r/Monitors

So I've been going down this rabbit hole for the past two days and apparently there exists both software calibration and hardware calibration? What even is the real difference between these calibration techniques for displays? How much of an actual difference does this make? and why do people get so triggered about it?

I just figured all calibration used software, but apparently not lol. What am I missing here?
Explain it to me simply because I have two brain cells left today and they are fighting for third place.

I’m looking to upgrade my monitor. I want to upgrade my monitor to an oled that ranges from 240 to 360 hz, 1440 if possible. Can I with my specs?

32 gigs of ram

i9-90900k 3.7ghz

RTX 3080 (10gb)

Hey,

I searched for an IPS, Mini LED monitor with 120 or more Hz. I found the perfect one but the size was too large (31.5 inches). I am searching for a 27-inch monitor.

I initially wanted a Mini LED because I don't want to babysit an OLED screen, I don't want to hide static elements, plus, I am playing plenty of games with static UI. My choice went to the Mini LED because I have a Macbook with a beautiful screen, and the technology is a Mini LED so naturally I searched for something similar for gaming.

But after some research, it seems Mini LED loses its benefits in SDR (that's the only mode I will use because I dislike HDR, too bright). But then why is my MB able to give a stunning result with a Mini LED panel in SDR? Honestly, I just ask for this result, no more.

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On the other hand, I already had a classic LED, IPS 27-inch monitor, and the glowing was crazy, it was truly awful. So, second question, was my monitor really bad (GIGABYTE) and gave me the wrong impression about IPS LED or is it just the way it is?

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Or, should I go to the OLED and just not care about the burning in, use it as it is, and replace it when the burning is too prominent?

Any guidance could really help me to decide which technology to use. Also, I did not mention VA or TN as it seems, it is more competitive-oriented, and I don't play competitive games. Also it appears they don't give a contrast as good as IPS?

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Maybe to give you a sum up my usages and wishes:

• Using SDR only
• Casual gaming, but I wish to have great colors and a relatively good contrast

So yeah, "that's all". My doubt is mainly on the technology for my usages. Thank you for your valuable help, choosing a monitor is really the hardest part of a PC build.

https://preview.redd.it/l6jmem8li72h1.png?width=1254&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a875aa75d4e37f1a5661a4c28e203ec2f019169

Necesito de su ayuda, busco el mejor monitor por ese precio, ya que actualmente juego a 60hz, busco un monitor para ya quedarme unos años.Puedo estirar el presupuesto a 400k si lo vale.

Disclaimer: Not everyone is sensitive to video judder. If your videos look
perfectly smooth to you, you don't need to change anything! This guide is
strictly for those who notice a weird stuttering in 24fps movies or 60fps
YouTube videos on high-refresh-rate monitors.

The Problem I Discovered

I upgraded to a 165Hz monitor expecting the absolute best visual experience for
everything. Gaming was perfect, but something felt off when watching Netflix
movies or 60fps YouTube videos – a subtle, inconsistent stutter during slow
camera pans.

After days of troubleshooting, I realized it's a frame rate math problem.

Why 144Hz and 165Hz Struggle With Video

Most video content isn't made for these refresh rates:

  - Movies/Netflix: 24 fps
  - YouTube/Twitch: 60 fps (or 30 fps)
  - TV shows: Often 30 fps

Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) has to fit these frame rates into your
monitor's refresh cycles, which creates problems when the math doesn't divide
evenly.

The 144Hz Problem:

  - 144 ÷ 24 = 6 (perfect for movies)
  - 144 ÷ 60 = 2.4 (causes judder on YouTube) Some frames are held for 2
refresh cycles, others for 3. This creates an asymmetric, stuttery feeling.

The 165Hz Problem:

  - 165 ÷ 24 = 6.875 (judder in movies)
  - 165 ÷ 60 = 2.75 (judder on YouTube) Even worse – it fails at both.

"But I Have G-Sync/FreeSync?"

Why VRR doesn't help here: Variable Refresh Rate typically doesn't activate for
web browsers and standard media players. This is intentional by GPU
manufacturers – if it did, scrolling past a low-fps GIF on Reddit would cause
your monitor's voltage to fluctuate and your screen to flicker. When you watch
YouTube or VLC in a browser/window, VRR stays dormant and Windows DWM forces
everything through your desktop's static refresh rate.

The Solution: 120Hz Desktop

120Hz divides evenly with all common media frame rates:

  - 120 ÷ 24 = 5
  - 120 ÷ 30 = 4
  - 120 ÷ 60 = 2

Perfect mathematical symmetry = perfectly smooth video playback. (Note: 240Hz
monitors also natively solve this because 240÷24=10 and 240÷60=4, but most
people don't have the hardware to fully utilize 240Hz in gaming yet).

How to Set It Up

Step 1: Set Windows Desktop to 120Hz

  - Right-click Desktop → Display Settings → Advanced display
  - Under "Choose a refresh rate" → Select 120 Hz
  - Result: All windowed video (YouTube, Netflix, VLC) now plays buttery smooth.

Step 2: Enable VRR for Gaming

  - Open NVIDIA Control Panel (or AMD Software)
  - Navigate to G-Sync/FreeSync settings
  - Enable it for "Fullscreen mode only"
  - Avoid "windowed + fullscreen" – it is notoriously buggy and can cause
flickering in desktop apps.

