Last Updated on August 3, 2019
Building a Gaming PC is really enjoyable. That is If you know exactly what to look for. Even if you somehow figure out how to buy some of the parts of your gaming PC, choosing a monitor can be really confusing with the vast amount of different features to look out for.
If you just want our best picks, check them out.
How to choose a gaming monitor
If you are in a spot where finally pulling the trigger on a monitor seems frightening, no worries. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the important features to look for in a monitor and how to prioritize them.
Resolution
Simply put,
Response Time
Explained in plain terms, response time is the time taken by the pixel to change. The lesser the response time, the better. Most gaming monitors in the market offer a competitive refresh rate of 5ms (milliseconds) as a standard. But, If you are looking forward to playing a competitive game like CS: GO, a monitor with 1ms response time is your best bet.
Refresh Rate
While response time is the amount of time taken to change from one colour to another, refresh rate is the number of times a screen displays a new image, in one second. It can matter a lot in competitive games where each second matters. It is expressed in Hertz and is essential in gaming. Commonly, monitors offer a 60hz refresh rate. Gaming monitors often feature a higher refresh rate of 144hz which can be game-changing(pun intended).
Panel Type
Now let’s talk about what the monitor panel is made of. There are a huge number of monitors on the market which use different types of panels, namely, WA, TN,
- TN (Twisted Nematic) Monitors are the most commonly available. They offer a higher resolution, good refresh rates, faster response times while also being pocket-friendly. But, the colour reproduction and the image crispness are nothing to boast about.
- VA (Vertical Alignment) panel monitors are an improvement from the TN Monitors in terms of colour reproduction and viewing angles but that comes at a price. These VA monitors have slower response times and refresh rates. That makes them affordable and quite okay for a normal user.
- Monitors with IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology are the best monitors you can buy for the money. They offer competitive response times, refresh rates while also producing the best colours and image quality. They produce vibrant contrast with excellent viewing angles which makes them far superior when compared to the other panels. IPS Monitors are extensively used by graphic designers and movie editors too. So, if you are searching for a good gaming monitor with gorgeous image quality, go with an IPS monitor.
Adaptive Sync
Now, you might have seen GSync and FreeSync mentioned in product pages and wondered how important are they. Actually, they are quite important
To be told without going into the technicalities, displays with GSync and FreeSync provide far smoother, tear-free images compared to normal monitors. GSync is designed for Nvidia GPUs while FreeSync is a technology used by AMD GPUs. Recently, Nvidia also started supporting adaptive sync for monitors which have FreeSync pre-built.
If you are looking towards some casual gaming and want to watch tv shows/movies on your monitor, go with an IPS panel monitor and don’t worry about the response time and refresh rates at all. If you have a mid-range PC, a tight budget and are looking towards some serious game time, focus on higher refresh rates, lower response times but compromise on the resolution and the panel type and you should be fine. With a high-end PC and a good budget, the world is your oyster! Look out for extensive reviews, weigh your options and make an informed decision!
If you have a mid-range PC, a tight budget and are looking towards some serious game time, focus on higher refresh rates, lower response times but compromise on the resolution and the panel type and you should be fine. With a high-end PC and a good budget, the world is your oyster! Look out for extensive reviews, weigh your options and make an informed decision!
1. Acer Nitro VG271U 27-Inch IPS Gaming Monitor
Specifications:
- Resolution: 2560×1440
- Panel Type: IPS
- Response Time: 1ms
- Refresh rate: 144hz
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Adaptive Sync: AMD FreeSync
- Ports: 2x HDMI Ports, 1 DisplayPort
- Speakers: 2X 2W Stereo Speakers
The Acer Nitro VG271U is a 27 Inch Gaming Monitor which features an IPS panel, and a great refresh rate of 144hz and a quick response time of 1ms. It has a resolution of 2560×1440 which provides a great viewing experience. This monitor checks out all the features required for an awesome gaming experience: A great resolution,IPS Panel, Fast Response rate and a high refresh rate. It also features the AMD Freesync and provides smooth,tear-free images even while playing graphically-intense games.
One of the drawbacks of this monitor is that it lacks ergonomic adjustment features. At the price point at which it is sold, it would be really good if its height and position could be adjusted.
If you have a beefy GPU like the Nvidia RTX 2070 or the 2080 which can hit 144hz at 2560×1440 resolution in most games, you should definitely go with this monitor.
Check price2. HP 25X 24.5 Inch IPS Gaming Monitor
Specifications:
- Resolution : 1920×1080
- Panel Type : IPS
- Response Time : 1ms
- Refresh rate : 144hz
- Brightness : 350 nits
- Adaptive Sync : AMD FreeSync
- Ports : 1x HDMI Port, 1 DisplayPort
- Speakers : Not present
The HP 25X is a stylish gaming monitor which can deliver high-quality graphics at a high refresh rate. It has the standard 1920×1080 resolution and features an IPS panel which has a refresh rate of 144hz and a 1ms response time.
