The 5 Best 1440p Monitors — Fall 2022: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
-
Best Monitor
-
Best Upper Mid-Range
-
Best Mid-Range
-
Best Lower Mid-Range
-
Best Budget
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Oct 27, 2022 at 01:57 pm
By Nicholas Di Giovanni
For monitors, a resolution of 1440p (also known as 2k, QHD, or Quad HD) strikes a great balance between 1080p and 4k and is often called the sweet spot in resolution. 1440p monitors aren’t only considered 2560×1440 displays as you can also find ultrawide 1440p monitors. They deliver enough pixel density to see more details, and if you want something for office use, 1440p monitors are very common as they usually offer productivity features. Even for gaming, 1440p isn’t too demanding on your graphics card and it allows you to achieve higher frame rates.
We’ve bought and tested more than 250 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 2k monitors with a native resolution of either 2560×1440 or 3440×1440 that are available to buy. Check out our picks for the best monitors, the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, and the best 1440p gaming monitors.
-
Best 1440p Monitor
Dell Alienware AW3423DW
SEARCH
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing store
Mixed Usage
8.7
Office
8.1
Gaming
8.7
Media Consumption
9.
3Media Creation
9.0
HDR
9.3
Size
34″
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
Max Refresh Rate
175 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
The best 1440p monitor we’ve tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW.
It’s an excellent monitor that delivers stunning picture quality and offers premium features. Although it has a 3440×1440 resolution, it’s still considered a 1440p monitor and is wider than 27-inch monitors because it offers more screen space horizontally and has the same screen height. It’s good if you want the extra screen space for a more immersive gaming experience or to open multiple windows next to each other. With a 34-inch screen size, it also has a 1800R curve that brings the edges of the screen within your field of vision.It uses new QD-OLED panel technology that results in a near-infinite contrast ratio for perfect black levels in dark rooms, and there isn’t any blooming around bright objects either. Thanks to its quantum dot technology, it also displays a wide range of colors in HDR, delivering a fantastic HDR experience which is important if you want to use it for watching movies. There are a few drawbacks to this technology as there are text clarity issues and color fringing, but this is only an issue if you want to use it only for productivity, but it’s excellent for other uses.
See our review
-
Best Upper Mid-Range 1440p Monitor
LG 34GP950G-B
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing store
Mixed Usage
7.8
Office
7.7
Gaming
8.3
Media Consumption
7.5
Media Creation
7.
9HDR
7.2
Size
34″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
180 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you find the Dell Alienware AW3423DW too expensive or you want a more basic ultrawide monitor, check out the LG 34GP950G-B.
It has the same 34-inch, 3440×1440 screen as the Dell, but you don’t get the same remarkable picture quality, which is what you have to expect from a cheaper display. Still, it delivers a good overall performance and is better for office use because it doesn’t have any text clarity issues, as the text clarity is good and images look sharp. While it doesn’t look good in dark rooms, it gets bright enough to fight glare in well-lit rooms and has decent reflection handling, so visibility isn’t an issue.It displays a wide range of colors both in SDR and HDR, meaning images look life-like, and it has great accuracy before calibration, so you won’t need to get it calibrated unless you want the most accurate colors. It also has a few extra features, like a USB hub that lets you connect your peripherals like a mouse and keyboard, allowing you to use other USB ports on your computer.
See our review
-
Best Mid-Range 1440p Monitor
Gigabyte M27Q X
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing store
Mixed Usage
7.9
Office
7.9
Gaming
8.6
Media Consumption
7.6
Media Creation
8.1
HDR
6.4
Size
27″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you don’t like an ultrawide format and prefer a 1440p monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio, or if you just want something cheaper, check out the Gigabyte M27Q X.
It’s a very different monitor from the LG 34GP950G-B because of its smaller screen and higher 240Hz refresh rate. It means that it’s an excellent choice for high-frame-rate and competitive gaming if your graphics card can handle a 1440p resolution. While both the LG and the Dell Alienware AW3423DW have native G-SYNC support, this monitor instead has FreeSync support with G-SYNC compatibility, which doesn’t make much of a difference if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, except you lose out on a few features.Even if you don’t want it for gaming, it offers a ton of productivity features, like a USB hub that features a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. It means you can easily connect a compatible laptop to display an image from it and charge it at the same time, but it only supports 18W of power delivery, which isn’t enough to actively charge your laptop while you’re using it, but it will at least keep your battery alive.
See our review
-
Best Lower Mid-Range 1440p Monitor
LG 32GP850-B
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing store
Mixed Usage
7.9
Office
7.7
Gaming
8.5
Media Consumption
7.6
Media Creation
8.0
HDR
6.7
Size
32″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
180 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you prefer something cheaper, the LG 32GP850-B is a good alternative to the Gigabyte M27Q X.
As you go down in price categories, there are a few trade-offs you have to make, and in this case, the LG has a lower 180Hz refresh rate, so it isn’t ideal for competitive gaming. It also has fewer productivity features as it lacks a USB-C input. Still, it’s a very good overall monitor that’s also good for the office and excellent for gaming. It also has a bigger screen than the Gigabyte, offering you more screen space to open multiple windows at once, but because the pixel density is lower, the text clarity is just decent.The picture quality is good, especially if you use it in a well-lit room, because it has great SDR peak brightness and reflection handling, meaning you won’t have issues using it even with a few lights around. It also has wide viewing angles that make the image remain consistent from the sides, which is great if you need to share your screen with someone else, but its stand doesn’t offer swivel adjustments. Still, you can adjust the height, tilt it, or rotate it into portrait mode if you need.
