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Triple Screens vs Ultrawide: Which Is Best For Sim Racing?
The debate between which is better; triple screens or an ultrawide monitor is a big one. I look at both monitor solutions to see which is the best option for sim racing.
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Nothing sparks debate within sim racing like a “this is best” conversation. This can be a result of load cell vs hydraulic pedals, or Fanatec vs MOZA Racing. One truly divisive debate happens when disccusing the perfect monitor for sim racing.
Many agree that triple screens are without a doubt the most immersive and best monitor solution for sim racing. However, the increase in lower cost super ultrawide monitors that are easier to install and less GPU intensive has swayed many to agree that ultrawides make the best sim racing monitor.
In this buyer’s guide, I’m going to compare triple screens vs ultrawide monitors, and which is better for sim racing. I’ll share my past experience with both configurations, and look at the pros and cons for both solutions.
TL;DR: Triple screen vs ultrawide comparison
To kick things off, I want to share a very visual comparison of triple-screen monitors and ultrawide monitors. Below is a direct head-to-head comparison of the two.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrawide | Triple screen | |
| Starting price | From £/$500 | From £/$190 per monitor £/$570 total cost |
| FOV | Better FOV than 16:9 monitor. | Better FOV than ultrawide monitor. |
| GPU requirements | The larger aspect ratio requires a good GPU. | Having three displays leads to much higher GPU requirements. |
| Immersion | Screen partially wraps around you. | Triple screens wrap around you much more. |
| Mounting requirements | Integrated or free standing mount. | Additional mounting hardware will be required. |
| Overall setup | Easy to mount and get running. | Much more involved setup process. |
Best triple and ultrawide monitors for sim racing
Triple screens have a big advantage over even the largest super ultrawide, in that they can provide a much better field of view thanks to the monitors truly wrapping around you.
Below are my recommendations for the best gaming monitors to use for a triple screen layout.
| Triple Screen Monitor | Size | Resolution | Refresh Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG Ultragear 27GR95QE | 27″ | 2560×1440 | 240Hz | £699 |
| Alienware AW2724HF | 27″ | 1920×1080 | 360Hz | £349 |
| LG Ultragear 27GQ50F-B | 27″ | 1920×1080 | 165Hz | £190 |
In contrast, a super ultrawide monitor lowers the level of complexity of both mounting and setting up your monitor. They can be easily mounted and are plug and play with most sim titles.
Below are my recommended super ultrawide monitors for sim racing.
| Ultrawide Monitor | Size | Resolution | Refresh Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Odyssey G9 | 49″ | 5120×1440 | 240Hz | £1399 |
| ASUS ROG STRIX XG49VQ | 49″ | 3840×1080 | 144Hz | £729 |
| X= XEXUL49V2 49″ | 49″ | 5120×1440 | 144Hz | £499 |
Pros & cons of a triple screen layout
Triple-screen monitors are generally seen as the pinnacle of sim racing. They provide the largest wrap-around display, which isn’t possible with any other form of monitor. You can achieve a complete panoramic view that allows you to see the cars to the left and right of you. This leads to incredibly immersive sim racing, giving you the feeling of sitting in the cockpit of a real car.
This immersive approach isn’t perfect though. The bezels that sit between each monitor can be a distraction, and by having three monitors, you’re tripling the intensity on your GPU by rendering three images.
To better find out whether triple screen monitors are the best option for sim racing, below are the pros and cons of a triple monitor setup.
Pros
- The most realistic FOV: You can achieve an incredibly realistic field of view by wrapping larger monitors around you.
- Best visibility around you: With triple screen monitors, you can look to your side and see any cars along side you, or watch the track ahead of you with ease.
- Incredible immersion: With screens in front and to the side of you, you will feel incredibly immersed, and feel like you’re sat behind the wheel.
Cons
- GPU intensive: By running three monitors, your GPU will be rendering three images, tripling the intensity and potentially lowering your FPS.
- Three HDMI or display ports required: You will require three HDMI or display ports on your GPU to accommodate for each monitor.
- Harder to set up: Three monitors requires additional mounting points and frame work to correctly mount. You also need to run three times the amount of cables to power and your PC.
- More space required: Triple screens will always require more space around your sim rig or setup.
- Distracting bezels: The frame of each monitor divides your image into three areas. These bezels can be distracting, although bezel free kits do exist.
You can see from the pros and cons above that the positives of a triple monitor setup for sim racing are incredible. There are a good number of disadvantages, however, the immersive result that triple monitors offer can be worth it for many.
Once you have overcome the initial set up process of mounting and wiring triple screen monitors, there aren’t too many on going negatives. The biggest turn off can be the visible bezels in between each screen. Even with the newest gaming monitors with the thinnest frames, you’ll still see black lines between each display.
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The importance of a bezel kit for triple screens
A bezel free kit is the answer to hiding the black bars in between your monitors. These kits mount over the top of the bezel between each monitor. The idea is to use refracting light trickery to mask the bezels.
Bezel-free kits feature a unique micro-structure which refracts or bends the light inwards. This is designed to warp the image at the edge of each monitor to effectively mask or hide the black bars.
They can look strange when you first add them to your monitors as they are incredibly visible with the monitors turned off. However, when you turn the monitor on and start sim racing, the bezel free kits become much harder to spot. They perform effectively, allowing you to forget that the bezels are even there.
