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The current high-end GPU from Nvidia, the RTX 3080, provides excellent 4K gaming performance. If you want to push this card to its limits, you need to get a big monitor with lots of pixels. The RTX 3070, placed a step below the RTX 3080, is a 1440p gaming beast but also more than usable for high refresh rate 4K gaming. It, too, asks for a capable monitor in order to fully spread its wings.
Both cards also demand a capable CPU, but today we are talking about the best monitors for RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 you can buy right now. There are a bunch of excellent models here. From 4K 144Hz beasts to OLED TVs, to ultrawide panels, to ultra-fast 240Hz and 360Hz monitors made for hardcore esports gamers. Whichever your preferences might be, chances are you’ll find the best monitor for your RTX 3080 or 3070 below.
Before we begin, we’d like to share our lists of the best CPUs for RTX 3080 builds, and the best CPUs for RTX 3070 builds. Also, these GPUs demand a well-ventilated case. Luckily, we have a list of the best airflow PC cases for you to visit.
LG C1: Best monitor for RTX 3080 & RTX 3070 overall
If you want the best monitor for your RTX 3080 or RTX 3070 and aren’t bothered by the minimum screen size of a whopping 48 inches and the inherent risk of burn-in, the LG C1 OLED TV offers the absolute best gaming experience for RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 owners.
The OLED panel found here equals a lightning-fast response time that cannot be matched by any other PC gaming monitor. You also get excellent colors, but for the best experience, get ready to tweak image settings. And while the C1 “only” has a 120Hz refresh rate, its image clarity is comparable with the best 240Hz gaming monitors.
HDR experience is superb. Even though the C1 can’t get as bright as some other TVs (peak brightness of about 770 nits), per-pixel backlighting found on OLED panels means that you don’t need 1000 nits of higher peak brightness for a fabulous HDR gaming experience. Other qualities include an unlimited contrast ratio, HDMI 2.1 support, a plethora of gaming-specific settings, and a minimalist yet quite gorgeous design.
Other, more expensive OLED TVs such as the LG G1 and Sony A90J both have a better overall performance and image quality, but the massive price difference isn’t worth it. On the other hand, all those BFGD monitors can’t come close to the C1 when it comes to response time, contrast, and HDR experience, let alone price.
Finally, normal-sized gaming monitors are either ultra-expensive (did someone mention the ASUS PG32UQX?) or aren’t in the same ballpark as the C1 when it comes to the overall performance, image quality, and (especially) HDR experience.
LG 27GP950-B: Best 4K monitor for RTX 3080 & RTX 3070
The 4K gaming monitor market includes a few excellent choices for the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 owners. The best 4K 144Hz monitor for the RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 is the 27GN950 from LG.
This model has a very fast response time, along with pretty good image quality and a fantastic build quality. The wide color gamut support also makes it suitable for content creators.
The contrast ratio is serviceable for IPS panels (below 1000:1), and you also get HDMI 2.1 ports, making the 27GP950 an excellent choice for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. The 27GP950 has a refresh rate of 160Hz, which is more than enough even for semi-pro esports players.
When it comes to downsides, some users will be disappointed by the middling contrast. Next, the HDR experience is average at best. Finally, the price and availability of the LG model aren’t great.
LG 38GL950G-B: Best ultrawide gaming monitor for the RTX 3070 & 3080
Both the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 are excellent choices for high refresh rate ultrawide gaming. And the absolute best ultrawide gaming monitor for the RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 owners at the moment is the LG 38GL950G-B.
This is an IPS monitor that has lots of strong sides. You’ve got a wide color gamut (83% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut used for HDR content), excellent maximum brightness that’s set at about 440 nits, and a pretty low response time that’s just behind the fastest gaming monitors on the market.
In fact, the only major downside is the meager contrast ratio that isn’t great for gaming in a dark environment. Also, there’s the very high price the 38GL950G is selling at.
MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD: Best 1440p monitor for RTX 3070 & 3080
If you’re looking for a 1440p 240Hz monitor, we’ve made it a separate category which you can check out below. If you’re looking for a 1440p sub-240Hz monitor, read on. This is the sweet spot for most gamers right now and the sweet spot for all RTX 3070 owners.
And if you want the best image quality coupled with excellent ergonomics, and a very fast response time, check out the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD. This is a superb gaming monitor that can also be used for color-critical work.
