21:9 gaming monitors of 2015

[Edmond]

Updated 10.06.2015:

[*all should be flicker free; *also gsync was improved to not flicker @ 0-1 fps anymore apparently(who really knows) - all of these should have the updated module; *freesync never had flicker problems at least]

LG 29um67 - 29inch, IPS, 2560x1080, 75hz, freesync
LG 34um67 - 34inch, IPS, 2560x1080, 75hz, freesync

Acer z35 - 35inch, VA, 2560x1080, 144hz, gsync
Benq xr3501 - 35inch, VA, 2560x1080, 144hz, no?-sync

Asus pg34q - 34inch, IPS, 3440x1440, 75hz, gsync
Acer x34 - 34inch, IPS, 3440x1440, 100hz, gsync

[SS4]

I'd like to see some test on those, the spec says 60 hz for both LG monitor which i found weird.

I wonder if any would make a good TV since 34-35 inches is starting to get too big for a monitor you sit only a feet or two away from lol

[masterotaku]

Acer xr341ck - 34inch, IPS, 3440x1440, 75hz, gsync

:/

I though that it was going to be a 144Hz monitor. Well, it probably wouldn't have 3D or ULMB at 120Hz anyway, like the XB270HU. I'll wait for VA/OLED at 1440p (be it 16:9, or 21:9 preferably) with strobing, G-Sync, 3D, etc.

[Edmond]

I'd like to see some test on those, the spec says 60 hz for both LG monitor which i found weird.

I wonder if any would make a good TV since 34-35 inches is starting to get too big for a monitor you sit only a feet or two away from lol

They are 75hz.
Its not a surprise some sites have no clue what they are selling.

And i disagree that 35 inches are too big. I would actually prefer to lay back and be able to read on a 1080p 35"
Kinda sick of these small claustrophobic 24" jokes. A HUGE 21:9... now thats a way to lose yourself in the game.
I think 40'' 21:9 would be the best.

:/
I though that it was going to be a 144Hz monitor. Well, it probably wouldn't have 3D or ULMB at 120Hz anyway, like the XB270HU. I'll wait for VA/OLED at 1440p (be it 16:9, or 21:9 preferably) with strobing, G-Sync, 3D, etc.

The xb270hu has ULMB @ 100hz.
VA is here and its awesome... no backlight bleed crap. 3x higher contrast than anything else and capable of 144hz. Just need to have it glossy and we are golden.

OLED monitors are still 3-4 years away. AT LEAST. Dont want to even waste time thinking about it tbh.

[RLBURNSIDE]

I owned a 21:9 LG for a short while (not the freesync version), and it was 29 inches and seemed way too small. Sure, it was cool to show a Bluray in fullscreen but the image quality, even for IPS, isn't anything to write home about. For $650 you can buy a BenQ w1070 projector and get a 138 inch screen, kind of dumb to buy an LCD for 2/3rd the price and 1/16th the surface area. You literally get 16 times bigger for 50% more money.

OLED monitors probably aren't happening due to IR issues. If they figure that out, you're golden.

I'm personally hoping the 16:9 Samsung Freesynd UHD monitors that are supposedly going to be announced soon will be decent. And at least IPS, although I really wasn't impressed with the LG's viewing angles. It was grey city.

[lexlazootin]

Bigger isn't better if you are trying to sit at your desk trying to work or game. Also, does anyway know the input lag of projectors?

[Glide]

I wonder if any would make a good TV since 34-35 inches is starting to get too big for a monitor you sit only a feet or two away from lol

I use a 46" TV as my "monitor" and I wouldn't mind something larger.
50-55" would be about the limit without having to sit further from the desk.

In addition, height is generally a better indicator for perceived size than diagonal.
So a 34" ultrawide panel is not perceived to be that much larger than a 27" 16:9 panel or a 25" 16:10.

Bigger isn't better if you are trying to sit at your desk trying to work or game. Also, does anyway know the input lag of projectors?

I've heard that some of the newer DLPs out there are reasonable for input lag (<30ms like the better televisions) but you probably won't find something on-par with the best gaming monitors.

