I’m currently using a 21" monitor with 1080p resolution at 60hz. My current GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. I’d like to get a 27" monitor and GPU to support it, but I can budget only $300 +/- $50 for each component. I’ve read that resolution and refresh rate are 2 top specs, but it seems my budget won’t allow me to improve both factors, e.g., a monitor/GPU combo supporting QHD @ 144hz. If you could improve only refresh rate (75, 120, 144hz) OR resolution (2K, 4K), which one would you choose. Thanks in advance!
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Get a 4k Smart TV. QHD is a really crapola resolution - you’re looking at 15 years ago tech.
For $300 US you should be able to find a 4k smart TV. And don’t worry about refresh rates - standard 60hz is fine for a flight sim.
Then stretch your budget by a teeny bit and get an Arc 770LE. I normally run the sim in an 8k x 2k window with each Arc supplying one 4k screen - tried it at 4k x 2k on one screen and it’s absolutely fluid. And it will only get better when MSFS supports XeSS, which, given the uptake and the rave reviews it has here, and the desire to be seen treating all video card platforms equally, should be sooner rather than later. Plenty of games already support it.
There are a multitude of opinions out there, so here is another.
I use two 27" 2K monitors (each 144MHz). 27" monitors are plenty crisp and clear at 2K which gives you performance head room for higher MSFS graphics settings. You can couple that with a single RTX-3060Ti (12GB) which can be found in the $350 range.
I am currently running a 2080Ti with two 27" 2K monitors and I have excellent sim performance at mostly medium settings. And I am talking solid (locked at 30 FPS) performance with stout aircraft (PMDG, Fenix) at third party airports.
As far as flightsim goes I wouldn’t be too fussed about over 60Hz refresh.
I picked up a 43" Sharp TV 1080p 60Hz recently for my kids room and have my 10 year old game rig connected and it runs the sim really well.
AMD FX9350, 32Gb DDR3, R9 390 8Gb .
Maybe a 3060Ti or 6700XT gfx card would suit your budget also.
This ^^^^^ 
Thanks for your response. I will check that out.
Good information. Thanks!
Thanks for your reply. I’m a bit surprised that a 43" 1080p TV provides good graphics. Don’t larger screens with 1080p have larger pixels than smaller screens at the same resolution, and therefore poorer quality picture?
You’re the second responder saying that 60Hz is enough. Good info. Thanks!
Refresh rate.
In my opinion, 1080p is good enough for 27" and a bit marginal at 32".
I have a 39" 4k monitor as well as a big curved wide-screen, and tried both. Not impressed.
I now use three identical 32" 1080p monitors using multiscreen with one in front and one each side, turned about 85 degrees.
With three more 1080p touchscreen monitors running Air Manager, my 3080 video card is happily running capped at 30fps (which is easily enough) but it wouldn’t manage significantly higher resolution for the main three screens .
Basically, if you have the screens wrapped around you, they are less than a metre away and you have to decide what resolution is sharp enough at that distance.
30 fps is fast enough as long as there is no stuttering. Stutters make it look as if 30 is flickery.
You’ll find it pretty darned hard buying a new Smart TV with less than 4k (or at least 3860 x 2160) pixels resolution. Just buy a bmf TV or 4 and enjoy.
How do you manage Nvidia’s 4 display limitation ?
One uses a usb3 to hdmi adapter, another uses Spacedesk. I have another usb3 to hdmi adapter, but I bough a cheap one and it only works sometimes.
OK. The Space Desk doesn’t count, it doesn’t draw from the card. Actually you’re running 5 off the 3080. That’s one over the limit. That’s what I tried with a Thunderbolt card, but it didn’t work on my 3070. The only way I’ve been able to use my two touch screens is to disconnect one of my 32" displayport screens. Haven’t tried Space Desk for touch. Will give that a shot.
I can assure you that Spacedesk screens are indeed rendered by the GPU. They are simply additional monitors as far as the OS is concerned. It would be great if you were correct, but you are not.
I stand corrected. It does use it, but apparently it doesn’t count against the display limit. I suppose because it is not physically connected? From what I have read, the GPU is used for compressing the image for transmitting.
I’ve looked up some displayport splitters, but they don’t seem to be bi-directional which I believe is required for touch data. Am I correct? Space desk will not work with my touch monitors since it requires an OS. Works fine with my Galaxy 10.1, but that’s too small for most of my pop-outs.
Spacedesk is for tablets Yes, too small for popouts, but fine for guages and switches . Use HDMI for touchscreen monitors. Mine also have a usb lead for the touch data.
A lot of it depends on viewing distance. If you are sitting far away, those larger pixels are less of an issue.
Back to your original question, I would take resolution over going beyond 60Hz refresh. I’m on a 27" LG monitor, with a 4k60 IPS panel. The game fluidity is great when running at 60fps (albeit only if I’m at cruise altitude). I would say either get a 4k60 IPS monitor for under budget and put the extra money into a better graphics card, or go with a larger screen size if it fits your current budget.
If I could do it again and money wasn’t an option, I would’ve went with at least a 32" monitor because viewing the gauges in a glass cockpit from the default camera position is a bit hard on my eyes. 4k resolution and 60fps is plenty for me in terms of performance. At the time, I actually thought 27" would’ve been on the large size in my space.
Can you please share with me your graphic settings?