Gaming monitors are the most important output device for every gamer. They help you enjoy a game the way it is meant to be enjoyed. If you are playing games with amazing graphics with immersive gameplay, you must experience them through a high-quality gaming monitor. Furthermore, gaming monitors make all the investment on your gaming PC worth it as they show the final results of processing and rendering.
However, choosing the perfect gaming monitor could be tough as there are a lot of options.
In this article, we have highlighted the 3 most important things that you must keep in mind when buying a gaming monitor. Let’s get straight into it.
1. Smoothness in graphical motion
While looking for gaming monitors, it is crucial to choose one that will deliver the in-game movements flawlessly. This will put less strain on your eyes and keep the visuals flowing seamlessly. Smoothness is important in improved gaming performance and an immersive experience.
Here are the key features that decide a gaming monitor’s smoothness.
Response time
Response time is also known as latency and is the time difference between your activities on the input devices and their effect on the screen. Lower latency is preferred as it provides an immense advantage over your opponents. Try to choose a gaming monitor with a response time of less than 3ms for best results.
Refresh rate
Refresh rate refers to the number of times an image is updated per second. A gaming monitor with a higher refresh rate is preferred as it increases the smoothness and number of frames per second. Try to choose a monitor with a refresh rate higher than 120 Hz.
Sync technology
This technology or feature helps our gaming monitor to match its refresh rate with the FPS. screen tearing and blurred objects appear on your screen when the refresh rate is unmatched with the FPS. choose between AMD’s FreeSync or NVIDIA’s G-Sync.
Apart from the smoothness of motion, the resolution and color quality is also extremely crucial to enjoying the graphics of the game in the highest quality.
2. Resolution and color quality
The current generation of computer games comes with graphics that are extremely realistic and life-like. After getting a PC that will deliver the required performance, it is important to have a monitor that can do justice to it. Here are the specifications you need to keep an eye on.
Screen size and resolution
1080p is the most common resolution in the gaming community. However, the jump from 1080p to 1440p or 4K will make a huge difference in the quality. As you go up in resolution, your screen size should increase so that the real advantage is accessed. Typically, go for 24in monitors for 1080p, 27in for 1440p, and 27in+ for 4K gaming monitors.
Panel technology
There are three technologies available, IPS, TN, and VA.
- IPS: In-plane switching technology offers a better color spectrum and viewing angles. However, they can have lower latency and are the most expensive of the three.
- TN: Twisted nematic panels have a faster response rate and are budget-friendly. They don’t offer color spectrum and viewing angles like IPS monitors.
- VA: Vertical alignment panels offer a better contrast ratio than IPS. They are better at color reproduction and give wider viewing angles than TN.
The IPS monitors are considered the best, but TN and VA panel monitors are more budget-friendly.
Color gamut
A specific range of colors that are identifiable to and distinguishable by the human eye is called a color gamut. There are three types: sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3.
- sRGB: Standardized red, green, and blue. Default choice and enough for average gaming.
- Adobe RGB: More cyan-green tones and an improvement over sRGB.
- DCI-P3: 25% wider than sRGB gamut and increasing in popularity with pro gamers.
Now that we have finished the technical part of the discussion, we need to move to the non-technical section. Every gamer is different and so are their needs. Each gamer has a different level of comfort with different monitors. Let’s take a look at that.
3. Ergonomics and comfort
Comfortable gaming monitors reduce fatigue, increase immersiveness, and give a competitive advantage. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that your next gaming monitor is ergonomic.
Curved vs flat screen
Curved monitors reduce eye strain and give a more comfortable gaming experience. The curvature is measured using ‘R’, which is inversely proportional to the curvature. As the size of the monitor increases, curved monitors deliver a better overall experience. However, they are expensive and there is a slight performance disadvantage.
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Build quality and aesthetics
Your monitor is the component of your PC that is noticed first but is also looked at the most for prolonged periods. Choose a monitor that looks good to the eye and is manufactured from stronger materials. Ensure that the monitor has a strong stand that allows you to move the screen around for finer adjustment. Finally, based on your preferences, choose between a glossy or a matte finish.
Ports
Depending on the nature of your device, pay attention to the available ports and their features. In most gaming monitors on the market, you will find multiple available ports, and choosing the right one will give you the best results. HDMI and VGA are the most common ones, but there are also DVI and DisplayPort providing good performance.
Wrapping up
Gamers have a simple philosophy when it comes to gaming monitors. It should be comfortable to view and give a competitive advantage, displaying graphics in high quality. We hope this article helps you get one step closer to your next gaming monitor.
Happy gaming!