AMD’s RX 6800 hits the shelves on 18th November. With the new RDNA2 architecture and 16Gb GDDR6 VRAM they are top-performing GPU’s aimed at very high fidelity 1440p gaming, and more than capable at 4K as well. To take advantage of this level of GPU power you need an excellent monitor to pair with the RX 6800.
In this article, we’ll recommend our favourite monitors that pair well with the RX 6800 and maintain the value offering of this GPU.
Things to consider when choosing your perfect monitor for the RX 6800:
The Monitor you use defines many characteristics of the PC. Primarily resolution dictates how well matched it is to the GPU power, with higher resolution being more demanding to run. Secondly refresh rate is important because high frame rates need more GPU power to render frames fast enough. You can trade resolution for the frame rate to an extent: An RX 6800 will run 1440p (QHD) monitors faster than 4K because there are around half as many pixels per frame.
Not all games will run at 144 FPS or more even with the power of an RX 6800. To combat this AMD developed ‘Freesync’. This adaptive sync technology refreshes the monitor when there is a new frame ready to display, smoothing out framerates and eliminating ugly tearing in the image as you play. Any gaming monitor should be equipped with this technology for optimum performance, and it has evolved over the years with ‘Freesync Premium’ being introduced for a higher level of performance. AMD GPUs cannot drive adaptive sync on Nvidia’s proprietary ‘G-Sync’ system and whilst the monitor will work, adaptive sync will not. To confuse matters further, many monitors as now certified as ‘G-sync compatible’ which means that whilst they use the AMD Freesync standard they are in fact certified to work well with Nvidia GPUs. Look for Freesync compatibility in any form to be sure.
Monitor panel technology is evolving all the time, but the most common types of gaming monitors are ‘VA’ and ‘IPS’ types. Both can produce excellent panels for gaming. VA panels have better contrast and deeper blacks, but cheaper models may suffer ghosting or smearing in fast action as they are not as responsive as IPS. IPS panels have vibrant colours and excellent response times but sometimes struggle to show true blacks and may have some minor backlight bleeding on cheaper panels. It really comes down to preference as either can be fantastic when properly implemented. There are also variants on these types and ‘OLED’ as used in LG and Samsung monitors. Whilst TN has long been popular thanks to its very fast response times, the lack of vibrancy and poor viewing angles make us hesitant to recommend it as a showcase for a high-end Graphics card like the RX 6800.
There are also other features you may want to consider such as whether the monitor has speakers if you need an inbuilt USB hub to tidy up peripheral cables, how many inputs it has, and that it has VESA mounting options is you intend to mount it on a monitor arm.
For a Radeon RX 6800, the monitors that will work best are 1440p 144Hz for general gaming and esports, 1440p ultrawide for AAA gaming and general use, and 4K if you want to experience AAA games in full 4K glory and are willing to accept slightly lower frame rates for higher visual fidelity. We’ll make our selections based on high quality and good reviews, a good native pairing with the RX 6800, and a strong value proposition to match AMD’s best value of their RDNA2 GPUs.
So, let’s move on to our monitor recommendations for the RX 6800:
Best Monitors for RX 6800 – Our Recommendations
Award | Design | Model | Size | Panel |
---|---|---|---|---|
Best 1440p Gaming Monitor for RX 6800 | Gigabyte G27QC | 27" | VA | |
Best High-end 1440p 240Hz Monitor for RX 6800 | Samsung Odyssey G7 | 27" | VA | |
Best 1440p Ultrawide Monitor for RX 6800 | AOC CU34G2X | 34" | VA | |
Best Budget 4K Monitor for RX 6800 | ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q | 28" | IPS | |
Best 4K 144Hz Monitor for RX 6800 | LG 27GN950 | 27" | IPS |
Best 1440p Gaming Monitor for RX 6800
The G27QC is newly released from Gigabyte and sets a new standard in features and performance at the price. It uses a VA panel for vibrant colours and deep blacks, and whilst response times aren’t cutting edge they’re plenty for AAA gaming and general use. It has 165Hz refresh rate and is ‘Freesync Premium’ certified meaning you get great adaptive sync performance. This eliminates screen tearing and smooths out frame delivery for a fluid gaming experience even if you’re not quite hitting 165 FPS. The response times are excellent at max refresh rate with a ‘balance’ setting providing best results without smearing or ghosting. As for physical features, there’s a 2 port USB hub, handy for moving your headphones or other peripherals to be close to hand. The stand is basic but functional with height and tilt but no twist. A curved vs flat panel is a matter of personal preference but for gaming and general use the 1500R curve leads a degree of immersion, whilst thin bezels look slick and make a multi-monitor set up seamless. 27” display size is the sweet spot for pixel density for this resolution, making text easy to read without pixels becoming individually visible at standard viewing distances. Make sure you use the display port connection for the full 165Hz refresh rate as HDMI can’t carry the necessary bandwidth.
