Buy A Ultra Wide IPS Monitor 2560X1080 Or Wait For 4K/OLED?

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omeds

Senior member
Dec 14, 2011
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Still doesn't stop people from running 2560x1080 on their 2560x1440 monitors.

You simply have less monitor for the money.

On a 27" 1440p display 21:9 letterboxed is approx 24" compared to 29" (at 24" a 21:9 image looks very small), plus I prefer the image to fill the screen to the bezels.

I've owned a U2711 and Samsung s27a850 PLS display (and tried them in 21:9), and tbh I 100% prefer this U2913WM.

I'm very happy with it. At 29" it has a very wide physical size on my desk, I really enjoy 21:9 aspect ratio, IPS, clocks to 75hz, low input latency gaming mode and was a good price. As I said my only complaint is it's not 1200p, which I guess would make it 21:10.
 

cbrunny

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2007
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FOV is 100% dependent on pixel count.

FOV is 0% dependent on physical screen size.

21:9 = 2560(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1080p = 1920(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1440p = 2560(wide) x 1440(tall)

Therefore, a 21:9 1080p has a lesser FOV. It has the exact same width FOV as 16:9 1440p. The 1440p will have greater FOV in height, making it a larger FOV.

To repeat, 1440p has greater FOV than 21:9 @ 1080p.
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
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81
FOV is 100% dependent on pixel count.

FOV is 0% dependent on physical screen size.

21:9 = 2560(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1080p = 1920(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1440p = 2560(wide) x 1440(tall)

Therefore, a 21:9 1080p has a lesser FOV. It has the exact same width FOV as 16:9 1440p. The 1440p will have greater FOV in height, making it a larger FOV.

To repeat, 1440p has greater FOV than 21:9 @ 1080p.
It depends on how the FOV is calculated, mainly hor + or ver -. Some games keep the same FOV and chop off vertical portions for wider screens, others keep the vertical FOV and extend the horizontal (which is how all should be done but sometimes aren't). What completes the equation is what type of FOV you're defining (horizontal or vertical and number) and how the game applies it.
 

omeds

Senior member
Dec 14, 2011
646
13
81
FOV is 100% dependent on pixel count.

FOV is 0% dependent on physical screen size.

21:9 = 2560(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1080p = 1920(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1440p = 2560(wide) x 1440(tall)

Therefore, a 21:9 1080p has a lesser FOV. It has the exact same width FOV as 16:9 1440p. The 1440p will have greater FOV in height, making it a larger FOV.

To repeat, 1440p has greater FOV than 21:9 @ 1080p.

No it doesn't. If widescreen is implemented correctly the FOV grows progrssively wider from 4:3>16:10>16:9>21:9, irrespective of pixel count. A 1280x720 16:9 display has a wider FOV than 2560x1600 16:10 for example.
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
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OP - buy one. If you don't like it, or it doesn't give you what you expect, then return it.

Greater horizontal field of view is more beneficial. There is a reason that movies are in this wider format.

I can attest that I can definitely see more with the wider monitor.

For those that would do 21:9 on a 27" monitor, that sounds ridiculous. The reason to get a 21:9 monitor is to have it be BIG without have to get a 30" monitor and push all those pixels. Why pay the same and then use less of your monitor that is already smaller (in a horizontal sense)?

@cbrunny - we are talking about the "width" of FoV here, not the absolute value. Our ability to see is much greater in the horizontal sense than up and down.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
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FOV is 100% dependent on pixel count.

FOV is 0% dependent on physical screen size.

21:9 = 2560(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1080p = 1920(wide) x 1080(tall)
16:9 @ 1440p = 2560(wide) x 1440(tall)

Therefore, a 21:9 1080p has a lesser FOV. It has the exact same width FOV as 16:9 1440p. The 1440p will have greater FOV in height, making it a larger FOV.

To repeat, 1440p has greater FOV than 21:9 @ 1080p.
you are completely wrong.



OP - buy one. If you don't like it, or it doesn't give you what you expect, then return it.

Greater horizontal field of view is more beneficial. There is a reason that movies are in this wider format.

I can attest that I can definitely see more with the wider monitor.

For those that would do 21:9 on a 27" monitor, that sounds ridiculous. The reason to get a 21:9 monitor is to have it be BIG without have to get a 30" monitor and push all those pixels. Why pay the same and then use less of your monitor that is already smaller (in a horizontal sense)?

