How To Buy The Best PC Gaming Monitor
The monitor is an essential part of a gaming setup. It’s very important so that you can have a solid, smooth, and high-fidelity gaming experience. The sad case is that many people do not know how to choose the best ones for their setups, which is why most gaming monitors are not working properly for their PC. Even for people who consider themselves gamers make this mistake.
So how does one search for the right gaming monitor that will give them the fastest refresh rates and low response times? What should they look for in order to have the best visual experience and enjoy all their favorite modern games? Below are some of the things you need to consider when buying a high-quality gaming monitor. We’ve done all the research for you so read on!
High Resolution
The higher the resolution of your monitor, the better the picture quality it gives. The minimum you need for Full HD is 1920 x 1080 or as it’s often known 1080p. But if you have all the money in the world, you can also get better resolutions that go up to as high as 4k. So if resolution is important to you and you want gorgeous looking gameplay, this is the first thing you have to consider when looking for a gaming monitor.
Response Time
Are you fond of playing online games and detest losing because of lag? Response time is another important factor in determining the right gaming monitor for you. It tells you how long a monitor takes to change individual pixels from black to white. Longer response time can cause choppiness or blurring when gaming.
Basically, good gaming monitors have the best response times resulting in competitive advantage in every game. If you’re a competitive gamer, you’ll want gaming monitors that offer a response time that’s less than 5ms. The fastest gaming monitor can have a 0.5ms response time.
Refresh Rates
Good gaming monitors have high refresh rates. This allows them to render better and smoother images. The minimum refresh rate to deliver great gaming performance is at least 144Hz.
Size of Panel
The ideal size for gaming monitor should be 27 inches max. Large monitors will simply be too difficult to use. You’ll need to move your eyes all over the PC screen to see everything and that can be hard when you’re gaming. Furthermore, a smaller screen increases your reaction time. This is important in winning competitive games.
Panel Technology
Image quality in panel technologies is composed of three common types: TN, IPS, and VA. TN stands for twisted nematic, this is a type of LCD panel display which is the most affordable yet gives the poorest image quality. Despite this, TN has good refresh rates and response time making it good for gaming.
IPS stands for in-plane switching, this type of screen technology have slightly faster response times and better color than TN. It also comes with the best color reproduction where you can enjoy optimal gaming experience. VA monitors or vertical alignment have the best contrast out of all the panel types. They offer more accurate colors and wider viewing angles.
Curved Monitors
Curved gaming monitors are a new trend in gaming. Some people prefer them because of their ability to make gaming experience more immersive with a larger field of view. Curved monitors are also thought to be less eye straining because light sources are coming from various angles. Furthermore, they provide a richer and crisper visuals.
If you want to buy a curved monitor you have to consider the price and curvature specs. These ultra-wide monitors come at a higher cost. Each curvature has a suggested maximum viewing distance.
Graphics Card
In order for your monitor to work well, you have to consider the graphic card you’re currently using or planning to purchase. A budget graphics card used in a high end monitor can have bad performance. So if you want a better monitor, you’ll also want to purchase a good graphics card.
Other Features
You’ll want a gaming monitor that’s equipped with a variety of video inputs in order to stay connected to other PCs or gaming consoles. You’ll want dual HDMI ports and extra USB ports for your external peripherals. If you want to enhance your gaming experience, you’ll also want a powerful speaker system with a built-in subwoofer.
Purchasing a gaming monitor is a task that needs a lot of research. To own the perfect monitor that can run all your games, you want to consider your refresh rates, response times, panel sizes, graphic cards, and video inputs. Lastly, you have to consider your budget. For budget gamers, make sure to purchase affordable yet ideal monitors for your needs. If you have the money to spend, you’ll want to match your monster gaming rig with the best gaming monitor you can find!