See our review
-
Best Budget 1440p Monitor
ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing store
Mixed Usage
7.0
Office
8.3
Gaming
6.7
Media Consumption
7.1
Media Creation
7.
8HDR
3.0
Size
27″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
75 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
No
See all our test results
There are plenty of budget-friendly 1440p monitors that you can get and offer good overall performance, like the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV.
It’s a step down from the LG 32GP850-B in terms of gaming performance because it has a lower 75Hz refresh rate and isn’t designed for gaming, but that’s normal for low-cost monitors, and instead, this monitor is great for office use and also good for content creators. It delivers excellent color accuracy thanks to its sRGB picture mode, so colors aren’t oversaturated, and it also has an excellent SDR color gamut. Sadly, it doesn’t support HDR, which is disappointing if you need to edit videos in HDR.Despite its low cost, it’s still well-built with outstanding ergonomics as you can easily adjust the screen, including rotating it into portrait mode in either direction. Its SDR peak brightness is great, and it has good reflection handling, so visibility isn’t a problem in well-lit office spaces or rooms. While it has a few extra features, like four USB ports, it doesn’t have a USB-C slot. If you want that, you’ll have to pay more for a very similar model, the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Samsung Odyssey Neo G9:
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a premium monitor with a 32:9 aspect ratio and 5120×1440 resolution. It’s the equivalent of placing two 27-inch, 1440p monitors side-by-side. Get this if you want something even bigger than the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, but remember, it costs more and doesn’t deliver the same perfect black levels.
See our review - Gigabyte M27Q:
The Gigabyte M27Q is a budget-friendly display with more gaming features than the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV. Get this if you want a monitor more for gaming, but the ASUS is better overall for productivity.
See our review - LG 27GP850-B:
The LG 27GP850-B is essentially a 27-inch version of the LG 32GP850-B.
The differences between them are minor, so get whichever size you prefer.
See our review - ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM:
The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is a high-end gaming monitor that costs about the same as the LG 34GP950G-B and has a fast 240Hz refresh rate with native G-SYNC support. It’s a good choice if you’re a competitive gamer, but the LG offers more versatility for other uses.
See our review
Recent Updates
-
Oct 27, 2022:
Restructured article to reflect user needs and monitor performance; renamed the Dell Alienware AW3423DW as the ‘Best 1440p Monitor’ because of its performance; removed the LG 27GP850-B, LG 27GL850, ASUS TUF Gaming VG27WQ1B, ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV, and the Dell S3422DWG because they don’t fit into the scope of the article. Added the LG 34GP950G-B, Gigabyte M27Q X, LG 32GP850-B, and the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV to their respective categories; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.
-
Aug 15, 2022:
Restructured the article to better match how users are searching for monitors. Added the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27WQ1B as the ‘Best Cheap 1440p Monitor’ and replaced the Gigabyte M27Q with the LG 27GL850-B as the ‘Best Budget 1440p Monitor’, as the Gigabyte is increasingly hard to find. -
Apr 11, 2022:
Moved the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD and the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV to their own categories, and removed some outdated Notable Mentions. -
Feb 11, 2022:
Swapped the Gigabyte M27Q and the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV, as the Gigabyte is a more versatile choice overall, while the ASUS is best-suited for gaming. -
Dec 13, 2021:
Replaced the Acer Nitro XV272U with the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD and the LG 34GP83A-B with the Gigabyte M34WQ to be consistent with other recommendations because the Acer and LG are hard to find; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 2k monitors currently available. They’re adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 1440p monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Discussions
The 4 Best 1440p Gaming Monitors — Fall 2022: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
-
Best Monitor
-
Best Upper Mid-Range
-
Best Mid-Range
-
Best Budget
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Oct 20, 2022 at 02:17 pm
By Nicholas Di Giovanni
In recent years, 1440p monitors have become extremely popular for gaming.
They have a low enough resolution that decent performance is achievable without an extremely expensive gaming computer, yet are high enough resolution that you can see more fine details in your favorite games. They aren’t just for PC gaming anymore; 1440p is supported by the Xbox Series X and PS5, making a 1440p monitor an attractive alternative for students who don’t have enough room for a full-size TV.
We’ve bought and tested more than 250 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best gaming monitors with a native resolution of either 2560×1440 or 3440×1440 that are available to buy. Also see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, and if you want something with a lower resolution, the best 1080p monitors.
-
Best 1440p Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW3423DW
SEARCH
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing store
Gaming
8.
7Size
34″
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
Max Refresh Rate
175 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
The best 1440p gaming monitor we’ve tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW.
It’s an excellent gaming monitor with an ultrawide 1440p screen, meaning it offers more horizontal screen space than other 1440p displays. It’s great for atmospheric and FPS gaming, as you can see more of your game at once without moving around. It delivers stunning picture quality, especially for dark room gaming, because it has a unique QD-OLED panel that displays perfect blacks without any blooming. It also displays a wide range of colors and makes them look bright, delivering fantastic HDR picture quality if you tend to play HDR games.In terms of gaming performance, it has a 175Hz refresh rate with native G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) support, which is ideal if you use an NVIDIA graphics card and want to take full advantage of it. Another advantage of its QD-OLED panel is that it has a near-instantaneous response time, resulting in extremely smooth motion with fast-moving objects. Although this monitor’s input lag is a bit higher than other gaming monitors, it still delivers a responsive gaming experience.
