Don’t let the RAM crisis stop you upgrading your PC — these 5 brilliant monitor deals can make a world of difference without breaking the bank
Forget RAM - upgrade your monitor instead
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Like many PC gamers, I've been following the ongoing RAM crisis with despair. With memory becoming highly sought-after, prices have been steadily climbing, meaning that some of the most affordable ways to upgrade your PC – namely by upgrading the RAM or increasing the storage of your device – are no longer affordable.
Don't give up hope, however. Until memory prices stabilize, and hopefully drop, there are plenty of other ways to upgrade your PC without spending a small fortune. It's a mark of the strange times we're in that buying a new monitor is now more affordable than upgrading your RAM.
Buying a new monitor is one of the most impactful and easy upgrades you can make. It's impactful as a monitor is essential for any PC setup, and it's the thing you'll be looking at the most when using your device. By investing in a larger monitor – one with a higher resolution, or improved tech behind the screen – you'll instantly see the benefits.
This is also an easy upgrade to make, as you don't need to open up your PC to install a monitor – just plug it into your PC's graphics card or integrated graphics and you're done! This also applies to laptops, as connecting one to a monitor can give you much more space to work, or a more immersive user experience. If you're replacing your monitor, you don't need to throw it away, as you could always try a multi-monitor setup for even better productivity.
With Presidents' Day sales kicking off, now is a particularly great time to upgrade your PC with a new monitor without having to worry about memory prices. I've hand-picked the five best monitor deals I've found, based on my decades of experience as a tech journalist and PC gamer.
Today's best monitor deals
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If you're after a great monitor for under $100, then this deal from Amazon is a great choice. At 24-inches, this isn't a massive monitor, but it's great for small spaces, or as a second screen for a laptop. Its 1080p resolution and Anti-Glare technology also make it a sharp and comfortable monitor to work on. At this price, you'll be able to upgrade your setup easily and affordably, though gamers might want to check out some of the other monitor deals I've picked below.
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If you're a PC gamer looking for an upgrade, getting a new monitor can be just as an impressive improvement, and much cheaper than buying a new GPU. And Best Buy has knocked $140 off this excellent 32-inch gaming monitor with fast 180Hz refresh rates, HDR10 support and a resolution of 2560 x 1440 that strikes the perfect balance between image quality and performance.
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If you want to make a really big upgrade to your PC, then going for an ultrawide monitor, like this one, is worth considering. Thanks to its 21:9 aspect ratio, compared to the 16:2 most monitors are, you get an extra wide monitor that's similar to having two screens on your desk, but it takes up less space. This Acer Nitro monitor is a gaming-focused one, so expect fast refresh rates and impressive HDR. However, even if you don't game, you can benefit from the 21:9 aspect ratio, as it makes multi-tasking a breeze, all for $80 off.
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If you want to really push the boat out and give your PC setup an incredible upgrade, then consider an OLED monitor. This LG UltraGear is pricey, sure, but it has a $340 discount at Amazon, which is still cheaper than buying a new GPU or even RAM. While it won't make your PC faster or play games better, this monitor will make everything look fantastic, even when you're not playing. The 180Hz refresh rate means games feel extremely smooth and responsive, and the OLED tech ensures that contrast levels are incredible, with rich, inky blacks and bright vibrant colors.
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Perhaps the ultimate monitor upgrade, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a monster 49-inch super ultrawide with an incredible vision-spanning aspect ratio and stunning 5120 x 1440 resolution. With a 240Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync support, this is the ultimate gaming monitor. Thanks to its OLED panel, games are going to look absolutely brilliant on this. It's also a great productivity monitor, as it's essentially two full 1440p monitors stuck together, meaning you get loads of space to work on. It's not the cheapest monitor, but with a huge $700 off for President's Day, it offers incredible value for money (if you have the budget). If I had to choose between this or an extra 64GB of DDR5 RAM, I know what I'd pick.
More of today's best Presidents' Day sales
- Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
- Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
- Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
- Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
- Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
- Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
- Lowe's: up to 40% off appliances, furniture & tools
- Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
- Target: 40% off clothing, tech & furniture
- Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
- Wayfair: 54% off furniture, rugs & decor
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Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.
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