Loading...
> >

Opinions on a widescreen monitor

retiretomauiretiretomaui Posts: 387
edited September 2017 in The Commons

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new monitor. I'd asked previously about a 16:10 monitor awhile back (thank you to all who responded) but those are few and far between in a large form factor, plus very expensive, so I'm back to a 16:9 monitor. Due to being able to get airline miles fur buying one, and the fact that they're on sale currently, I've tentatively narrowed it down to the 32 inch HP Omen, and the 34 inch HP Envy. I've found both cheaper elsewhere but I'll link to the manufacturer's pages below so everyone can see the official specs:

1. http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/omen-by-hp-32-32-inch-display

Pros: excellent color reproduction; doesn't break the bank.

Cons: not a true gaming monitor, despite the "Omen" moniker - slower response time that a true gaming monitor; only 75 hertz with an acceptable AMD card according to reviews despite what the specs say, otherwise it's a 60 hertz monitor for all others incuding Nvidia.

2. http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-envy-34-34-inch-display

Pros: super dense pixel count; built in speakers that are reportedly above average for monitor speakers; the imagery is supposedly intensely gorgeous; retractable webcam for privacy; tighter resolution. 

Cons: Super expensive; not 4K, but getting there; 6 ms response time.

Given that my uses will be rendering, CAD work, movie and entertainment (Netflix and watching movies from DVDs (Yes, I still buy those!), and some light - though by no means harcore - gaming, which would be the preferred choice? I find myself leaning towards the Envy only because my eyes are getting older, having just gotten glasses for the first time this year (hey, I lasted 'til 50!) and the dense pixels might help. I guess the question is, is the price differential between the Envy and the Omen worth it given what I'll be doing? Also, would the Envy's curved screen be that much of a benefit for CAD and rendering work?

Many thanks,

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

Post edited by retiretomaui on

Comments

  • JamesJABJamesJAB Posts: 1,760

    At those prices and refresh/response rates, I would be looking at getting a decent 4k TV as a monitor.

    Right now I'm using a 2016 model LG 43in 4k TV as my computer monitor (At 3840x2160, it does 60hz, and accepts full range RGB input on all 3 HDMI ports)  It's nice having the whole back of my desk being taken up by my screen. (well almost... there is room to stand up my PS3 and PS4 next to it)

     

  • mambanegramambanegra Posts: 580

    FWIW, I am a little over 45 and my near sightedness is lessening :(   When reading text at the top of my 27" monitor I have to crane my neck up to read it with the bifocals. I can only imagine it would be much worse with a 32" display (assuming they are both the same basic ratio). 

    If you are still years away from 40, then pay no mind to my comments :)

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 100,781
    mambanegra said:

    FWIW, I am a little over 45 and my near sightedness is lessening :(   When reading text at the top of my 27" monitor I have to crane my neck up to read it with the bifocals. I can only imagine it would be much worse with a 32" display (assuming they are both the same basic ratio). 

    If you are still years away from 40, then pay no mind to my comments :)

    I have fixed-focus computer glases (plus varifocals and reading glasses) to avoid the craning issue - I do worry that a larger screen would have a suficient difference in eye-screen distance at the centre and corners to render the fixed-focus approach ineffective.

  • retiretomauiretiretomaui Posts: 387
    edited September 2017

    Yeah, I hit 50 this past June and the nearsightedness kicked in. I'm still 20/10 far away, but need glasses for up close work. Ugh...

     

    I agree on the refresh rates. Then again, for what I'm doing that's not a massive issue and the reviews I've seen, including one on Youtube were very complimentary of the Envy, in particular. Some folks have been managing refresh rates of 75 using Nvidia cards, which is odd as themonitor is Freesync capable, not Gsync, but it's apparently possible to up the refresh rates if the computer gods smile on you. I'm putting about $100 aside each month for the monitor. Some unexpected medical and pet costs reared up that were more important so the monitor money went there. I'll probably buy something in a couple of months as soon as the fun money account gets refilled. Both monitors are much cheaper on Amazon, by the way, the Envy listing at $749, cheaper than the HP Store's sale price. 

     

    Bob

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Post edited by retiretomaui on
  • hacsarthacsart Posts: 2,025

    Heh.. that’s farsighted, not nearsighted...I’m nigh on 70, and wear progressive bifocals..for computer  work I actually take off my glasses...  my ophthalmologist said that given the difference in prescription between each eye, that it made sense that it worked

  • retiretomauiretiretomaui Posts: 387

    I wanted to than everyone for their responses. I wasn't able to afford a new monitor several months ago, but with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals looming, it looks like now I will be. I'm again considering HP because I earn double airline miles on two airlines by buying through United's online shopping club using my Hawaiian Airlines credit card. Yes, I'm an airline miles whore, and proud of it. I'll likely place an order as soon as I get back from this wonderful Maui vacation I'm currently on. Rather than start a new thread and clog up the board, I thought I'd just add to this old one. I need a recommendation or two. I'm into more rendering and CAD work than raw gaming, so massively fast refresh rates aren't mission critical for me. Color reproduction and a clear, smooth view are. 

     

    The two finalists are:

     

    HP 34 inch Envy: http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-envy-34-34-inch-display?jumpid=ma_2017-black-friday~monitors~9~sto~W3T65AA#ABA~HP_ENVY_34_34-inch_Display

    - They really knocked the price down. A lot! It is AMD Freesync compatible according to several reaviews online, although I'm not seeing it on the HP spec page. That's not a huge issue for me as I use Nvidia cards in my laptops, but it's a nice touch. It's also VERY pixel dense for it's size.

     

    HP OMEN X by HP 35 Curved Display: http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/omen-x-by-hp-35-curved-display?jumpid=ma_2017-black-friday~monitors~2~sto~X3W57AA#ABA~OMEN_X_by_HP_35_Curved_Display

    - This is Nvidia G-Sync compatible, and an inch bigger, but you pay for it. They've marked the price down a lot on this one, too, but it's still much more pricy than the Envy listed above. As I render using Iray, would this monitor being G-Sync compatible make a difference? Would it affect the render output in any meaningful way?

     

    Any recommendations greatly appreciated. I'll be home in time for Cyber Monday, and hopefully a few more ducats will come off of the prices then.

     

    Bob

     

     

  • wizwiz Posts: 1,100

    Don't look at me, I use a couple of 43 inch 4K Acer monitors. Cost me $450 each, and they act like real computer monitors, don't do some of the weird things that TVs do when you try to make them act like monitors. It throws my friends that I have those things and don't actually play any games. 

    Think big, work big!

    I want 6 of them, 5 in 5/6 of a hexagon around me, one more above the center one. 3 nVidia 1080 GPUs. 

Sign In or Register to comment.