By Robin Owens 15 days ago, Monitors
Smooth gaming with affordable monitors.
Want to upgrade your gaming experience? You should definitely invest in the best gaming monitor.
You will need a display with first-class image quality that can handle high-intensity games.
Some gamers prefer huge screens and invest in the best 49-inch monitors while others focus on the fast refresh rate. Just like the best processor and graphics card can largely affect your gaming experience, picking the best gaming PC monitor is no less important.
The most universal option is Dell 24, which comes with a 24-inch quad-HD display and 2560x1440 resolution. Of course, you won’t be able to enjoy the advantages of 4K resolution, but, frankly, many PCs don’t support such a visual output.
In case your PC has a 4K output, consider Asus ROG Swift PG27A. This 27-inch monitor delivers excellent visuals in amazing UHD resolutions with up to 60 fps frame rates.
Those who want to make the most of a living room gaming setup should keep their eyes on Alienware AW5520QF 55-Inch OLED. Although this massive monitor has a size of a standard TV screen, it features refresh rate and depth of color that can be found in the best computer monitors for gaming.
Screen size: 23,8-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1920x1080p | Brightness: 250cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ Bright and precise colors
⊕ Great quality for the price
⊕ FreeSync and VR
⊖ Stand has only tilt adjustment
⊖ Can't change overdrive settings when FreeSync is enabled
Acer Nitro VG240Y Pbiip features a 23.8-inch display, 144Hz Full HD panel, 1920 x 1080 resolution, and support for an AMD FreeSync technology.
Also, it has a 16:9 aspect ratio, 93ppi pixel destiny, and 0.27 х 0.27 mm pixel pitch. Full HD monitors with high refresh rates have vast popularity among gamers who are in search of excellent gaming performance on a budget.
Being a part of the Acer's Nitro series, this monitor has some “gaming” elements in its design. The Y-shaped stand brings a stylish look with matte black in the front and dark red in the back.
The bottom bezel is made of black plastic and has a textured pattern. VG240Y Pbiip has a dual-stage design at the top of the monitor and its sides.
Thin bezels and a slim hard outer component create a frameless look when the monitor is switched off. When it is switched on, you will see a hardly noticeable bezel area. To access the OSD menu, you can use pressable buttons and a joystick located on the back of the monitor.
Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440×1440p | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 120 Hz | Response time: 2ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ First-class image quality
⊕ 2ms response time
⊕ Stylish ultrawide design
⊕ Stunning visuals
⊖ Incredibly high price
⊖ Needs additional ports
Dell Alienware AW3420DW is a premium ultrawide and high refresh rate monitor that features iconic design and support for Nvidia G-SYNC.
With a curved 34-inch screen, you can achieve more immersive entertainment, while 1440p resolution will significantly improve your productivity.
Alienware AW3420DW will impress even the pickiest gamers. The only disappointing thing about this model is its incredibly high price tag.
Dell Alienware AW3420DW is a dream of every gamer since it boasts a stylish design, high resolution, and fantastic color accuracy. The only thing that can be an obstacle to buying this monitor is its price.
Nevertheless, considering all the features and specifications, this model includes, it is undoubtedly worth the investment. Everything here looks way better compared to other gaming monitors.
Screen size: 24-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:1 | Resolution: 1920×1080p | Brightness: 300cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ AMD FreeSync technology
⊕ Impressive165Hz Refresh Rate
⊕ Top-notch image quality
⊕ Precise colors
⊖ Speakers require an improvement
Sceptre E255B-1658A is a budget-friendly monitor that is sought-after among eSports gamers.
Apart from 24.5-inch, 1920×1080 display, it boasts 1ms gray-to-gray response time, the maximum refresh rate of 165Hz, and AMD FreeSync technology.
Nowadays, gaming monitors have considerably evolved due to the increased number of resource-intensive games and constantly improving gaming hardware. Hence, if you decided to purchase a gaming 165Hz monitor, you should clearly understand what different functions mean.
