10 Things to Consider When Buying a Gaming Monitor

Gaming monitors have come a long way in recent years, offering higher resolutions, faster response times, and smoother refresh rates. With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to know which features to prioritize. However, fear not! We will break down the most important aspects to consider when choosing a gaming monitor, so you can make an informed decision and level up your gaming setup.

From screen size and resolution to refresh rate and response time, each aspect plays a crucial role in determining the quality of your gaming experience. By understanding what to look for in a gaming monitor, you can ensure that you invest in a display that will bring your games to life and provide you with a competitive edge in the virtual world.

Why Is It Important To Choose The Right Gaming Monitor?

• Smoother gameplay: A high refresh rate monitor will help to reduce screen tearing and stuttering, which can make gameplay feel more smooth and fluid.
• Faster response time: A low response time monitor will help to reduce motion blur and ghosting, which can make objects appear sharper and more responsive.
• Sharper image: A high-resolution monitor will display images with more detail, which can make games look more realistic and immersive.
• Wide viewing angles: A wide viewing angle monitor will allow you to see the image clearly from different angles, which is important if you share your monitor with others or if you move around a lot while gaming.
• Other features: Some gaming monitors also come with features like adaptive sync, HDR, and G-Sync/FreeSync, which can further improve the gaming experience.

What To Look For In A Gaming Monitor?

01. Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is the number of times per second that a monitor updates the image on its screen. It is measured in hertz (Hz). For example, a monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz updates the image 60 times per second.

How does the refresh rate affect gaming?

A higher refresh rate can make gaming smoother and more responsive. This is because the monitor can keep up with the faster frame rates that are generated by modern graphics cards. This can be especially beneficial for fast-paced games, such as first-person shooters and racing games.

What is a good refresh rate for gaming?

The best refresh rate for gaming depends on your individual needs and preferences. However, a refresh rate of 144Hz or higher is generally considered to be the sweet spot for most gamers. This will provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience even for the most demanding games.

If you are a competitive gamer, you may want to consider a monitor with a refresh rate of 240Hz or higher. This will give you a slight edge over your opponents, as it will allow you to see the action more clearly and react faster.

02. Response Time

Response time is the time it takes for a pixel on a monitor to change from one colour to another. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower response time means that the pixel will change colours more quickly, which can help to reduce motion blur and ghosting.

How does response time affect gaming?

Response time can affect gaming in two ways:

• Motion blur: Motion blur is a visual artifact that can occur when a monitor’s response time is too slow. It happens when the pixels on the monitor cannot change colours quickly enough to keep up with the movement of the image. This can make the image look blurry and less sharp.
• Ghosting: Ghosting is a similar visual artifact that can occur when a monitor’s response time is too slow. It happens when the pixels on the monitor do not change colours completely before the next frame is displayed. This can create a trail of the previous image behind the current image, which can make it difficult to track moving objects.

What is a good response time for gaming?

The best response time for gaming depends on the type of game you play. For fast-paced games, such as first-person shooters and racing games, a response time of 1 ms or less is ideal. For slower-paced games, such as role-playing games and strategy games, a response time of 5ms or less is still acceptable.

If you’re a gamer, opting for a gaming monitor with a low response time is essential. A low response time can give you a competitive edge, as it will allow you to see the action more clearly and react faster.

03. Resolution

Resolution is the number of pixels displayed on the screen. It is measured in pixels per inch (PPI). A higher resolution means that there are more pixels on the screen, which can result in a sharper image.

How does resolution affect gaming?

Resolution can affect gaming in two ways:

• Image quality: A higher resolution can result in a sharper image, which can make games look more realistic and immersive.
• Frame rate: A higher resolution can also put more strain on your graphics card, which can lead to lower frame rates. This can make games feel less smooth and responsive.

What is a good resolution for gaming?

The best resolution for gaming depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for the best possible image quality, then a high resolution such as 1440p or 4K is ideal. However, if you are also concerned about frame rates, then you may want to consider a lower resolution such as 1080p.

If You’re a serious gamer, You might want to emphasize frame rates above visual quality. This is because a greater frame rate might provide you with a competitive advantage by allowing you to perceive the action more clearly and respond more quickly.

Using a High-Res Gaming Monitor – Benefits and Drawbacks

Here are some of the benefits of using a monitor with a high resolution for gaming:

• Sharper image: A higher resolution can result in a sharper image, which can make games look more realistic and immersive.
• More detail: A higher resolution can also display more detail in the game world, which can make it easier to spot enemies and objects.
• Better text clarity: A higher resolution can also make text clearer, which can be beneficial for games with a lot of text.

If you are serious about gaming, then a monitor with a high resolution is a worthwhile investment. It can make a significant difference in the overall gaming experience, and it can give you a competitive edge over your opponents.

