MSFS Monitor questions...

[DaveKDEN]

After I get my new system delivered (hopefully next Wednesday), I plan on buying a new monitor to replace my Dell Ultrasharp U2518D (60Hz). I've narrowed the size range down to the 27" - 30" range (flat panel 16x9) - in all likelihood it'll be a 27" just due to available options (not much in the 30" size range). Anything larger than 30" is just too big for my desk area in my home office/media room.

I have a few questions - and any pertinent input would be great.

I'm leaning towards a 1440p resolution monitor with NVidia G-Sync, at least 144Hz with a 1ms response time (how's that for specific...)

-For those of you with monitors in that size/category, how much of a difference does the higher refresh rate/better response time and G-Sync make?
-Are those features really necessary for MSFS (vs. high action first person shooters - of which I have no interest)?
-Also, based on my research, it seems that for monitors in the size range I'm looking at, that 1440p is perfectly fine vs. spending a bunch extra for a 4K monitor...

My top two choices right now are the Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ and the Dell S2721DGF. They have pretty much the same specs, but the ASUS is $80 cheaper. My guess is the extra money for the Dell is just for the name only...
I'd like to keep the price to $500 and less.
PS: I don't care about RGB or a fancy design - just practicality.

Thanks in advance

 

[DennyA]

I recently got an ultra-widescreen G-Sync Samsung, so I can help a bit here.

I'm leaning towards a 1440p resolution monitor with NVidia G-Sync, at least 144Hz with a 1ms response time (how's that for specific...)

-For those of you with monitors in that size/category, how much of a difference does the higher refresh rate/better response time and G-Sync make?

Right now, G-Sync doesn't really make much of a difference because MSFS frame rates are so low. It prevents tearing when you have super-fast-refresh games sometimes going faster than the monitor's refresh rate and sometimes not, but I don't think that's going to happen with MSFS for a looong time. I don't really notice a difference between my system with G-Sync and the one without, as far as MSFS goes.

Also, based on my research, it seems that for monitors in the size range I'm looking at, that 1440p is perfectly fine vs. spending a bunch extra for a 4K monitor...

Yep. At 27-30 inches, 1440p is going to look plenty sharp, and it's a lot less pixels for MSFS to push than 2160p/4K, so I'd call that the sweet spot.

My top two choices right now are the Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ and the Dell S2721DGF. They have pretty much the same specs, but the ASUS is $80 cheaper. My guess is the extra money for the Dell is just for the name only...

Can you fit an ultra-widescreen 21:9 monitor? That will buy you a lot more for MSFS than more resolution, because it fills your field of view. I've been using an older Dell U3415W for a couple of years and it's great in MSFS. 3440x1400 resolution, which is great for FS and wonderful for work. It's not taller than a 27-inch monitor, just wider. And there are some good ones in your price range:

Samsung SJ55W (only 75Hz refresh, but it's gonna be a while before there's a rig that will push MSFS past 75 fps, and it's only $359)
Acer Nitro (144MHz and Freesync (Nvidia now supports G-Sync on Freesync monitors) plus it's IPS (more accurate color) and supports HDR. This is what I'd buy in that size range if I was buying today. RTings.com rated it the best Ultrawide gaming monitor)
LG 24WN750-B (Again, only 75Hz, but supports FreeSync and HDR10)

If you can fit a monitor that's 32.2 inches wide on your desk, I'd highly recommend a 21:9 over a 16:9 for both MSFS and work. I loved the 21:9 experience so much I upgraded my MSFS system to an insanely wide 32:9 Super-ultrawide. The 21:9 ratio is a bit less crazy, though, and significantly less expensive.

 

[DaveKDEN]

I recently got an ultra-widescreen G-Sync Samsung, so I can help a bit here.


Right now, G-Sync doesn't really make much of a difference because MSFS frame rates are so low. It prevents tearing when you have super-fast-refresh games sometimes going faster than the monitor's refresh rate and sometimes not, but I don't think that's going to happen with MSFS for a looong time. I don't really notice a difference between my system with G-Sync and the one without, as far as MSFS goes.


Yep. At 27-30 inches, 1440p is going to look plenty sharp, and it's a lot less pixels for MSFS to push than 2160p/4K, so I'd call that the sweet spot.


Can you fit an ultra-widescreen 21:9 monitor? That will buy you a lot more for MSFS than more resolution, because it fills your field of view. I've been using an older Dell U3415W for a couple of years and it's great in MSFS. 3440x1400 resolution, which is great for FS and wonderful for work. It's not taller than a 27-inch monitor, just wider. And there are some good ones in your price range:

Samsung SJ55W (only 75Hz refresh, but it's gonna be a while before there's a rig that will push MSFS past 75 fps, and it's only $359)
Acer Nitro (144MHz and Freesync (Nvidia now supports G-Sync on Freesync monitors) plus it's IPS (more accurate color) and supports HDR. This is what I'd buy in that size range if I was buying today. RTings.com rated it the best Ultrawide gaming monitor)
LG 24WN750-B (Again, only 75Hz, but supports FreeSync and HDR10)

If you can fit a monitor that's 32.2 inches wide on your desk, I'd highly recommend a 21:9 over a 16:9 for both MSFS and work. I loved the 21:9 experience so much I upgraded my MSFS system to an insanely wide 32:9 Super-ultrawide. The 21:9 ratio is a bit less crazy, though, and significantly less expensive.

Hey Denny, Once again you're a plethora of information. I've looked at monitor sizes and ratios at Best Buy, Walmart, and Office Depot. My desktop space is somewhat limited because I have a built-in in my home office/media room where the desk is built at 45 degrees into a corner nook. The width of anything larger than ~30" would limit what I can place to the left/right of the monitor - including where I'd store my joystick/throttle (which I tuck behind the left/right side of the monitor when not in use). I'd like to get a larger sized monitor, but it's just impractical for me. I do plan on getting VR googles down the road for a more immersive experience, so I'm thinking the 27' - 30" size range is a good compromise between practicality and immersiveness.
Thanks very much for all the other info, it certainly confirms what I expected based on my research.
PS: If I were to go for a widescreen - that Acer Nitro would be pretty tempting. I'll save the link just in case...

 

[DennyA]

Happy to help! Back to your original question if ultrawide won't fit your desktop scenario, until my recent upgrade I had both Dell and Asus monitors. Both looked great, but my Displayport connector failed on the Asus 27" 16:9 after about three years. I passed it on to my son who's using it with his MacBook over HDMI and it's still working, but just an anecdotal failure. It's only the second functional failure I've had in a monitor since starting with a Commodore 1701 in the 1980s. (The other was a Samsung 305T in the early 00's.)

But other than the DisplayPort thing, the Asus has been great, as have the two Dells I currently have on my productivity PC.

 

[DaveKDEN]

Happy to help! Back to your original question if ultrawide won't fit your desktop scenario, until my recent upgrade I had both Dell and Asus monitors. Both looked great, but my Displayport connector failed on the Asus 27" 16:9 after about three years. I passed it on to my son who's using it with his MacBook over HDMI and it's still working, but just an anecdotal failure. It's only the second functional failure I've had in a monitor since starting with a Commodore 1701 in the 1980s. (The other was a Samsung 305T in the early 00's.)

But other than the DisplayPort thing, the Asus has been great, as have the two Dells I currently have on my productivity PC.

Odd that the displayport connector failed - I'm guessing it's an anomaly. I'm now actually leaning towards the Dell, as the controls are hidden from view on the back, and it has a joystick control. Also, the stand has a hole for cable routing, which helps clean things up a bit. I've had two other Dell monitors (an older 20" and my current 25" one) and have been mostly impressed by them.