See our review
-
Best Upper Mid-Range 1440p Gaming Monitor
ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing store
Gaming
8.4
Size
27″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you want to save some money and still want a high-end monitor with a ton of features, then something in the upper mid-range category like the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is a good choice.
It’s different from the Dell Alienware AW3423DW because it has a 2560×1440 resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio, so you get a smaller screen, and it also doesn’t have the same remarkable picture quality, but that’s the trade-off you need to make for something cheaper. However, the ASUS has a much higher 240Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for high-frame-rate gaming if your graphics card supports a 1440p signal up to that frame rate.Like the Dell, it has native G-SYNC support, and there are a few extra features you can take advantage of with an NVIDIA graphics card. It has NVIDIA’s Reflex Latency Analyzer, which helps measure the latency of your entire setup so you can identify which sources cause the most delay. The input lag of the monitor itself is very low, and you won’t feel any delay with it. The response time is also excellent across its entire refresh rate range, resulting in smooth motion with fast-moving objects.
See our review
-
Best Mid-Range 1440p Gaming Monitor
Gigabyte M27Q X
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing store
Gaming
8.6
Size
27″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you want something cheaper, check out the Gigabyte M27Q X.
It’s a mid-range gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate like the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM, so you still get high-end gaming features for a lower cost. However, there are still a few trade-offs as it doesn’t have native G-SYNC support like the ASUS, so you don’t have access to NVIDIA’s Reflex Latency Analyzer. However, it still has G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing with NVIDIA graphics cards over DisplayPort connections.It also has slower response times than the ASUS, particularly with low-frame-rate signals, but if you play high-frame-rate games, you won’t notice much blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It also has a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, and unlike many monitors, it works at the same time as the VRR support. The input lag is low, and the monitor has a few extra features, like a USB hub if you want to connect your keyboard and mouse directly to it or charge other devices.
See our review
-
Best Budget 1440p Gaming Monitor
Gigabyte M27Q
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing store
Gaming
8.4
Size
27″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
170 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you’re on a budget, there are still a few good 1440p gaming options you can get, like the Gigabyte M27Q.
It’s an older and lower-end version of the Gigabyte M27Q X that you can still get. Because it costs less, it has a lower 170Hz refresh rate, which is what you have to expect for a budget-friendly monitor, but because of this, it’s also easier for your graphics card to reach the max refresh rate. Its overall gaming performance is similar to the M27Q X because it has excellent motion handling, VRR support, and low input lag for a smooth and responsive gaming experience.One big difference is that this monitor has a different panel type with a BGR subpixel layout. It can negatively impact text clarity in some programs and games, but it doesn’t affect the picture quality or gaming performance. While this monitor is a great choice for gaming in well-lit rooms as it gets bright, it has a low contrast that makes it less ideal for dark rooms. If you tend to game in the dark, the Dell S2722DGM has a higher contrast and is a good alternative, but it has worse motion handling.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Samsung Odyssey Neo G9:
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a super ultrawide monitor with an even wider screen than the Dell Alienware AW3423DW and delivers premium gaming features like a 240Hz refresh rate.
Get this if you want the extra screen space; otherwise, the Dell is an excellent choice.
See our review - HP OMEN 27c:
The HP OMEN 27c is comparable to the Gigabyte M27Q X because it has a 27-inch screen with a 240Hz refresh rate. However, it has worse motion handling, so the Gigabyte is the better choice overall.
See our review - LG 27GP850-B:
The LG 27GP850-B is an excellent mid-range gaming monitor that costs about the same as the Gigabyte M27Q X, but because it has a lower refresh rate, it’s worth getting the Gigabyte.
See our review - HP X27q:
The HP X27q is a cheaper monitor than the Gigabyte M27Q, which is good if you’re on a strict budget, but it has worse motion handling and doesn’t have as many extra features.
See our review
Recent Updates
-
Oct 20, 2022:
Restructured article to reflect user needs and for consistency with other articles; renamed the Dell Alienware AW3423DW as the ‘Best 1440p Gaming Monitor’ and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM as the ‘Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor’; added the Gigabyte M27Q X and the Gigabyte M27Q; removed the LG 27GP850-B, LG 27GL850, and the Dell S3422DWG; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.
-
Jul 29, 2022:
Restructured the article to better match how users are searching for monitors. Replaced the Gigabyte M27Q with the LG 27GL850-B as the ‘Best Budget 1440p Gaming Monitor’, as the Gigabyte is increasingly hard to find. Removed some out-of-date Notable Mentions that are no longer relevant. -
Apr 07, 2022:
Removed the Dell Alienware AW2721D, as there’s very little difference in price with the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM, and moved the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD to its own category. Removed a few out-of-date Notable Mentions. -
Feb 07, 2022:
Replaced the ViewSonic XG270QG with the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM because it has a higher refresh rate, and added the Dell AW2721D as ‘Cheaper Alternative’; replaced the LG 34GP83A-B with the Gigabyte M34WQ because it’s better, and removed the Gigabyte G34WQC as ‘Dark Room Alternative’; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.
-
Dec 09, 2021:
Replaced the Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx with the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD, as the Acer is sold out everywhere. Removed a few out-of-date Notable Mentions, and added the Dell S3422DWG.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 1440p gaming monitors currently available. They’re adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 1440p monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Discussions
90,000 2K monitors for every home! GECID.com.
