Viotek NFI29CB Monitor Review: ‘Ultra Widescreen Gaming on a Budget’

VIOTEK NFI29CB MONITOR REVIEW. 

It’s easy to think that gaming on an ultrawide monitor is reserved for the most hardcore of gamers, who are willing to invest up to and over $1000 for the fanciest display going, but that just isn’t the case. As demonstrated by the Viotek NFI29CB, gamers can enjoy ultrawide experiences on a budget. Now, after testing this monitor for a good few weeks for both work and play, it’s time to offer my thoughts and provide a verdict.

Unbox me!

First, you’ve got to unbox the thing. Bundled with the Viotek NFI29CB are power and DisplayPort cables. (This monitor does support HDMI 1.4, but there’s no wire provided.) There’s also a fairly basic stand that offers limited adjustment. It’s mounted by VESA 75×75, so bear that in mind when looking to pair it with a third-party stand or arm.

Buy the Viotek GFI24CBA on Amazon

When powered on, my first impressions of the Viotek NFI29CB were dampened a little by the washed out colors. Next to my calibrated display, it looked a little dull, despite the IPS (ADS) tech it uses. However, after using the OSD to fine-tune the settings, I was able to easily calibrate the monitor for accurate-enough color reproduction, confirmed using my colorimeter. Brightness caps out at a fairly usual 300 nits, so don’t be expecting any impressive HDR performance, but it’s certainly more than bright enough for indoor use.

The important specs

As for the other important specs, this is a 29″ display with a claimed 5-7 ms response time depending on the overdrive settings, 75 Hz refresh rate (with FreeSync support), and a resolution of 2560×1080. That latter spec does indeed mean that this monitor has a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is absolutely the main highlight of the Viotek NFI29CB.

This is where the fun begins

The ultrawide resolution is fantastic for both the work I do and the games I play. When it comes to having multiple windows all in view at the same time, the 21:9 aspect ratio lets me spread them out more.

As for video editing, the wider horizon axis provides plenty of room for the timeline. Then, when it’s time to game, many modern titles now support the 21:9 ultrawide resolution and, wow, does it make them more immersive.

Though it’s only 29 inches and on the smaller end of the spectrum when it comes to ultrawide displays, the width is still wide enough to successfully immerse the user. Though I do think it would benefit a little from a slight curve, the flat surface certainly wasn’t problematic.

Significant enhancements to single-player immersion

When considering the Viotek NFI29CB, it’s important to weigh up the 75″ refresh rate and what that means for PC gaming. With the limit of 75 FPS for games, it does mean that the outputted image is less smooth and responsive, so it’s not the best choice for competitive titles. (See the Viotek GFI24CBA review for something more suitable.)

However, if you’re big into single-player titles that you want to see made even more immersive, games like Death Stranding, Forza Horizon 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and plenty more, all look fantastic with the added peripheral vision.

Of course, multiplayer games like Call of Duty: Warzone can still work well on the monitor, but this display really shines in those solo, visually breathtaking titles.

Viotek NFI29CB Monitor Review: The final verdict

Priced at $229.99 on the Viotek website, but currently on sale on Amazon for just $169.99, the Viotek NFI29CB offers a fantastic budget option for those who want the ultrawide experience, but can forgo the higher refresh rate and overall resolution in order to save a buck. For ultrawide gaming on a budget, this Viotek monitor is well worth considering.

NFI29CB monitor review unit was provided by Viotek.