Other advantages of the MAG274QRF-QD include great response time across the entire refresh rate range (not often seen on a monitor that doesn’t have a physical G-Sync module), a USB-C port with DisplayPort connectivity, and a pretty good contrast (for an IPS panel) and peak brightness. Downsides include lack of an sRGB mode, making SDR content oversaturated, and average factory calibration.
ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM: Best 240Hz gaming monitor for RTX 3070 & 3080
If you want the best 1440p 240Hz monitor for the RTX 3080 and RTX 3070, get the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM.
The ROG Swift PG279QM is the latest and greatest 1440p 240Hz gaming monitor from ASUS. The PG279QM has a weaker contrast compared to its biggest competitor, the G7 from Samsung, but everything else is on par or better than on the Samsung gaming beast.
You have a very fast response time, superb colors, a physical G-Sync module that guarantees excellent response time across the entire refresh rate range, and an sRGB mode. Peak brightens is about 380 nits. Downsides include average contrast (compared to the G7) along with a pretty high price.
Acer Nitro XV252Q F: Best eSports monitor for RTX 3080 & RTX 3070
If you want the best esports monitor for your RTX 3080 or RTX 3070, our vote goes to the Acer Nitro XV252Q F, also known as Aopen 25XV2Q F. If you have a Micro Center near you, we recommend getting the Aopen version since it’s quite cheaper than the Nitro one.
That said, the Nitro is cheaper than the 360Hz quarter from ASUS, MSI, Alienware, and Acer while offering a higher refresh rate and better motion clarity. TVR (backlight strobing technique used on this monitor) works @390Hz, and it provides excellent results. Since the high-end 360Hz monitors use physical G-Sync modules, their backlight strobing tech is capped at 240Hz.
Despite this being an esports-focused monitor, it does have decent image quality and solid color gamut (but it’s not good enough for content creation), as well as okay contrast. Overall, the Nitro XV252Q F is a much better deal than any high-end 360Hz monitor. If you, however, can’t find the Nitro, get the cheapest of the four high-end 360Hz monitors in your region. They’re all pretty much the same.
Gigabyte Aorus FI32U: Best 32-inch gaming monitors for the RTX 3070 & 3080
Last but not least, we have the best 32-inch gaming monitor for the RTX 3080 and 3070. If you want a 4K unit, your best bet at the moment is the Aorus FI32U. This is a great all-around 4K 144Hz gaming monitor that has a fast response time, great colors, USB-C DisplayPort, and a KVM switch.
Further, the FI32U is the best 32-inch monitor for the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X since it has HDMI 2.1 functionality. On the flip side, there’s the average contrast (about 1000:1, which is actually a solid result for an IPS panel) and noticeable IPS glow.
Now, remember that almost zero gaming monitors at the moment offer a great HDR experience. There are some older models (such as the now discontinued, Predator X27) that feature quite respectable HDR implementation.
If you want excellent HDR, either get an OLED TV or get ready to spend decent-used-car money on the ASUS PG32UQX. Just don’t forget that it doesn’t have HDMI 2.1 ports and that it has only an average (for a high-end gaming monitor) response time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which resolution and refresh rate are best for RTX 3080 and RTX 3070?
Those going for the flagship, the RTX 3080, should get at least a 1440p 144Hz monitor. 1080p, even at 240Hz, isn’t the best use scenario for this card. The sweet spot is 1440p@144Hz or 240Hz, 1440p Ultrawide also at 144Hz, or 4K@60Hz. If you want to game in 4K and happen to play both single-player and esports titles, you can go with a 4K@144Hz monitor.
The RTX 3070 should feel at home coupled with a 1440p 144Hz monitor. On the other hand, you could also get a 1080p 240Hz panel. 4K should be too much for this card but it should achieve 4K@60fps in select titles. As for the size, that’s up to you to decide.
And what about multimonitor setups?
If you have a multi-monitor setup, the RTX 3080 should provide excellent performance when using dual 1440p panels (5120×1440 resolution) or when using three 1080p screens (5760×1080). Gaming on a super ultrawide monitor such as the recently released Samsung Odyssey G9 should also be a great experience since the RTX 3080 has enough power to run games at its native resolution that’s equivalent to a dual 1440p setup.
The RTX 3070 will be noticeably slower in games, so we don’t recommend getting this one for popular multimonitor resolutions. As for the max number of monitors these cards can send the video signal to, it’s limited to four. Some RTX 3080 cards come with more than four video ports, but they only can use up to four ports at the same time.
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