Here are some of the drawbacks of using a monitor with a high resolution for gaming:

• Lower frame rates: A higher resolution can put more strain on your graphics card, which can lead to lower frame rates. This can make games feel less smooth and responsive.
• Higher system requirements: A higher resolution requires a more powerful graphics card and CPU, which can increase the cost of your gaming rig.
• Less available games: Not all games support high resolutions, so you may be limited in your choices.

04. Panel Types

TN (Twisted Nematic): TN panels are the most common type of panel used in gaming monitors. They offer the fastest response times, making them ideal for fast-paced games. However, they have the worst viewing angles and colour reproduction.

IPS (In-Plane Switching): IPS panels offer the best viewing angles and colour reproduction, making them ideal for games that require accurate colour representation. However, they have slower response times than TN panels.

VA (Vertical Alignment): VA panels offer a good balance of response time, viewing angles, and colour reproduction. They are a good option for gamers who want a good overall image quality.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode): OLED panels offer the best image quality, but they are also the most expensive. They have very fast response times and wide viewing angles. However, they are not as common as TN, IPS, and VA panels.

Which panel type is best for gaming?

If you are a competitive gamer who plays fast-paced games, then a TN panel is the best option. If you are looking for the best possible image quality, then an IPS or VA panel is a good choice. If you have the budget, then an OLED panel is the best option for the best image quality.

Other Features

05. Adaptive sync

Adaptive sync is a technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of a monitor with the frame rate of a graphics card. This helps to prevent screen tearing and stuttering, which can make gaming feel smoother and more fluid.

There are two main types of adaptive sync:

• G-Sync: G-Sync is a proprietary technology developed by Nvidia. It is only available on monitors that have a G-Sync module.
• FreeSync: FreeSync is an open-source technology developed by AMD. It is available on monitors that have a FreeSync-compatible module.

06. HDR

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It is a technology that expands the range of colours and brightness that can be displayed on a monitor. This can make games look more realistic and immersive.

HDR monitors require HDR-compatible content to be displayed properly. This content is becoming more common, but it is not yet widely available.

07. G-Sync vs. FreeSync

G-Sync and FreeSync are both adaptive sync technologies, but they have some key differences.

• G-Sync is generally more expensive than FreeSync.
• G-Sync is only available on monitors that have a G-Sync module. FreeSync is available on monitors that have a FreeSync compatible module.
• G-Sync is generally considered to be more compatible with games than FreeSync.

Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on your individual needs and budget. If you have the budget and want the best possible experience, then G-Sync is the better option. If you are on a budget or want more compatibility with games, then FreeSync is a good choice.

08. Colour gamut

Color gamut refers to the range of colours that a monitor can display. A wider colour gamut means that the monitor can display more colours, which can make images look more realistic and vibrant.

The most common colour gamuts are sRGB and DCI-P3. sRGB is the standard colour gamut for most monitors and TVs. DCI-P3 is a wider colour gamut that is used in some high-end monitors and TVs.

09. Viewing angle

It refers to the maximum angle at which you can view the monitor without the image losing its quality. A wider viewing angle means that you can view the monitor from more angles without the image distorting.

TN panels have the narrowest viewing angles, while IPS and VA panels have wider viewing angles. OLED panels have the widest viewing angles of all.

10. Ergonomics

Ergonomics refers to the design of a monitor to make it comfortable to use. Ergonomic features include adjustable height, tilt, and swivel. These features can help to reduce neck and eye strain, which can be caused by long hours of gaming.

It is important to choose a monitor with good ergonomics if you plan on gaming for long periods of time.

How To Choose The Right Gaming Monitor For You? (Step-by-Step Summarized)

1. Consider your budget: Gaming monitors can range in price from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. Set a budget before you start shopping so that you don’t overspend.
2. Think about the games you play: What type of games do you play? If you play fast-paced games, then you’ll need a monitor with a high refresh rate and low response time. If you play slower-paced games, then you can get away with a lower refresh rate and response time.
3. Determine your preferred panel type: There are three main types of panel types: TN, IPS, and VA. TN panels offer the fastest response times, IPS panels offer the best viewing angles and colour reproduction, and VA panels offer a good balance of all three.
4. Decide on the resolution: The resolution of a monitor refers to the number of pixels it can display. A higher resolution means that the image will be sharper. However, a higher resolution also requires a more powerful graphics card.
5. Consider other features: There are other features that you may want to consider, such as adaptive sync, HDR, and colour gamut. Adaptive sync helps to prevent screen tearing and stuttering, HDR expands the range of colours and brightness that can be displayed, and colour gamut refers to the range of colours that a monitor can display.
6. Read reviews: Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, read reviews from other gamers to see what they think of the monitors you’re considering. This can help you make an informed decision.