This monitor has a unique, stylish design which adds to the aesthetic of the gaming PC. It has an ambient light sensor present which adjusts the brightness of the monitor according to the lighting conditions of the room. It also comes with additional features like Flicker-Free technology, Blue Light Reduction etc. which prove helpful.
The AMD FreeSync technology provides absolutely smooth images even in graphically-intense games.
It also has height and position customization options and pivot rotation which are absolutely necessary but unfortunately absent in most of the monitors available in the market.
The HP 25X features only one HDMI port and one DisplayPort and it can be disadvantageous if you plan on hooking up a gaming PC and a console to this monitor. Out of the factory, the HP 25X is poorly optimized. The colour calibration should be done manually for the first time while setting up this monitor.
If you are in search of a monitor with decent resolution and amazing features, this monitor should be seriously considered. It can deliver some seriously awesome graphics while being stylish!
Check price3. Acer AOpen 24HC1Q Curved Gaming Monitor
Specifications:
- Resolution : 1920×1080
- Panel Type: VA
- Response Time: 4ms
- Refresh rate: 144hz
- Brightness: 250 nits
- Adaptive Sync: AMD FreeSync
- Ports
: 1x HDMI Port, 1 DisplayPort Speakers : Not present
The Acer AOpen 24HC1Q is the latest offering in the AOpen gaming lineup from Acer. It provides a decent gaming experience for the price for which it is sold. It has a resolution of 1920×1080 with a refresh rate of 144hz which is more than capable enough for a mid-range gaming PC.
It is a curved display which is premium and also comes with good miscellaneous features like low blue light, anti-flicker etc. It houses AMD FreeSync technology and hence, puts out tear-free, rich images. It also has good viewing angles which can be quite helpful when playing in a bright environment.
One of the main drawbacks of the Acer AOpen 24HC1Q is that, it a VA panel and not an IPS panel. Even though the image quality and the colour accuracy is more than good enough, it still lacks the richness and the sharp colour contrast IPS Panels offer. The 250 nits brightness can be low while playing in a bright environment. But, for the price point at which this monitor is being sold, it is a bang for the buck.
If you are on a budget and want a premium gaming monitor without compromising much, this Acer AOpen monitor should definitely be on your list.
Check price4. BenQ Zowie XL2411P Gaming Monitor
Specifications:
- Resolution : 1920×1080
- Panel Type : TN
- Response Time: 1ms
- Refresh rate : 144hz
- Brightness : 350 nits
- Adaptive Sync : AMD FreeSync
- Ports : 1x HDMI Port, 1 DisplayPort
- Speakers : Not present
Now this is a monitor that is perfect for Esports! It has a good resolution, very quick response time, high refresh rate, highly ergonomic design and well, what more do you need?
This BenQ Zowie Gaming monitor is made to play competitive games like CS:GO, Fortnite etc. It features a 144hz,1ms TN Panel Display with a highly adjustable stand. This makes it comfortable to view even after long gaming sessions, which is what a serious competitive gamer looks forward to. BenQ has developed the advanced Exclusive Colour Vibrance Technology and a Black Equalizer which are offered in this monitor. With the increased visual clarity and customized colour settings, the gamer has a high advantage out there on the battlefield.
One of the main drawbacks of this monitor is the TN Panel. Compared to the other display at a similar price point, the colour reproduction of this monitor is just decent enough. But it shouldn’t matter if you are buying this for playing competitive online games. After all, that is what this monitor is made for.
If you want a comfortable monitor to play long sessions of competitive games, this monitor should be your go-to.
Check price5. HP 24ES IPS Full HD Monitor
Specifications:
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Panel Type: IPS
- Response Time: 5ms
- Refresh rate: 60hz
- Brightness: 250 nits
- Adaptive Sync: –
- Ports: 1x HDMI Port, 1 DisplayPort
- Speakers: Not present
The HP 24ES is a premium monitor from HP which is suitable for low and mid-range gaming. It features an IPS panel which outputs vibrant and colourful images. For a budget-friendly monitor, this performs exceedingly well. It also has a very good viewing angle which is an essential feature.
The drawbacks of this monitor are its not-so-extraordinary refresh rates and response time. The monitor produces vivid and accurate colours, but if you are looking for a serious gaming experience, you should consider other options mentioned before in this guide.
But, If you have low-end PC and would like to run something light on it, and for watching tv shows or movies, this is a really good display in the price bracket.
Check price