@cbrunny - we are talking about the "width" of FoV here, not the absolute value. Our ability to see is much greater in the horizontal sense than up and down.
its not ridiculous at all. 21:9 on a 27 inch 16:9 screen is just fine if someone wants to do it.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Which ones? I'm happy to post screenshots.
its even confirmed in the widescreengaming forums that the ME games dont work 100% right and that FC 3 and Metro LL stretches. you can take screens but unless you also show the game in 16:9 then where the issues are may not be apparent. I will have to check on some of the others listed. and also none of the Assassines Creed games or Witcher 2 even work at all.
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
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its even confirmed in the widescreengaming forums that the ME games dont work 100% right and that FC 3 and Metro LL stretches. you can take screens but unless you also show the game in 16:9 then where the issues are may not be apparent. I will have to check on some of the others listed. and also none of the Assassines Creed games or Witcher 2 even work at all.

Then you can play these games at 1920*1080 easily... and the monitor is still nice and big and all those other things (color, latency, etc.) If we are cool using other resolutions on our nice monitors and you need to play one of the games you mentioned, its really easy.

Plenty of games work in 21:9. The OP looks like he is going to play about 5-6 games out of the gate on the thing and they look like they work.

I am disappointed about FC3 and LL. I've got them on my too play list, but it may have to be at "just" 1080p. Of course, I doubt I'll get to them this year (ever?) because they are behind so many games on my too play list and I don't own them yet.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Then you can play these games at 1920*1080 easily... and the monitor is still nice and big and all those other things (color, latency, etc.) If we are cool using other resolutions on our nice monitors and you need to play one of the games you mentioned, its really easy.

Plenty of games work in 21:9. The OP looks like he is going to play about 5-6 games out of the gate on the thing and they look like they work.

I am disappointed about FC3 and LL. I've got them on my too play list, but it may have to be at "just" 1080p. Of course, I doubt I'll get to them this year (ever?) because they are behind so many games on my too play list and I don't own them yet.
you are NOT making any sense. nearly everyone has a 16:9 screen so all you get is black bars when running 21:9 games just like you would with movies. on a 27 inch 16:9 screen its hardly a big deal at all. would you rather have distorted images, stretched screens and huge black bars on the side or would you rather small black bars on the top and bottom for the games that actully "properly " support 21:9? and the upcoming game The Evil Within will be 21:9 only so nearly everyone is going to have black bars. do you think they should go buy a 21:9 screen since according to you its ridiculous to have a 21:9 game on a 16:9 screen?
 
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phillyboy

Member
Jun 3, 2006
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0
have you seen one in person? it's very underwhelming. it's a 29" monitor that's the same height as a 23" monitor. a 27" 16x9 screen has more physical screen area as well as all that added vertical resolution.

Yeah, I had one and returned it. The FOV was nice but it felt kind of cramped for playing games on. 2560x1440 is much better to game on.

As for compatibility issues - just run your games in 1920x1080 if they do not support 21:9. Black bars on the sides and you now have a 23" monitor :). (For me it really wasn't that noticeable once in-game).
 

phillyboy

Member
Jun 3, 2006
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you are NOT making any sense. nearly everyone has a 16:9 screen so all you get is black bars when running 21:9 games just like you would with movies. on a 27 inch 16:9 screen its hardly a big deal at all. would you rather have distorted images, stretched screens and huge black bars on the side or would you rather small black bars on the top and bottom for the games that actully "properly " support 21:9? and the upcoming game The Evil Within will be 21:9 only so nearly everyone is going to have black bars. do you think they should go buy a 21:9 screen since according to you its ridiculous to have a 21:9 game on a 16:9 screen?

Actually it sounds like you are talking past him and are making a bigger issue out of this than there really is. He is stating that a lot of games support 21:9 (which they do) and if they don't you run them in 16:9 on your fancy 29" monitor with vertical black bars on the side. If the game stretches and distorts then run in 1920x1080 until WSGF finds a way to fix it :)

Horizontal bars or vertical bars. Take your pick. :whiste:
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Actually it sounds like you are talking past him and are making a bigger issue out of this than there really is. He is stating that a lot of games support 21:9 (which they do) and if they don't you run them in 16:9 with vertical bars on the side. If it stretches and distorts then run in 1920x1080 until WSGF finds a way to fix it :)

Horizontal bars or vertical bars. Take your pick. :whiste:
yes but black bars top and bottom probably feel more natural since we already got that with movies and on our 16:10 and 4:3 screens when games were first going to 16:9.
 

phillyboy

Member
Jun 3, 2006
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Yeah, fair point. I think it will be subjective though to each person.

Personally once I started playing a game the vertical bars "went away" so to speak. Kind of like playing my SNES games on the big screen TV in the living room.
 