However most projectors are not great for motion.
LCD/SXRD have slow smeary motion with full persistence.
DLP has really fast pixels but dither noise and color separation issues.
They're hot, loud, and require you to be in a dark room for a decent image too.

Now all of that doesn't mean that projectors are bad, and if you can tolerate the color separation (rainbows) with DLP, they are pretty nice gaming displays.
But there are a lot of potential issues.

I actually had the most enjoyment out of an inexpensive Toshiba DLP years ago because it was a huge image, quite responsive, and a fair price. (something in the region of $400-500 at the time)

Once I started to move into high-end home theater projectors and spending about $10,000 on a high-end Sony SXRD, a proper screen, and full room treatments, honestly the fun just wasn't there.
When you start spending that kind of money, you really start picking apart the sharpness of the image (SXRD/LCD is very soft compared to DLP) the contrast ratio, motion handling, latency etc.

If you're going for a projector, I'd recommend something cheap and fun.
Maybe not a pico projector, as those tend to be quite dull, but a lower-end DLP with a proper lamp and 2000+ lumen output.

If you have a smooth enough white wall, I'm not sure that I'd even suggest getting a screen.
Once you start projecting onto a screen, the difference between "black" from the projector and the black velvet surround stands out.
When you're projecting onto a wall, or a frameless screen, you don't notice that.

[Edmond]

snip

Very interesting!
I have a benq DLP projector, but i never really paid attention to the input lag stuff and all. Its just 720p, but the huge screen is definitely very FUN thing to play with.

Not to mention the colors are absolutely FUCKING INSANE. I love it. And the rainbow effect doesnt bother me, just makes my "trips" that much more awesome.

[Glide]

snip

Very interesting!
I have a benq DLP projector, but i never really paid attention to the input lag stuff and all. Its just 720p, but the huge screen is definitely very FUN thing to play with.
Not to mention the colors are absolutely FUCKING INSANE. I love it. And the rainbow effect doesnt bother me, just makes my "trips" that much more awesome.

It didn't bother me either - I just meant to point out that it can be a problem for some people.
If I was spending more than $1000 or very sensitive to it, I might be bothered, but for a relatively inexpensive projector I was able to overlook it.
You get a huge bright colorful image, and even the resolution doesn't matter that much because the pixels are sharp.
These sub-$1000 DLP projectors are a whole lot of fun, and ideal for gaming.

If anyone has used a plasma TV, I find their equivalent dithering and color separation issues to be far more problematic than DLP.
I used that thing for years and regret ever getting rid of it. I should really look into picking up another.
After the disappointment of the high-end setup and having a number of problems with it (I won't be buying anything from Sony again) I ended up selling it all before a recent move. I really should have held onto that old DLP.

What I will say is that if you're buying a projector and you really like it, maybe see about picking up one or two spare lamps.
I actually got more than 3000 hours out of a projector rated for 2000, and it was still going when I sold it (still bright too) but after a few years you either won't be able to get replacement lamps at all, or the prices will be significantly inflated.

Of course if you're buying an inexpensive projector you may simply want to replace it with another inexpensive one, considering what the lamps cost for some. Maybe that's only good advice if you're buying something high-end. (which, again, I don't recommend)

[Edmond]

snip

That IS good advice! I really like the DLP projector i have, so gonna look to buy at least one spare lamp.

Also tried weather its 120hz capable (since it had 3D on the box), thought maybe i would get lucky.
Nope, the 120hz mode worked, but on the blurbusters frameskip test it skipped exactly half the frames.
So i guess its 720p 60hz after all. Thats fine. The brightness and colors still blow my mind enough to never complain about a 500EUR projector.

Also, i heard these laser projectors have some mad flickering going on. I`m def against having to look at flicker.
As far as i can tell myself this DLP does not flicker at all. But that isnt good enough for me, i need to know XD
Not sure how do i test it tho.
My phone has one of the newer cameras and you cant see the flicker through the newer ones.