Monitor Battle! Help me choose between two contenders

[Gmr_Chick]

The time has come for me to add a second monitor to my setup and I need your help! I'm needing a monitor between 27" and 32", with height, tilt, swivel (pivot is optional, but welcomed) 1440p, and speakers (so I can play my Switch without the need for headphones). Flat or curved is fine. So in my search, I came upon these two:

MSI 31.5" 180Hz Monitor

and

Gigabyte AORUS FI32Q-X 32" 240Hz Monitor

Since my current monitor is also an Aorus, I'm leaning towards the FI32Q. It pretty much has all the features I'm looking for, and it even comes with a C-clamp mounting arm for my desk. But, I'm just not sure how it stacks up against the MSI monitor. Can y'all help me figure this out? Suggestions are welcomed as well. Thankies

 

[Dr. Dro]

Between these two easily the Aorus FI32Q-X

 

[lexluthermiester]

The time has come for me to add a second monitor to my setup and I need your help! I'm needing a monitor between 27" and 32", with height, tilt, swivel (pivot is optional, but welcomed) 1440p, and speakers (so I can play my Switch without the need for headphones). Flat or curved is fine. So in my search, I came upon these two:

MSI 31.5" 180Hz Monitor

and

Gigabyte AORUS FI32Q-X 32" 240Hz Monitor

Since my current monitor is also an Aorus, I'm leaning towards the FI32Q. It pretty much has all the features I'm looking for, and it even comes with a C-clamp mounting arm for my desk. But, I'm just not sure how it stacks up against the MSI monitor. Can y'all help me figure this out? Suggestions are welcomed as well. Thankies

I'm not a fan of curved displays so I would choose the Aorus model between those two. Curved aspect aside, the MSI is better by the specs.
However, the following would be my choice at that price range.
https://www.newegg.com/asrock-phantom-gaming-pg32qf2b-32-qhd-165-hz-va-black/p/N82E16824028004
The refresh rate isn't as high, but the native contrast is better as is the brightness. The pixel response rate is the same as the Aorus.

 

[Vayra86]

Don't get a 16:9 with a curve, even at 32 inch.

After that, you can start picking between comparable offers. So in this case AORUS all the way

I'm not a fan of curved displays so I would choose the Aorus model between those two. Curved aspect aside, the MSI is better by the specs.
However, the following would be my choice at that price range.
https://www.newegg.com/asrock-phantom-gaming-pg32qf2b-32-qhd-165-hz-va-black/p/N82E16824028004
The refresh rate isn't as high, but the native contrast is better as is the brightness. The pixel response rate is the same as the Aorus.

This is a VA so obviously its going to be brighter and better in static contrast. There is also a risk it will smear a bit. Carefully read multiple reviews preferably ones with extensive testing on said panel. VA's really hit or miss. But if its a hit, you've got a really good thing going on for the money. Pixel response rate is NOT the same as an IPS. Forget it. Perhaps the overall average is, but that's not where the issues are with VA; it is the slower G2G of the darker hues that causes VA to 'smear' and the way this is countered differs per product. I can't find a TFTCentral review on this one, but they did measure the G2G response across various transitions and the results are interesting, VA showing that same drawback every time in the 0-20% and 0-40% G2G transitions. So anything 'emerging from blacks or shadows' will be slower than brighter hues, and this is when smearing happens.

A good thing with VA's is to have a hassle free return policy. Any monitor for that matter, so you don't get stuck with something lacking QC.

The Aorus is an IPS, so it will always sacrifice some static contrast for better pixel response times in the darker (grey) hues. That these days is the primary gap between these two display techs. On IPS with high refresh values, check reviews too, but now look for ghosting/overdrive artifacting, backlight bleed and viewing angle quality.

 

[Assimilator]

You can save a fair amount if you don't spend on a high refresh rate screen.

Don't get a 16:9 with a curve, even at 32 inch.

Wrong, 1800R is perfect for 32". 1500R is acceptable, 1000R is insanity.

 

[Vayra86]

You can save a fair amount if you don't spend on a high refresh rate screen.


Wrong, 1800R is perfect for 32". 1500R is acceptable, 1000R is insanity.

