
Only a few days remain until the behemoth of a GPU, the Nvidia RTX Ampere 3090, is released. The Nvidia RTX 30 Series graphics card mark a new era of gaming that was, up until their release, simply not possible in the consumer market. But the RTX 3090, with 10,496 CUDA Cores, FP32 processing power of 36 TFLOPS, and 24 GB of GDDR6X VRAM, is more than simply a gaming GPU. The RTX 3090 is poised to be able to the most intensive of workstation tasks that neither the Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti nor the RTX Titan could accomplish.
When speaking of gaming applications, we know that the RTX 2080 Ti could achieve a resolution (at best) of 4K at 60 Hz; while the best framerate it could achieve would be 144 FPS at 1440p and below. Of course, this framerate would not always be achievable for many games, as proven with the RTX 2080 Ti falling short of the mark even for less graphical demanding games like Call of Duty: Warzone. On the other hand, the RTX 3090, with its 127% increase in CUDA Cores, 120% increase in computational power, upgraded GGDR6X VRAM, 2nd and 3rd generation Ray Tracing and Tensor Cores, is poised to be able to play games at a consistent framerate for resolutions of 1440p, and even 4K, according to benchmarks from GamersNexus. Of course, the 8K resolution that was advertised seems to have been simply a marketing ploy, since the GPU was unable to reach consistent framerates above 30 FPS at this resolution. However, for workstation its power can still be used for applications and video editing for 8K resolutions. But it is not just the GPU that influences workloads. The RTX 3090 needs to be situated in a system that can support it and not bottleneck its functionality. It will need a CPU of a similar level, like a 10th generation Intel i9, or at the very least an i7; and, similarly, a Ryzen R9 3000 series, or even perhaps a Threadripper or R9 4000 series CPU – set to be announced in the beginning of October. Additionally, the RAM storage should be at the very least 16 GB to 32 GB, split in two channels, and with a speed and latency of either 3200 MHz CL14 or 3600 MHz CL16 (the latter being best if overclocking is not to be used).
But what is a killer PC, with its extremely powerful hardware components, without the monitor to display its power? The PC-monitor industry is constantly growing in synergy with the improvements in hardware capability, resulting in innovation that allows Nvidia to create a GPU, like the RTX 3090, that is capable of processing games (even at lesser framerates) for 8K resolutions.
The PC monitor is the means by which you can view the power that your PC is capable of, and the RTX Ampere 3090 it has plenty of power to show, so it must be held to a high standard. That is why we’ve compiled a list of the four best monitors to pair with the RTX 3090, depending on resolution and framerate. These monitors are chosen based on both performance, and price, as we’re aiming for the best overall value.
Best Monitors for the Nvidia RTX Ampere 3090
Best 1080P 360Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090
For those who love competitive multiplayers, like, for example, professional esports players, the new set of 1080P 360 Hz monitors set to release within 2020 will provide a significant competitive edge. This is due to Nvidia’s new Reflex option that includes the newly integrated Latency Analyzer that (for now) is only available with a 360 Hz monitor. This integrated hardware will allow you to reduce, and view in real time, your end-to-end input latency… and this latency reduction is actually quite significant. For 144 Hz monitors, the end-to-end input lag will usually range between 45-50 milliseconds, whereas for these 360 Hz monitors, which will inherently be paired with Nvidia Reflex designed for the RTX 30 Series GPUs, will have an end-to-end input lag as low as 14-16 milliseconds!
Of the four announced 360 Hz monitors, the one that appears to show the best price to value relationship is ASUS’s ROG Swift PG259QN. This 24.5-inch FHD monitor features a fast-IPS panel with a W-LED backlight display and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. Due to the IPS panel, the monitor inherently has a wide 178-degree viewing angle. It also has an 8-bit depth, a 1,000 : 1 static contrast ratio, and the capability of displaying 99% of the sRGB color range (16.8 million colors). The brightness this screen can reach will peak at 400 nits, and the GtG response time sits at only 1 ms.
The exterior of the ROG Swift has thin borders, making it optimal for multi-monitor setups. It also has an anti-glare coating on the bezel, and a great amount of flexibility in terms of ergonomics. The height can be adjusted by up to 120 millimeters, the screen can pivot by 90 degrees to the right, swiveled by 25 degrees to the right or left, tilted forward or backward by 5 and 20 degrees respectively, can be pivoted to a portrait orientation, and finally has a removable stand so the monitor can be mounted on a wall or directly on the desk (the package includes a desk clamp).
The ASUS ROG Swift also comes with a host of ASUS’s exclusive software, like GamePlus, GameVisual, and ultra-low blue light technology. Connectivity-wise, it will have two USB 3.0 (type-A) ports, one HMDI 2.0 port, one DP 1.4 port, and an audio jack. The monitor will not include integrated speakers. The ROG Swift PG259QN is set to release toward the end of September and will have a price tag of $699 – which is actually a very reasonable price considering the price of the other 360 Hz monitors.
Best 1440p 144Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090
One of the feats that the RTX Ampere 3090 will be able to accomplish better than any other GPU, is that it will be able to handle processing games at a 1440p resolution with a 144 Hz refresh rate consistently. This may not seem like such an impressive task now, but taking into account that even the RTX 2080 Ti has trouble processing games at this resolution and refresh rate – and the fact that games will inadvertently become more hardware demanding in the years to come – it is actually a purchase-worthy feat. Hence a 1440p 144 Hz monitor is a safe purchase to make, considering that you won’t have to downscale in-game quality settings or resolution in order to maintain the proper framerate. The best 1440p 144 Hz monitor for the task? The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ.
