[PCM2]

Hi oopeteroo,

I’ve merged your thread with this one as it’s on a suitable topic. Whilst I don’t expect you to waste your time going through the entirity of this massive thread, I would advise reading my initial post(s) here. You will also find a useful summary of the key important factors to consider here. With this said, many modern monitors tick these important viewing comfort boxes as it’s something being heavily promoted by manufacturers currently. All of the models featured in the recommendations section, for example, tick many if not all of these boxes.

For your uses, the extra resolution of the U2415 could be beneficial. You get a bit of extra vertical screen space and resolution without the pixel density becoming too tight for your eyes. Given that you feel your eyes fatigue easily and you don’t want to have to worry about focusing on finer details (and this strain this may cause you) I would stick to 1920 x 1200 or 1920 x 1080. Both will be decent – if the 1920 x 1200 models come at an unacceptable premium, then just stick to 1920 x 1080.

The S2415H is an interesting option as it features a glossy screen. Provided you have adequate control of light in your room and have no light directly hitting the screen from behind you or to the sides, this could well be a good option. You’re used to a glossy Mac laptop screen I assume, so you’ll know what to expect from this as well.

[Yxwagu]

Hello PCM2,

I wrote here in March; I’m still waiting to buy a new computer but maybe now the time is arrived and I will probably buy a AMD Radeon RX460.
Last time I was undecided between Samsung S24E390HL and AOC I2481FXH.

I’ve seen two new Samsung models: the 24F350F and the S24F356FHU; they seems to be identical only the stand is different, which do you prefer? Which stand is more stable in your opinion?
These Samsung models have an AMD FreeSync range from 48 to 72; but also LG has produced a FreeSync monitor the 23MP68VQ-P (or the 24 version 24MP68VQ-P) that has a range from 40 to 75, therefore wider. Others contenders are the “old” AOC I2481FXH and its brother, the newer I2381FH; they are very stylish but without FreeSync.

What could you suggest me?
Thanks a lot

[PCM2]

I haven’t used either model so can’t comment on stand stability. The panel used is the same as in the S24E390HL so my comments on that model should apply to a large extent to the SF350 and SF356 models. That is to say it’s superior to the 24MP68VQ. I’ve also commented on many reviews – you don’t want to be running at 40fps if you can help it as even with FreeSync it just feels sluggish compared to 60fps. I agree that the flexibility is better to have than not, but I wouldn’t use the FreeSync range as a deciding factor in that case.

[daveyp]

Hi PCM2 i have a seven year old laptop it has a glossy 15.6″ screen with a 1366×768 res think it is a tn panel
My desktop pc uses a Benq GL2460 screen 1920×1080 res tn panel.
Tell me please why is it text on the laptop looks clearer is easier to read and does not strain my eyes as much as it does on the desktop monitor.
I am asking as i want to buy a new monitor but want to make the right choice.

[PCM2]

The glossy screen screams out as me as the key reason there.

[daveyp]

Thanks i just wish you had not said glossy screen as i only use the laptop when away from home.
When using my pc at home i have a window directly behind me and on the few occasions i have been forced to use the laptop it is not something i would want to be doing every day.
Are there any 24″/25″/27″ monitors good for reading text that have a screen a step down from glossy.
Oh and i should mention i have that sight problem that comes with the advance of years where my distance vision is ok but close up is not so good sorry but forgotten what you call it.

[PCM2]

Presbyopia. It could be the physical size of the screen as well – perhaps moderating your viewing distance would help? There are many factors at play – https://forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/causes-of-eyestrain-on-monitors/. Many modern VA models have a light matte screen surface and are otherwise good for reading.

Several are mentioned in this thread – and if you have Presbyopia you’d probably find 27″ to be advantageous if you don’t wish to use reading glasses when viewing it simply due to the pixel density. The Samsung C27F591 is in many respects an excellent monitor for viewing comfort.

