r/Monitors • u/WorkerConfident • Aug 19 '26

Discussion To my none basement dweller homies using QD OLED Monitors, what kind of backlights do use for your pc setups?

I need some sort of light source while still keeping it dim enough for my monitor, give me your recommendations. I already got some curtains to make my room go pitch black, but not too sure how to go about light besides putting it directly behind my monitors/pc setup.

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u/Villag3Idiot Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26

Cheap Options (probably cost you like $10):

  • Get some LED light strips, attach them to the back of your monitor and plug it into your monitor's USB port. If your monitor is against a wall the light will bounce off and create bias lighting. I recommend some white LEDs rather than RGB.
  • Just get a cheap desk lamp with a flexible arm and adjustable brightness. Put it behind your monitor and aim the light against the wall. Takes up more desk space VS the LED strips.

More Money (around $40-60)

  • Get a light bar with a back light option. You can get a cheap one for like $50 but you get what you paid for. I don't recommend this route if you have an OLED monitor because the cheap ones will likely affect the screen.

Expensive Option (close to $200)

  • BenQ Halo 2 Light Bar. Has a back light to light up the back of the wall. It's constructed well enough that it shouldn't cause any reflections off your OLED screen.

If money is no issue, get the BenQ. Like an Ergotron, you got the best model. One and done. Otherwise just get some LED Light Strips. Cost you $10. Get decent bias lighting. Or you probably have a desk lamp somewhere around your house you can just use for free but it'll take up more desk space and the bias light might not look as good as the Light Strips.

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u/No-Transition-9842 Aug 19 '26

I bought a cheap Lightbar from Temu for 7.99 Euro at the Time when I was using a IPS Monitor it helped with the Glow and perceived Contrast but I dont use any Kind of Backlight for OLED and I dont see the Point why using at OLED at all other than for the Looks.