This 27-inch monitor has an AHVA IPS panel with an 8-bit depth, an LCD display, and G-Sync and ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) Sync compatibility. It has an MPRT response time of only 1ms, and the framerate frequency can be overclocked to up to 165 Hz. Once again, the IPS panel allows for a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees in both vertical and horizontal viewing angles, and the monitor is able to show 99% of the sRGB color space, 71% of the Adobe RGB color space, 72% of the NTSC color space, and 77% of the DCI P3 color space. The brightness of the screen is normalized at 320 nits, but peaks at 350 nits. The VG27AQ also has HDR10 compatibility, an impressive static contrast ratio of 1,200 : 1, and an input lag of only 5.3 ms.
The physical exterior of this ASUS monitor is quite simplistic; with its thin – almost borderless – frame having an anti-glare/matte coating and plenty of ergonomic features. It is VESA compatible, has a removable stand, can be adjusted in height by up to 130mm, can pivot from landscape to portrait and from left to right (90 degrees), can swivel to both left and right directions by up to 90 degrees, and can be tilted between 5 and 33 degrees.
The ASUS TUF Gaming also comes with two integrated 2-Watt speakers, two HDMI 2.0 and 1 DisplayPort 1.2 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and all the same software features included with the ASUS ROG Swift.
This 1440p 165 Hz monitor can currently be found for $429, though its price also does vary depending on availability. If you catch it while its available, rest assured that this product definitely holds a place in the top echelon of gaming monitors.
Best 4k 144Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090
If there is any GPU that can handle the extreme task of processing games at a 4K resolution and 144 Hz, it’s the RTX 3090. Sure, for some games dropping the graphical settings and overclocking will be necessary, but it is definitely worth the effort for a crystal-clear resolution with a framerate that will give you a competitive edge when playing multiplayer titles. If you don’t mind paying the extra cost for a monitor that can exceed expectations, we recommend Acer’s Predator X27.
As its name suggests, the Predator has a 27-inch display with an AHVA IPS panel that has a 10-bit depth (8 bits + Frame Rate Control) and is Nvidia G-Sync and Nvidia ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) compatible. Using a Direct LED (Full-Array Local Dimming) backlight with 384 individually-controllable LED zones, this monitor can display an astonishing amount of colors, covering the full sRGB spectrum, 99% of the Adobe RGB spectrum, 85% of the DCI P3 color space, and 75% of the Rec. 2020 color space. It has a brightness of 600 nits (that can peak at 1,000 nits) through its use of Quantum Dot technology. The Acer Predator also has HDR 10 and HDR 1,000 compatibility, with a minimal 4ms GtG response time. Of course, these amazing display specifications do come at a slight cost in regards to input lag, as the Predator X27 can take 13 milliseconds to respond to an input signal – though with the Nvidia Reflex feature that comes with the RTX 3090, this shouldn’t be much of an issue at all.
In terms of ergonomics, this display is slightly limited, as it cannot pivot between landscape and portrait orientations and its left and right swivel range is only 20 degrees. However, it still can be adjusted in terms of height by up to 130mm, and can tilt forward by 5 degrees and backwards by 25 degrees. If you would like to mount this monitor, it is VESA compatible and the stand is removable.
The ACER Predator X27 comes with two 7W speakers and four additional USB 3.0 ports (one of which is also upstream). In terms of other connectivity, is has an HDMI 2.0 slot, a DisplayPort 1.4 slot, and a standard 3.5mm audio out.
The price is the only aspect where the ACER Predator X27 suffers, as it currently costs $1,799; though it can be found on sale for as low as $1,299. Still, given its more than impressive display, brightness, color space, and of course its 4K resolution and 144 Hz framerate, the price is very reasonable.
Best 8K 60Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090
Last, but not least, we have the highest resolution available for PC monitors: The 8K 60 Hz Dell UltraSharp UP3218K. Once again, do note that the RTX Ampere 3090 will not be able to handle 8K resolution gaming – despite being advertised as having the ability to do so. However, for professional video editors or other workstation related applications that need incredibly color-accurate displays at high resolutions, this monitor is one of the only available solutions.
The UltraSharp is a 31.5-inch monitor that makes use of an IPS panel with a 10-bit depth, capable of a 7680 x 4320 resolution at a 60 Hz refresh rate. This monitor is unfortunately not G-Sync compatible… but neither is any other 8K monitor. Where the Dell UltraSharp excels is its color display. It features over 1 billion colors at 30 bits, covering 100% of both the sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces, and an impressive 98% of the DCI P3 color space. It has an high static contrast of 1,300 : 1, but a somewhat mediocre brightness of 400 nits. For a non-specialized gaming monitor, the UltraSharp has a great G2G response time of only 6ms, with 10ms of input lag. The viewing angles, both vertically and horizontally, have a maximum of 178 degrees.
The exterior of the UltraSharp features a glossy coating with a thin, aluminum, almost borderless bezel. It has a removable stand, it is VESA compatible, it can be heigh-adjusted by up to 120mm, it can pivot to the left and to the right up to 90 degrees (landscape/portrait orientation compatible), it can swivel in any direction by 30 degrees, and it can tilt forward by 5 degrees and backwards by 21 degrees.
The UltraSharp UP3218K also comes with four USB 3.0 ports (one of which is upstream), and two DisplayPort 1.4 slots. It has no integrated speakers, but it does have a 3.5mm audio jack. As is the trend with monitors featuring relatively new technology, this monitor does cost a pretty penny – but for $3.999 you can have it.