Step 3: Use Exclusive Fullscreen in Games (Important Windows Note) In modern
Windows 10/11, simply selecting "Fullscreen" in a game might not be enough to
bypass DWM due to "Fullscreen Optimizations". You may need to:

1.  Right-click the game's .exe → Properties
2.  Go to the Compatibility tab
3.  Check "Disable fullscreen optimizations"
4.  Click Apply
5.  Then in the game's menu: Set Display Mode to "Exclusive Fullscreen" (NOT
"Borderless").
6.  If available, manually select your max refresh rate (144Hz/165Hz) in the
game menu.

Result: Your desktop runs at a mathematically smooth 120Hz for video, and your
games unlock to your full 144/165Hz+ with VRR active!

Alternative: Advanced Media Players

For hardcore users: Media players like MPC-HC with the madVR plugin can
automatically switch your monitor's refresh rate to match video content
dynamically. However: This requires technical setup, only works in fullscreen,
and doesn't work for browsers (YouTube/Netflix). The 120Hz desktop method is a
much easier "set & forget" solution for everyday use.

Before/After Test (Try it yourself)

1.  Set your desktop to your max Hz (144/165)
2.  Watch a slow-panning 24fps movie or a 60fps drone video on YouTube
3.  Pay close attention to the smooth motion during pans
4.  Now set your desktop to 120Hz and watch the exact same video again. If you
notice the stutter disappear, you're sensitive to judder. If not, feel free
to stick with your max Hz!

TL;DR

If you see stuttering in movies/YouTube on your 144/165Hz monitor:

1.  Set Windows desktop to 120Hz.
2.  Enable VRR for fullscreen gaming only.
3.  Disable "fullscreen optimizations" for your games.
4.  Use Exclusive Fullscreen in games. Videos become butter smooth, games still
run at max Hz with VRR.

Discussion welcome!

Full disclosure: I am not a display engineer or a technical expert. I just went
down this rabbit hole after noticing the stuttering myself, and I used AI to
help me properly structure and write this post based on my findings. I just
really wanted to share this in hopes that it helps someone out there!

Edit: Clarified the Windows 10/11 "Fullscreen optimizations" requirement and
added the madVR alternative based on excellent technical feedback from the
comments. Thanks guys!

I have an Acer Predator X27U W1bmiipprx OLED monitor and I’m trying to mount it on a monitor arm.
The issue is that the original stand attaches using Acer’s circular quick-release mechanism, and I think I’m missing the OEM VESA adapter plate/bracket that came in the box(i never got one). Right now I only have the monitor and stock stand.

I tried using a normal 100x100 VESA plate from my monitor arm but it doesn’t fit because the mounting area is recessed and proprietary.

Does anyone with this exact monitor know:
what the missing adapter piece is called?

Would really appreciate if someone with this monitor could share pictures or links to the correct adapter. Thanks!

been debating upgrading to a 4k monitor for months now but wow monitor shopping is exhausting

every review is just people arguing about oled burn-in, refresh rates, hdr, ips glow, mini led… my brain is cooked lol

mainly gaming + watching stuff, so i want something that actually LOOKS amazing and not just good on paper

what 4k gaming monitor impressed you the most??

Hey everyone, thinking about upgrading my monitor and want some honest input before buying.

I'm running a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 12GB and 32GB DDR5. Currently on a Samsung Odyssey G7 32" 1440p. The monitor I'm looking at is the Samsung Odyssey G7 40" S40FG75 at 5120x2160 180Hz.

My games are Forza Horizon 6, Euro Truck Simulator 2, ATS, WoW Classic and Diablo 4.

A few things I'm wondering about. First, I'm happy with my current image quality – will DLSS Quality at 5120x2160 actually look worse than native 1440p today, or is it true that the internal render resolution ends up higher anyway? Second, I've heard ultrawide is amazing for truck sims, can anyone confirm from experience? And third, is the 5070 non-Ti realistically enough for this panel or will I regret not waiting for something stronger?

Not a competitive FPS player at all, immersion and image quality matter more to me than raw fps.

Thanks in advance, appreciate real answers over hype.

Hi,

Have anyone here used the Odyssey G70f 27inch dual mode IPS display, I couldn't find a credible review for it. All the reviews on Samsung's website has an incentivized tag on it.

Hello, I'm looking for the best budget gaming monitor. I currently have two MSI G271 which one's coloring is starting to fail. So I'm looking for a replacement. I didn't have any complaints up until this.

I went to Micro Center for a new GPU and they had a LG UltraGear 27GS60QC-B. I saw the specs for the price and decided to purchase it. I read up a little more on it, one source said it was great for a VA and comparable to a low-end OLED. However, I also read that this Acer Nitro XV272U is far superior for only 10 bucks more (as of right now). Should I go back and return it?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I'm aiming for <$200, 1440p, and 144hz+

I have a 5070 and a i7-14700k. I’m in the search for a new monitor (currently have a 1080p 120hz) and my budget is more so price to performance I’m willing to spend 400-500 dollars but if I’m not getting value for it then I’d rather spend less. So I have two problems firstly is 4k even that worth it with my specs I use DLSS for games but I have a 1080 so maybe it changes with higher res. My second question is oled worth it or is it overhyped ? I play a lot of diffrent types of games. I’m found of supermassive, I play single player games (shoutout subnautica 2), and I play fps like Val so anyways what do we think?

Hello everyone,

I wanted to ask if there’s anyone who could help me out. Right now I have a 4K monitor that I use both for work (Mac) and for gaming on the PS5.

Now I’m thinking about upgrading to a 5K monitor, either the LG or the Asus. I’m just wondering whether the PS5 image quality would actually be worse compared to using a 4K monitor?