I need a big PC monitor and haven't shopped for any in a while, so I'm not at all on top of what's up with what's out in the last few years. I ususally run multiple monitors, but for this setup I just want a giant (30-40") single 4k monitor (big enough to essentially equal 2-4 traditional sized HD ones).

That said: this will be a work monitor (audio production, IT stuff, spreadsheets, etc.), no video games will ever be played on this setup, fwiw, nor will it be my TV/etc. I simply need a large virtual desktop, room to work... enough to have 2-4 programs open and up all at once, each still big enough to read small text well, etc.

I know Dell has some bigger 4k ones (some curved) for anywhere from ~$600-1500 or so.

Suggestions? Any of them notably better for minimizing eye strain while also being a giant monitor?

Thanks.

I’ve been happy with this for similar use at work. Comes with software to be able to split up screen into 2, 3, 4 segments horizontally or vertically. Once split you can also click and drag edges of virtual “screens” to customize as you need it as you go.

I wear glasses For computer work and the curve seems to keep edges at better focal length mor consistently.

LG 34” Ultrawide

I can't help with brands and models as I haven't shopped in years, either, but consider an ultrawide with a 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratio. I really like my 21:9 - it gives me just enough extra real estate without the massive footprint of my old triple monitor setup.

 
I've been using an Eizo EV3237 for over 4 years now, and am quite happy with it. It is 32", runs native 3840x2160, which is the resolution I use. The Eizo is from their workstation line, not their professional line, so somewhat less expensive (but still a lot of $$$). The color and crispness is beautiful. It is 145PPI, which is considered retina at the distance one would view it (28" for me).
 
The program elements appear smaller, of course, but they can be changed to make them easier to view (default Safari zoom is set 150%, font sizes for programs increased, for example). But the OS/UI screen elements are also small and cannot be changed. I can see them fine with my good computer glasses, but they might be too small for some people. I think the sweet spot for a monitor running native 3840x2160 is probably around 36".
 
As you might expect, the screen real estate at that resolution is quite expansive.

It's not actually 4K, but I bought a Dell U3818D 38" curved ultra widescreen 3840x1600 monitor about six months ago that I've been really pleased with. The resolution is something like if you took a 44" 4K monitor and trimmed a few inches off the top.

I started out looking at 4K monitors, and ended up spending more than many big 4K monitors on this sub-4K ultrawide. I find the resolution to be plenty, and the color accuracy, color gamut, and brightness are excellent for things like photo and video editing.

I was initially kind of skeptical of the curve, but for a monitor this wide, I actually have found it to be helpful. The monitor is wide enough that the edges really are significantly farther from your eyes than the center and your line of sight is at a significant angle to the surface at the edges. The curve really does make a difference.

I think it's a phenomenal monitor.

There are a variety of ways to tile windows on a big monitor. The common ones are two across, three across, and four in the corners (or a modified four corners where you stretch one window across two of the spots).

Four in the corners is sometimes useful, but I do a lot of programming and technical writing, and for text display, the short window height is a problem - I want more lines of text on the screen at once.

That leaves two across and three across.

With a normal monitor aspect ratio, three across makes for really tall, skinny windows that I don't find useful. That leaves two across (great) and four corners (sometimes useful, particularly if you make it a three-window setup with one window across one side and the other side split vertically between two windows, which is what I often do when I'm stuck on my laptop, but not ideal) as the main ways I tile on a normal monitor aspect ratio.

With the ultrawide, two-across tiling gives approximately old-school 4:3 monitor aspect ratios, which is great, and three-across tiling gives approximately sheet-of-paper shaped windows (similar to the shape of two-across windows on a normal monitor) which is awesome for working with text. If you're doing something that benefits from a wide window like editing video or photos, you can stretch your main window across 2/3 of the screen, and still have the leftover 1/3 for another reference window or control palette or whatever. The size isn't great, but if you really need more windows open, you can always split one section vertically, too (although this runs into the same problems as four-corners on a normal monitor).

Basically, for my use, I would never go back to a not-ultrawide monitor - at least not until we end up with monitors so huge that aspect ratio is meaningless. If the monitor was the width of my desk and four feet tall, who cares what the aspect ratio is, the surface is so huge I can just put anything I want wherever I want, I'm not going to want windows to go to the edges anymore.

Damn, now I really want an 80" 8K monitor and a computer that can push it.

