Should I Switch from 1440p 34" 21:9 Ultrawide to 1440p 32" 16:9?

LGustavo Fring on 25/09/2021 - 22:12
Last edited 25/09/2021 - 22:12

Hi all,

Recently switched from Dell S2721D to the Xiaomi Ultrawide for the purpose of having more screen real estate. That being said, I've been quite let-down with the lack of usefulness of the increase in horizontal real-estate. I'm aware that a 32 inch 16:9 monitor actually has more area and definitely more vertical space, however I'm quite concerned with text clarity with 1440p on 32" as it's the same PPI as a 24" 1080p.

Since stores are closed, I can't casually checkout monitors at my local JB-Hi-FI. I know that most recommend 4k minimum for 32", however even though I'm usually doing something like 80% coding, documents, etc and 20% gaming, I've come to appreciate the high-refresh rate of the Xiaomi ultrawide and 4k would also make games unplayable with my current setup. So what are your experiences with 1440p 32 inch for light gaming and text clarity for office work? Should I just sacrifice high-refresh rate and go for 4k?

Thanks

Computing 34inch Computer Peripheral Gaming Monitor LCD Monitor Xiaomi

Comments

  • bangzzz on 25/09/2021 - 22:26

    you could always go 4k for work and drop the res in games to 1440p.

    I'm on the gigabyte 34" ultrawide and my answer was to get MORE monitors haha.

    There's some damn handy window snapping programs out there that might make the 34" more manageable.

    • Gustavo Fring on 26/09/2021 - 15:06

      I've always found something like 1080p on 1440p for example to be quite ugly so I'd imagine it to be the same if 4k dropped to 1440p.

  • garetz on 25/09/2021 - 23:07

    There are 3 different reasons you want a screen these days, one for color clarity and accuracy, another for high res gaming depending on the video card you want either medium fps 4k or higher fps 1440p, the last screen is for very high refresh rates like 240-360 Hz on small res screens like 1080p for shooters.

    Ideally you get each screen for its intended specific purpose, for general gaming i would go 1440p with 144 Hz at 27"
    In 1 or 2 more generations when 4k hits 120-160 fps, i would change to a 4k 32" screen

    If you have a 3080+ i would go for 4k at 60fps on 32" or 1440p at 144 fps on a 27" screen
    If lower than a 3080 i would go for 1440p at 100+ fps on a 27" screen

  • ekswhyzed on 26/09/2021 - 00:27
    +2

    Staying 1440p but with a taller monitor won't give you any more vertical real estate. It's the same vertical pixel count. The pixels are just bigger. If you want more vertical real estate then you have to up the resolution (1600p or 4k) and keep the Windows scaling the same/low enough.

    • Gustavo Fring on 26/09/2021 - 15:22

      I should've added that I'm using a Macbook way more than my windows tower for everything to do with productivity. I'm familiar with scaling on Windows but on Mac I can't change scaling without changing the output resolution on the ultrawide. From watching a couple of youtube vids like this one it seems that somehow Mac scales differently for different screen sizes and such? I'm not really sure. The closest to 1600p is one of those 38 inch ultrawides which I can't justify paying for.

  • earthling on 26/09/2021 - 06:05
    +1

    If you’re running Windows then this handy tool, PowerToys, from Microsoft might help manage screen real estate.

  • Tavisophical on 26/09/2021 - 12:36
    +1

    Add a 27" 1440p screen as a secondary display and you'll be good, it doesn't have to be high refresh rate as you should be looking at the 34" most of the time anyway
    Place the 27" to one side

    http://www.displaywars.com/27-inch-16x9-vs-34-inch-21x9

    • Gustavo Fring on 26/09/2021 - 15:26

      The last time I did dual monitor was as super-long time ago and I remember it being super uncomfortable for my neck, but that might just be cuz of not positioning my main screen center, so will consider your suggestion.

  • the Unforgiven on 26/09/2021 - 12:41

    I have a 27" & I find the text size too small, so I just right-click on the desktop & chose display settings, then at 'scale and layout' I put that puppy to 125%

    I would never go back to 4x3, that is CRT monitor days; try watching a movie at that screen size. The 'rage' now is what you have now, so stay with it, just do what I recommend. You could always turn the monitor 90 degrees while you code

    • Gustavo Fring on 26/09/2021 - 15:29

      I find 27 inch 1440p to be a good size for text… on Windows. On Mac things can get quite small and these days I do mostly productivity which happens on a Mac. I can't scale text on it without changing the resolution.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join