There are a lot of factors to consider when looking for the best monitor for sim racing and when it comes down to it a great gaming monitor can make a sim racing experience. It can help you immerse you in the racing experience, help you feel like you’re actually on the race track.
With gaming monitors developing so quickly it’s no longer the case where every brand is using the same technology, where every monitor had the same refresh rate, all used an ips panel, had the same screen size and used the same image quality.
It can be hard to figure out what the essential gaming features on new monitors are and what is just marketing hype. We want to help you find the best monitor setup for your gaming experience, as well as looking at the best 11 sim racing monitors we’ll cover what features you should be looking for and the most important factors to consider for the most immersive gaming experience.
| Image | Model | Size | Best For | Buy | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | VIOTEK GNV34DBE | 34" | Best Curved Display | Check Price | 5 Stars |
Top  | Samsung Odyssey G9 | 49" | Best Super Ultrawide Monitor | Check Price | 5 Stars |
  | LG 34GP83A-B | 34" | Best Color Quality | Check Price | 4 Stars |
  | Sceptre C505B-QSN168 | 49" | Best Bang For Your Buck | Check Price | 4.5 Stars |
  | AOC C27GI | 27" | Best Budget Option | Check Price | 4 Stars |
6 Best Monitors For Sim Racing
1.The Best Curved Display – VIOTEK GNV34DBE 34″
The number one monitor for sim racing on our list is the VIOTEK GNV34DBE. Without a doubt this monitor was built for fast paced gamers, those who don’t want to miss and beat and want an immersive experience.
The 34 inch screen means it works great as an individual monitor setup but can easily be added to a triple screen setup if you want a beast of a setup to play on.
We said this monitor was built for gamers, what does that mean?
As a start it is compatible with Freesync tech so you will never have to worry about horrible screen tearing or ghosting mid game. To add to the immersion the high resolution is 1440p making the in-game visuals pop with sharpness and the 1500R curvature is the perfect amount for sim racing, adding to the surround environment without you having to toss and turn to look at what’s happening.
While not as well known as Samsung or Dell, Viotek have done a great job to make you feel safe with your monitor choice by providing a 3 year warranty and a zero dead pixel policy to ensure you get what you are after.
To top it off the monitor uses a VA panel and has a quick refresh rate of 144Hz, great for any game you want to play.
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2.The Best Super Ultrawide Monitor – Samsung Odyssey G9
Up next we have the Samsung Odyssey G9 which is an absolute BEAST of a gaming monitor and from experience an absolute delight to game on.
For those that are after the best ultrawide monitor instead of a multi screen setup this is the choice for you. The 49 inch screen size is above and beyond the typical ultrawide screen and it has the graphics technology to back it up.
As a start it has 5120 x 1440p resolution which will allow you to enjoy every element of your sim race in great detail. Not to mention it also has QLED display to bring out the depth and contrast of the environment.
Of course, a monitor like this was built with gaming performance in mind so supports both Free sync and G-sync, no matter which you choose. It also has a response time of 1ms which meets most gamers standards for a monitor.
To wrap it up the refresh rate is 240 Hz, one of the highest for most monitors on the market today and not only does this help enhance the picture quality for sim racing but you won’t have an issue playing any game on the market with a refresh rate that high.
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3.Premium Sim Racing Monitor – LG 34GP83A-B
We know, it can be hard to keep up with the monitor names and rather than give this monitor some fancy name LG have stuck with a number letter system and let the quality speak for itself.
It’s no secret LG know what they are doing when it comes to building not only monitors for sim racing but technology in general. They’ve tried to find the best technology, new and old and chuck it all into one monitor, which is what they’ve done here.
With a 34 inch screen, the curved monitor gives you two options for use, it works well as a single display setup but also slots in nicely if you want to build a multi monitor setup. For example, if you are new to sim racing and want to start with one monitor and build up to three this is a great choice.
For the technology, LG are known for IPS panels and this is no different, the sharp colors and contrast make any gaming fun. In terms of resolution the monitor uses QHD and 3440x1440p resolution, top of the line for a monitor this size.
When it comes to gaming functionality the response time (GtG) is 1ms, again getting the tick of approval from most gamers and the refresh rate is 144Hz with capacity using overclock to hit 160Hz which can add a noticeable boost.
