SimSightline / Triples vs Ultrawide
Triple Monitors vs Ultrawide for Sim Racing
Triples show you more of the track; an ultrawide is simpler, has no bezels and is easier on your graphics card. Here is exactly how much more you see, worked out with our FOV calculator, and which setup suits you.
Short answer
- Choose triples if you race on a rig, mostly on PC, and want to see the apex and cars beside you. Three 27-inch screens at 70 cm cover about 139°, more than any single monitor.
- Choose an ultrawide if you race at a desk, also use the screen for work or films, have a mid-range graphics card, or hate bezels. A 49-inch 32:9 at 70 cm covers about 89°.
Field of view: triples vs ultrawides
Horizontal view from your eyes, side screens angled to face you, with bezels ignored. Tap any setup to open it in the FOV calculator and enter your own distance.
| Setup | Horizontal 60 cm | Horizontal 70 cm | Horizontal 80 cm | Vertical 70 cm | Width needed at 70 cm | Pixels to render | Bezels in view |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 27" 16:9 1440p triples | 159° | 139° | 123° | 27° | 142 cm | 11.1 MP | 2 |
| 3 × 32" 16:9 1440p triples | 180°+ | 161° | 143° | 32° | 155 cm | 11.1 MP | 2 |
| 34" 21:9 1800R ultrawide | 71° | 62° | 55° | 27° | 79 cm | 5.0 MP | None |
| 45" 21:9 800R ultrawide | 97° | 85° | 75° | 36° | 98 cm | 5.0 MP | None |
| 49" 32:9 1800R super ultrawide | 99° | 89° | 80° | 27° | 118 cm | 7.4 MP | None |
| 57" 32:9 1000R super ultrawide | 120° | 108° | 97° | 31° | 128 cm | 16.6 MP | None |
Two things stand out. First, even the biggest ultrawide, the 57-inch 32:9, covers less than three 27-inch screens, and a 34-inch ultrawide covers less than half. Second, super ultrawides are short: a 49-inch 32:9 is only about 34 cm tall, the same as a 27-inch monitor, so you see no more above and below the horizon than with 27-inch triples. A 45-inch 21:9 is the tallest option here.
Distance matters more on an ultrawide than on triples. Sit an ultrawide as close as the wheel allows. With triples, you angle the side screens to suit your distance; the triple screen angle calculator gives the exact angle.
Pros and cons
+ Widest view: see the apex and cars alongside
+ Cheapest way to a very wide view: three 27-inch 1440p monitors often cost less than one OLED super ultrawide
+ Easy to start with one screen and add two later
− Two bezels in your view
− Needs a stand or rig mount and careful setup
− Heavier GPU load, and you need Nvidia Surround or AMD Eyefinity
+ One cable, no bezels, works in almost every game
+ Fits on a desk and doubles as a work or film screen
+ Easier on your graphics card (except the 57-inch)
− Narrower view, especially at 21:9
− Edges are stretched if a game does not support the curve
− Big OLED and 57-inch models are expensive
Want product picks? See our best ultrawides and the triple options in our monitor guide.
Graphics card load
Matching graphics cards for each setup are in our sim racing PC guide.
Your GPU renders every pixel, so compare the pixel counts in the table above:
- A 34 or 45-inch 21:9 (5.0 million pixels) is the easiest to run at high frame rates.
- A 49-inch 32:9 (7.4 million) is about the same as 1080p triples (6.2 million).
- 1440p triples (11.1 million) need about twice the power of a 21:9 ultrawide, and the 57-inch 32:9 (16.6 million) even more.
Games that render each triple screen with its own correct perspective, such as iRacing, can also cost extra CPU and GPU time compared with a single view.
Game support
- Triples: iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, Le Mans Ultimate, Automobilista 2 and rFactor 2 have proper triple-screen settings that bend the image around your side screens. In games without them, the side screens look stretched.
- Ultrawide: almost every PC racing game supports 21:9 and most support 32:9.
- Consoles (PS5, Xbox) output one 16:9 image: no triples, and black bars on an ultrawide. For console racing, a 16:9 monitor or a TV is better.
Space and mounting
The "Width needed" column is the straight-line width of the whole setup at 70 cm. Three 27-inch screens need about 1.4 m; a 49-inch ultrawide about 1.2 m. Triples rarely fit on a normal desk and are best on a rig-mounted or floor stand; see our triple monitor stand picks. A single ultrawide sits on a desk stand or a monitor arm. See the budget sim rig guide for rigs with screen mounts, and the seat position guide for screen height.
Which should you choose?
| Your situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Rig, PC, strong GPU, want the widest view | 1440p triples (27 or 32-inch) |
| Rig, PC, mid-range GPU | 1080p triples or a 34 to 45-inch 21:9 |
| Desk setup, screen also for work | 34-inch 21:9 or 49-inch 32:9 |
| Hate bezels, want simple setup | 49-inch 32:9 or 45-inch 800R 21:9 |
| Console racing (GT7, Forza, F1 on console) | 16:9 monitor or TV |
| Want depth and to look around | VR headset |
FAQ
Are triple monitors better than an ultrawide for sim racing?
For field of view, yes: three 27-inch screens at 70 cm cover about 139°, against 89° for a 49-inch 32:9 ultrawide. An ultrawide is better if you want no bezels, a simpler setup, a lighter GPU load or a screen that also works on a desk.
Is a 49-inch ultrawide as good as triples?
It is roughly as wide as two 27-inch monitors side by side, not three. At 70 cm it covers about 89°, compared with about 139° for 27-inch triples.
Do triple monitors need a powerful GPU?
Yes, more than an ultrawide. 1440p triples are 11.1 million pixels, about twice a 3440 × 1440 ultrawide. 1080p triples are 6.2 million, close to a 49-inch 32:9.
Are bezels a problem on triple monitors?
Most drivers stop noticing them after a few races, because your eyes focus on the road ahead. Thin-bezel monitors and correct bezel settings in the game help.
Can I use an ultrawide with triple-screen settings?
No. Triple-screen settings expect three separate flat screens. On an ultrawide, use the normal single-screen FOV for its size and distance from the FOV calculator.
Last reviewed October 2026. FOV values from our published formulas.