Looking for Recomendations for a new monitor
Charlie Judge
Posts: 12,911
The build on my new computer has been completed and it should arrive next week. The new compuputer includes an EVGA GTX 970 with HDMI 2.0, Display Port 1.2 and Dual link DVI outputs. The computer will be used primarily for computer graphics and photo editing.
I plan to get a new monitor to use with this computer and am looking for recommendations as to which monitor would be best to use with it. Based on space available and working distance it should be between 24' to 27" diagonal and I would like at least WHDQ resolution (2560x1440). I also don't want to spend more than about $400. Given these parameters what monitor would you consider best for me?
Thanks for your help,
Charlie
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Comments
I have and like the LG ultra wide line. Good value for the price abd the ultra wide is great for having two viewports and/or big side panels
I have a Nixeus (kind of an off-the-wall brand) which I bought a while back for half the price of a comparable Dell. It's been reliable and decent so far.
What I wanted to mention though is that if you're going from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, it will take a lot of getting used to. Text is TINY and icons are much smaller than you expect. The extra space is nice, but I have to set my browser to 125% zoom to read anything and I also have to use DisplayFusion to manage my TV and Cintiq (connected to computer) because of resolution differences. Just wanted to give you a heads up.
Thanks all. Yes, I know the text, etc. will be smaller but this may be partly compensated by having a monitor that is larger than my current 20" 1080 monitor. And I'm hoping to have somewhat better detail when I zoom in on a picture. Although maybe I should rethink that; a 1920x1080 monitor would certainly be less expensive than a 2560x1440 one.
I'm also wondering whether I should try to find one with the older TN panel. I don't need the wide viewing angle of the new IPS panel and I read a lot of complaints where the IPS panel is subject to light bleed.
will be smaller
Have you considered the dual monitor option, I find it works for me, 2 Samsung 24 inch HD's (S24E390HL) these use Samsung's PLS technology, Samsung's version of IPS so better colour than cheaper TN monitors.
I tend to use one as the main image window and the secondary one for menus, also useful to display instruction, tutorials etc whilst you have the application open on the other screen.
They are currently $229 on Amazon US, I'm in the UK so you might have a better idea where to look in the US.
I'd find a 1,920 x 1,080 monitor very limiting, and even if you don't go for a bigger display wold advise looking for a 16:10 aspect ration (1,920 x 1,200) model.
I wouldn't touch a LG with a 10 foot barge pole, I had a 22 inch LG and a much older 19 inch Samsung 940B in dual monitor config.. Lets just say that the much older 19 inch Samsung 940B is still running well..
So very true this is the one thing people forget though you get more screen realestate with anything above 1920x1080 it is a lot harder to see text and as such places more strain on your eyes..
I myself have a AOC E2752V 27 Inch LCD/LED monitor which is pretty decent especially if on a budget and my trusty Samsung 19 inch 940B which is about 10+ years old and still going strong..
OT: The main thing if looking for a large screen get a well known brand Samsung are usually the best screen size anything above 24 inch the more screen realestate you have the better it is for you when it comes to doing artwork.. But remember if you go for a high resolution monitor remember that you are going to have to look at it and for long periods and with tiny text on the larger resolution panels makes eye strain happen quicker..
If you have DisplayPort, then I recommend an Asus PA model. I have three 24" models in my main room.
If you only have HDMI, then an AOC is nice. I just bought one of these at Best Buy for about $180 and it's quite clear and nice.
Whatever you get, ONLY get one with an IPS screen.
The one thing I also like about the AOC's is that they are far as I know still put DVI ports on their monitors.. Even though mine has a HDMI I like DVI more.. :) lol
This may be partly due to monitor resolutions.
But it is the fault of DAZ for not fixing their software UIs. DAZ has had YEARS to make text readable, this because monitor resolutions have been going up for YEARS.
Well it depends on the size of the screen. When I shifted from a 19" 1280x1024 to a 26.5" 1920x1200 I hardly noticed any difference in icon and text size. So if you go from e.g. a 27" 1920x1080 to a 32" 2560x1440 I don't think the visual difference will be that big either.