::>Video cards
>2022
> Test GeForce RTX 3050 in 20 games in Quad HD: a 2K monitor in every home!
06-06-2022
The GeForce RTX 3050 video card was created for FullHD resolution, and we have already raced it in this mode.
But since it has 8 GB of memory, and QuadHD monitors are not so expensive, the question may arise: “can it pull this resolution too?”. Let’s look for the answer, as usual — on the example of 20 games!
|
Model |
GeForce RTX 3080 |
GeForce RTX 3070 |
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
GeForce RTX 3060 |
GeForce RTX 3050 |
|
Technical process, nm |
8 |
||||
|
Microarchitecture |
Ampere |
||||
|
GPU |
GA102-200 |
GA104-300 |
GA104-200 |
GA106-300 |
GA106-150 |
|
Number of SM units |
68 |
46 |
38 |
28 |
20 |
|
Number of CUDA cores |
8704 |
5888 |
4864 |
3584 |
2560 |
|
Number of texture units |
272 |
184 |
152 |
112 |
80 |
|
Number of raster blocks |
96 |
96 |
80 |
48 |
32 |
|
Number of Tensor cores |
272 |
184 |
152 |
112 |
80 |
|
Number of cores RT |
68 |
46 |
38 |
28 |
20 |
|
Base/dynamic frequency, MHz |
1440/1710 |
1500/1725 |
1410/1665 |
1320/1777 |
1552/1777 |
|
Memory type |
GDDR6X |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
GDDR6 |
|
Memory size |
10 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
8 |
|
Effective memory frequency, MHz |
19 000 |
14 000 |
14 000 |
15,000 |
14,000 |
|
Memory bus, bit |
320 |
256 |
256 |
192 |
128 |
|
Bandwidth, GB/s |
760 |
448 |
448 |
360 |
224 |
|
Energy consumption, W |
320 |
220 |
200 |
170 |
130 |
|
Additional power connectors |
2×8-pin |
1×8-pin |
1×8-pin |
1×8-pin |
1×8-pin |
|
Recommended power supply, W |
750 |
650 |
650 |
650 |
550 |
|
Recommended price, $ |
699 |
499 |
399 |
329 |
249 |
To begin with, we recall that now the GeForce RTX 3050 is the youngest card in the NVIDIA Ampere line.
It is based on the GA106-150 graphics core, which contains 2560 CUDA cores, 80 tensor and 20 RT cores. 8 GB of GDDR6 memory work with a 128-bit bus and a speed of 224 GB / s. We agree that it’s not much, but, as we already learned earlier, 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes are enough to feel comfortable even on old boards with a PCIe 3.0 interface. Plus, modest power requirements contribute to this — a 550 W unit and one 8-pin connector are enough.
We tested the video card Palit GeForce RTX 3050 Dual OC . First of all, it has a cool cooling system. Small, two-slot, with two fans with a diameter of 85 mm. They allow you to overclock the graphics core up to 2 GHz, and the memory up to 15.8 GHz. And this is + 11% and + 13% to the base frequencies, respectively. At the same time, in order to keep the GPU temperature within 65 ° C, only 60% of the power of the coolers is required. In this mode, the noise is quite comfortable and does not interfere.
And now let’s get acquainted with what surrounded the map in the system unit.
The brain is a 6-core 12-thread Intel Core i5-12400 with a maximum frequency of 4.4 GHz and a heat dissipation of 117 watts. The Brain store and the IT-Box marketplace helped us get the processor. Both have a huge range of digital appliances, PC kits, TVs, home appliances and more.
The ASUS PRIME B660M-A WIFI D4 microATX motherboard uses a reinforced PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for graphics card installation. It runs models of bygone generations in PCIe 3.0 mode. In addition, the motherboard has two M.2 slots, one with a heatsink, and 4 slots for DDR4 memory up to 5333MHz in overclocking.
The liquid cooling system ASUS TUF GAMING LC 240 ARGB provided an absolutely comfortable processor temperature.
16 GB of RAM without any fuss with overclocking was launched using the XMP profile at the frequency that is hardcoded in the name of the modules — DDR4-3600 PATRIOT Viper Steel .
This is a peer-to-peer kit based on SK Hynix chips.
Operating system, benchmarks and game clients have been set to M.2 SSD PATRIOT P300 512 GB. For games, they took a similar, but more capacious 2-terabyte model. Both are created in M.2 2280 format with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface.
«Golden» Seasonic G12 GC-650 provided reliable and stable power supply. Here we can highlight the basic list of protections, efficient circuitry, easy-to-install cables, a quiet fan and a whole 5 year warranty.
No problem, all components contained the case Lian Li PC-O11 Air . The front, top, back and even one of the sides are dotted with ventilation holes. Up to 14 fans can be installed on them.
Monitor Philips Brilliance 329P9H was used to display the image. An external system with AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K helped with recording gameplay, that is, without loss of performance.
Let’s move on to the main part — the gameplay in 20 games in a resolution of 2560 by 1440 or in a popular way — 2K.
We start with Apex Legends at maximum graphics settings. At the beginning of the match, there are sometimes slight twitches, but this is extremely rare. There is nothing more to complain about — it plays perfectly at a minimum of 65 and an average of 87 frames per second. By the way, this is a good margin for a heavier map of Olympus, where the frame rate is likely to be lower in grassy meadows.
