At just $170, this 30-inch ultrawide 1080p monitor is the cheapest way to get into super-immersive gaming
Acer Nitro ED306C | 29.5-inch | 2560 x 1080 | 200 Hz | VA panel | 1500R curved | $199.99$169.99 at Newegg (save $30, with promo code EPDZA727)
It's only 1080p in vertical resolution but the pixel density isn't as low as you might think. If you want to get into ultrawide gaming then this is the cheapest way to do it. With a 1500R curvature, it'll feel like the monitor is wrapped around your head. Make sure to use promo code EPDZA727 to get the full discount.
Price check: Amazon $189.99 | Acer Store $189.99
Ultrawide monitors—displays that have an aspect ratio of 21:9 or greater—are a great way to make your gaming experience more immersive. Having more screen in your peripheral vision really does pull you into a game's world. Some of these monitors can be really pricey, but you don't have to splash the cash to join the ultrawide club.
With a price of $170 at Newegg, this Acer Nitro ED306C (specifically, the Xbmiippx variant) is a lot more expensive than a typical 27-inch 1080p gaming monitor, but it makes up for this with a huge amount of real estate. Boasting a 29.5-inch (shall we just call it 30-inches?) VA panel, it'll feel like you're sitting in a monitor.
A normal 27-inch 1080p, with the usual 16:9 aspect ratio, will have a pixel density of around 82 PPI (pixels per square inch). This ultrawide Acer is actually better, despite being larger in size, with a density of 94 PPI. That will help to ensure desktop icons remain crisp, even while sitting close.
This is handy because the reasonably tight curvature (1500R) somewhat demands that you need to be close to the screen.
The rest of the package is pretty decent, too. You're getting a refresh rate of up to 200 Hz, with AMD FreeSync Premium support for tear-free gaming. However, the panel's lowest refresh rate is 48 Hz so if a game's frame rate drops below that value while using FreeSync, the monitor will do frame doubling to keep things in sync. It's not a major issue but it can make the game a little choppier in
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