Practically speaking I think a 27' 1920x1080 is good as you can get and not pay excessive amounts of money for it. Once you go to higher resolutions or a bigger screen sizes it's actually cheaper to buy TVs. It sort of neatly illustrates buying a product perceived to be for professionals vs buying products perceived as for home consumers.
My current monitor is a 27" Acer 1920x1080 monitor I bought in 2006 for $175 at Office Depot locally and really the only difference between it and more modern monitors is that they used to calibrate them light wise closer to 2700K by default and now calibrate them closer to 5000K by default.
I am extremely reluctant to use a TV as a monitor after having done so for years and suddenly realizing after one of my images was chosen for a Daily Deviation on deviantArt that it looked quite different to everyone else (it was way too bright, but looked OK to me). Now maybe things have changed since then, and I have been curious about how 4K televisions would work as monitors. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
I agree, TVs are not monitors. Buy the right panel for the purpose.
I know what you mean, I don't like using TVs as a monitor either but mainly because I tried a TV as a monitor and don't like screens bigger than 27" as monitors. Once you get to 27" I prefer a 2nd monitor to a bigger monitor. TVs also have a lot of bulk a good designed monitor doesn't have although newer TVs are also much improved in that regard too. Main thing apart using a monitor or TV bigger than 27" is you are sitting at a desk a traditional distance from your display device 27" and that is about the limit you eyes can see in front of you before you have to rely on peripheral vision. So bigger isn't always better.
But that said, TVs can be calibrated with the same SW as monitors and use the same technology. Many people crank up the brightness and turn on vivid effects and such on their TVs but those can be dialed back, especially on these newer models.
Using a TV in such a manner is more practical for some than others, eg. it is very practical for those that use 3D to create game artwork and video animations to see what the artwork will look like on a FHD, 4K TV or UHD TV. One shouldn't neglect what your artwork looks like on TV when that's where a sizable portion of the audience will be viewing the artwork.
Although it will be a couple of years before I can afford a 4K TV that's not stopping all the other buyers of 4K TVs. Although, I'm still not sure I want a 4K TV because I have a big, big collection of 480i DVDs of shows like Mr Ed and they were already doing good to upscale old Ed to FHD from the DVDs. Sorry, 4K resolution is not a substitute for quality needed in the artwork to begin with.
This is very true, but I think SnowSultan's reply was in the context of the original poster's screen size specification (24" to 27").
I use a BenQ BL3200PT, which is 32-inch @ 2560 x 1440. It's quite nice and I don't have any discomfort with sitting at "traditional" distances and peripheral vision, etc. I would have much prefered a non-widescreen monitor (16:10 aspect instead of 16:9, as Richard mentioned above) but these become a bit specialist and expensive at the larger sizes. It's suprising how much more useful 16:10 is for computer graphics user interfaces.
My youngest son took all of our spare monitors and set them up in his room. Now he has 3 27" connected to his computer. And here we are doing this stuff for a living and we only have 1 monitor each
.
I agree, I've been using a 16:10 for several years and wanted the same format when I bought a couple of new recently, but they've become quite expensive so I ended up with 16:9 instead. I do plan to get some 16:10 though when I can afford it. 16:10 used to be the standard, sad that the monitor manufacturers changed the format to comply with the DVD movie industry but that's the usual story, the poorer format wins in the end because most people just buy what the industry decides is the standard.
After doing several weeks of research, I upgraded from an Acer 22" 1920 x 1080, last June, and am completely, utterly, totally in love with my ASUS MX27AQ 27" 2K monitor. At $470, it is, hands down, the best - and biggest - monitor I have ever owned.
It comes with 8 dispay presets, but the three I use most are:
Theater: For movies and TV shows
Reading: Especially handy for avoiding eyestrain during late-night browsing.
sRGB: For graphics work. DAZ Studio looks phenominal on this thing. You're looking at the 1920 x 1080 Dimension Preset in the screenshot below.
My favorite feature is the frameless display. It adds a beautifully sleek, contemporary look to my setup.