ARK: Survival Evolved takes over with medium preset and 100% render. With these settings, the RTX 3050 is very modest in terms of video memory consumption — less than 3 GB. You can evade Diplodocus attempts to give you bream at an average of 54 and a minimum of 39fps. In general, it is played and controlled comfortably. If you want, you can run around with high settings, the frame rate will be about 35-40 fps.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla in the vibrant village of Ravenstrop pleases with the beauty and smoothness of the gameplay at high settings. The maximum that fits into this idyll is rare light subfreezes that do not affect anything at all. The frame rate is on average kept at 45 fps, and the minimum moves away from it to 36. If there are few such indicators, you can reset the graphics settings to medium — this will raise the indicators by 10 points.
Battlefield 2042 also launched with high settings and enabled DLSS technology in Quality mode. Again, at first there may be minor stutters until all the M2 data of the drive and the network is placed in the video and RAM. But after that, everything goes well on a consistent basis. Management is sensitive, with average 58 and drawdowns up to 38 fps.
In СoD: Warzone they did not restrain themselves and turned up the maximum graphics settings.
For a long time we have not seen Kolyan Dutoy so beautiful and clear — after all, QuadHD after all! Even the textures didn’t look like they had been gnawed by ants… well, you get the idea that everything is stable and smooth on the dashboard. Only sometimes the time frame chart creaks, which indicates subtle twitches. But they are also very small. So, once again, everything is beautiful and smooth with drawdowns up to 43 fps and an average frequency of almost the coveted level of 60 fps.
Cyberpunk 2077 traditionally explore in more detail. We start with ultra graphics, enabled ray tracing on ultra and DLSS in performance mode. To be honest, I don’t like it. The graphics seem to be the maximum, but DLSS noticeably lathers the picture and the frame rate drops below 30 fps in some places, so there is not enough smoothness. So let’s go in search of the best option for the soul.
The next stage of research may be high graphics and DLSS on the balance sheet.
It is already getting better — the picture is pleasing to the eye, and the smoothness is approaching the “more or less good” indicator. Unless with an active action, in battles where you will need to jump, run and shoot, the minimum frame rate of 33 fps may not be enough. And since there is enough of this goodness in Cyberpunk, we are looking for more.
Well, the most optimal mode, in our opinion, is the average graphics with DLSS in the «Quality» position. Here they hit the target, as our tester between these machines — snipers will envy! Sharper textures and environments, combined with increased fluidity, provide an enjoyable game experience for both the youngest graphics card in the Ampere line and QuadHD resolution. We have a minimum of 40, and an average of 52 frames per second.
Similar to Cyberpunk 2077 , got confused with Dying Light 2 . We think that not many of you go through the settings so carefully when you first start the game.
We start with high graphics, enabled ray tracing and DLSS in «Performance» mode. The minimum is 31, and the average is 39 fps. Not much, but you can play if you want. In some places, the rays make the picture even a little better — there is a contrast. But what we personally do not like is the extra blurring of textures.
When switching to high settings, without rays and with DLSS switched to «Balance», the picture does not change globally. Only subsidence becomes a little more comfortable — 36 fps minimum and 47 — on average. Excessive blurring of objects has not gone away. Although the card has 8 GB of VRAM, and the textures sometimes look like underloaded.
And finally, a kind of zen, we reach at medium graphics settings. Although they are lower in rank, they subjectively look better. And it’s not about DLSS. Technology is still in balance mode. In general, the picture becomes noticeably clearer and smoother — the frame rate is in the range from 44 to 55 fps.
This is in our opinion the most optimal mode for the RTX 3050 at 1440p.
After a long dig in the settings, we decided to take a break in Dota 2 , where you can set everything to «Very High» and not worry. The average frame rate almost reaches two hundred fps, so the monitor can be not only QuadHD, but also high-hertz.
Escape From Tarkov at high settings cannot boast of cosmic frame rates, but pleases with a stable frequency — equal to that of the Ukrainian Kherson steppes. The range is not great, ranging from 40 to 49 fps. If you do not have a hawk’s eye, then without monitoring, almost 50 fps are perceived on average as 60. Otherwise, you can reset a couple of settings and squeeze out this treasured frequency.
What can I say, Fortnite at epic settings and with DLSS in Quality mode pulls the game perfectly. On average, we see 73 frames per second, and only sometimes there are dulling with a drop in frequency to 42 fps.
If this is not enough for someone, you can reset the settings a little.
In God of War at high graphics settings, we want to praise the work of DLSS technology. Without it, the average frame rate is pressed to 50 fps and the gameplay becomes uncomfortable. The camera reacts too sensitively to mouse movements, becomes uncontrollable. But with DLSS turned on in Quality mode, the average frequency rises to 62 fps — the gameplay and controls become excellent.
In GTA 5 everything is turned up to the maximum, except for the damn quality of the shadows. Most of the time the game runs just fine — even the drawdowns stay around 60 fps. But there may be moments of weakness — when there is a desire to crush the grass on the hills, the video card becomes about twice as heavy. The sag drops to 35 fps, and the average frequency drops to 49. If it’s unpleasant to play like that, it’s enough to reduce the quality of the grass.
Long-suffering Halo Infinite raced in free multiplayer.