I purchased a Dell U3219Q a couple of months ago. It's a 32" 4K display with very thin bezels, and I've been very pleased with it.

LINK TO DELL SITE

Okay, great, thanks much. That's what I was looking for, in great detail.

That's exactly what I'll be doing, usually one main program on the entire bottom half so I get long Timelines/Columns and loads of Tracks/Rows *and* can still read the small text with ease, plus 2-4 other programs sharing the top half. Those relative sizes and resolutions sound fine, too, and not having the inner bezels of a multi-monitor setup will be a nice new change, small as it is.

I've not owned a curved one yet but I'm willing to try it, it does make sense, and I'll be right up on it.

Again, thanks. I'll start by looking hard at these exact suggestions. I'll report back after I pick one. These things aren't cheap by any stretch, but it's also sort of astonishing how relatively inexpensive they are for how cool they are.

I've found some pretty good deals on monitors on WOOT, just bought one to replace the old Sony TV that was finally giving out, HP 32s Display (2UD96AA).

Bright, crisp, works nicely with win10.

Get on the woot email list and watch for your deal..

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
I've found some pretty good deals on monitors on WOOT, just bought one to replace the old Sony TV that was finally giving out, HP 32s Display (2UD96AA) at $140 delivered it was a deal.

Bright, crisp, works nicely with win10.

Wow, that's crazy cheap. Thanks, I'll snag one of those deals regardless, for another macbine.

I am running a 38" Acer, perfect for three pages side by side, pricey but worth it.

You might check out a previous thread here:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...600076564#1600076564

HP Z32 - 4K resolution USB-C power delivery.

All glass panel no bezels on any side.

HK Ag

I went back and forth on ultra wide or 4K 16:9. Even tried a 32” ultra wide Samsung, but returned it as it wasn’t sharp with crisp detail. I expected too much out of a $400 monitor, even a Samsung.

Read lots of reviews and finally settled on LG 32BL95U-W 32” 4K 3820x2160 16:9 with Thunderbolt 3.

Will handle multiple video inputs, can display side by side or PIP, can also daisy-chain additional monitors from a single output (depending on videocard capabilities), built in speakers, multiple USB 3.0 ports and more.

One cable connection to my MacBook Pro with no need for a docking station. Trying to decide if I want to use my old 27” as a second monitor daisy-chained off.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c...2_class_full_hd.html

Just got it last week and love it.

Folks have successfully use the TCL 4K HDR Series 5 and 6 LCD TVs in sizes you're looking for and bigger as computer monitors. Much cheaper than you'd expect for the picture you'll get.

First of all, decide if you want normal aspect ratio or ultra wide. Personally, I prefer curved ultra wides. They aren't actually full 4K, but they're close enough.

Next, decide how much you want to spend, because that will dictate how big you can go. Get the biggest one you can afford that will fit your space.

Last, decide if you want to do a lot of gaming. If you do, then you might want to look at monitors with 144hz refresh rates. If you don't care as much, then find one with a 60hz refresh rate. Note that 144hz in a big monitor is going to be pretty expensive.

Note that with PC components nowadays, the highest quality stuff will be labeled gaming and have funny LEDs on it that you can just turn off if that isn't your thing.

My daily driver right now is an MSI 34" gaming monitor at 60Hz and it's an awesome monitor. The other brands I'd look at are (in order) LG, HP, Samsung, Dell, Asus, and Acer. I used to have a Dell 38" Ultrawide and it was almost as nice as this MSI. I also have an LG 40" standard aspect ratio monitor and it's just to big. It's so big I have to actually strain to look up to the top of the monitor. That's why I like ultra wides, you get the horizontal space you need to work without having to strain your neck to look to the top of the monitor.

Edit:

Oh, yeah, you might also check your video card. If you have an AMD, you might want a monitor that supports FreeSYNC. If you have an NVIDIA, you might want one that supports G-Sync.

This is the monitor that I'm using right now:

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16824475018

Here's some other ones to check out:

LG: https://www.newegg.com/p/1JW-00BA-00005
Dell: https://www.newegg.com/dell-u3...38/p/N82E16824260455

HP: https://www.newegg.com/hp-x3w5...hd/p/N82E16824276594

Full 4K Standard Aspect LG: https://www.newegg.com/lg-43mu...uhd/p/0JC-000D-005G2

Samsumg: https://www.newegg.com/samsung...hd/p/N82E16824022689

Have fun!

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