A fast, well-connected display is a key element in any PC gamer’s arsenal. Here’s what you should look for in a monitor for gaming.
Whether you’re a serious PC gamer or a casual after-hours warrior, your hardware can mean the difference between victory and defeat. In this guide, we’ll help you choose a display that will give you an edge over your opponents while delivering a smooth, immersive gaming experience. We highlight the factors to consider when choosing a gaming monitor, and give our current favorites.
When it comes to gaming monitors, bigger is almost always better. If you have the room, a 27-inch screen provides plenty of real estate and offers the opportunity to go beyond Full High-Definition (FHD). Many of the newer 27-inch models are Wide, Quad High-Definition (WQHD) monitors with maximum resolutions of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels. You could also opt for a 30-inch, 4K or Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) monitor or a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor with or without a curved panel.
Gaming monitors should have a fast pixel response and a high refresh rate. The most commonly used pixel response spec is gray to gray, which is measured in milliseconds and signifies the time it takes a pixel to transition from one shade of gray to another.
A low pixel response will help eliminate the smearing of moving images and provide a smoother overall picture than a higher pixel response.
A monitor’s refresh rate refers to the time (per second) it takes to redraw the entire screen and is measured in Hertz (Hz). Most LCD monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate, which means the screen is refreshed 60 times per second, but fast-moving images may appear blurry at this refresh rate, or the panel may suffer from screen tearing.
The latest crop of gaming monitors use synchronization technology to help reduce tearing and other motion artifacts while lowering input lag (which we measure on all displays we review using the Leo Bodnar Video Signal Lag Tester). Displays equipped with Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync modules give control of the screen’s refresh rate to the GPU (instead of the monitor), which allows the display to operate with a variable refresh rate. The result is a very smooth gaming experience, with decreased input lag. However, G-Sync and FreeSync monitors require a compatible graphics card with a DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0 output.
LG 34UC87C
The LG 34UC87C is a 34-inch, 21:9 Curved UltraWide display that allows multi-display set-up tailored to users’ refined needs. With multi-display stand and a few accessories available at LG, what you have is a variety of customized set-up options. With this one, you can enjoy its 2×3 cinematic viewing experience as the graphic motion sweeps across massive screen estate.
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LG 25UM58-P
The LG 25U58-P is a 25-inches 21:9 UltraWide FHD (2560*1080) display that offers visual comfort and ensures your best viewing pleasure. There is no color shift or no distortion of color at all. The display comes with a Game Mode, consisting of FPS, RTS, and Custom modes, provides a customized gaming experience that varies with genres.
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AOC AG271QG
The AOC AGON AG271QG is a 27-inch Flat QHD monitor. The monitor supports both G-Sync and Free Sync technologies, offers a refresh rate of 144Hz & 1ms, and comes with a Gaming Mode Setting. The monitor also comes with a Control Keypad, 1 HDMI Input and 1 DisplayPort Input, among other features.
AOC AG322FCX
The AOC AG322FCX is a 32-inch Full HD MVA Curved Monitor featuring a refresh rate of 1800R/144Hz and supporting Free Sync technology. The monitor comes with Gaming Light Effect and an optional Control Keypad. In terms of connectivity, the monitor comes with ports such as 1 VGA (Analog) Input, 1 DVI (Digital) Input, 1 HDMI Input and 1 DisplayPort Input.
ASUS ROG SWIFT PG248Q
This one is a 24-inch Full HD gaming monitor with an ultra-fast 1 ms response time to eliminate smearing and motion blur. It comes with an overdock-able 180Hz refresh rate and G-SYNC technology for super-smooth gameplay. ASUS-exclusive GamePlus hotkey is also included for in-game enhancements while GameVisual is also present for optimized visuals. Read more: ASUS ROG SWIFT PG248Q
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ACER PREDATOR X34
Designed for discerning gamers, the Acer Predator X34 is a 34-inch ultra-wide gaming monitor featuring a curved screen and Nvidia’s G-Sync anti-tearing technology. It uses an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel to deliver rich, accurate colors and crisp gray-scale reproduction, and its UWQHD resolution provides outstanding image detail.
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