The first run was done at medium settings. Monitoring shows nice numbers — an average of 54 fps, but in strict reality it seems that the game is constantly twitching. It is hardly visible on the recording, but the live sensations are just that.
This is why the RTX 3050 multiplayer works best with minimal graphics. She will not give you a stable 60 fps for this, but based on the live impressions of the mouse connection, the reaction and the picture on the screen, it is much more comfortable to control. Therefore, we recommend these settings.
In PUBG we drove around the map of Erangel with «Ultra» graphics. And interestingly, there were no subfreezes even on the first run. Although the saturation of the locations was different, the picture pleased with smoothness at an average frequency of 71 fps. But when the counter managed to catch 35-39 fps of the 0.1% Low indicator — is it not clear at all? Therefore, this is the case when subsidence can be ignored.
And PUBG is also to be commended for a cool crisp 1440p picture when switching from the coolest graphics to the folk preset with minimal settings and «Ultra» textures. We can say that she did not sink at all even if she looked at distant objects. At the same time, the frequency flies into space — an average of 116 fps plus excellent control.
We move on, or rather we jump. Catch our perfect RTX 3050 preset in Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1440p. These are «High» settings, «Ultra» textures and DLSS in «Quality». Here is the formula for comfortable gameplay with an average frame rate of 60 and a rate of 0.1% at 44 fps. By the way, DLSS is one of the main ingredients here, because without this technology, the frame rate slides to the region of 40-50 fps.
B Rust turned everything to the maximum except for Graphics Quality, and set the «Balance» mode for DLSS. After that, the game got on a righteous track and averaged 64 frames per second.
Sometimes it goes off the rails in the form of already familiar twitches, freezes and subsidence up to 38 fps, but in general everything is smooth. For what I really want to present, this is for 14.5 GB !! eaten RAM. Despite the fact that the game bit off a disproportionately small amount of video memory — only 3.7 GB. A little more and you will have to close the Crome game with 15 tabs before launching?! Well, where is it supposed to be?
In Rainbow Six: Siege with «Ultra» graphics and full render scale, even very rare events exceed 70 fps. Management, smoothness — everything is fine. Needless to say, everything is fine with the average frequency. If you tweak the settings a little, you can easily squeeze out 144 frames per second for a high-frequency monitor.
The Witcher 3 , which hasn’t hunted anything wild for a long time, but just does jogging, was driven out of Ultra by graphics and high further processing. From the first time there may be some minor subfreezes here and there.
But on the other hand, when the miserable 2.5 GB finally settles down in the video memory, everything goes well and quite smoothly. Very rare events reached 39, and the average frame rate was around 55 fps.
Far Cry 6 carefully launched several times in a row. So, the first pass is just «High» graphics. There are no comments — smoothly, clearly and sensitively. On average 55 fps, 43 fps skips a little. It seems that there is no more stock and there is nowhere to increase the graphics, but the FSR technology says this — well, hold my hat.
We turn it and the graphics on «Ultra» quality — and voila — we get a better picture and an even higher frame rate. Now the minimum that can be caught is no longer 43, but 48 fps, and the average has risen from 55 to 61 frames per second. We love this exchange.
Well, for the third time they got insolent — they loaded the RTX 3050 to the fullest. «Ultra» graphics, ray tracing and FSR in quality mode.
As a result… The frame rate is a little lower, but instead all the whims are turned on. I must say that tracing in this case works in the “not for everyone” mode. That is, not for all reflections and shadows. But despite this, it is played quite comfortably at an average of 54 fps.
And finally, Forza Horizon 5 with «Ultra» graphics. If you look at the record several times, you can dig up some light freezes. But they are not significant — the control is obedient, and the turns pass, as if the navigator is whispering in your ear.
Conclusions
Conclusions are easy to make. The GeForce RTX 3050 does well at 2560×1440. Moreover, in the vast majority of games, we managed to choose high or close to them graphics settings.
So, somewhere they stumbled over Halo with its clumsy optimization, somewhere there were small blunts at the beginning of the rink, and somewhere DLSS or FSR technologies came to the rescue. But in any case, it was always possible to get a beautiful clear picture, as well as sensitive control. Of course, in most cases there is no sky-high fps.
Often the GeForce RTX 3050 was a little short of the coveted 60 fps, but for most, believe me, this will be an absolutely normal level. Plus, you can always give up one or two insignificant options and get to the magic number six and zero on the fps counter.
Author: Denis Koziolek
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Monitor Test upon purchase. Lamp performance, glare, dead pixels
The monitor is a technically complex device, so before buying it is necessary to study the terminology, characteristics, prepare the necessary equipment for testing (PC, laptop, flash drives with programs). All this will help to identify defects in a timely manner and buy a quality monitor that meets expectations.
It is worth noting that some minor flaws are allowed by the manufacturer: minor flashes , dead pixels — it all depends on the class of the model, which brand produces it. If the monitor is new, you can test it at home, however, in this case, there is a possibility of difficulties with the return. The CU monitor needs more attention, so better arm yourself with the knowledge and technical tools that will come in handy when going to the store or to the post office.
In our article we will tell you which defects require a mandatory check and what is required for this. We will also provide detailed instructions with step-by-step actions.
Contents:
- Terminology: understanding the characteristics of
- Necessary tools for checking the monitor
- How to Completely Test Your Monitor: Step by Step
- Additional Inspection and Test Guidelines for the
- Which monitors you should not buy
Monitor
Terminology: understanding the characteristics
To begin with, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the basic terms that must be taken into account when inspecting and testing the monitor in the future. Having basic knowledge, it will be easier to deal with test programs and use them correctly.
