How to choose the right gaming monitor

• A powerful gaming PC syncs seamlessly with the right gaming monitor.
• Watch out for screen resolution and refresh rate.
• Here are the basics you need to start your search.

Choosing the right gaming monitor can be a challenging and stressful task as there are a lot of options, features and specifications to take into consideration. Do I need 24, or 34 inches? Full HD or 4K? Flat or curved? G-sync? These are some questions you might have.

To fully utilize the potential of gaming monitors you need a gaming PC. But you also need a proper gaming monitor. If you have a powerful gaming PC with a high-performance graphic card but an average monitor then you will have a poor gaming experience.

On the other hand, if you have the right gaming monitor but a poor graphics card, then you won’t be able to make most of your monitor. Make sure your entire gaming PC setup is correct if you want a seamless gaming experience.

In this story, we will tell you everything you need to know about gaming monitors and what to look out for before buying them. So let's begin.

Choosing the right gaming monitor – features to look out for

Screen size and resolution
When it comes to the monitor size, bigger is not always better – you have to take pixel density into account.
Pixel density is a pixel per inch ratio of the monitor’s size and resolution. If a gaming monitor has low pixel density then the image and video will look pixelated, meaning there will be limited screen space and a lack of details.

The ideal resolution of a 27-inch monitor is 2560 x 1440 pixels, which results in a pixel density of ~109 pixels per inch. This means you get the perfect amount of screen space and details without any scaling issues.

Coming to screen size, 24-inch Full HD display (1920 x 1080 pixels). It has a pixel density of ~81 PPI, which means that the picture and video might look a little pixelated.

Optimal monitor size and resolution combinations

• 25-inch or smaller: 1920 × 1080 pixels
• 27 to 32-inch: 2560 × 1440 pixels and 3840 × 2160 pixels
• 32-inch or bigger: 2560 × 1440 pixels and 3840 × 2160 pixels
• 25 to 30-inch ultrawide: 2560 × 1080 pixels
• 34 to 35-inch ultrawide: 3440 × 1440 pixels
• 38-inch ultrawide: 3840 × 1600 pixels
• 43-inch super-ultrawide: 3840 × 1200 pixels
• 49-inch super-ultrawide: 5120 × 1440 pixels

Key features for smoothness

Refresh rate
When looking for a gaming monitor, check the refresh rate that is measured in hertz (Hz). It reflects how many times the monitor will refresh the screen each second. Higher the refresh rate, the better it is.

60Hz is considered the bare minimum for gaming monitors. You can also go for 240Hz monitors if you want the top of the line gaming experience. Also, make sure you have a powerful graphics card to run games at higher frame rates.

Response time
The other thing to consider is response time. It means how long it takes each pixel to change from one setting to another. It is measured in milliseconds (ms).
In the gaming monitor look for sub-5ms response time, but getting it low to 2ms and 1ms is even better. Response time is important because fast motion in game can lead to ghosting or blur issues, if the response time is not low. Higher refresh rate with fast response time will give you the best gaming experience.

Another feature to look out for is G-Sync/FreeSync. It will synchronize the gaming monitor refresh rate with the FPS (frames per second) of the game you’re playing, giving you a much smoother gaming experience.

Types of panels
Choosing the right type of panel is important but as long as you get the other specs right, you don’t have to worry about panel type.

IPS
IPS, or In-Plane Switching panels offer good colour reproduction with fast response time and good contrast. They can be a little expensive.

TN
Twisted Nematic panels have a faster response time and higher refresh rate. They are not good when it comes to colour rendering and viewing angles.

VA
Vertical alignment panels offer decent contrast but lose out on game critical performance when compared to TN and IPS panels.

Curved and flat gaming monitors
Both curved and flat monitors have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the choice you make will depend on your gaming style and personal preference.

Flat monitors are available in 21:9 and 16:9 sizes. They are budget-friendly when compared to curved monitors. Some of the games do not support the 21:9 ratio which means the edges of your screen can be left blank and unused when playing on a flat monitor.

Coming to curved monitors, they offer a greater field of view, enhancing your gaming experience. They also place less strain on the eyes because the image is closer to the eyes when compared to a flat monitor.

Colour Gamut
The bare minimum should be close to 100% sRGB coverage. This is a solid baseline and will provide good colour reproduction.

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