GROWING UP

It’s probably no surprise to learn that I’m the youngest MaximumPC team member.I recently dinged to level 26, and had quite the moment of realization when looking back at my two decades of system tinkering.

In my youth, I gamed a lot—some might say excessively—but as I’ve matured, I’ve found it more and more difficult to find AAA titles that hold my attention. Although it’s still easy for me to drop into games and become more than proficient, my patience and free time is far more limited. I tend to find myself browsing the web, working, consuming media, and planning my next big adventure far more than investing in a new RPG or RTS.

Back in March, I fell in love with Samsung’s CF791 super-wide screen. Its dramatic 21:9 aspect ratio, crisp pixel density, and 100Hz refresh persuaded me to take the plunge and purchase the $750 screen, under the premise that it was perfect for gaming.

But I’m starting to wonder whether it was the right choice. Don’t get me wrong, I still play games in my downtime, but high refresh rates, variable sync, and dramatic ratios aren’t as important as my brain likes to think. The screen is perfect, but I’m not sure it’s perfect for my circumstances. The answer? I think it’s time I sold the Korean beauty to another PC enthusiast, and invested in a 40-inchplus 4K behemoth instead. Combined with a re-evaluation and rebuild of my custom desk at home to something a little more professional (system and all), I might be on to a winner.