Gaming Monitor - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
Video game platforms like the Xbox and PlayStation are great, but because they only release new hardware every 5-10 years, they are often left behind by evolving new technology after the first 18 months. Gamers who need to live on the cutting edge of technology turn to PC gaming, where they can always buy or build a computer gaming rig with the latest specs.
But when it comes to building PC games, the jewel in the crown is the monitor. The monitor controls every visual aspect of gaming, from resolution to contrast ratio (and everything in between), so it's important to choose the right one so that the rest of your hardware shines.
Choosing the right monitor means knowing what you're looking for, and what your favorite games require—for example, many triple-A game titles can run in 4K resolution, and some even support high dynamic range (HDR), so they can produce ultra-sharp, perfectly colored images.
If you're ready to find the perfect monitor for your PC gaming rig, or if you just want the most versatile monitor you can find, you've come to the right place. Find everything you need to know about gaming monitors.
Key Considerations
Many monitor specs are a mish-mash of acronyms, numbers, and made-up marketing words, but there are a handful that really matter. Here are the most important features:
- Screen size
The factor that will affect the game the most is the size of the screen. The "right" size will vary by gamer, but most gamers find monitors smaller than 27 inches to be unsuitable for PC gaming. Most gaming monitors range in size from 24 to 32 inches, measured diagonally.
- Resolution
After the size of the screen itself, the most important attribute of the monitor is the resolution, that is, how many pixels can be displayed on the screen at once. Modern PC games are built for extremely high resolutions, and a high resolution monitor is necessary to enjoy most games the way the developers intended. In general, it's best to get a gaming monitor that supports a minimum resolution of 2560 x 1440p.
- Update Rate
Monitors work by constantly redrawing the screen you see, and refresh rate refers to how many times per second a monitor can redraw (or refresh) an entire screen. Refresh rates are measured in Hertz (Hz), and most non-gaming monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate. PC games look and run much better on displays with higher refresh rates, which is why gamers often opt for monitors with refresh rates of 120Hz or higher. In general, to get the best picture possible, it's a good idea to buy a monitor with the highest refresh rate you can afford.
- Response Time
Response time is the measure of how long it takes for a single pixel to go from lit (active) to unlit (completely inactive, or black) to lit again. It is essentially a measure of how quickly individual pixels can change. When a monitor has a high response time, you're likely to see "ghosting" (echoes of things that were recently on the screen), which can be incredibly annoying during gameplay. Make no mistake: response time has a big effect on gaming, and the wrong monitor can be a significant handicap in some games. Most traditional monitors have a 5 millisecond (ms) response time, but for gaming, look for a monitor with a 1ms or 2ms response time.
- Video Connectivity Options
Gaming monitors often have more connectivity options than traditional monitors, so they can accept a signal from a wider variety of sources. For example, many gaming monitors have HDMI, DVI, and DisplayPort inputs, so they can connect to anything without using a cheap adapter. Before you buy a gaming monitor, make sure you have the right connectivity solutions for your PC's video card.
Fancy Features in Gaming Monitors
If you're looking for more than just the basic functionality of your gaming monitor, you're in luck. More and more gaming monitors differentiate themselves by offering niche features. Here are the extras that can turn your gaming monitor from "pretty cool" to "jaw-droppingly awesome."
- HDR :
High Dynamic Range, or HDR, is a feature found in many movies that greatly enhances the colors, brightness, and depth of a screen's picture quality. Many movies from Netflix, Amazon, and Vudu are offered in HDR, and watching a movie in HDR can transform the experience. If you plan to use your gaming monitor for watching movies, consider spending for a monitor that has HDR. The image quality will make your movies look almost as good as your games.
- Frameless Displays :
Some gaming monitors opt for the frameless (sometimes referred to as “no bezel”) look, which maximizes screen real estate and provides a sleek feel. However, frameless screens are 'not just for looks. They're perfect for multi-monitor setups, so you can place two or three next to each other to form a perfect landscape. If you plan to build a multi-monitor gaming setup, consider purchasing a frameless monitor.
- USB Hubs :
Some gaming monitors have built-in USB hubs, so you can connect a USB cable between the monitor and your computer, and then use the extra USB ports on the monitor itself. USB hubs are especially useful if your gaming computer is a laptop with a limited number of USB ports.
Tips
Install the latest video card drivers on your computer. Do this before you connect your gaming PC to a gaming monitor. Drivers are the software that run the various physical components of a computer, and while most gaming monitors are plug and play, downloading and installing video card drivers will help ensure that your monitor works properly. Get the best image quality available.
Position your monitor so that the center of the screen is at the same height as your eye line. Monitors are designed to be at eye level, and using one at any other height can lead to back pain or conditions like carpal tunnel. When you first set up your monitor, make sure your eye is in the center of the screen when gaming and enjoy all the painless gaming you want.
Never use a TV as a gaming monitor. While it can be tempting to save money on a gaming monitor and use a TV instead, that's...a bad idea. TVs come in gamer-friendly resolutions like 4K, but features that affect gaming the most, like response time, refresh rate, and lag time, are at acceptable levels on most TVs. If you're serious about PC gaming, get yourself a proper gaming monitor and enjoy every title the way it's meant to be played.
FAQ
Que. Can I use a gaming monitor as a normal monitor if I am not a gamer?
Ans. Yes. All gaming monitors are still monitors and can do everything a non-gaming monitor can do. That said, if you don't plan on gaming, a gaming monitor may be more than you need. Maybe you want to save money by considering a traditional or curved monitor instead.
Que. Why do some monitors advertise G-SYNC or FreeSync? Is that important?
Ans. Some PC video cards include technology that helps combat image issues by dynamically matching the monitor's frame rate to the content being displayed. (If you've ever seen an image where part of it is intermittently blurred or displaced, your monitor may have had difficulty adjusting to variations in the display speed of the video signal.) FreeSync is an open standard created by AMD for monitors to dynamically adjust to content. Because it has no license fees, it is found on many monitors. G-SYNC is the equivalent technology from graphics chip manufacturer NVIDIA, but G-SYNC is a proprietary and licensed technology that can increase the cost of monitors. Both FreeSync and G-SYNC are good solutions, although gamers often debate which is better.
Que. Are curved monitors good for PC gaming?
Ans. It depends on who you ask. Curved monitors are designed to mimic the curvature of the eyeball and theoretically engage your peripheral vision to create a more immersive experience. Some gamers swear by curved monitors, claiming they can make some games look like IMAX movies; others think it's a trick that can cause problems with glare from near light. We strongly believe in curved monitors, but it is true that it is a choice that should depend on personal taste more than anything else.
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