Are you looking for a new gaming monitor? Don't buy any before checking this guide!

The monitor market is vast, and you can get a little bit confused between so many brands, models, sizes, and features. The best way to avoid confusion is by knowing what you actually need. Do you love first person shooter games? Or, maybe you are more of an e-sports game? Depending on the type of entertainment you like the most, certain features such as refresh rate, resolution, and response time will determine which monitor will fulfill all your needs.

Things you should look for when choosing a monitor

When deciding for the best monitor, you should consider a few features beyond just screen size. The resolution, refresh rate, and response time are just a few of the details you should pay attention. Monitors, which fulfills demands for pro players, should have the following features.

Resolution

You can choose the resolution between 1080p (Full HD), 1440p (QHD/2K) or 2160p (UHD/4K). Higher pixel count means you will get the best visual and clarity possible. But you don’t necessarily need to go that way. The most popular choice is the 1080p, it offers decent image and can be found for affordable prices. If you plan to have the minimum quality while playing, you should not go lower than 1080p. 

In case you decide to go with higher resolution, remember to check if you have enough power to handle it. Before deciding for UHD or QHD for example, check if your graphics card unit (GPU) can support this type of monitor. 

Refresh Rate

Refresh rate means the monitor's speed to change displayed images. In general, the higher the speed, the smoother the image will look. You can find gaming monitors with 60Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz of refresh rate. The refresh rate is a crucial feature for gaming since it should keep up with the player's movement in the game. 

Although the higher, the better, you will need to take in consideration your GPU power and available budget, since the latest 240Hz panels tend to be more expensive. 

Panel Technology

You can choose between three different panel technologies. All of them have various features, and they will perform better depending on the application you need.

  • IPS – Is the best technology for color reproduction. If you work editing images or videos, this is a perfect choice. But during games, it might cause ghosting, especially if your screen has lower than 100Hz refresh rates.
  • TN – This type of panel is not so suitable for color reproduction, but it is the best choice for gaming. Monitors with TN have high since they are the fastest refresh rate and lower response time.
  • VA – This is a middle ground between IPS and TN technologies. It has decent color reproduction, but its refresh rate is not as fast as the TN version.

Response time

Response time represents how quickly the monitor can change its pixels from one shade of gray shade to another. It is measured in milliseconds and you can find monitors with a response time ranging between 1 – 7ms. For gaming, it is recommended to choose monitors with a response time of 5ms or lower.

Screen size

Gaming monitors can range between 21 inches to 43 inches. Different from when choosing a TV for your living room, bigger does not necessarily mean better. Your choice should be concise to your needs and budget. Larger screens are great, and most of the latest models offer Wide, Quad High-Definition (WQHD). If you go higher than 27 inches, remember to check if your GPU is capable of running it properly, or you will miss its true potential. If you chose to go with a resolution of 1080p, a monitor of 24 inches might be good enough.

Adaptive Sync

Adaptive sync technology is known as dynamic refresh rates, and it helps to remove any screen tearing while you are playing. Currently, there are two options available in the market: AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. Both solve the tearing issue almost in the same way; the most visible difference is their compatibility. These technologies will only work if you have the same-brand GPU; therefore, you should choose whether you want AMD or Nvidia before purchasing your gaming system.

The best gaming monitors for pro players

Based on the features and details mentioned above, we would like to present to you some of the best options available in the market. 

Best Budget Gaming Monitor

Are you tight on budget? These three models are under $300, and offer compatible basic features for gaming.

Monitor Price Amazon Size Resolution Panel Refresh Rate Response Time
AOC G2460PF

– FreeSync

US

UK

24” 1920 x 1080p TN 144Hz 1ms
ViewSonic

XG2401

– FreeSync

US

UK

24” 1920 x 1080p TN 144Hz 1ms
LG 25UM58-P (UltraWide Category) US

UK

25” 2560 x 1080p IPS 75Hz 5ms

Overall best Gaming Monitor

These monitors should attend most of your gaming demands. 

Monitor Price Amazon Size Resolution Panel Refresh Rate Response Time
Asus ROG Swift PG278QR

-G-Sync

US

UK

27” 2560 x 1440p IPS 165Hz 1ms
BenQ Zowie 

XL2540

-G-Sync

US

UK

24.5” 1920 x 1080p TN 240Hz 1ms
LG 34UC89G-B 

– G-Sync

US

UK

34” 2560 x 1080p IPS 144Hz 5ms

Best Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor

Ultra-Wide monitors are perfect for a full immersive experience. 

Monitor Price Amazon Size Resolution Panel Refresh Rate Response Time
Alienware AW3418DW

– G-Sync

US

UK

34” 3440 x 1440p IPS 120Hz 4ms
Acer Predator X34P

– G-Sync

US

UK

34” 3440 x 1440p IPS 100Hz 4ms
LG 34UC89G US

UK

34” 2560 x 1080p IPS 144Hz 5ms

Best Monitor For Work And Play

Sometimes life is more than just playing. If you will need a monitor for also work, check these models.

Monitor Price Amazon Size Resolution Panel Refresh Rate Response Time
LG 27UK650

-Freesync

US

UK

27” 4K IPS 60Hz 4ms
BenQ EX3501R

-Freesync

US

UK

34” 3440 x 1440p VA 100Hz 4ms
BenQ EL2780U

– FreeSync

US

UK

27” 4k TN 60Hz 1ms

Best Monitor to play multiplayer games

Response time and refresh rates are crucial for the best gaming experience.

Monitor Price Amazon Size Resolution Panel Refresh Rate Response Time
Alienware AW2518HF

-FreeSync

US

UK

25” 2560 x 1080p TN 144Hz 1ms
Acer Predator XB252Q

– G-Sync

US

UK

25” 2560 x 1080p TN 240Hz 1ms
ViewSonic XG2530

-FreeSync

US

UK

25” 2560 x 1080p TN 144Hz 1ms

Best Gaming Monitor to play FPS

First person games require some higher image quality so that you can have the best immersive experience possible.

Monitor Price Amazon Size Resolution Panel Refresh Rate Response Time
Samsung C32HG70

– FreeSync

US

UK

32” 3440 x 1440p VA 144Hz 4ms
ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q

– G-Sync

US

UK

27” 3440 x 1440p IPS 185Hz 4ms
Acer  XV273K – FreeSync US

UK

27” 4K IPS 144Hz 4ms

 

Sachin Reddy is the founder and blogger at Techmediaguide.com. Certified Inbound Marketer, Tech Savvy & Brand Promoter. His passion lies in Blogging. For Sachin, night is day and online gaming is a serious sport. One can always find him enrapt to his laptop screen.

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