What Type of Monitor for Gaming and Modern MacBook Pro Use? Sub $2000

Garden gnome on 21/04/2019 - 21:29

Hi Ozbargain,

Need some advice about my future situation. I’m looking to buy a new MacBook Pro when the new models come out later this year/next year. Hoping to use the USB-C capability with a good quality monitor. However, I would also like to buy a PC gaming rig, mainly to play Destiny 2 as I like the PVP side of the game.

My current screen is an old 27 inch IPS display with low-moderate input lag and 1080p with a refresh rate of 60fps which was not designed for gaming with no game mode and extras, etc. I’m using a PS4 currently ( no not the PS4 Pro)

What would be a good monitor to buy currently that isn’t $2000+ to play AAA games at a good refresh rate and also make use of the MacBooks ability to display roughly 5k resolution?
Is 4K gaming at 60fps acceptable? Would I better buying 1440p at 100hz+?

I’m not into graphics design, it will be used to mirror a MacBook Pro as well as also being quick and a good looking/performing gaming monitor for good quality PC build.

What do you guys use? I’m basically looking to step my gaming experience up a few levels

Computing Apple Computer Laptop

Comments

  • Godric on 21/04/2019 - 21:55
    +2

    Question Mark Tally: 5

  • Hybroid on 21/04/2019 - 22:38
    +1

    You don’t need a new monitor now with your existing one and just a PS4, even for Macbook connectivity. Re-evaluate choices on market when you have built your gaming rig and really want the extra hz and refresh rate (most people can’t see the difference and/or don’t need it unless involved in highly competitor play).

  • spazworm on 21/04/2019 - 22:41
    +1

    So I would say it kind of depends on what you do with your macbook pro. I code on a 5k 2017 iMac at work and it's great to have a good 28" screen to comfortably have two windows open. Next to the 5k iMac I have a Dell 1440p screen. MacOS Scales the 5k screen to display the same logical space as on the 1440p monitor regardless and while if you look closely you can tell there is a bit of a difference in quality it's not really a big deal. I think your leaning towards a high refresh rate 1440p screen is probably a good option, I have a 1080p 144hz screen at home and I've gotta say, once you game at 100hz+ it's really hard to go back. It's really not that big of a deal to have a slightly slower resolution when gaming either, I would be suprised if you missed it. I don't have any experince with 28" plus montiors, maybe someone else can comment, if you need heaps of screen real estate for whatever you're doing with your Macbook it might be worth going bigger or going ultrawide.

    • Garden gnome on 21/04/2019 - 22:46
      -2

      On the MacBook Pro I will be doing basic things really, nothing like coding, no VM machines, no video editing. I could really get away with a lower specced MacBook for my needs but my theory Is that a MacBook Pro would last longer before experiencing slowdowns with the graphics and processing power compared to the less powerful MacBook models. (Provided the keyboard doesn’t fail in the meantime).

  • scrimshaw on 21/04/2019 - 23:41
    +2

    https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/02/samsung-widescreen-thunderbol…

    sweet spot is 1440p @ 100hz (as far as gaming is concerned), though there exists monitors now that can go even higher with refresh rates but many graphics card can't push that many frames unless it's a old game on a older engine.

    If you do have money to spend though and you have a really big desk, there are 49 inch behemoths that you can buy that now that have 5120×1440 super-ultrawide aspect ratio with high refresh rates, such as the Samsung C49RG9 ($1499 USD retail price). This is not available in Australia yet, but there will be cheaper variants of this made by LG and Dell that only have 60hz panels.

  • SydStrand on 22/04/2019 - 00:24
    +2

    5K output does NOT mean this thing is capable of running games at 5K. To spec a MBP to play AAA at framerates that would show on a $2k monitor would be astronomical. Base MBP15 ($4099) has a Radeon R560X which definitely won't play 1440p at 100fps, so forget about 4K. Speccing up to the Radeon Pro Vega (+$560) gets something that apparently tangles with a 1050 Ti. But $4660 and still nothing close to 4K/60fps gaming, and it's not going to change with this year's update.

  • bjdchwr on 22/04/2019 - 01:40

    Gaming is a bad decision using MBP…

    You really need something like Alienware to get the work done.

    It has been a stretch with high res display, plus a potential 4K/5K external. It will display fine but will not run games at practical fps without egpu etc.

    PS: I own a 2018 MBP, unfortunately, the first batch without Vega graphics, and I do a lot of video editings. I still do my majority of editing on my home iMac 5K (2017 model).

    • scrimshaw on 22/04/2019 - 12:58
      +1

      I think OP's plan is to build his own gaming rig, not game on the MBP. The screen is going to be used by both systems simultaneously.

  • thebadmachine on 23/04/2019 - 00:01

    I may have mentioned this already somewhere else, but if your after best quality for the money go with AOC monitors.
    We got one 10-15 years ago for a desktop computer (we chose AOC because it was cheaper and within our budget).
    The 27” LCD AOC monitor has fallen from desk height once, no physical / internal damage. Been used regularly with little regard for its lifespan, and is still working to this day (saved us a bunch by just having to buy desktop towers over the years).

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