For monitor quality in general the LG warranty is pretty comprehensive and you can feel safe knowing you are protected from getting a lemon of a monitor. It has a VESA mount so you can easily adjust it for your racing setup and it doesn’t just have to sit on a desk.
You will have plenty of options to connect external devices with 2 HDMI ports, 1 display port, 2 USB ports and a headphone jack you are sorted.
LG have been a bit sneaky with the marketing lingo calling it virtually edgeless but there is still noticeable bezels around the edge. There is also no on built sound system but the headphone jack and any decent set of headphones more than makes up for this.
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4.Bang For Your Buck – Sceptre C505B-QSN168
The Sceptre is another super ultrawide monitor which provides a super field of vision making it a great monitor for sim racing. It’s 49 inch display makes it a good choice for single screen use.
This is a monitor for those that want quality at a reasonable price, it’s super fun to play on and will get the job done without breaking the bank with the high end bells and whistles.
The resolution is 5120×1440 with an aspect ratio of 32:9 and a VA panel. Of course it covers the major connectivity options including HDMI ports and has a built in speaker system, using 2 two watt speakers.
When we said it had bang for your buck that is because it doesn’t cover some of the extra features like Sync adapted tech and the refresh rate tops out at 120Hz, still working for all your games but not as high as others on the list.
The response time is where we can see the VA panel differ from some of the IPS panels on the list, at 4ms you might notice a difference if you are used to playing on a monitor with a 1ms response time. Will it impede driving ability? Of course not but slightly less immersive than the competition.
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5.A High End Option – AUS ROG Strix
The AUS ROG Strix should be high on anyone’s list as the best monitor for sim racing. Another superbly designed piece of technology from AUS, the monitor boasts a 43-inch screen, great for a one monitor racing setup and gives comfort no matter how close your seat is to the screen.
The single screen is HDR features to combine for a crystal clean high resolution image, for both viewing content (streaming) and creating content (gaming).
Onto the factors most gamers care about, the refresh rate is 120Hz, good enough for any gaming and sim experience while the response time is only 1ms, working well to produce a high quality gaming experience and offering a competitive edge.
While this monitor was not built for gamers and yes other monitors do have a better refresh rate and response time, where this monitor shines is the size and image quality as mentioned above. The monitor works on a professional color gamut providing accurate colors and the multiple HDR modes reduces any hiccups you might face.
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6.Budget Option For A Multi Monitor Setup – AOC C27GI
One of the common complaints we here about building a multi monitor racing setup is the cost can get away from the builder. Makes sense right, even three average monitors can add up to be more expensive than a super high quality monitor.
For those that want to use multiple screens without breaking the bank, three of these monitors work well together and won’t break the bank.
With a screen size of 27″ and the resolution at 5670x1080p there is plenty of capacity to use this as a single of multiple monitor.
The monitor was designed with elegance in mind and lucky for us this means the bezels are super slim, no big chunks of space between the monitors image displays.
The refresh rate is 144Hz so tearing and ghosting will never be an issue and with a response time of 1ms this is just a great gaming monitor.
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Factors To Consider For Your Gaming Monitor
Mounts and Monitor Setup
This is where sim racing setup will differ from a traditional gaming monitor setup, for sim racing you want to create the most realistic driving experience, which means viewing from a position that makes you feel like you are in a car racing, not playing a game on a screen.
If you are sim racing from a desk or table then you don’t have to worry about this as your monitor no matter who makes it will fit and stand comfortably on a desk, but if you want to go the extra mile and build a proper sim racing rig then you need to consider where the monitors are going to sit, how you are going to mount them to get them in that position and whether the monitor stand is up for the task.
Most (but not all) of the best monitors come with VESA wall mounting which makes it easy to adjust and manoeuvre the monitor into position but even with the added help this is where you should spend a good chunk of your time when designing your rig.
How everything is going to connect and sit together and what external mounts you need to make this happen is vital to avoid the disappointment of getting your monitor only to find you can’t use it the way you wanted.
Things become a lot easier if you plan to use a single monitor setup instead of a triple screen as there is more to manage there.
Should You choose an ultrawide or triple-screen monitor?
This is a hotly debated subject and everyone has there own preference but the purpose of using both a triple monitor setup or an ultrawide monitor is to increase the field of view you are gaming in.
