Are The Latest Monitors Better Than VR Headsets For Drifting Games?

If you’re (unfortunately) as old as we are, you’ve likely witnessed the remarkable evolution of monitors over your lifetime.

If you’re not, let’s just say that in the 90s, chunky CRT dinosaurs (you might need to Google them!) were the only option available on the market. When flat-screen monitors arrived, it was unreal.

Fast-forward to today, and we’re now treated to the option of incredible OLED beasts with 240Hz refresh rates and perfect blacks.

Not only that, but there are huge 45-inch curved monitors available with insanely high resolutions, and it got us thinking… Have monitors finally caught up to VR when it comes to real-world drifting games?

The Modern Monitor Appeal

Today’s premium displays are genuinely mind-blowing. In fact, this viral video of the latest 45-inch LG GX9 monitor in the video below is what got us thinking about the monitor vs VR comparison in the first place.

Using this as an example, the 5K2K resolution GX9 monitor pushes out 165Hz refresh rates (beating most VR headsets, which are still around 90-120Hz in comparison) with OLED technology that delivers true blacks and bold colors that make VR displays look washed out.

However, it’s worth noting that (in typical YouTube fashion), the video thumbnail is a little exaggerated. While it appears to be a single gigantic monitor, it’s actually a triple-monitor setup, and you’d need all three to achieve roughly 270 degrees of coverage.

On top of that, you’re looking at a serious amount of space for all this, and you’ll also need graphics cards powerful enough for all three displays. Then the messy wires, the plug sockets… You get the point.

While it admittedly looks impressive when set up, the bezels between each screen still constantly remind you that you’re staring at monitors, too.

How They Compare When It Comes To Drifting

As anyone who’s played a serious drift sim like Assetto Corsa on their PC gaming rig will know, side window visibility is crucial for drifting. 

When you’re in the middle of a tandem train, you need to know exactly where everyone around you is, while also looking at the track and your proximity to the walls, all at once.

Both these options can provide this experience, allowing you to look out the side windows.

Where VR Changes Everything

Here’s where VR takes the lead – you’re able to look absolutely anywhere inside, or outside of the car.

Even with refinement, the field of view with monitors still restricts you somewhat when it comes to viewing angles and the full range of motion you need for making the most of drifting, which isn’t as much of an issue in typical sim racing.

In a race car, you’re mostly looking straight ahead, occasionally staring at the apex, and you’re able to occasionally change camera views to see who’s alongside you using a button on your wheel if you need to.

With drifting, you’re constantly looking left to right through the side windows as you transition, and VR makes this feel incredibly real. It’s as though you’re actually sitting in the driver’s seat.

While these modern curved, wide monitors are decent in this regard, when it comes to full-blown immersion, they simply can’t match what VR offers.

Comparing The Costs

As always, one of the most important considerations is the cost.

Just one of the cutting-edge GX9 monitors will set you back $2,000. That means for three monitors, you’ll need to hand over $6,000! That’s also just for the screens, before you’ve considered any other hardware.

Compare that to a Meta Quest 3, which costs just $500, or a premium VR headset, which will set you back around $999-1,500.

At a quarter of the price of a triple-screen setup (and that’s for the upper-tier premium offering), you’re going to get a much more immersive experience, even if the blacks won’t be perfect.

Given the quality of modern VR, you’ll only really notice a difference if you’re pixel-peeping.

The Final Verdict

So, which wins for drifting? For us, VR undoubtedly retains the crown.

While premium monitors offer superior refresh rates and stunning visual quality, VR’s natural head tracking and depth perception are perfect for sim drifting, providing a near-360° view around you. It’s easy to see why many professional drivers continue to use VR headsets for practice when they can’t get to the track.

The ability to look anywhere in the car naturally – checking mirrors, watching the moves of the other car(s) in tandems or battles, and judging wall proximity, VR creates an authenticity that monitors simply can’t match.

However, one crucial decider is that some sim drifters are unable to handle VR due to motion sickness, making monitors their only viable option. In this case, these modern can monitors provide a great alternative, if you have the spare cash!

Unless you’re dealing with motion sickness or have $6k burning a hole in your pocket, a $500 VR headset will deliver superior immersion at a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, if you want a premium headset, you’ll still save yourself a whopping $4,500 over the triple-monitor experience.

If you’re not already aware of just how awesome drifting can look in VR on Assetto Corsa, we’ll leave this to help with your decision