Hopefully I chose the right subcategory for this question. I’ve read every topic available about ultrawide or three monitors and I’m decided to go with a triple 32-in setup; that much is decided. But, do I go with a flat monitor or curved? 4K center and 2K on both sides? All 4k? Specs are:
I7-13700K
32GB DDR5
RTX 4070TI GPU
I realize the topic gets a lot of discussion, I’ve read all the current threads on the issue but haven’t seen anything address curved or flat in the 32" monitor size.
If curved I’m looking at something like this it has a 2K and 4K version everything else being identical: MSI G321CU 31.5" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 144Hz Curved Screen Gaming Monitor Platinum Collection; AMD FreeSync; HDR; HDMI - Micro Center
If I go with flat I’m looking at something like this, again it has a 2k and 4K version:
Thanks in advance!
In my opinion and experience
Curved for multi and MSFS lends you to using nVsurround and have the monitors in a line (a bowed line).
With flat panels it’s more advantageous for a home cockpit setup using the sims tools.
The worst part of all triple set ups, you are going to slash your frame rate to 1/3 and 2k to 4k half it again.
Also your monitor choices are a bit varied, you should have your mind set VA or IPS panel.
Another thing on the monitors, no display ports option and your card has 3 DP and 2 HDMI you will need to buy 3 QUALITY DP to HDMI cables … you’re maybe thinking I just need one and use the 2 HDMI, nope, colors/blacks will be slightly different.
I mean it is glorious spanning your eyes back and forth across the three panels but eventually the stretching becomes annoying and the performance hit is just too much.
As a recent convert to VR… I would throw that out as an alternative! 
I am really not going to be flying with my monitor ever again. Save some space, money, performance problems and have a whole new way of experiencing this amazing sim. All in 1 simple choice lol
I have a question for those with three curved / widescreen monitors. I see comments, like this one, that there is “stretching” at the edges of the monitors. I you have 3 lined up, would that not give a weird perspective - like this: stretched-normal-stretched /bezel/ stretched-normal-stretched /bezel/ stretched-normal-stretched.
However, some of the posts are quite old, so maybe the “stretching” issue was resolved in a later update?
If you have not watched this already, Russ Barlows explanation of how to set up multiple monitors in MSFS is essential.
In short, MSFS assumes a flat monitor, and the stretching at screen edges is about the field of view (FOV) and eye distance from the monitor. Multiple monitors are essentially different views from the same eye location. There is a relationship between the angle of the monitors, FOV, and eye distance - when you get it right, everything looks normal. He has a spreadsheet you can download to enter your monitor size, angle and it shows you the correct settings
My understanding is that if you use a curved monitor, you introduce some bowing of the image near the edges and where 2 screens meet, so save your money.
2 Likes
Note that curved monitors will introduce additional distortion because the 3d graphics projections are for flat screens. Some folks seem to prefer them despite this though! Your mileage may vary.
1 Like
@ GimbalAxis & @ Vibstronium:
Thanks for those responses. I’m not planning to get 3 monitors (no space) - Just a single 55". I had considered getting a curved monitor about a year or so ago, but decided not to because of the distortion effects. Might be acceptable with a single curved screen, but even if you limit your FOV to 60 degrees or less, I’d think the transitions at the edges of the LHS & RHS & center screens in a triple setup would be rather distracting.
“Simple”? Did you say, “Simple”?
(Well, you did LOL, so…)
Haha well the choice is simple. I didn’t say anything about setting it up 
The only additional distortion is perceptual.
The amount that curved monitors actually curve varies a lot. The one linked to in the OP has a radius of 1.5m, which is one of the flatter ones. The LG ultrawide I’m using here is 1.9m, and the curvature isn’t even noticeable.
The suggestion that curved monitors induce distortion doesn’t have any truth whatsoever.
1 Like
Too bad perceiving things is the point of a monitor. 
I mean, you can just draw a diagram, like on paper. Simple geometry. 
(I’ve literally drawn such diagrams before on this forum and it never convinces anyone to explain how 3d graphics projection works using flat projection planes, so I’m out of this thread. Enjoy your monitors!)
I’m perfectly familiar with how 3D graphics are rendered, and the inherent distortion.
For any given resolution the resulting image is completely identical whether displayed on a flat or very slightly curved monitor. Where does the supposed distortion come from?
1 Like