There’s nothing immersive about chasing lap records on a laggy old office monitor. And trying to line up a smooth ILS approach with a pixelated cockpit view? That’s just cruel. If your simulator rig is all controls and no display power, you're missing half the experience.
Whether you're flying through turbulence or apexing at 200kph, your monitor setup is your entire visual world. The size, shape, refresh rate and clarity of that world will either make you feel like you're in control, or like you're fighting with the screen.
That’s why the team at Speednation is breaking down how to choose the best monitor. From screen size and curvature to refresh rate and multi-display setups, it’s time to build a view that actually does your rig justice.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Monitors for Simulators
Let’s get one thing clear: your monitor isn’t just a screen, it’s your entire visual cockpit. It shows you the apex you’re aiming for, the instruments you’re scanning, and the moment you realise you braked too late. If you want immersion, sharp response, and full control, you need more than flashy specs. Here’s an overview of what really matters:
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Screen size: Go too small and you’ll miss key visuals; go too big and you’ll overwhelm your setup. The sweet spot is usually 32 to 43 inches, depending on your rig and viewing distance. For the ultimate racing experience, we like to recommend 32:9 ratio 49-inch and 57-inch ultrawide monitors from our popular Samsung range.
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Resolution: 1440p is the performance hero for most setups. 4K looks stunning, especially for cockpit detail, but make sure your PC can keep up.
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Refresh rate: For racing, higher is better, 144Hz or more for that ultra-smooth, low-lag feel. Flight sims can technically fly fine at 60Hz, but 120Hz+ makes everything more fluid.
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Panel type: IPS panels deliver the best colour and clarity, especially from wider angles. TN panels are fast, but you’ll sacrifice visual quality.
Monitors for Racing Simulators
Sim racing is fast, unforgiving, and all about precision. You’re braking late, cornering hard, and reacting in fractions of a second. That means your monitor setup has to keep up with every twitch, every rival sneaking into your blind spot, and every split-second decision. Unlike flight sims, racing demands raw responsiveness and wide horizontal awareness. Choosing the right monitor isn’t about cinematic views. It’s about better racing.
Screen Size and Aspect Ratio
Racing sims reward awareness. You need to see your mirrors, spot the car creeping up alongside, and catch the apex without shifting the camera or second-guessing what’s out of frame. That’s where aspect ratio and screen size start to matter a lot.
For single-screen setups, bigger is better. If you’re running an ultra-wide, a 32:9 ratio is ideal. Models like the 57″ offer a taller vertical field of view compared to the more common 49″, which adds realism and cockpit depth.
For triple-monitor rigs, we recommend screens in the 32″ to 43″ range. Go smaller and you lose immersion, go bigger and it starts becoming impractical. Triple 43s hit that sweet spot between size, clarity, and performance.
As for 21:9 34″ monitors? They’re not our top pick, but they still deliver a solid experience, especially if you’re budget-conscious or building your first sim.
Resolution and Refresh Rate
Clarity helps, but speed is everything in racing. 1440p resolution gives a sharp view without overloading your GPU, while 4K pushes immersion even further if your rig can handle it. What matters most is the refresh rate. A 144Hz or higher monitor delivers buttery-smooth motion that makes car control feel natural and snappy. While 60Hz is considered the standard or minimum, we recommend opting for something a little higher if it’s within your budget. When you’re chasing milliseconds, 60Hz vs 120Hz is the difference between hitting your braking point and overshooting it.
Curvature and Field of View
Curved monitors shine in single-screen racing setups, especially at 49″ and 57″ sizes. That gentle wrap draws your peripheral vision into the action, enhancing spatial awareness and helping you stay focused and feel more connected to the car. A curvature between 1000 and 1800 is ideal, it gives a natural field of view without warping perspective.
If you’re running triple monitors, though, curvature isn’t as important. Once the screens are angled around you, the curve becomes almost unnoticeable. What matters more is the screen size and how well they align for a seamless field of view.
Monitors for Flight Simulators
While flight simulators share some of the same preferences as racing sims (good field of view, smooth performance, and responsive visuals) the priorities shift pretty quickly once you’re in the air. Flying’s not about split-second reflexes or fighting for position. It’s about staying sharp, staying stable, and staying oriented. In other words, you’re reacting less, but absorbing more.
That’s why we recommend flight sim users focus more on visual accuracy than reaction speed. You’re scanning instruments, monitoring flight paths, keeping an eye on the horizon, and managing systems, not flicking through corners at 200kph. So when it comes to monitors, think bigger, sharper, and clearer
Screen Size and Multiple Displays
Flight decks aren’t built around a single window, so neither should your sim be. Multi-monitor setups or ultra-wide screens let you recreate the full span of a cockpit, including side windows, instruments, and external views. But it’s not just about width — vertical field of view is just as critical. You need to see out the window and glance down at the controls without fiddling with camera angles.
For multi-screen setups, standard 16:9 monitors offer the best visibility and compatibility. If you’re going single-screen, go big. A 57″ 32:9 ultrawide gives you extra height, making it easier to manage both views above and below the horizon. Bigger really does mean better situational awareness.
Resolution and Clarity
When it comes to flight sims, visual sharpness takes priority. 4K displays are ideal here, especially for detailed cockpit builds where you’re reading gauges, screens, and switch labels at a glance. Colour accuracy and sharp contrast are also key for navigating in changing weather or low light. A crisp, clear display reduces eye strain on long-haul and lets you focus on flying rather than fighting blurry textures. IPS panels with strong colour depth give you the most realistic and comfortable flying experience.
Immersive Experience with Curvature
In flight simulation, curved monitors can make a big difference, especially for single-screen setups. Displays like the 49″ or 57″ ultrawides wrap your view just enough to create a cockpit-like feel, helping you stay visually anchored while scanning the sky and your instruments.
But if you’re using multi-monitor setups, the curve becomes less important. Once you angle the screens around your cockpit view, any built-in curvature tends to fade into the background. What really matters is having a wide, stable setup that covers your forward and peripheral vision without distortion or constant camera panning.
The Importance of Monitor Stands for Simulator Setups
So, we’ve covered what goes into choosing the right monitor: screen size, resolution, refresh rate, and curvature all play a huge role in how immersive and responsive your setup feels. But here’s the part too many simmers skip: if your monitor’s sitting too low, angled wrong, or wobbling mid-session, you’re not getting the full experience.
A proper monitor stand isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what transforms a great display into a precision tool. Our range of next level monitor stands gives you full control over positioning, angle, and layout. They’re strong, adjustable, and built to lock in your visuals exactly where you need them.
Why SpeedNation is Your Go-To for Racing and Flight Sim Monitors
In sim racing and flight, what you see isn’t just visual, it’s operational. It affects how you react, how you navigate, and how immersive the entire experience feels. Your controls might put you in the game, but it’s your monitor setup that keeps you there.
Choosing the right screen isn’t about future-proofing or flexing specs. It’s about creating a space where every gear shift, glide slope, and overtaking move looks and feels exactly right. Whether you fly low or corner hard, the right display can turn a basic setup into something that feels like second nature.
Not sure where to start? Need help picking a screen that fits your cockpit, your rig, or your budget? Reach out to the team at Speednation, we’re always here to help you build a setup worth strapping into.