Take a step back for a minute and think about when you are driving, everything in your field of vision is part of the experience, if we want to get the sim racing experience as close as possible to real driving then we want to expand the field of vision beyond the typical single monitor.
Before the super ultrawide monitor popped up, sim racers figured out they could generate smooth gameplay by using triple monitors instead of one. The benefit here is that you can adjust the angle of the monitors on the end of the display so you can almost enclose yourself in the experience. The other benefit here is that most of us already have one or two monitors at home so the cost to complete the setup is lower.
On the other hand, technology has developed specifically for gamers and with that the ultra wide screen was born. With the same concept the ultra wide monitor aims to increase the field of vision the gaming experience is occupying and thus improve the immersion.
There are a couple of benefits to using an ultra wide monitor over three screens, one is that there are less connectivity issues and setup considerations. You only need to setup one monitor and wall mount to play games over three. The second is that it can take up less space as these monitors were designed with ergonomic features in mind. The curved screen has been added to some of the best monitors so rather than adjusting your three monitors to change the viewing angle you can just use this built in feature. Finally, no matter how slim the bezels are on individual monitors there will always be some dead pixels space when you put monitors together so using one monitor fixes this problem.
When it comes to price though the ultrawide monitors are more expensive than other monitors so it depends what you have on hand already and what your budget is.
Tech Specs To Look At
This might be getting into the nitty gritty for some but for those who truly want the best monitor for sim racing you need to consider all the factors and features when it comes to gaming monitors.
Screen Resolution
Resolution determines the image quality, it’s as simple as that. The higher the screen resolution the higher the image quality in general and in most cases. A high resolution is a must for sim racing, especially when playing on larger screens when every detail is visible. You want to experience every frame of the game, every color and contrast.
As a rule of thumb, Full HD is a good benchmark for sim racing but QHD and ultrawide screens can provide an even better image quality and these are what the best monitors could have.
Response Time
The response time of a monitor is simply how fast a monitor can update a pixel to change it’s color. The faster a monitor can do this the faster it can generate new images and frames, thus leading to the buttery smooth racing experience you are after.
The best monitors for work typically have a response time of 5ms which is good enough for any office task, but gamers especially those playing fast paced games like sim racing quickly found this wasn’t good enough for gaming performance.
Thanks to the demand from gamers in today’s market a response time of 1ms is great for gaming and the difference you will see between a monitor with response time built in mind and a typical office monitor is noticeable.
Refresh Rate
A high refresh rate is highly valued when it comes to playing a racing game. Sim racers need every advantage they can get so a faster refresh rate will provide a much smoother and easier to navigate gaming experience.
When you are looking at typical monitors a refresh rate of 60 Hz (that is the monitor screen updates itself 60 times a second) is good enough. However, when it comes to new gaming technology and monitors being built with the gaming experience in mind you can get as high as 244 Hz, which provides a peak gaming experience.
With that said, 244 Hz is what the professional gamers need when every competitive advantage counts and for the more casual users (who don’t have the budget) but still want a truly immersive experience and great gaming visuals 75 Hz is a great benchmark.
Price
Yes, we know Price isn’t a technical feature of a gaming monitor but it’s worth mentioning here as the higher end you go with any one of these additional features the more expensive a single monitor will be. It can be very easy to let cash run away from you when you get excited about building your new sim racing setup but it’s worth keeping in mind so you don’t go overboard.
Input Lag
Input lag refers to how quickly a monitor can update the pixels and image quality based on your inputs. The main difference between viewing content and gaming content is that gaming content is generated in real time based on the decisions you make.
Take a sharp turn, speed up, overtake a competitor, all of these will change what you view on your screen and as the game doesn’t know what move you are going to make it has to adjust quickly to provide a real world experience.
A low input lag is always better as it not only means the monitor will adjust for your decisions sooner but also presents a real competitive advantage as your decisions are being realised sooner.
With that said, always aim for a low input lag but you will have to do some research on what your monitor’s real input lag is as manufacturers try to hide this number as best they can.
Connectivity
This one is more of a plea from us. Please check the gaming monitors connectivity options before you buy! It’s easy to think that with all the updates in technology you should be able to connect any device to any monitor and you should be fine but this isn’t always the case.
Even more to consider if you also want to connect multiple devices e.g. sim racing, PS4, work laptop.
