It's Memorial Day deals time, folks, and I can't think of a better upgrade for your PC than a new monitor. Unlike CPUs and GPUs, monitors don't tend to date overnight when a new model with twice the performance appears.
What's more, while the price of so many PC components has been going up of late, screens have been getting cheaper. Don't believe me? Today you can get a big-brand 34-inch ultrawide 1440p panel using IPS technology and offering 144Hz for under $250. Or you can go 16:9, 1440p, and 170Hz for well under $200.
A little higher up the scale, high refresh 4K gaming is attainable for just over $400. There are even deals on some OLED monitors, with Samsung having already slashed $500 off its 49-inch G9 uber-wide monster. OK, it's still $1,100 and OLED monitors remain pricey as a rule. But even they are coming down.
Anyway, let's kick off with what I think is the best overall bang for your buck right now, a 34-inch ultrawide panel. It's my favourite form factor both for work and play. I love the added immersion of the 21:9 aspect ratio for gaming, it really sucks you in.
The 3,440 by 1,440 pixel res, meanwhile, makes for decent image detail while not hammering your GPU nearly as badly a 4K panel. It adds up to around five million pixels versus over eight million for 4K. Fewer pixels to pumps means higher frame rates.
The 34-inch ultrawide form factor is fab for daily duties, too. It's perfect for running two or even three app windows side-by-side. Personally, I always feel just a little constrained by comparison when using a 'conventional' 16:9 widescreen display.
GIGABYTE M34WQ | 34-inch | 144Hz | IPS | $449.99$359.99 at Newegg (save $90)
There's normally a premium to be paid for IPS over VA. But this Gigabyte 34-inch ultrawide is barely any more money than the similar ASRock panel. It's slightly slower at 144Hz, but boasts 1ms response, USB-C and even a KVM switch. It's very good value indeed.
Anyway, if that's my favourite form factor, how much does it
Read more on pcgamer.com