Monitor/tech advice needed

[Khanmots]

So, my catleap Q270 gave up the ghost today... and doesn't look like it's an easy fix like a bad cap. Looks like it'd be $100 to get a sketchy replacement board that might or might not work...

So new monitor time!

I've started researching a new display to replace it and am having a hard time sorting out which features are useful vs marketing gimmick... so got some questions that I'm hoping y'all can help out with

1) > 60hz refresh rate? I remember with old CRTs 75hz or better was a big deal to avoid flicker, but is it really noticeable in day-to-day use (browsing, word processing, etc)? What about games? Is 120 or 144 all that's out there, or is there a middle ground?
2) Freesync/GSync -- seems to go with the high refresh rates? Is it needed? Does it cause my monitor to vendor-lock me to nvidia or AMD in the future?
3) Excluding TN, what's the panel tech done over the years, any big improvements in IPS or VA? Better response times?
4) Did 2560x1600 finish dying off? Looks like they kept going wider but not giving more vertical unless you want 4k. Do the ultrawides have compatibility issues with games?
5) Any "gotchas" I need to be aware of? New tech that I don't know to ask questions about?

 

[Ors]

So, my catleap Q270 gave up the ghost today... and doesn't look like it's an easy fix like a bad cap. Looks like it'd be $100 to get a sketchy replacement board that might or might not work...

So new monitor time!

I've started researching a new display to replace it and am having a hard time sorting out which features are useful vs marketing gimmick... so got some questions that I'm hoping y'all can help out with

1) > 60hz refresh rate? I remember with old CRTs 75hz or better was a big deal to avoid flicker, but is it really noticeable in day-to-day use (browsing, word processing, etc)? What about games? Is 120 or 144 all that's out there, or is there a middle ground?
2) Freesync/GSync -- seems to go with the high refresh rates? Is it needed? Does it cause my monitor to vendor-lock me to nvidia or AMD in the future?
3) Excluding TN, what's the panel tech done over the years, any big improvements in IPS or VA? Better response times?
4) Did 2560x1600 finish dying off? Looks like they kept going wider but not giving more vertical unless you want 4k. Do the ultrawides have compatibility issues with games?
5) Any "gotchas" I need to be aware of? New tech that I don't know to ask questions about?

1) Might be noticeable, but 60hz is fine for anything other than fast moving games. For same price I would want higher refresh, but not for the current premium they sell it...
2) Somewhat vendor lock, freesync being the one with better chances of becoming a standard since more big players are behind it and it's not proprietary like Nvidia's shenanigans. It helps eliminate screen tearing without introducing wait times so somewhat better than vsync, again for Gsync the price is just too high and it also locks you in.
3) VA screens got a little faster but still produce artifacts. IPS is still the best bet as a middle ground. OLED, MicroLed, etc are still only promises...
4) They are officially dead I would say. However 31.5-32" 4k screens are good replacements and some are more affordable than the old 30" 2560x1600 monitors, offering the same vertical space and a little more on the horizontal with better PPI as well. Ultrawides are somewhat supported by new games (not all), they can be great for work (replacing 2 monitors) and you can always fall back to standard 16:9 with them with black bars for games that don't play nice. I personally went with 32" 4k to not have to deal with 2 24" screens and am not regretting it.
5) HDR for ex. I for one would stay away from it for now. Super premium price with very little content that can use it.

 

[Khanmots]

Thanks!

Any technical reasons to go curved or flat? Or just personal preference?

 

[Ors]

Any technical reasons to go curved or flat? Or just personal preference?

For 32" and below I would say zero. For ultrawides that are wider than a 32" 16:9 it helps with off angle problems (reduces IPS glow and VA color shift) so it makes more sense than for big ass TVs for the living room, where you sit so far that a curve won't do anything...