G-Sync and FreeSync
Nvidia G-sync and Free Sync features are gaming features designed to eliminate screen tearing and ghosting problems you can experience when playing fast games while also minimizing overall distractions that make the experience feel less realistic.
The way both g sync and free sync work are by synchronizing the games frame rate with your monitors refresh rate to reduce input lag and typical disfunction caused when trying to play a fast game.
Amd free sync is a good choice for those wanting a budget or less expensive gaming model while g-sync is for the higher end model. Both of these features are add-ons so you need to look at if the sim racing monitor you are looking at has adaptive sync technology or is g sync compatible.
FAQ
What Monitor Size Is Best For Sim Racing?
This depends what kind of monitor setup you are after. For example for a triple screen setup you can sacrifice on individual monitor size because you are increasing the quantity of screens. On the other hand if you are sim racing with a single monitor you might want to consider one ultrawide monitor instead.
Another factor to consider is how close your cockpit will be, from experience a bigger monitor might seem better but if you only have room for a small-medium sim racing setup than you don’t want to be inches away from a massive screen you have to stare at. Your eyes will get tired and fast.
If you are after hard numbers we recommend a minimum size of 27-34″, the smaller monitors will suit well for a smaller setup where you are sitting close to the screen and for a triple screen setup. The larger monitors are better if you are considering a single ultrawide monitor for sim racing.
As for a maximum size, the sky really is the limit here. We’ve seen guys use Huge TVs for their sim racing and they love it. On the maximum size for a monitor it comes down to preferences for gaming monitor size.
How Do You Connect A Triple Monitor Setup
Ok so you’ve bought all three monitors for your new triple screen setup and you’re wondering now what?
Luckily you don’t have to be a tech wiz to enjoy your new gaming monitors as soon as possible and you can be up and racing fast!
First, you need to connect the monitors. So with your cable/ port combination connect the video card to the primary monitor. This will be the monitor in the middle as it is easiest to navigate from here.
Next you should still have a port empty on your video card so you can connect the second monitor via cable to it. Once you’ve done this you have to restart your gaming console so the system picks up that you have a second gaming monitor connected.
The third step to connect your triple monitor setup is to access the display options settings on your desktop and use the extend my desktop function to add image to the second monitor.
Now, hopefully you’ve selected a video card with three ports otherwise you might be in trouble. If you have repeat the process for the second monitor – connect, restart, change the settings and viola. You are ready to sim race on your triple monitor setup.
What Do Most Gamers Use? – The Most Popular Option
BenQ have become a trusted name in the gaming monitor industry. BenQ monitors are built with ultra fast refresh rates up to 240 Hz, lightning quick response time of 1ms and are overall made for gamers by gamers.
They have built in features and made choices to reduce screen tearing and blurring which are essential gaming features.
If you are after a gaming monitor that you can also use for sim racing, any BenQ monitor is a great choice. The VA Panel monitor options have high resolution and wall mount capability as well.
Of course, the brand as a whole offer a range of sizes and sound system options so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Can I Just Use A TV Monitor?
Absolutely! And this can be a really fun monitor for sim racing. As you get into sim racing it’s hard not to look at a Massive TV screen and think about how fun that would be to use instead of your gaming monitor.
However, while it’s fun for a while in the long term you’ll get frustrated with the experience. TV monitors aren’t built for gaming, they are built for viewing entertainment.
This matters because sim racing is an interactive experience, you aren’t just viewing content. The decisions you make have an impact on what the display shows and the graphics are generated in real time, not pre-recorded.
For you this means the TV will have a higher input lag, much slower refresh rate and might be prone to screen tearing. Overall while the higher resolution and screen size might be fun, for competitive gaming performance a TV just won’t do.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this article has helped you you figure out what the important features are when you look at a monitor for sim racing and what isn’t. At the end of the day it is up to you to determine whether refresh rate or nvidia g sync is more important, what screen size you are comfortable with or whether you need a super ultrawide monitor.
Some of this stuff can be overwhelming and you can go straight down the rabbit hole when looking for a quality sim racing experience and it gets even more complicated when you look at multi monitor setup and how to confiture triple monitor setups.
If you just want to get up and racing we hope that the best monitor for sim racing list provided a clear option of gaming monitors and helped you pick the best one.