The Best Gaming Monitors for Sim Racing

Featured image: My sim racing setup

Monitors for sim racing come in many shapes and sizes, and because manufacturers offer such a wide array of features and technical specifications these days, it’s hard to keep up with every product release. On that note, today I’m going to give you a roundup of what monitors are available and what each technical feature means (IPS, Refresh Rate and so on..)

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Quick Navigation

Jump directly to what you’re looking for:

• Understanding Monitor Technology
• Exclusive SimRacing Partner Deals
• Entry Level Monitors (Under £150)
• Sweet Spot Monitors (£150-£300)
• Premium Monitors (£300-£700)
• No Compromise Monitors (£700+)
• Amazon Best Sellers
• Triple Monitor Setup Guide
• FOV Calculator & Tips

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Understanding Gaming Monitor Technology

When you think about it, whichever monitor you use will have a significant impact on your overall immersion in your sim rig, and unless you’re using VR, in my opinion, the importance of a good gaming monitor to your overall sim-racing experience cannot be overstated.

Before diving into specific recommendations, let’s cover the essential technical specifications. Monitor technology has evolved significantly since I last updated this article, and understanding these monitor specs will help you make the perfect choice for your sim racing setup.

Screen Resolution Standards – Updated

Resolution	Common Name	Aspect Ratio	Best Use Case
1920×1080	FHD / 1080p	16:9	Budget builds
2560×1440	QHD / 1440p	16:9	Sweet spot for sim racing
3440×1440	UWQHD	21:9	Ultrawide immersion
3840×2160	UHD / 4K	16:9	Maximum detail (needs RTX 4070+)
5120×1440	DQHD / 5K2K	32:9	Super ultrawide (49″ monitors)
7680×2160	8K2K	32:9	Dual 4K (57″ monitors)

Suitable Gaming Monitors for Sim Racing

While the gaming monitor market is undoubtedly vast, monitors perfectly suitable for sim racing are, by comparison, relatively few and far between.

It makes sense since sim racing is a comparatively niche sector of the gaming market, so finding a monitor is a bit more challenging than, say, if I were planning to play Monster Hunter or Resident Evil. But if that’s true, then what is a suitable monitor for sim racing?

For sim racers, here’s a list of some of the most important features of a gaming monitor:

1. Small / very thin bezel – the smaller the border around the monitors, the better, particularly for triple monitor setups
2. Low input lag and high refresh rate – for responsive and smooth gameplay, my 32″ Asus monitors have a refresh rate of 166Hz and a response of less than 1ms. They are also G-Sync compatible, which for my NVIDIA GPU is important.
3. High resolution (mine are 1440p) for clear and detailed graphics (Modern GPUs can handle significant triple-screen resolution)
4. Wide viewing angles – so that you can use your peripheral vision for braking points / other traffic
5. Adaptive sync technology – to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering (either G-Sync or Free-Sync) – monitor manufacturers claim they’ve mastered both in a single unit. I can’t verify that, although I think eventually the NVIDIA and AMD-specific versions will merge into a sync standard.

Monitor Panel Technology Comparison

IPS (In-Plane Switching)

• Response times: Now achieving 0.5-1ms GTG (previously 3-5ms)
• Refresh rates: Up to 360Hz at 1440p, 240Hz at 4K
• Best for: Triple monitor setups due to excellent viewing angles (178°)
• 2025 advancement: Fast IPS panels now match TN speed whilst maintaining colour accuracy

VA (Vertical Alignment)

• Contrast ratio: 3000:1 to 5000:1 (3x better than IPS)
• Response times: Modern VA achieves 1ms MPRT
• Best for: Single curved monitors, night racing, HDR content
• Watch for: Some models still exhibit dark-level smearing

OLED (Organic LED) – The Game Changer

• Response times: 0.03ms – essentially instantaneous
• Contrast ratio: Infinite (perfect blacks)
• Refresh rates: 240Hz+ standard, some reaching 480Hz
• 2025 improvements: 3rd gen QD-OLED with 30% better brightness, reduced burn-in risk
• Downsides: Text clarity on some models, potential burn-in with static UI elements

Mini-LED (Emerging Standard)

