If you are a gamer, it’s quite obvious that you must already be aware of how important a gaming monitor is in a gaming setup. Smooth visuals, vibrant colors, and quick response time are crucial to having a wonderful gaming experience, which is possible only with the right gaming monitor working significantly well.
But how will you recognise which one out of the so many options available is the right one and will meet your gaming requirements? That’s where the below guide will come in handy. We have mentioned below the key factors that you should consider when buying a gaming monitor.
Reading this guide till the end will make you capable of making an informed buying decision.
Resolution – Clarity and Detail
The detailing and sharpness of visuals in a monitor are determined by its resolution. So the higher the resolution, the clearer the visuals or better the image quality will be. However, high resolution consumes high processing power too.
If you are tight on budget and planning an affordable gaming setup, 1080p (Full HD) will be an ideal choice for you and will provide competitive gaming experience.
1440p (Quad HD), on the other hand, will be a perfect balance between visual quality and performance. But if you are someone intending to have the sharpest visuals in the monitor, then you shouldn’t settle for any monitor having a resolution of less than 4K (Ultra HD).
However, 4K (Ultra HD) resolution will require you to have a powerful graphics card.
Refresh Rate – Smooth Gameplay
The number of times per second the screen of a monitor refreshes its image is referred to as its refresh rate. This parameter is measured in Hertz (Hz). A monitor with a higher refresh rate offers a smoother gameplay.
You have the options such as a monitor with the refresh rate of 60Hz, the one with 120Hz – 144Hz, and also the option of 240Hz – 360Hz refresh rate to choose from.
If you are just a casual gamer, 60Hz will be fine for you and will work as a basic option. 120Hz – 144Hz is the standard range for most gaming monitors and provides smooth performance.
However, if you are in the category of competitive gamers, you need a machine with ultra-fast responsiveness. So 240Hz – 360Hz will be the best choice in this case.
Response Time – Reducing Motion Blur
Response time of a monitor is the measurement of how fast it makes its pixels change color. That means, for a monitor to have less motion blur, the response time of the monitor needs to be lower.
You should stay within the range of 1ms – 3ms response time while deciding on which gaming monitor to choose if you are a competitive gamer. The monitors with a response time within this range cause minimal lag while they are operating.
On the other hand, for those with casual gaming requirements, the models with a response time of 4ms – 5ms would also work. These are also suitable for story-driven games.
And, if you prefer a responsive gameplay, look for the monitors with 1ms or lower response time.
Panel Type – Color Accuracy & Viewing Angles
There are different types of monitor panels to choose from when it comes to deciding on which gaming monitor to buy. So panel type is another crucial factor to consider.
Response time, picture quality, and viewing angles are all affected by the type of panel you opt for. There are mainly 3 types of panels: TN (Twisted Nematic), IPS (In-Plane Switching), and VA (Vertical Alignment).
If you are a competitive gamer, you should go for either a TN or an IPS panel. IPS will offer a better immersion while gaming.
And, if we compare these 3 types of panels based on the response times they offer, TN is the one with fast response time; IPS is slower in this aspect, and with VA, you will experience a moderate response time.
Screen Size & Aspect Ratio
Most gamers prefer a screen size between 24” – 27” which is ideal for them and balances visibility. So you can also choose one within this range.
But if you are intending to have an immersive experience in gaming, it’s better to opt for a monitor with a size of 32” or even above. However, that much size will also require you to have a larger desk to accommodate the monitor.
Apart from these options, ultra-wide screens are also available that are great for having an immersive gaming experience. They are good for multitasking also. However, all games don’t support these types of monitors.
Adaptive Sync – Eliminating Screen Tearing
Adaptive sync technologies help prevent the tearing of monitors’ screens. These technologies are G-Sync, and FreeSync. The first one functions with NVIDIA GPUs and the second one does with AMD GPUs.
G-Sync offers a smoother gameplay compared to the FreeSync, and the advantage with the FreeSync technology is that it’s more budget-friendly.
You should select a monitor that offers support for the adaptive sync technology that perfectly matches the graphics card in your gaming setup.
Connectivity
There is a multitude of ports in every monitor to serve as connectivity options. You should ensure that the gaming monitor you are considering for yourself features all the essential ports you need for your gaming setup.
These ports include HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. HDMI is common for PCs and consoles. DisplayPort, on the other hand, is best for high resolutions and refresh rates.
As far as the USB-C port is concerned, it comes in handy in laptops and modern devices.
Final Verdict
Budget is not the only thing to keep in mind while choosing a monitor for gaming. You should also take into consideration the PC hardware you have and your gaming preferences as well.
Additionally, the factors, like refresh rate, resolution, response time, adaptive sync technology, and panel type, that are mentioned above are also worth being on focus if you are after the best gaming experience.
