faster now than in the past, so it shouldn't take too long. Wonder if I can get a 40 in one ever...
I'm on 21:9 3440x1440 right now and I love it. What's great about it, especially for gaming, is that you have this really immersive experience that doesn't require as much horsepower as 4k. I'm running mine o f a single 290X 8GB right now, which is perfectly fine for most games.
I think it's a question of personal preference and how you can make use of the screen real estate not just in gaming but also when it comes to productivity.
True. I'm sure it will get a lot cheaper. $1000 is way too much for a monitor.
I'm good at waiting :P
This is the direction I went. I have 3 1080's mounted together and I plan on removing the plastic bezel sometime soon. I have all 3 monitors running off a single 970 and all the games I threw at it run great on high settings. The extra peripheral is well worth it for gaming.
We really need TV to start picking up the pace if we are to see the prices drop to affordable levels for everyone. Once TV manufactures start to push more and more 4k etc TVs then we will see prices drop like a rock.
Hmmm, this is probably the route I'll go down then. I've been rocking a 1600x900 20" I got for free since I joined the "PC master race" about 6 months ago. Need to get a decent 1080 (maybe IPS) panel. There's still other crap i need to sort out atm too. One of them being a CPU cooler (still running stock). GPU's probably going to last me the rest of the year. Borrowing that for free too. lol. I'm such a scrounger.
Bit OT but oh well.
I grabbed 3 of these.
and mounted them on this
Hmm... I actually just realized what else needs to happen in the future in regards to panels: OLED. I have an 34" IPS 21:9 monitor, but I notice if I sit too close the colors distort, especially blacks. It's still much better than TN panels, but still a bit annoying, especially since I'm playing Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines and there is A LOT of dark scenery that get's distorted when I sit too close.
1440p is coming, but 4k will be there... but also oculus rift will play its role. but we must jump in refresh rates... its a fing shame most of desktop monitors do 60Hz... we should be minimum on 120Hz and 144Hz... and we sourly lack those.
Will probably do the same, except with 21.5" panels. Maybe 22". I don't think triple 23" would fit well in my desk.
Prices in the UK seem awful.