• Local dimming zones: 1000+ zones on premium models
• Peak brightness: 1400-2000 nits for stunning HDR
• Best for: Mixed use (gaming + productivity)
• Cost: Premium, but dropping rapidly

Refresh Rate & Response Time Explained

Refresh Rate (Hz): How many times per second the monitor updates the image. In 2025, here’s what matters:

• 60Hz: Absolute minimum, only for casual use
• 144Hz: Entry-level gaming standard
• 165-180Hz: Sweet spot for sim racing
• 240Hz: Competitive advantage, diminishing returns above this
• 360-480Hz: Extremely competitive, minimal benefit for sim racing

Response Time: How quickly pixels change colour. Modern standards:

• GTG (Grey-to-Grey): The most honest measurement
• MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time): Often uses backlight strobing
• Under 1ms: Essential for 165Hz+ gaming
• 0.5ms or less: New IPS/TN standard for 2025

Adaptive Sync Technology in 2025

The format wars are essentially over. Most modern monitors support both standards:

• G-SYNC Compatible: NVIDIA’s certification for FreeSync monitors
• FreeSync Premium: AMD’s standard, works with NVIDIA GPUs too
• G-SYNC Ultimate: Hardware module, adds £200+, rarely worth it now
• FreeSync Premium Pro: Adds HDR tone mapping

Bottom line: Any “G-SYNC Compatible” or “FreeSync Premium” monitor will work perfectly with both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs.

HDR Standards – What Matters

HDR Tier	Peak Brightness	Local Dimming	Real-World Impact
HDR400	400 nits	Usually none	Marketing checkbox, minimal improvement
HDR600	600 nits	Basic	Noticeable in bright scenes
HDR1000	1000 nits	Full array	True HDR experience
DisplayHDR True Black	400-600 nits	Per-pixel (OLED)	Best HDR despite lower brightness

Connectivity – Don’t Bottleneck Your Display

Connection Standards:

• HDMI 2.1: 48Gbps – Required for 4K 120Hz+ or 1440p 240Hz+
• DisplayPort 1.4: 32Gbps – Handles 1440p 240Hz, 4K 144Hz
• DisplayPort 2.1: 80Gbps – Future-proof, supports 4K 240Hz, 8K 60Hz
• USB-C (DP Alt Mode): Convenient for laptops, same limits as DP 1.4

Cable Quality Matters: For high refresh rates, use good quality certified cables. Generic cables often fail above 144Hz, and if they’re really cheap, they won’t work above 1080p!

Should I choose single, triple-screen or ultrawide gaming monitors?

Whether you plan to go down the single or triple-screen route is your call. One thing I would like to point out, however, before we get started, is that triple-screen monitor setups help increase sim racers’ immersion and awareness of their surroundings by increasing the size of the visual field around them.

To demonstrate, you must imagine what the correct field of view would look like on a sim rig with a single screen. You will likely only be able to see what’s directly in front of you, and your view will be limited to the width of the car’s windscreen. It’s drivable, but racing in close quarters is a bit awkward, to say the least.

If you add in two extra monitors, everything looks a bit more natural. You can see the side mirrors and generally have a better sense of what’s around you in the car, much like in a real car.

However, that increased immersion always comes at the cost of performance. It’s also possible to expand your field of view with a single screen by choosing an ultrawide or super ultrawide monitor, and I’ve covered some of them below; however, you still won’t reach the levels of immersion three screens can offer.

Exclusive SimRacing Partner Deals

Before diving into the mainstream options, these exclusive deals through our SimRacing partners offer exceptional value:

Best Budget Triple Monitor Deal: MSI MAG 27CQ6F

£128.99 – 27″ 1440p curved VA panel, 180Hz, 0.5ms response time

At this price, building a triple 1440p setup costs under £400. The 1500R curve and rapid VA panel deliver excellent immersion. This is the deal of the year for budget-conscious sim racers wanting to step up from 1080p.

The Sweet Spot: MSI G32CQ4 E2

£158.99 – 32″ 1440p curved VA, 170Hz, 1ms

This perfectly matches Jaxer’s recommended specs at an unbeatable price. The 32″ size provides 44 pixels per degree at typical viewing distance – better than 27″ 1080p. For triple setups, this is exceptional value.