The best triple screen monitors
LG Ultragear 27GR95QE technical specs
- Size: 27″
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Screen type: OLED Display
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Response time: 0.03ms
- Screen curve: N/A
- Technology: AMD FreeSync Premium & G-Sync Compatible
When it comes to choosing the best monitor for a triple screen setup, the choices are much wider than with an ultrawide. You can choose any gaming monitor for your triple screen layout. You could even use three 21:9 ultrawide monitors to really maximise your field of view.
Having raced with a few different triple monitor setups in the past, I would recommend choosing three good 16:9 gaming monitors. One of the best is the LG Ultragear 27GR95QE. This is an OLED gaming monitor that boasts 0.03ms response time and a 240Hz refresh rate, the same specs as the premium Samsung OLED G9.
A 27inch monitor is ideal for triple screen setups, resulting in a 7680x1440px resolution when using a 1440p monitor. This leads to a much larger field of view compared to the 5120x1440px resolution of the super ultrawide.
Pros & cons of a ultrawide monitor
For those who are put off from the idea of a triple layout setup for their sim racing setup, the next best thing is a super ultrawide monitor. Samsung pioneered the 49inch super ultrawide with its G9. Since then, many other brands have released super ultrawide monitors, and this ahs led to the price decreasing, making them much more affordable.
A super ultrawide monitor normally measures 49 inches, but larger options are available. The 32:9 aspect ratio provides a wide field of view, bridging the gap to a triple-screen setup. These gaming monitors always feature a curve, with some monitors like the G9 opting for an aggressive 1900R curve. This brings the edges of the screen into your peripheral vision, and allow you to glance to your side, much like you can with a triple screen layout.
Below are the pros and cons of choosing an ultrawide monitor for sim racing.
Pros
- Sleeker appearance: Compared to triple screens, which can look bulky or out of place, a 49inch ultrawide monitor looks incredibly sleek.
- Easy to mount: An ultrawide monitor mounts directly to your sim rig or monitor mount just like any regular display.
- Saves space: The width of an ultrawide is normally always skinnier than the combined width of triple screen monitors making it better for tighter spaces.
- One continuous image: There are no bezels to worry about with an ultrawide monitor.
Cons
- Not as immersive: You won’t be able to achieve a truly wrap around immersive experience with an ultrawide.
- Does overhang your sim rig: An ultrawide normally measures around 120cm in width, meaning it will overhang the frame of your sim rig
- Distorted field of view: With an ultrawide, the extreme sides of the image can appear warped or distorted as its harder to correctly achieve the best FOV.
The best ultrawide gaming monitor
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 technical specs
- Size: 49″
- Resolution: 5120 x 1440
- Screen type: OLED
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Response time: 0.03ms
- Screen curve: 1800R
- Technology: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync Compatible
My top pick for the best super ultrawide monitor for sim racing has to be the Samsung Odyssey G9. They are the brand that pioneered the super ultrawide display, and the G9 remains one of the very best gaming monitors you can buy.
Samsung has expanded its range of G9s to include a larger Neo G9, which measures 57 inches, or the OLED G9, which is much more affordable. Arguably, the smaller and cheaper OLED G9 is better for sim racing. It has a more extreme curve at 1800R compared to just a 1000R curve on the Neo G9. It also uses an OLED display, resulting in better contrast.
With the OLED G9, you get a lightning fast 0.03ms response time and a 240Hz refresh rate. This allows you to really maximise your FPS and the quality of your gameplay. Both AMD FreeSync and G-Sync are compatible meaning you won’t suffer from screen tearing no matter which GPU you are using.
Conclusion
While the immersion of a triple screen setup is a big draw, the sleek appearance and much easy setup is one reason why many prefer a single ultrawide monitor. The decision between the two really does come down to whether the added immersion from three monitors is worth the additional hassle with setup and running.
There will be sim racers who always prefer one monitor solution over the other, and that is what makes sim racing great. The variability and customisation with all parts of your sim racing setup allow you to create a setup that truly works for you.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the resolution difference between triple monitors and a super ultrawide monitor?
When using 1440p monitors, a super ultrawide will have a resolution of 5120×1440. A triple monitor setup will have a resolution of 7680×1440, allowing a triple monitor setup to have a much better FOV.
Is an ultrawide better for sim racing than triples?
Both super ultrawide and triple monitors are great choices for sim racing, and both offer a step up in immersion compared to a regular 16:9 gaming monitor. Which is best comes down to personal preference, as many sim racers will prefer one over the other.
What is the best screen size for triple screen sim racing?
I recommend choosing a 27inch monitor for triple screen gaming. This size allows for more screen real estate than a super ultrawide, but it doesn’t take up as much space as a larger monitor would. Triple 27inch at 1080p or 1440p would be great for sim racing.
Article written by Rich
Rich is the founder, F1 car setup creator and content writer for SimRacingSetups. With over a decade of experience as a graphic designer, marketing director, competitive sim racer and avid motorsport fan, Rich founded SimRacingSetup.com to share his passion and knowledge of sim racing and Formula 1 with other sim racers. Regularly writes for sim racing website SimRaceReviews.com
View all articles written by RichDisclaimer: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. We may earn commission from any sale after clicking a link. Read our affiliate policy.
