Ok, got the RX580 up and running after a BIOS update, got the settings in the driver and windows set to full 4:4:4 @ 60hz, so it's time for a 40" Vizio V405-H9 (or 19 depending on your purchase location) highly subjective review!
1. 40" 4K
This size is better than I imagined it would be. As mentioned previously I'm used to using a 32" 4K monitor at work and a 27"1080P. I run the 32" 4K at 150% DPI. Before purchasing this TV I had tested out setting the 32" 4K to 100% DPI (which supposedly is OK for some). Maybe I'm old, but, the PPI and thus standard text was just too small to comfortably read at my normal desk distance. So, I was worried about how this 40" would be. No problems at all! It's fantastic. The PPI is very comparable to a 27" 1440P monitor. Don't get me wrong, the text is smaller than I'm used too...but not a strain at all. Using a power tool call Fancy Zones lets me set up snap areas to quickly arrange windows where I want them. For example, you can setup a 2 x 2 grid of windows super easily. Super productive. If I'm being VERY particular, at 100% DPI and looking closely, I can still see some sub-pixel issues on things such as the quotation marks used in this post. But, I'd have to be looking REALLY hard to even notice it. I DIDN'T notice it until I was checking it out. It's still better than my old 1080P monitor though! And if I just want to do lazy web browsing, quickly changing the DPI scaling to 125% or 150% gives me razor sharp text. If it's worth it to spend $100 more on a 43" IPS version like the LGUN73000 or $225 more for the Sony X800H is for you to decide. This was my compromise for affordability ($220 + tax at Sam's Club) and I think I didn't compromise all that much.
2. VA vs IPS
I mentioned it in point #1 but the Vizio V405-H9 uses a VA panel with a BGR sub-pixel layout. The BGR layout does create a hair of smudging even after Cleartype calibration but we are talking a hair of smudging you have to look for. You also do get stuck with the smaller viewing angles. In this case, I feel the 40" size is actually BETTER than the 43" if you are going with a VA panel. My typical viewing distance is between 24"-30" depending upon my body position. At 24" there is a small amount (say 1-2" on either outer edge) of darkening at the edges. Frankly the kind of thing you only notice on a solid block of color and only then when you move back and forth so you can see the slight shift. Again, the type of thing you would have to look for to notice. Maybe you would notice it more if you were already used to an IPS panel? I can't say as my work monitors are both VA monitors. I can see it being more noticeable at larger sizes. At 30" desk distance light shift is barely perceptible if at all. I definitely notice the difference in black levels on the VA. Quite dark and smooth. I feel that with a TV putting out light levels that are normally more for distance viewing, being able to adequately get dark at lower backlight levels helps reduce eye strain. Again, subjective, but that's my thoughts. Would I use an IPS at 43"? Absolutely! Just commenting on the differences. Given how IPS works it appears BGR layouts aren't a thing as all the rtings.com reviews show RGB for all the TVs with IPS panels. Just something to keep in mind as well.
3. SDR vs HDR
After reading the reviews on rtings.com I was prepared to be underwhelmed by the HDR on this TV/monitor. I didn't buy it for movie viewing so I wasn't overly concerned. I feel that the raw numbers on SDR vs HDR (used for rtings.com comments) don't give the total picture (see what I did there...) on the benefits of HDR or whether it does HDR10 well. The difference between turning HDR10 on and off in the Radeon software is night and day. I was underwhelmed by the black levels in SDR mode compared to my existing Dell 23" monitor. Turning on HDR mode once the RX580 got up and running was a revelation, especially for the black levels! Whether its remapping the brightness levels or the interplay between the Vizio display engine and the HDR signal from the RX580, I don't know. All I do know is that I wouldn't want to turn HDR mode off even when not watching media content. It's that noticeable of a difference especially if you are reducing your backlight levels.
4. Conclusion
I'm quite pleased with my purchase and glad that I decide on this versus the 27" 2K monitor. Since I do more productivity than gaming, it really is a slam dunk! The screen real estate is hard to beat. Until true 120Hz panels start showing up in lower model TVs, if you want to try a TV as monitor for not much money, I'd say the Vizio V405-H9 should be on your shortlist. The LG UN7300 and the SonyX800H are great 43" 4K IPS TVs that would be options too. But, for the price, this Vizio is tough to beat. TCL and Hisense are often the goto for inexpensive TVs for TV viewing. But, in this case, after the research I've done and the in person usage, I'd say the Vizio V405 is the better option than either the TCL or Hisense 43" options. The TCL especially does not get kind reviews when attempted to be used as a monitor. Of course YMMV. I hope these subjective comments can be of use to someone else deciding on their purchase.
I'm already adapting to it. It's a VA panel, not your typical IPS that you would want to have for a larger monitor due to light and color shift at angles. However, sitting dead center I don't see any discernable color or brightness shifting at the edges. My unscientific observations say that at a 30" sitting distance I see no difference. At 24" I can see maybe a hair of darkening on the edges since I'm looking for it and only on a lighter monocolor background like the AT forum. Minimizing windows and looking at my desktop background I can't really notice anything.
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