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Hi there,
I'm in the process of setting up my Xbox and sim racing gear permanently with a dedicated monitor rather than plugging in to main TV when using it. My first query is around audio connections.. plan is to get a compact sound bar and I think the connect would be Xbox>sound bar with 1 HDMI cable and then sound bar>monitor with a 2nd HDMI. Does that sound right? Or should I be looking at an optical connection?
Second query is around the monitor itself. Xbox is not 4K and not planning on getting one so HD is fine. Size wise I'm looking at 28-32", however the range of different monitors has got me bamboozled. Initially I was just going to go flat panel but when I search on some websites (e.g. laptops direct) all of the console specific gaming monitors are curved.. does anyone use a curved monitor for racing games? I'm not planning on having a multi screen setup in the future so no need to future proof from that perspective. Also, is there a difference between a gaming monitor and a console gaming monitor? There are two separate categories on some websites but I'm unsure of the difference. Budget wise I'm looking at absolute max £400 but any less is a bonus.
1st world stuff I know, but any tips/advice/suggestions on the above very much welcomed.
Thanks
plan is to get a compact sound bar and I think the connect would be Xbox>sound bar with 1 HDMI cable and then sound bar>monitor with a 2nd HDMI. Does that sound right?
Probably Xbox > TV and then TV > soundbar using HDMI ARC. RTFM for the soundbar.
Or should I be looking at an optical connection?
HDMI is the superior format, there's little reason to use optical unless you have to.
Also, is there a difference between a gaming monitor and a console gaming monitor?
Complete guess but, inputs maybe? A PC monitor might have things like DisplayPort or Thunderbolt connections as well as older connections like DVI and VGA. A monitor designed for a console has no need of any such things.
Either that or it's marketing bollocks. Personally I'd just get a telly.
Any monitors aimed only at console users (do they exist?) will presumably only be 60hz. Whereas most pc ‘gaming’ monitors are typically at least 120Hz, often more. You don’t need refresh rate >60 for gaming on a current Xbox one S.
Curved monitors are arguably better than flat when a) when you’re sitting close to them (like you do a PC monitor) and b) when they’re bigger than 24”ish. It just reduces the angle from your head to the plane of the screen to reduce artefacts. If you’re sitting 8ft away I’d get a flat monitor (/TV) I think.
Owt will do monitor wise really, as input lag and refresh rate are a non-issue if using it with a console.
something like this, I got one for my nan so she could have a bigger screen, quite nice screen, good colours.
review here:
https://www.digitweek.com/viewsonic-vx3276-mhd-review/
Xbox is not 4K
Mine is.
and not planning on getting one so HD is fine
Now maybe but if you're serious enough to build a dedicated gamig rig then yu're likely to update your console at some point in the future. Given that the Xbox One S is effectively at the end of it's life cycle then you're likely to replace that console long before you replace the screen.
I'd be getting a 4K TV.
Thank you for responses all. After a few posts I realised I was over-thinking it as per usual.. I’ve just bought a 32” TV. Sony Bravia something or other. Can’t go any bigger given space available and it’ll be mounted above where my feet/pedals are so should be spot on. Thanks again
Xbox is not 4K
Mine is.
The original Xbox One is hypothetically capable of 4k but it's limited by only having a HMDI 1.something port which doesn't support it.
The One S has a HDMI 2 port, so can and upscale games to 4k (which is kinda pointless because so can your telly) and play 4k video.
The One X will play 4k games natively.
The yet-to-be-released (and bizarrely named) Series X will be 8k native. That's 7680 × 4320. By way of comparison, IMAX Digital is 2048 x 1080. To get the best out of this I'd suggest budgeting for laser surgery.