I would say if you think you need a curve at 32 inch, you're sitting too close. Especially because the display does not curve vertically. On an ultrawide its just extended horizontally so the curve makes sense because otherwise you'll sit too far away and are forced to scale things up. Either way, the options and arguments are here now. Up to OP.

 

[Arctucas]

Why not post direct links, instead of affiliate links?

 

[68Olds]

Why not post direct links, instead of affiliate links?

The posters didn't do that, TPU (or the forum software) did it. I've experienced it myself.

 

[_roman_]

As you only asked to decide between both I would take the gigabyte one.

Personally I would not buy anything with such low dots per inch. I have 27" wiht whqd and that is acceptable.

Are you sure you want to have two different monitors?

Since my current monitor is also an Aorus, ...

 

[Bill_Bright]

I would advise AGAINST a curved monitor. I have nothing against their image quality. The problem is, they are curved. Think triangulation.

For the most ideal image, your head needs to be centered to the screen, and at a specific distance from the screen in order to see "equal" and the most ideal "viewing angles" across the full width of the screen. That is, so your head is perpendicular or 90° to the center, left and right side of the screen.

Move in too close, and you are not longer at 90° so the viewing angles are off. Same if you move back away from the screen. Move your body/head/chair, even a little, to the left or the right, and you are going to alter the viewing angle on both sides, creating a "washing out" effect of the image.

With a flat screen, if you move in or out, the viewing angles are essentially unchanged. Move over a few inches to one side, the viewing angle is only affected on the other side because your head is still 90° to most of the screen.

This viewing angle issue is probably not a problem for most monitor users with only 1 monitor. But with 2 monitors, it is hard to get your head in the optimal position for both screens and also your head is constantly moving back and forth as you look back and forth at both screens.

FOR ME (I cannot live with just 1 monitor), I have found flat monitors offer a much more ideal display with the center screen being centered in front of me, and the side monitors slightly tilted so when I turn my head, they now are centered to my eyes too.

I personally know several people who initially loved their curved monitors, but soon got frustrated with these viewing angle issues and moved back to flat screens. I don't know anyone who had curved, went to flat, got frustrated with flat and went back to curved.

BTW, this viewing angle issue is exactly why curved big screen TVs have not been the marketing success the makers (or their marketing weenies) had hoped for. The only good seat in the house is one dead center, and a specific distance (based on screen size) from the screen surface.

Last, if this will be your first venture into the realm of multimonitor setups, be prepared to be spoiled rotten for the rest of your life. I will never go back to a single monitor. For those wondering about the bezels getting in your way, I don't even see them anymore. It is like the rearview mirror in your car. You only see it when you intentionally look at it.

Oh, one more thing. You mention speakers. Sound quality and "stage imagery" is very important to me with audio reproduction being my first love in consumer electronics. In a multimonitor setup, if the audio came out of just one monitor, and it was not the center monitor, that would drive me crazy.

If you are planning on setting this second monitor to the side, for example, on the right, then the music's "left" speaker would be on your right, and the music's "right" speaker would be further to your right.

Where is stage left? To the right. Where is stage center? More to the right. Where is stage right? Way WAY over to the right. My stomach is feeling nauseated just thinking about it.

Get some quality computer speakers, or at least put the monitor with the speakers as your primary monitor in the center.

 

[BSim500]

Suggestions are welcomed as well. Thankies

I have a flat 32" 1440p monitor and I've never felt like the screen size needs to be curved (sitting at typical 2.5ft / 75cm view distance). It's roughly the same width (but more height) as a 29" Ultrawide which are nearly all flat for same reason. In my experience of using a 32" flat (which I kept) vs curved (which I sent back) on the same desk in the same room, it's far easier to position a flat screen to avoid direct reflections of a window slightly behind and off to one side of you, whereas curved there will always be some point that "catches" it directly even with a matte anti-glare finish.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I hadn't thought of glare issues with a curved monitor. That makes sense.

 

[Timbaloo]

Not sure what the requirements exactly are, so I'll just babble around...

+ Gigabyte:

• internal power supply
• KVM (although be careful if you wanna use this, Gigabyte tends to deliver hilariously low power via USB-C for the Laptop, and I did not find a number in the spec even on their website). Ironically MSI gives a number for USB-C power of 65W, one wonders why they did not add the "KVM functionality", which at this point would be a simple USB-Hub...

