Just for your sim racing game, should you upgrade your monitor? You might have thought about getting a bigger screen for your racing sim game whether you’re a competitive sim racer or just do it for the thrill. Even with a bigger monitor, you can still get a lot out of your current one.
Is a bigger screen really needed for sim racing? Is it worth it?
How important is screen size in Sim Racing?
Some sim racing setups use wide monitors, triple monitors, TVs, or even projectors. There’s nothing like a big screen to make your experience better, but do you really need one? While some players just want to feel like they’re behind the wheel of an F1 car, sim racing can be a serious sport too. To get an edge, you’d want the best, most expensive equipment. A new hobby or sport can be intimidating, especially when you’re just starting out.
You can easily fall into a consumerist trap when you’re new. Upgrades, buys, and upgrades are everywhere. If you don’t have the money to throw around, it doesn’t matter that much. Ultimately, your setup is only as good as your skills. There’s only so far you can go with the best gear. Make sure you’re perfecting your braking points, tire management, and other practical stuff before focusing on eye candy. Drive as close as you can to your car’s limit.
Before getting that bigger monitor, consider taking sim racing courses to improve yourself. Having a bigger screen might be more valuable if you aren’t there for the competition. The best way to get maximum immersion is to get a VR headset and a powered driving chair.
Getting the most out of your current monitor for Sim Racing.
It’s not just about your screen size when it comes to your racing sim. Screen size, FOV settings, and distance to the screen are all factors.
The first two things are within your immediate control, so you shouldn’t worry about the screen size first. Check your FOV settings for that distance and play around with it. To set the FOV correctly, check out how to set sim racing FOV. By setting your FOV correctly, you’ll get a much more immersive experience. For a wider FOV setting, get closer to the screen, so you’ll see more. You might want to get a bigger screen if you can’t move your screen closer.
How big do you need your screen for Sim Racing?
It doesn’t really matter how big the screen is if you’ll be focused on a small portion most of the time. Because the vertical size isn’t needed anyway, it’s better to buy additional screens instead of a bigger one. It’s best to enjoy learning sim racing if you’re new or want to improve. In my opinion, courses are better than big screens if you have a good wheel, like these force feedback sim racing wheels.
The bezels might kill the immersion a little bit, but you could widen your field of view without spending as much as a large screen. However, most modern monitors have thin bezels so bezels aren’t a big deal in the middle of a race.
It’s your monitor that makes the difference in Sim Racing.
An immersive experience can be achieved even with a small screen if it’s close enough and has enough pixels. There’s just a very small screen right in front of your eyes in a VR headset. It’s all about your FOV. Having that down allows you to gauge distance much easier, improving your performance on any reasonable screen.