Color shift is a shift in the color gamut when changing the viewing angle. Basically, this problem occurred with early models of TFT monitors with TN-type matrices, for which this phenomenon is not considered a defect.
Modern displays should not distort colors from any angle, if this happens, it is worth asking why.
Color shift — color shift
PWM — stands for pulse width modulation. This is the flickering of the backlight LEDs, which at 100% brightness does not catch the eye. But already after lowering the backlight level by half, the flicker becomes obvious, harming the eyesight. There are models that lack this property, as a rule, they are marked with the corresponding inscription «Flicker-Free».
Flicker LED backlight
Glow — literally translated as «glow». The effect is characteristic not only of IPS matrices, as is commonly believed, but also of its other types. It manifests itself in the form of unevenly lit spots, most often around the perimeter at different viewing angles. Particularly noticeable on a dark background, when black becomes gray in places. This effect tires the eyesight, you should carefully consider this parameter.
Glow monitor effect
Backlight is a typical problem of almost all LCD monitors due to the specifics of the backlight construction, which is implemented by LED lamps or tape.
If the device is tilted incorrectly, the position of the backlight itself changes, the glow becomes visible to the user, brings discomfort.
Monitor screen glare
Uneven backlight — often observed in all types of matrices , does not affect the performance of the monitor, it is especially noticeable on a dark fill. As a result — incorrect color reproduction.
Uneven backlight with color distortion
Tint — color temperature difference, which can vary between 200-600 degrees. With a minimum discrepancy, the tint is not distinguishable by the human eye, however, if the difference is significant, a greenish tint on the left and pinkish on the right is observed on the screen. It usually appears on a light background.
Color Temperature Difference
Crystalline Effect — Inexpensive devices with an anti-reflective matte finish. Poor-quality film creates the feeling of a blurry image, text.
Crystal effect
Black Crush — inherent in VA matrices, which are considered a budget alternative to IPS. With this effect, shades are not visible on a black background, dark scenes merge into one spot, which is inconvenient when watching movies, photos and other images. Modern monitors are practically devoid of this flaw, however, you should be on the alert, be sure to check this item.
Black Crush effect
Dead pixels — many people know this term, but not everyone knows that faulty pixels are divided into three categories:
- stuck — looks like a colored dot that does not match the current color scheme. The defect is correctable if special tools are used;
- burning — constantly lit in white, which is especially annoying on a dark fill. Recovery is also possible;
- dead — a dark dot, visible on any background other than black. This is the most difficult case, not amenable to adjustment.
Dead pixels
It is for dead pixels that the monitor should be checked, since they cannot be corrected. At the same time, there are several classes of devices with a valid number of such pixels.
Necessary tools for checking the monitor
When purchased from the hands of , in a store or at the post office, the monitor must be examined for all possible defects on the spot. This will eliminate further trouble with the seller, returns and disappointment from the device itself. It is better to check with the store in advance about this possibility. If a representative of an outlet or a seller of monitors bu prevents this, then it is worth finding another place of purchase.
In any case, it is necessary “to arm yourself with certain tools and technical devices in order to check the monitor without the computer .
Monitor test tools
What we need:
- Laptop (PC or MiniPC).
- Flash drive with test programs.
- Cables and adapters.
At the points of issue or when receiving a parcel at the post office, there is unlikely to be a test stand for verification. Download test programs and utilities to your laptop that will help you detect defects.
If a computer or laptop is available at the test site, then you can use the monitor test from a flash drive . You need to install the test programs on the compact media.
Firstly, the cables must match the type, i.e. if the video output on the laptop is only VGA, then you need to take a VGA cable and the monitor must have a VGA connector.
Secondly, the cables must be of good quality. Cheap low quality VGA cables — at low resolutions they can give an acceptable picture, but at FullHD resolution the picture will be blurry and fuzzy.
Third — Cables must meet the requirements. A 144Hz, 1440p monitor requires at least an HDMI 2.
0 or DisplayPort 1.2 cable.
How to fully check the monitor: step by step
The manual contains various test methods, after passing which, you will be sure that the device you have purchased does not contain flaws.
Visual inspection
The first thing to do is to inspect the monitor for external damage. Chips, cracks are often the cause of careless handling, falls, bumps, and other mechanical effects that affect internal components. When buying a used monitor, small abrasions and scratches are allowed that do not affect the electronics. There should be no flaws on the surface of the new case.
The second is the stand. It should harmoniously fit into the overall design of the shell. Why? It happens that a faulty leg is replaced with an analogue from a lighter model. As a result, the stand will not support the weight of the monitor, sag, fall under its weight.
Power connection
Listen carefully for sounds after plugging in: there should be no extraneous noise.
If you hear a squeak, crackle, then there are problems with the microcircuit, transformer, speakers. It all depends on where the sounds are coming from. Even if they are temporary and disappear after 10-20 seconds, other options should be considered.
Reset to factory settings
To make the monitor show an attractive picture, sellers can set the maximum settings for brightness, contrast and other parameters. Resetting the changes is easy enough without harming the monitor. But it will be possible to verify the real image, which may already look an order of magnitude worse than the initial impression.
Buttons, ports, connectors
The next step is to check the operation of the control buttons. They can be mechanical or touch, but in any case, respond to pressing the first time. Repeated actions should alert a potential buyer, as the keys may fail in the future.