Would not overvalue:

• C-clamp. Both monitors have a VESA 100x100mm mount (very good), so for like 20 bucks you can get proper VESA mount that (guessing on my side) has a higher quality than the clamp delivered with it. So yes, good feature, but having 100x100 mounts is more important

Things to consider:

• VA (MSI) vs. IPS (Gigabyte): While hard to say without reading in depth reviews, I'd tend towards VA if gaming was a top priority, and IPS if everyday usage was the focus

With my personal preferences (non-curved, office use case), the Gigabyte would be the easy choice.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

I'm not a fan of curved displays so I would choose the Aorus model between those two. Curved aspect aside, the MSI is better by the specs.
However, the following would be my choice at that price range.
https://www.newegg.com/asrock-phantom-gaming-pg32qf2b-32-qhd-165-hz-va-black/p/N82E16824028004
The refresh rate isn't as high, but the native contrast is better as is the brightness. The pixel response rate is the same as the Aorus.

Thank you for that, Lex. I was actually looking at that ASRock monitor, but didn't know how it stacked up to the main ones I'm considering. I'll put it back on the short list!

I would say if you think you need a curve at 32 inch, you're sitting too close. Especially because the display does not curve vertically. On an ultrawide its just extended horizontally so the curve makes sense because otherwise you'll sit too far away and are forced to scale things up. Either way, the options and arguments are here now. Up to OP.

I, err, actually have to sit too close because I'm visually impaired (horribly nearsighted even with glasses, astigmatism, nystagmus, legally blind in my left eye). So I guess I should stick with a flat screen?

As you only asked to decide between both I would take the gigabyte one.

Personally I would not buy anything with such low dots per inch. I have 27" wiht whqd and that is acceptable.

Are you sure you want to have two different monitors?

Different as in size, curved vs. flat, and brand you mean? Unfortunately, they don't make the monitor I have anymore. I got it a few years ago.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Why not post direct links, instead of affiliate links?

It's a change W1zzard did recently, I reckon it's to earn some extra bucks on the side. Amazon.com (global/United States edition) links now get the TPU affiliate tag added to them whenever they're posted, but the same doesn't seem to apply for regional Amazon stores like Amazon.com.br or Amazon.de.

I don't mind because we support the site and it costs nothing extra to us

I, err, actually have to sit too close because I'm visually impaired (horribly nearsighted even with glasses, astigmatism, nystagmus, legally blind in my left eye). So I guess I should stick with a flat screen?

I know the struggle. Which is why I use a 55 inch monster screen, every time I try something smaller, I just can't manage it for very long. I've a 32 inch on the side and honestly, it's just for secondary use. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me. Before committing to a curved, I suggest trying it at a computer shop in your area if that's a possibility. While curved monitors claim to be eye safe and comfortable, they take a normal eye curvature and field of view into account to bestow that quality upon it. You may feel very uncomfortable looking at it after a while, which makes the flat panel the safe option.

 

[Vayra86]

Thank you for that, Lex. I was actually looking at that ASRock monitor, but didn't know how it stacked up to the main ones I'm considering. I'll put it back on the short list!

I, err, actually have to sit too close because I'm visually impaired (horribly nearsighted even with glasses, astigmatism, nystagmus, legally blind in my left eye). So I guess I should stick with a flat screen?

Different as in size, curved vs. flat, and brand you mean? Unfortunately, they don't make the monitor I have anymore. I got it a few years ago.

You might just want to increase the display diagonal further then. Or run 1080p. In fact a lower resolution is the best way to increase legibility and still have ergonomic seating. That, or 4K with high scaling, but Windows ain't that great like that. Explore the options for 4K and running 1080p instead on it. Might be a pleasant surprise, better than doing so on 1440p and that way you might be able to stick comfortably to 32 inch as well.

 

[Waldorf]

why not go big? my 50 UHD is large enough to run win in 2160 (175% scale) and can read browser etc leaning back.

you can now get decent miniLED from hisense (55U7/U8), and with a ~25$/E "tv" stand, it will move in any direction, but some have height movement limited to fixed levels.

moni reviews

Hisense U8/N

stand