Why Upgrading Your Monitor Might Be Smarter Than Upgrading Your GPU Right Now
Monitors, folks, are pretty essential when it comes to gaming. You need a good display to fully enjoy the graphics of the games you dive into. But let’s dig a little deeper—choosing the right monitor can really elevate your gaming experience. Whether it’s upgrading to a stunning 4K display for those jaw-dropping textures or opting for OLED technology for those deep blacks, the right screen makes a difference. AOC, a well-known name in the monitor game, is rolling out a fresh range of displays that caught some attention.
During a recent press event I attended in Croatia, AOC’s European commercial chief, Cesar Reyes Acosta, showcased their new lineup and posed some intriguing questions that got us thinking. He kicked things off with a big one: “Is now a good time to invest in an OLED monitor?” With the ongoing memory crisis pushing GPU prices up, Acosta argues that switching to an OLED monitor could be a game-changer compared to splurging on faster memory or a pricier graphics card.
He highlighted how much things have evolved over the past five years. For instance, the AOC 24G2SPU originally launched for €239, featuring a 23.8-inch HD screen with 165 Hz refresh rate and a 4 ms response time. Fast forward to today, and you’ve got the AOC 127G4ZR—a 27-inch 1440p monitor boasting a blazing 260 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms response time—yet it still retails for the same price. This comparison led Acosta to ask a playful question: “Are monitors anti-inflation?”
When you stack monitors against the rising prices of memory, it seems that displays are in a relatively better position. Sure, tech evolves over time, and prices shift accordingly, but AOC is making a case that monitors today are packed with better specs and are more affordable than ever.
However, not all of AOC’s new offerings revolve around getting more bang for your buck. They’re also launching the AGP346UCSD, featuring cutting-edge 5th-generation QD-OLED technology. This impressive 34-inch HDR 500 TrueBlack monitor with a 1440p resolution will set you back €999. Plus, there’s the AGP277QCKD—a 27-inch 540 Hz W-OLED monitor arriving in June for €899. Meanwhile, Philips has also stepped into the spotlight with the Evnia 27M2K5901A, a dual-mode 5K (165 Hz) monitor priced at €799, which can switch to 1440p at a whopping 330 Hz.
In my experience, making the switch to OLED has been one of the most significant upgrades I’ve made to my gaming rig. Yet, it’s a bit odd to think of monitors as a viable purchase when GPU prices are soaring and memory is scarce. It’s even more curious coming from a monitor manufacturer. But hey, if the monitors are indeed this good, it might just be worth considering!