[daveyp]

Hi PCM2 you are correct i have Presbyopia.
Ok i have been reading through some of the threads on here this last few days as i do not feel right asking you questions when the answer i most likely on this forum somewhere.
Had a look at the Samsung C27F591 you mentioned and i just cannot see any advantage in that screen curve for me anyway also the white finish is not for me.
I have it in my head that if looking at a curved screen the distance from my eyes to the edge of the screen should be the same as the distance from my eyes to the center of the screen if not then my eyes have to re focus.
I used a cardboard mock up of a curved screen it worked out i need a curve about 900R so as not to have to re focus now that is some curve once you have seen it on the desktop i think that amount of curve would maybe distort the picture.
As i said earlier have read a lot in the last few days and it looks like Benq EW2750ZL keeps coming to mind or if you have no other suggestions please let me know.

[PCM2]

I don’t follow your reasoning regarding wanting to avoid curved screens. They provide a more uniform distance from the eye when comparing the centre to edges of the screen than a flat screen. You’re correct that, ideally, with that being the focus (pun intended), the curve would be even stronger than it is. But a 1800R curve still provides an advantage compared to no curve at all. If you prefer a black monitor but with similar viewing comfort characteristics, consider the C27F390H.

Having said that, the BenQ EW2750ZL is very good for viewing comfort. While I feel the curve of the Samsung models can provide a potential advantage, I do understand if you’re more comfortable with the idea of a flat model. And the EW2750ZL is a very comfortable ‘flat’ monitor. 😉

[Vidle]

Hello,
this web site contains amazing reviews and nice and detailed answers so I hope you could help me choose a new 27” monitor.
Most of the time I use my computer for web browsing, work with MS office, watching serials or movies (mostly 720p or 1080p), and gaming (mostly strategy etc. where fps and short lag is not so important). I have NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphic card, but I might upgrade it and don’t want to buy a new monitor. I would prefer a monitor that does not strain my eyes because I use the computer a lot both at work and at home.
Is resolution 1920×1080 still good enough for 27”? (I sit about 60 – 70 cm from the screen, cca 1.5 m while watching movies)
I’ve read here on the forum about few models that caught my attention, but they both seem kinda outdated:
BenQ GW2760HS (I’ve read about it here on this thread)
Samsung S27D390H

Thank you for your advice.

[PCM2]

Hi Vidle,

If you follow some of the later recommendations on this thread you’ll see that there are some newer models to consider as well. But that certainly isn’t to say that the BenQ and Samsung you mentioned aren’t good for viewing comfort, because they are. The recommendations section is fully up to date and every single model featured there benefits from a flicker-free backlight and most with some sort of ‘Low Blue Light’ setting – other attributes are covered on that page as well, of course, such as suitability for gaming.

That said, if you’re planning to upgrade your GPU and you have the budget for a monitor with a higher than 1920 x 1080 resolution, I’d strongly suggest considering it. It is much more practical (and useful) for browsing purposes, work on MS Office and nicer for gaming if you’ve got a decent GPU. The only thing to be aware of is that the sharpness is a little weaker when watching Full HD content, due to the use of upscaling to display it – this is done by the movie software/web browser or GPU and doesn’t have anything to do with the monitor itself. The softening is quite subtle really, so given benefits in other areas consider some of the 2560 x 1440 models in the recommendations section.

[daveyp]

Hi PCM2 been trying for a while to order an EW2750zl from Amazon i caught them with stock last week.
Having used the monitor for a few days now i can say this is the best monitor i have had for my use anyway .
I can read any size of text without squinting or scaling i have been using no squint add on from firefox but not anymore.
Have been gaming with it i have played Neverwinter online/Archeage/ and Warframe seems ok to me.
The screen is good no dead or stuck pixels no light bleed or VA glow.
Just a couple of small niggles first i could not get a picture with HDMI you have to either press the menu button on the blue Benq screen then quickly change from VGA to HDMI or use a VGA cable to set input to HDMI then change to HDMI cable.
One more thing i had to use my own power lead from mains to the power supply as the Benq one it comes with is very loose and will loose power with the slightest touch i searched on the net and apparently this is a fault with a lot of Benq monitors.
But am still well pleased with my new monitor i never thought i would be able to read this well without glasses.
Oh by the way i did order the monitor through your link and as a thankyou for your help will be ordering quite a lot from Amazon for christmas using your link
Thankyou so much PCM2

[PCM2]