Budget 4K OLED(!): MSI MAG 321UP

£351 (was £949.99) – 31.5″ 4K QD-OLED, 165Hz, 0.03ms

This is absolutely insane pricing for a QD-OLED monitor. True blacks, 99% DCI-P3 colour gamut, and that legendary OLED response time. If your GPU can handle 4K, this is a no-brainer.

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Complete SimRacing Monitor Selection by Price

Entry Level (Under £150)

Perfect for first-time builders or those upgrading from TV / console gaming:

Sweet Spot (£150-£300)

This is where you’ll find the best price-to-performance ratio. Most of these support triple monitor setups beautifully:

Premium (£300-£700)

For those wanting OLED, 4K, or ultrawide experiences:

No Compromise (£700+)

The ultimate displays for sim racing, including 49″ ultrawides and bendable OLEDs:

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Amazon Best Sellers & Alternatives

While our SimRacing partners offer fantastic MSI and Corsair deals, here are the best current options from Amazon for other brands:

Best Value 27″ Monitors (Under £250)

Acer Nitro XV272U – Still Our Top All-Rounder

The Acer Nitro XV272U continues to deliver exceptional value. Multiple variants are now available:

• Acer Nitro XV271U M3bmiiprx – £199.99 ($199.99) – 27″ 1440p, 180Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium, IPS panel with 95% DCI-P3
• Acer XV272U (240Hz version) – £219.99 ($219.99) – Same specs but blazing 240Hz refresh rate
• Acer Nitro XV272U Vbmiiprx – £268.49 ($268.49) – 170Hz version with DisplayHDR 400

At these prices, the 180Hz M3bmiiprx model is an absolute steal for sim racing. The IPS panel delivers excellent viewing angles for triple setups, whilst the sub-£200 price makes building a triple configuration more affordable than ever.

Budget Alternative: Gigabyte GS27Q Advanced

Gigabyte GS27Q Advanced – £158.33 ($158.33) – An incredible 35% off

27″ IPS, 1440p, 180Hz, 1ms MPRT, AMD FreeSync. At this price, it’s hard to find fault. Perfect for those building their first sim rig on a tight budget.

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Best 32″ Curved Monitors (The Jaxer Sweet Spot)

Following Jaxer’s excellent analysis about 32″ 1440p being the enthusiast sweet spot, here are the best current options:

Dell S3222DGM – Jaxer’s Philosophy Made Real

Dell S3222DGM – £315 ($315)

• 32″ VA curved (1800R), 1440p resolution
• 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms MPRT response time
• AMD FreeSync Premium, 99% sRGB
• Excellent 4,200:1 contrast ratio

This is essentially the same spec as Jaxer’s Gigabyte monitors, but from Dell with their renowned support. The 1800R curve is slightly less aggressive than the 1500R he recommends, but still provides excellent immersion.

Budget King: Samsung Odyssey G55C

Samsung Odyssey G55C – £199.99 ($199.99) – 39% off!

• 32″ curved (1000R – same as the premium G9!), 1440p
• 165Hz, 1ms MPRT, AMD FreeSync
• HDR10 support

At under £200, this is exceptional value. The aggressive 1000R curve matches Samsung’s premium models, giving you that wraparound feel Jaxer talks about.

New Addition: Gigabyte GS32QCA

Gigabyte GS32QCA Advanced – £239.99 ($239.99)

• 31.5″ VA curved, 1440p
• 180Hz refresh rate, 1ms MPRT
• 120% sRGB colour gamut
• Perfect match for Jaxer’s recommendations

From Our Partners: Complete 32″ Selection

Check out all available 32″ monitors from our SimRacing partners, sorted by price:

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Premium 32″ Options

4K Powerhouse: Samsung Odyssey Neo G7

Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 – £649 ($649)

• 32″ 4K (3840×2160), 1000R curve
• 165Hz, 1ms GTG, Quantum Mini LED
• NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
• HDR2000 with 1,196 local dimming zones

If budget isn’t a concern and your GPU can handle it, this is the ultimate single monitor for sim racing.

