For most drivers the best screen size for a SimHub dash is 5 to 7 inches when it sits close to the wheel, and 10 to 16 inches when it sits above or beside your main monitor. A small screen near the wheel shows a few big numbers at a quick glance. A larger screen further away fits a full telemetry page, a timing screen or a stream chat. The right size depends on distance, not on what looks impressive.
This guide compares the common sizes, explains what each one does well and shows how to mount it so it stays sharp and still.
Why does screen size matter for a dash?
A dash only helps when you read it in a split second.
Your eyes spend most of a lap on the track. A look at the dash should take less than a second, ideally on a straight. So the digits must be large enough to read at your viewing distance. A screen that is too small forces you to stare. A screen that is too large pulls your eyes away from the braking point, because it fills part of your view with bright pixels.
Distance is the key. A screen 50 cm from your eyes looks twice as big as the same screen at 100 cm. That is why a phone on the wheel base works fine, while the same phone above a 32 inch monitor is almost useless.
Which sizes do sim racers use?
Each size class has its own job on the rig.
5 to 7 inch: the classic wheel dash
Small USB screens and phones sit right behind or below the wheel, like the dash in a real race car. Show gear, delta, fuel and flags in big digits. Many small dash screens use a resolution of 800 x 480, and plenty of SimHub templates are made for that format. Want to start for free? Read how to use a phone as a SimHub dashboard.
8 to 11 inch: the tablet dash
A tablet fits more data, such as tyre temps per corner or a small track map. It works well below a single main screen, where you look down briefly on the straights. Keep the brightness low, so it does not glare at night races.
SIMGASM | Vesa mounting bracket set 75 / 100 / 200mm - Black
13 to 16 inch: the portable monitor
A slim portable monitor is a popular middle ground. It shows a full telemetry layout with input traces and timing. Many have a VESA 75 pattern, so they fit on a standard mount. Place it above or next to your main screen, never in front of it.
22 inch and up: the fourth monitor
A full monitor above a triple setup turns into a timing wall for endurance races, a SimHub 4th monitor dashboard or a screen for your stream. It is too big to read while cornering, so use it for information you check on the straights or in the pits.
Where should each size go?
Size and position work together, so plan them as one choice.
Small screens belong close to your line of sight, just under the top of the wheel rim or on the wheel base. Medium screens go below or beside the main monitor. Large screens go above it. Whatever the size, the main screen keeps the centre of your view. Our guide on monitor size for sim racing helps you pick that main screen first.
A solid mount matters as much as the screen. A dash that shakes under braking is hard to read, and a bass shaker makes this worse. The SIMGASM Core integrated monitor stands mount onto the cockpit itself, and the Core Top monitor stand adds an upper screen above an existing setup. SIMGASM describes it as a clean upgrade path from a triple screen setup to a full quad setup, for telemetry, timing, overlays and stream controls.
SIMGASM | Core Top monitor stand vesa 75/100 Core - Black
What else should you check before you buy?
A few small details decide whether a dash screen is a joy or a pain.
Brightness and viewing angle
Pick a screen with a good viewing angle, because you look at it from the side or from below. IPS panels usually do this better than cheap TN panels. Check that the brightness goes low enough for dark rooms.
Update rate
The screen itself is rarely the limit. The free version of SimHub updates displays at up to 10 frames per second, and the licence raises this to 60. For smooth shift lights and RPM bars that licence matters more than a faster panel. If the screen stays black, run through our checklist on why a SimHub dashboard is not showing data.
A stable base
Every screen needs a rig that does not flex. SIMGASM builds four cockpit tiers, from the Hobby with a 40 x 40 mm main profile to the Pro with 40 x 160 mm. All of them come with a standard two year warranty. The company is run by sim racers: Fabien Lacaule, who handles buying and distribution, has raced since 2017 with a focus on rally and off road. Find the base that suits your setup in the sim racing cockpit collection.
SIMGASM | Core Monitorstand side arms 75/100 - Black
Frequently asked questions
These quick answers help you choose the right dash screen.
Is a phone big enough for a SimHub dash?
Yes, when it sits close to the wheel. Use a layout with a few large numbers.
What resolution do SimHub dashes need?
SimHub scales dashes to the screen, but layouts look best when the aspect ratio matches. Many small dash screens use 800 x 480.
Should a dash screen go above or below the main monitor?
Small screens go below, close to the wheel. Large screens go above, for data you check on straights or in the pits.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