Best High-end 1440p 240Hz Monitor for RX 6800
Samsungs recently released Odyssey G7 monitors are targeted at the high-end gaming market with a suite of features backing up an excellent panel. It’s rare that a monitor can hit 240Hz in addition to offering ‘WQHD’ or 2560x1440p resolution, but the G7 manages that with excellent success. The panel response times are exceptionally low and this combines with minimal input lag to offer one of the snappiest playing experiences available. Samsung uses its own QLED Quantum Dot panel technology for a sharp, vibrant image and the monitors are renowned for an even and pleasing image quality and excellent consistency. The aggressive 1000R Curve radius means the monitor wraps tightly around you: This isn’t a monitor for people who prefer flat screens but the immersion in gaming is a bonus most players prefer. The overall styling is sharp and modern, with inbuilt RGB lighting and a versatile stand that allows it to turn to portrait mode as well as tilt and swivel. It can be VESA mounted to free up desk space. Overall this monitor displays the best of current technology and is a nigh end choice to perfectly complement the RX 6800.
Best 1440p Ultrawide Monitor for RX 6800
Ultrawide is fast gaining popularity for gaming and general use and it’s easy to see why: The 21:9 aspect ratio allows multiple documents to be viewed simultaneously, is perfect for editing workflows like video or audio manipulation, but when playtime comes the wrap-around immersion is unsurpassed this side of a VR headset. The RX 6800 has more than enough power to drive this demanding resolution in games, so this 34” monitor from AOC, the CU34G2X, may well be the perfect pairing for you. It uses a VA panel and has 144Hz refresh rate with Freesync adaptive sync. Displayport 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 sockets ensure there’s enough bandwidth to push the pixels to that refresh rate, whilst a USB 3.0 hub with 4 ports provides useful cable management and tidying options to keep peripherals close at hand. The monitor has good colour reproduction and a good fast response time, meaning games will be both slick and vibrant. For an all-round monitor that surpasses side-by-side 27” panels for both utility and engagement in games, we recommend the AOC CU34G2X.
Best Budget 4K Monitor for RX 6800
If you want a 4K monitor for high fidelity AAA gaming, or need to mix work and play then the ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q is a great value 4K 28” panel that offers fantastic value. The RX 6800 is a strong GPU but 4K remains an exceptionally demanding resolution, so this panels 60Hz refresh doesn’t put it at a major disadvantage. Full Freesync compatibility from 40-60Hz smooths frame rates and eliminates screen tearing in the most commonly encountered refresh rates at 4K. The IPS panel with LED Edge backlighting plays to 4K’s strengths in providing excellent image quality with vibrant colors and good greyscale accuracy. This monitor isn’t the fastest, sacrificing speed to achieve its image quality and low price, but it’s more than capable for playing slower-paced titles and would make an excellent choice for AAA gaming, strategy or RPG games where the richness of the visuals matter more than the speed of play. The ASUS TUF V289Q is a fantastic way to achieve maximum pixel density at an affordable price and without heavy compromise elsewhere.
Best 4K 144Hz Monitor for RX 6800
If you want to mix 4K resolution with high refresh rates then the options become both more limited and more expensive. The LG 27GN950 is a rarity in that it offers 4K and 144Hz at under $1000. It has excellent color accuracy due to the LG Nano IPS panel and whilst it carries DisplayHDR600 HDR certification like most affordable options this is of limited utility but demonstrates good brightness and contrast. Where the monitor does shine is in the image consistency and very low response times. FreeSync controls variable refresh rates all the way from 48Hz -144Hz so you enjoy smooth responsive and tear-free gameplay across a wide range of titles and game styles. This is vital on a 4K monitor where very high frame rates will be the exception, not the norm. Ergonomically the LG 27GN950 has a sturdy stand with good adjustability, and an inbuilt 2 port hub to tidy up desk-based peripherals. This is a monitor that can truly do it all and will demonstrate the capabilities of the RX 6800 to their fullest.