LG’s Offerings

LG 32GP850-B – £469.99 ($469.99)

• 32″ Nano IPS, 1440p, flat panel
• 165Hz, 1ms GtG
• G-SYNC Compatible + AMD FreeSync Premium
• DCI-P3 98% with HDR10

Excellent for those preferring flat panels for triple setups.

LG 32GS60QC-B – £246.99 ($246.99) – New model!

• 32″ curved (1000R), 1440p
• 180Hz, 1ms, AMD FreeSync
• Fantastic price for LG quality

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Ultrawide Options

For those wanting a single display solution with maximum field of view:

34″ Ultrawide Deals

49″ Super Ultrawide Options

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Quick Comparison: Best 32″ Curved Monitors for Triple Setups

Monitor	Price	Resolution	Refresh Rate	Curve	Best For
MSI G32CQ4 E2	£158.99	1440p	170Hz	1500R	Best value triple
Samsung G55C	£199.99	1440p	165Hz	1000R	Aggressive curve
Gigabyte GS32QCA	£239.99	1440p	180Hz	Curved	High refresh
LG 32GS60QC-B	£246.99	1440p	180Hz	1000R	Quality/price
Dell S3222DGM	£315	1440p	165Hz	1800R	Support/warranty
MSI MAG 321UP	£351	4K	165Hz	Flat OLED	Picture quality
Samsung Neo G7	£649	4K	165Hz	1000R	No compromise

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Field of View for Sim Racing

Proper FOV is crucial for speed perception and immersion. Here’s what different setups provide:

Single Monitor FOV

• 27″ 16:9 at 60cm: ~45° horizontal FOV
• 32″ 16:9 at 70cm: ~48° horizontal FOV
• 34″ 21:9 at 70cm: ~70° horizontal FOV
• 49″ 32:9 at 80cm: ~90° horizontal FOV

Triple Monitor FOV

• Triple 27″ at 60cm: ~150° horizontal FOV
• Triple 32″ at 70cm: ~165° horizontal FOV
• Triple 34″ ultrawide: Excessive, consider VR instead

Pro tip: Real race cars provide ~180° FOV. Triple 32″ monitors at the correct distance get you closest to reality without VR. Use our FOV calculator to get your setup absolutely perfect.

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Triple Monitor Setup Guide

Essential Requirements

• Identical monitors: Same model ensures colour/brightness matching
• Thin bezels: Under 10mm ideal, 15mm maximum
• VESA mounting: 100×100 or 75×75 standard
• Adequate GPU:
  • Triple 1080p: RTX 3060 / RX 6600 minimum
  • Triple 1440p: RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT minimum
  • Triple 4K: RTX 4090 / RX 7900 XTX only

Recommended Triple Monitor Combinations

Budget Triple Setup (Under £400 total)

3x MSI MAG 27CQ6F at £128.99 each = £386.97

Sweet Spot Triple Setup (Under £500)

3x MSI G32CQ4 E2 at £158.99 each = £476.97

Premium Triple Setup (Under £1000)

3x Dell S3222DGM at £315 each = £945

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The 2025 Verdict

After checking current pricing across both Amazon and our SimRacing partners, the concept that a 32″ 1440p monitor being the sweet spot is more true than ever. And money wise, things are so much cheaper than they used to be.

You can now get:

• Excellent 32″ 1440p curved monitors from £158 (MSI G32CQ4 E2)
• Premium features (180Hz, 1000R curve) under £250
• QD-OLED technology for just £351 (MSI MAG 321UP)
• Complete triple 32″ 1440p setups for under £500

My pick for triple monitors in 2025: Three MSI G32CQ4 E2 monitors at £158.99 each = £476.97 total. That’s less than a single premium monitor cost two years ago, and you’re getting 32″ 1440p 170Hz panels with excellent VA contrast.

For single monitor setups: If you can stretch to £351, the MSI MAG 321UP QD-OLED is a generational leap in picture quality. Otherwise, the Samsung G55C at £199.99 with its aggressive 1000R curve is brilliant value.

On a tight budget? The MSI MAG 27CQ6F at £128.99 is phenomenal – 27″ 1440p 180Hz. Yes, it’s smaller than ideal, but the jump to 1440p from 1080p is transformative.

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Browse All Gaming Monitors

See our complete selection of gaming monitors from all our partners, including exclusive deals not available elsewhere:

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