Dont get a 4k monitor for Daz Studio. Would need very good eyes. Your 2560 x 1440 a better idea.
Thanks. I hadn't seen that one before. It is a little above the $300 to $400 price range I had been looking in but it sounds phenomenal. I notice it doesn't have DVI input but I may not need that. Do you use the HDMI input or the Display-Port input? Are the colors vivid and uniform across the whole screen? Is there any significant light bleed ?
Thanks,
Charlie
Understandable.
Every monitor I've owned was less than $200, and all of them were HD or lower. I've been creating 3D art since 2009. Despite the challenges I encounter every day, it's become a lifelong hobby for me.
When I started shopping for a new one last year, my first thought was not to skimp on quality. I wanted the best monitor I could reasonably afford, that would best serve my needs. In other words, I wanted to future-proof my hobby. That meant a large screen with lots of real estate, and I would not settle for anything less than a 27" 2K made with graphic artists in mind. The ASUS was the only one in its class that offered the features I was looking for.
That confused me as well. Before doing my research and learning about display types, all I understood was that a digital display required a DVI input. Neither the ASUS, nor the other few monitors I had narrowed my choices down to had one. They all had something called a DisplayPort, which was not a term I was familiar with. Simpy put, the DisplayPort was introduced in 2006, and has since replaced DVI as the standard, best connection type for PCs and monitors. It's two main advantages over HDMI include a locking mechanism to keep the cable plugged in, and you can daisy-chain multiple monitors with a single cable.
This 5-minute YouTube video cleared everything up for me:
I use the DisplayPort.
The answer to your first question is yes, very much so. I could not be happier.
To your second question, there is some light bleed, but it's only noticeable when my apps are minimized or closed - I grew tired of looking for wallpaper to keep for any length of time, so my desktop background is solid black.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It was really helpful. My biggest concern with light bleed was that it might affect the image colors accross the screen.
Thanks,
Charlie.
I'm glad I could help! :)
I have two of these Asus proarts and I love them. The color fidelity is important to me, and I've always been happy with work I've had printed compared to what I see on the monitor. They're 1920 by 1200.
http://www.amazon.com/PA248Q-1920x1200-DisplayPort-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B008DWH00K
I have a Dell 2560x1440 and a Hazro of the same size; I bought the Hazro when nothing much was availble at around the price range you say; the Dell is a better monitor and about the same price - might be just outside your range, or close.
I'm not a fan of Dell computers, but their monitors are top notch. I run them both on a 970.
@ Nyghtfall (or anybody else with this monitor): What is the screen finish on the ASUS MX27AQ, matte or glossy? Sorry to bother you again but I can't seem to find the answer in the online specification which just say there is an anti-glare coating.
Thanks again for all your help,
Charlie
I'm happy to offer any help I can.
It's an IPS display with a Matte finish.
I just found a consumer video review someone posted on YouTube, last August:
Thanks. Its a little more than I had planned to spend; but it is looking more and more like that is the one I'll get. Just a few less DS models and a few more meals of Raimen noodles, no problem.
I share concerns over reading text in DAZ Studio. But, to be fair, I have difficulties reading text everywhere else. I'm 66 years old and wear eyeglasses. I have at least the beginnings of cataracts. I haven't yet consulted with a doctor about whether I need surgery yet. I'm using a 27" iMac as my main monitor, and a 24" ViewSonic 19080p monitor for the Content panel. On a good day I can easily read the text. Sometimes I need to scale the 24" monitor display.
I also have a Mac Mini connected to another ViewSonic 24" 1080p monitor, and to my 50" Sharp LCD TV. Out of curiosity, I moved my DAZ Studio screen over to the 50" TV. I loved the display! I could easily see everything. I'm tempted to use the 50" TV as my main monitor, but I am always watching TV when I am home. I looked at a 40" 1080p TV for around $300. I might get one in the summer, after I've caught up on finances. My computer equipment sits on an industrial strength wire shelving unit. I'd need to adjust the individual shelves. That's difficult since the shelves are so heavy.