It’s really good to hear that the EW2750ZL worked out nicely for you for visual comfort. It’s a shame about those slight niggles, but I’m glad that hasn’t put you off the monitor. And I appreciate you supporting the website, so thank you. 🙂

[Vidle]

Hey,
I finally bought a Samsung S27F350FH. It seems nice, the IPS glow is not very noticeable from the front, although I guess the black was darker on the old TN screen. I could not find any bad pixel. The stand is quite weak at the joint near the screen but my table does not shake. The joystick controller is fine, easy to use and well placed, but I would appreciate easier switching between modes. Higher resolution would probably be nice on this size of the screen but that’s at least twice more expensive. I don’t like that it is not possible to set brightness in eco modes. So I wonder if they are good for anything at all or just set brightness to some lower preset level.
Is there any advantage of eye saver mode over the f.lux software?
Sometimes the screen does not start when I turn on my computer and I have to press the power button. I set in BIOS power management of the PCI card, it seemed to help but today the screen did not start again. Any idea with this? I connected the monitor with DVI-HDMI cable.
Thanks.
Best regards

Vidle

[PCM2]

Eco Modes simply alter brightness to a preset value. The Eye Saver mode not only weakens the blue colour channel significantly, it also massively reduces contrast. This is all covered in our reviews of products which feature this, including the S24E390HL. And if you leave the monitor switched on and simply shut down the PC it may enter deep sleep which would cause the behaviour you describe. Can’t you turn it off using the power Butterton when it’s not in use?

[Vidle]

So I finally figured it out. I had the Off timer on at 4 hours so that means the screen turns off after four hours of no signal. Until then, the monitor LED is blinking and after these four hours, the LED is on all the time and if you want to turn it on, you have to use the power button. I guess it saves a bit more energy so this feature is actually quite clever (and unless they changed it since S24E390HL you have it a bit wrong in the review, PCM2).
It seems that most modes are quite useless and I will just use the custom all the time and adjust the brightness and use f.lux instead of the eye saver mode.
Otherwise, I think the monitor is really nice and the colours and contrast is amazing while watching movies or photographs.

[PCM2]

It’s important to note that when you switch a monitor ‘off’ (using the power button, or allowing it to turn off with the ‘Off Timer’), it is technically still on ‘Standby’ or in a state sometimes referred to as ‘Active Off’. It is still standing by to spring right back to life at the press of a power button. The power consumption that is saved between it being in standby with the power LED on or (as in this case, off) is marginal but it’s still a saving so the distinction should indeed be made. Turning the monitor off at the wall is always preferable if you’re really keen to save energy, but the standby power consumption of models like this is so marginal it’s really not a big deal. Unless you’ve got an office full of them.

[chirionutz]

I am interested in buying a monitor and connect it to my 13R laptop (with a dedicated 5470m Ati card and 720p lcd, hdmi and vga ports) in order too get more space (I have problems in working with large excel sheets for timetables, for example).

What size and resolution would you recommend (for a small-medium budget?, but not only) 24″, 27″?

I spend a lot of time in front of the monitor and I am in need to reduce eyes fatigues as much as possible.

I’d like, if possible some suggestions for buying a display adjustable in portrait mode.

Thank you!

[PCM2]

There are already multiple threads on this topic, including this which I merged yours with. Have a look through here and also the recommendations section (https://pcmonitors.info/recommendations/ ) for inspiration. Size and resolution is entirely down to personal preferences, eyesight and to some extent budget.

[alizbazar]

Hi! Thanks for this fascinating thread and all the material & tips provided so far. I’m thinking of buying a 27″ or larger monitor for heavy use (daily 10+ hours programming, web design and desktop use). I’ve used Dell 24″ 1920×1200 IPS monitor previously and back then found it great.

Now, I’m considering Dell U2715H or U2717D. However, with 27″ WQHD I’m a bit concerned that the pixel density might be too large for me for being comfortable.

I’ve also stumbled upon BenQ BL3200PT, which looks great, offers the same resolution with a larger area, and costs about the same as Dell U2717D. However, it seems to be quite old already (released mid-2014). Do you see any downsides in it compared to the Dells, especially in terms of eye strain? Would you recommend something else with similar pixel density?

Thanks and happy New Year!
-Albert

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