Ports and connectors in monitors
Checking the ports does not take much time, does not require much knowledge.
Firstly, it is better to decide in advance for what purposes the monitor is being purchased in order to understand which inputs must be mandatory. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the VGA connection may be analog and not transmit all the capabilities of the matrix, distorting the color gamut. In addition, tested cables and adapters are required so that the seller does not have a signal for a bad image for this reason.
The ports must tightly hold the connector of the connecting wire, not stagger, externally maintain integrity and correct geometry. It is necessary to check all connectors for functionality, so stock up on the necessary cables and adapters.
External sensor check
The screen surface must be free of scratches, dents and cracks. They indicate mechanical impact and further problems with the display of graphics. If dirt, dust between the layers is noticeable, then the monitor was under repair, moreover, it was done carelessly. A sign of this can be knocked down screws on the back cover.
If there are traces of opening — it is worth asking about the cause of the breakdown. This applies to bu monitors, there should be absolutely no such traces on new ones.
We got to the most important thing, checking and evaluating the image that the matrix can give. We have developed a powerful online monitor test tool that easily copes with this task. It is universal, suitable for setting up and checking the monitor, smartphone, tablet. To test devices, you only need Internet access.
How to check for dead pixels
One of the main problems of many monitors is non-working pixels. As previously mentioned, they may or may not be repairable. You can check their presence and quantity visually, relying on your own vision and attentiveness. To do this, it is enough to turn on various plain backgrounds and peer into the display in search of non-working elements.
Dead pixels on the monitor screen
However, checking for dead pixels with the program will be much more convenient, it automatically turns on special splash screens, and some utilities immediately give out the number and “quality” of damaged pixels.
But it will take more time, if you have one — you can use this method.
There are a lot of programs and utilities, most of them are free.
Programs for checking the monitor
You need to download one or more of these programs on a USB flash drive and take it with you, even if you are checking monitor at post office — it will be fast and convenient.
Backlight test
Such defects are not critical for the operation of the monitor, but their presence may indicate that something is wrong with the LED backlight . Checking for light is easy enough — you need to turn off the light and set the maximum level of screen brightness. It is better to make a dark blue fill fill the whole screen, then the slightest glow will be noticeable very clearly. Minor highlights are present in almost all models. The main thing is that it does not interfere when viewing content in dark scenes.
Checking the monitor screen for backlighting
More problems can occur with uneven backlighting or temperature differences — tint.
Correcting such a flaw is quite difficult, especially. if it is very pronounced.
Color rendering properties
This characteristic is especially important if the monitor is purchased by a retoucher or photo editor. For these professions, the correct transfer of the entire palette of colors is vital. Yes, and it will be difficult for an ordinary user to use the simplest Photoshop to make a picture beautiful and realistic.
Monitor screen color check
Color check is easy. There are special monitor tests, which you can download from the official websites of the developers. They automatically alternate the palette and insert certain characters into it one tone lower or higher. If the signs are of the correct form, then everything is in order with this parameter. You can use programs such as:
- Ultramon;
- Nokia Monitor Test;
- Actual Multiple Monitors.
In some cases, it is enough to carry out a calibration to set your own parameters.
It is preinstalled in the operating system, so you can use it without installing third-party software.
Correct screen geometry
A cursory glance cannot detect such distortion. Only by building a grid, you can clearly see the places where the screen stretches or, conversely, compresses the picture. The same tests as suggested above include this feature, just switch to this feature.
Checking the correct screen geometry
During the test, the user is shown a grid, checkerboard, small squares and other geometric elements located throughout the screen. If some of them differ in shape or size, then the matrix transmits irregular geometric shapes, and this is a clear defect.
Update frequency
Plays an important role for gamers and people involved in editing and editing. This indicator indicates how many pictures per second the display reproduces. The higher the value, the smoother the graphics and video. It is measured in gigahertz, the standard indicator is 90.
In modern, more expensive devices, the characteristic can be 120.24 GHz. To check, just use the built-in settings by going to the «Screen Settings» menu item.
Effect of frequency on image quality
Additional tips for inspecting and checking the monitor
After going through at least some of the points, you can verify that the monitor is working or there are problems. There are also auxiliary methods that, without special technical means, will help to identify some flaws:
- burning smell — feel free to smell the monitor. If the smell of burnt rubber or plastic emanates from it, then it has been subjected to excessive stress;
- shake the device a little — nothing should rumble and dangle;
- turn the device on in the dark and turn it off — if the fading is slow, this is a sign of a monitor that has reached its end of life and it is better to look for another option.
Which monitors you should not buy
Summing up, we can draw certain conclusions on critical defects and acceptable in some cases.
You should not take a monitor if it has:
- serious light, a lot of dead pixels;
- incorrect color reproduction, pink and green spots on the sides of the screen;
- cracks. chips, vertical or horizontal stripes across the entire screen;
- slow fading of the picture after turning off;
- crackling or squeaking is heard when turned on;
- there is a smell of burning, there are melted elements;
- ports are hanging or not working.
Minor problems include:
- the monitor is covered in dust on the outside;
- has traces of repair, and the model is sold in the workshop;
- small cracks on the body, light scratches on the matrix. Such devices are quite suitable for video surveillance.
In general, it is up to the future owner to decide on the acquisition, and tips on checks and tests will help you choose the best option and not regret the money spent.
