It’s 2020 and everyone’s excited about all the amazing games yet to be released this year which definitely requires some decent gaming monitor. It has been a wonderful decade for gaming and each year the quality of games keeps getting better and better.
What a time to be alive for gamers! But of course, in order to play these great games, you also need a good quality gaming monitor to do its job.
Gaming monitors are an important part of your overall gaming setup. They are your PC’s primary output device. The quality of your monitor can also have a direct effect on the visuals in your game and your overall gaming experience.
How to Choose a Gaming Monitor
Are you planning to buy a gaming monitor? With so many options out there, how do you know which one to buy? In this article, you’ll learn what to consider when buying the perfect gaming monitor:
Screen Size
Monitors come in different sizes. Size refers to the length and width of your monitor screen. There are smaller ones that can measure around 22-24 inches while the bigger ones are around 38-43 inches.
Large, ultrawide monitors with around 34 to 43 inches are reserved for games with the prettiest graphics such as Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey or Shadow of the Tomb Raider. These monitors are great for slow-paced games with rich visuals.
When it comes to screen size for gaming monitors, the type of games you play can be a deciding factor. If you’re sitting less than three feet from the screen, experts agree that 24-inch monitors are the best choice.
These small monitors allow you to view the whole screen easily— and visuals are important in competitive online games like Fortnite or Overwatch. However, if you’re more of a solo player who admires scenery in games such as The Elder
Scrolls V: Skyrim, a slightly bigger such as a 27-inch monitor can be the perfect great choice.
Resolution
The resolution, on the other hand, is measured by pixels and indicates the sharpness and detail of the visual display. Resolution and size go hand in hand, as a larger size screen will need a higher resolution to avoid blurring or pixelation.
The recommended resolution for a 24-inch monitor is around (1920×1080). The ideal resolution for a 27-inch monitor is the WQHD (2560 x 1440).
Refresh Rate
One of the important things to consider when buying a monitor is its refresh rate. Basically, the refresh rate is the speed at which your monitor can change images. So the higher your monitor’s refresh rate the smoother and “tear-free” your gaming experience will be.
Gaming Refresh Rates
The monitor’s refresh rate is measured through Hertz (Hz). Refresh rates can vary depending on the game or the quality of your monitor. The standard gaming monitor can offer a refresh rate of 75Hz, while the best ones are the 240Hz and 144Hz gaming monitor.
These rates are crucial for modern gaming where rapid movements and changing position is the key to winning. Having a monitor that can satisfy this need can potentially give you a huge split-second advantage in the arena.
Panel Technology
There are three common kinds of panel technology used by monitors: the TN or twisted nematic, the VA or vertical alignment, and the IPS/PLS or in-plane/ plane line switching.
In a nutshell, TN panels are the cheapest and the lowest in quality—and the VA and IPS are often considered the better option. All of them use LCD technology.
IPS
These panels are considered the best for its color accuracy, viewing angles, and superb image quality. IPS panels often emit a slight purple hue on blacks which can be identified when viewed from a wide-angle.
These types of panels are great for gamers who are more interested in the visual beauty of video games—especially those who aren’t super competitive and love playing games with great graphics.
VA
These panels are recognized for their good color reproduction and wide viewing angles. They also have the highest contrast ratio. However, the response time for VA is worse than TN or IPS, making it a not so great option for fast-paced gaming.
TN
The TN panels are the most popular panels manufactured today. They’re affordable and offer fast response times, making them great for fast-paced gaming. A standard TN panel can have a response time of just 2 to 5 ms while an IPS and VA can have 8ms.
However, TN panels don’t usually come with great color quality and can have bad viewing angles. So if you’re more into fast-paced online games but don’t care much about graphics, TN panels are the best choice for you.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the best monitor is the one that can fit your budget and setup. The points above are simply guides to help you out if you’re stuck on three or two choices.
I hope that these tips can help you find the perfect gaming monitor for your budget and needs. Happy gaming!
Petr is a serial tech entrepreneur and the CEO of Apro Software, a machine learning company. Whenever he’s not blogging about technology for itechgyan.com or softwarebattle.com, Petr enjoys playing sports and going to the movies. He’s also deeply interested in mediation, Buddhism and biohacking.