Cassius101

Member
Aug 29, 2013
155
1
81
Now I really don't know what to get, I would like to see some gameplay videos of 21:9 on a 27inch 1440p monitor though but I can't find any at all. Would someone who has one be able to make a gameplay video in any game at 21:9 on a 1440p 27 inch screen? Preferably on Battlefield 3 or a Demo of BF3 or BF4/BF4 Beta. You can record it using fraps or Hyper cam and upload it as a winrar file to anon files.

https://anonfiles.com/
 

phillyboy

Member
Jun 3, 2006
26
0
0
Well, you are rarely going to find a 21:9 game that won't support 16:9 / 2560x1440 so does it matter that much? Just being honest. I did it once on my 2560x1440 S27A850D that is now sitting in the basement and it basically looks like you are watching a movie but I believe you get ~3" worth of black bars on the top and bottom. I thought someone had a video or a pic online but I cannot think of where it was at right now.

This video will give you an idea of the extra real estate you get. It would be nice for certain games for sure but 2560x1440 is soooooo crisp of an image to look at due to the tigher pixel pitch. 27" gets you a lot of screen real estate to look at too just like the 29" does.

http://www.wsgf.org/news/our-first-219-ultra-widescreen-gaming-reel

Also, can you get the monitor you want from Amazon or Provantage? After looking at LCDs for so long and reeling my head over the choices I just said "screw it" and am buying one at a time until I find one I like. I spend too much time waffling otherwise :).

I've been using an S27A850D for about a year and a half now, which has a gorgeous screen, but I wanted to try the 120Hz / Lightboost thing so now I am sitting in front of an XL2420TE. A QNIX QX2710 is coming Wednesday because I really enjoy 120 Hz but the TN screen stinks!
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
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"Well, you are rarely going to find a 21:9 game that won't support 16:9 / 2560x1440 so does it matter that much? Just being honest."

there is currently no such thing as a 21:9 game. The Evil Within will be the very first native 21:9 game.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Gotcha. And only that aspect ratio, too. Interesting.
bet your ass there will be tons of complaining especially those with the silly 1280x1024 screens. lol half of their screen will be black bars.
 
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blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
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you are NOT making any sense. nearly everyone has a 16:9 screen so all you get is black bars when running 21:9 games just like you would with movies. on a 27 inch 16:9 screen its hardly a big deal at all. would you rather have distorted images, stretched screens and huge black bars on the side or would you rather small black bars on the top and bottom for the games that actully "properly " support 21:9? and the upcoming game The Evil Within will be 21:9 only so nearly everyone is going to have black bars. do you think they should go buy a 21:9 screen since according to you its ridiculous to have a 21:9 game on a 16:9 screen?

What?

Again, what?

Many games work 21:9. Many. Full stop. No distortion. No black bars. Huge screen real estate for the money (panel and graphics cards.)

My "ridiculous" comment is to spend the money on a 27" screen that has the capability of specifying lower resolutions without stretching and then doing 21:9 on it - for the same money as a premium 21:9 monitor. This leaves you with a much smaller (ie, inferior) monitor for the same price. "Ridiculous." As in, to do this on purpose for many titles. Why not buy the right tool for that job?

If a game only supports 21:9 and you have a 16:9 or 16:10 monitor, I guess you'll be compromising. It's the same as if you have a 21:9 monitor and need to play a 16:9 only game - which on a 29" 21:9 monitor will likely be very near the same "size" as a 16:9 only game on a 27" inch monitor.

Compromise.
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
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the 21:9 monitor is the one with the most compromise though

For gaming, I think it also has the most upside. If it works for you (given many of the compromises posted in this thread), it *really* works.

It also looks like 21:9 will be a supported aspect ratio for the majority of games going forward.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
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For gaming, I think it also has the most upside. If it works for you (given many of the compromises posted in this thread), it *really* works.

It also looks like 21:9 will be a supported aspect ratio for the majority of games going forward.
it does NOT have the most upside. again, as I have said over and over and over many if not most games do not properly support it. so many people just think if the game fills the screen that it is working and they have no clue. thats not even talking about the tons of games that do nothing but leave massive black bars on the side. its a FACT that it is way less supported than surround or eyefinty for now. so for right now it has too many compromises compared to 2560x1440.
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
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it does NOT have the most upside. again, as I have said over and over and over many if not most games do not properly support it. so many people just think if the game fills the screen that it is working and they have no clue. thats not even talking about the tons of games that do nothing but leave massive black bars on the side. its a FACT that it is way less supported than surround or eyefinty for now. so for right now it has too many compromises compared to 2560x1440.

That would be a opinion, not a fact. It is going to depend on the users situation. Physical screen size, actual games to be played, preference for high pixel density, etc. all should be considered.

BF4 in 21:9 looks pretty slick.

One of the 10 games I have installed had/has issues with the native res.

Saying things over and over doesn't make them true.