Triple Monitors vs Ultrawide: Best Sim Racing Setup?

Introduction

When it comes to sim racing, your choice of monitor is crucial because it directly correlates with visibility, reaction time, and overall immersion. The right display setup can help you spot braking points earlier, maintain better situational awareness, and replicate the peripheral vision you would have in a real cockpit. On the other hand, the wrong setup can limit your field of view, cause unnecessary strain on your eyes, and perhaps cost you valuable tenths on the track.

That's why I am writing a blog to compare triple monitor setups and ultrawide screen setups. If you are deciding which one is best for your sim racing rig, maybe this guide can help you make an informed choice. Otherwise, it can still give you a better understanding of how each option affects a sim racing experience, so you know exactly what to expect.

Why Your Monitor Choice Matters

Display choice is what determines whether or not your sim racing experience will be immersive. Triple monitors are known for delivering an expansive field of view and realistic peripheral vision. Ultrawide screens, on the other hand, offer a clean, single-panel setup with plenty of visual impact. Understanding how these setups differ will help you choose the one that best fits your space and budget.

Triple monitors provide roughly 135 to 180 degrees of horizontal FOV when positioned and angled correctly. The wide coverage makes it easier to spot opponents in your mirrors, anticipate overtakes, and judge corner entries. Ultrawide monitors typically offer around 105 to 110 degrees of horizontal FOV, which is still immersive but does not capture as much peripheral vision. While triples may excel in competitive environments where situational awareness is critical, ultrawide displays shine in setups where simplicity, space-saving, and a bezel-free view are top priorities.

Image courtesy of Shuttershock

Field of View in Sim Racing

FOV itself is self-explanatory. However, it must be noted that it is one of the most important factors in sim racing because it directly influences how realistically you perceive the track and its surroundings. A properly set FOV can make the difference between spotting an overtaking car in time or being caught off guard. It also affects depth perception, braking accuracy, and your ability to position the car through corners. Whether you choose triple monitors or an ultrawide screen, getting the FOV right will determine how effective your setup really is.

An ultrawide monitor, even a large 49-inch 32:9 panel, typically tops out at 105 degrees to 110 degrees horizontal FOV. That is still immersive compared to a standard 16:9 display, but it does not provide the same wrap-around effect or peripheral visibility as a triple-monitor setup. Additionally, ultrawide screens can sometimes require more aggressive in-game camera adjustments or head-tracking to achieve similar situational awareness, especially in competitive racing scenarios. This can work well for casual driving or single-player experiences, but for close-quarters racing where every fraction of a second matters, the extra visibility from triples can make a noticeable difference in performance.

Image courtesy of Amanda Freeman Photography

Performance and Hardware Requirements

The display setup chosen will directly affect how much processing power your PC needs to run sim racing titles smoothly. Triple monitors require the GPU to render three separate images at once, which can significantly increase the pixel count compared to a single ultrawide display. For example, a triple 1440p setup pushes around 11 million pixels, while a 49-inch 5120x1440 ultrawide processes roughly 7.3 million pixels. That difference can mean the gap between maintaining a stable 144 frames per second and struggling to keep frame rates consistent during intense races.

Triple monitors often demand a high-end graphics card and careful optimization through software like NVIDIA Surround or AMD Eyefinity. This added strain can also impact CPU performance, particularly in titles that are already heavy on processing power such as iRacing or Assetto Corsa. Ultrawide monitors are less demanding, making them easier to pair with mid-range GPUs while still achieving high visual fidelity and smooth frame rates.

If maximum graphical settings and frame stability are important to you, your hardware choice should match your display ambitions. For racers on top-tier PCs, triples will shine. For those running more modest systems, an ultrawide can deliver an excellent experience without overloading your components.

Image courtesy of iRacing

Immersion and Realism

Triple monitors surround you with a wrap-around view that closely matches the peripheral vision you would have in a real cockpit. This extra width makes it easier to judge distances, spot opponents in your mirrors, and feel more connected to the car and track. The angled side panels also help create a sense of speed and depth that can be difficult to replicate on a single display.

Ultrawide monitors take a different approach; they offer a single, uninterrupted image without the bezels that split triple setups. While the horizontal FOV is smaller, a large curved ultrawide still provides a panoramic view that can be very immersive, especially in single-player or casual racing. The curve also helps wrap the edges of the display into your peripheral vision, reducing the flat, window-like feel of a standard 16:9 monitor.

Both setups deliver a strong sense of realism, but in different ways. Triples lean into authenticity and competitive advantage, while ultrawides deliver simplicity and a clean visual experience without sacrificing too much immersion. The better choice comes down to whether you value maximum awareness or a streamlined, all-in-one setup.

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

There is no universally “better” choice. Only the one that aligns with your space, budget, hardware, and racing goals can be considered the right choice for you. Whether you go with triples or an ultrawide, setting up your FOV correctly will make the biggest difference in how realistic and competitive your sim racing experience feels.

Choosing between triple monitors and an ultrawide display for sim racing comes down to your priorities. Triples excel in competitive environments where every degree of field of view matters, delivering unmatched peripheral vision and situational awareness. Ultrawides, while offering a smaller FOV, win on simplicity, space efficiency, and a bezel-free viewing experience that still feels immersive.

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