Despite the surprisingly low price, its features are far from minimalistic. The functionality of Sceptre E255B-1658A is rare among the monitors in this price range. So, this is an excellent option for those, who want to get the most without breaking the bank.
Screen size: 35-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3440x1440 | Brightness: 500cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 200Hz | Response time: 2ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 2500:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ 200Hz G-Sync and HDR
⊕ First-class image quality
⊕ Bold design and RGB LEDs technology
⊖ Average port selection
⊖ Overpriced
High-quality and fast, ASUS RoG Swift PG35VQ is considered to be one of the best gaming monitors with VA-type panel and 4ms response time.
It comes with numerous features that make this model stand ahead from its rivals. Such perks as HDR, 200 Hz refresh rate, resolution, and NVIDIA G-Sync Ultimate make ASUS RoG Swift PG35VQ an appealing option for many gamers.
Previously, the maximum refresh rate for these monitors was 144 Hz, which can be found in LG and MSI, costing about $1,000. However, if you want to future-proof your monitor, 144 Hz is not actually enough.
PG35VQ doesn’t need chroma subsampling, and you can enjoy SDR gaming at 200Hz without any hassle. Although it is rather expensive, PG35VQ is packed with a slew of innovative features that will bring your gaming experience to the next level.
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560x 1440p | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ Exceptionally clear motion
⊕ Outstanding low input lag
⊕ Delivers accurate colors
⊕ Reasonable price
⊖ Poor native contrast and black levels
⊖ No USB ports
LG 27GL83A-B uses an IPS-type panel, has 2560x1440 resolution, and fast response time to deliver exceptional performance. With this top gaming monitor, you can enjoy fast motion and a crisp image without blurry effect.
vAlso, it has an excellent low input lag to get the most of your games. LG 27GL83A and LG 27GL850 are considered to be the fastest IPS monitors with 1ms response time speed that allows minimizing motion blur and ghosting during a fast-paced action.
To enjoy the 1ms response time, you need to choose the ""Faster"" setting in the OSD menu of the monitor. However, too strong overdrive can cause pixel overshoot or inverse ghosting. Fortunately, if you set an overdrive option to ""Fast,"" there won't appear any overshoot or blurry trail during fast-paced scenes.
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Response time: 2ms | Viewing angle: 178| Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ Great 240Hz refresh rate
⊕ Decent viewing angles
⊕ FreeSync technology
⊖ Low contrast ratio levels
⊖ Poor black uniformity
Boasting amazing response time, low input lag, and impressive refresh rate, it delivers fantastic gaming experience. Its 27-inch display allows for multitasking as it enables one to open several windows at once.
Those, who expect high resolution, might be a bit put off by the 1080p rate. Despite that, the Dell AW2720HF delivers seamless performance.
The input lag of about 2ms is quite low and is hardly noticeable thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate. The response time of 1ms is even more impressive.
Screen size: 31.5-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440p | Brightness: 300cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 4ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 3000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ Seamless gaming experience
⊕ Nvidia’s G-Sync support
⊕ Ultra-fast refresh rate
⊖ Viewing angle issues
⊖ Low color accuracy
Despite some limitations, this monitor has decent viewing angles and can be added to the list of good monitors for gaming. As compared to the TN-displays, it exceeds in contrast and color accuracy.
Acer Predator Z1 Z321QU offers an impressive contrast ratio of 3000:1 while its pixel density reaches 93ppi. It accounts for amazing text sharpness and overall great image quality.
Thanks to a VESA mount, it can be placed anywhere in your room.
With its response rate of 4ms, some signs of ghosting are unavoidable. What’s more, it has lower brightness levels than other similarly priced monitors which might cause eye strain.
Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1920×1080p | Brightness: 400cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 0.5ms | Viewing angle: 170 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB 9
⊕ Nvidia's G-Sync
⊕ Impressive gaming performance
⊕ 144Hz refresh rate
⊕ Easily adjustable stand
⊖ Good-for-nothing speakers
⊖ Poor viewing angles
While testing the Asus VG278Q 27, we made sure to check if it performs well with modern games. As some of them, for instance, the Crysis series, might be quite demanding in terms of graphics, it is great to see that the monitor has everything to cope with the task.
It becomes possible thanks to its refresh rate of 144Hz and 1ms response rate.
One of its most obvious shortcomings is the low contrast ratio of 1000:1. The monitor’s pixel density of 81ppi leaves a lot to be desired as it accounts for lower image quality and pixelated text.
Screen size: 23.6-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | Brightness: 300cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 170| Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Color support: sRGB
⊕ Great out-of-the-box performance
⊕ FreeSync support
⊕ 144Hz refresh rate
⊕ Short response time at 1ms
⊖ Uses an older TN panel
The Acer KG241Q is a perfect choice for those, who are looking for the best monitor for gaming with a high refresh rate and a solid toolset at a reasonable price.
The Acer KG241Q has some features which are present in previous models of this lineup that are sold at $200 or more. As this version is even cheaper, we decided to test if it delivers the same experience.
With its contrast ratio of 1000:1 being expectedly disappointing, it also has lower brightness levels which cause eye strain. Because of 6-bit color depth, color transitions are far from being smooth while color accuracy is quite low.
A TN-display has its issues as well. As its viewing angles are not wide enough, there might be some signs of color shifting when one is looking at a screen from high or low angles.
Screen size: 49-inch |Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 1080p | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 178 | Contrast ratio: 3000:1| Color support: sRGB
⊕ Width amounting to two 27-inch monitors with 16:9
⊕ Great DCI-P3 color accuracy
⊖ Average resolution
Its speed is pretty decent for a monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz, while the FreeSync 2 technology allows for a variable rate. With low input lag and high DCI-P3 color accuracy, the overall image quality is just perfect thanks to quantum dot backlight.
As most monitors can reach 400 cd/m2 peak brightness, the CHG90 has DisplayHDR 600, which helps significantly lessen eye strain. Some high-end monitors produce 1000 nits but 600 is still far better than one might expect.
While image sharpness might be not great, the overall set of features of this best gaming monitor is bound to blow you away, especially the screen size, color accuracy, 140Hz speed, and amazing visuals.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Acer Nitro VG240Y
OUR CHOICE |
Check PRICE → | |
 |
Alienware AW3420DW
GAMING |
Check PRICE → | |
 |
Sceptre E255B
PROFESSIONAL |
Check PRICE → |
The most important factors to consider while choosing a monitor are its resolution, refresh rate, and affordability.
If your PC is far above the average when it comes to its set of specs, it is sure to deliver a smooth gaming experience even while running games at 4K (3840x2160). In this case, you will likely benefit from purchasing the best gaming PC monitor with several unique features. If your PC is not powerful enough, it’s better to consider purchasing a 1080p monitor. The PCs that demonstrate average performance are likely to support QHD resolution. The good news is that most computers can be paired with Razer keyboards for quick in-game actions.
Similarly to this, the more powerful your PC is, the better refresh rate it supports. Try considering if your PC can support more than 120 frames per second. If the answer is ‘yes’, then you need to find a monitor that fits the bill.
When it comes to price, take into account that a high-end TV for PC monitor is likely to last longer. The best TN monitors aimed at gaming will serve you at least for a decade. In the meantime, you will be able to upgrade your PC to improve your gaming experience.
Be you a professional or casual gamer, your hardware configuration can give you a competitive edge. Whether you are a fan of racing games or sports simulators, you will need a powerful GPU and monitor capable of delivering stunning imagery without any traces of blurring, flickering, tearing, or light bleed. If you've decided on the monitor under 200 bucks, don't expect to get such results.
After reading this guide, you will be able to choose a perfect glossy or matte monitor allowing for a seamless gaming experience. There are several factors you have to pay attention to when making your choice. I will list them below, as well as some of my personal favorites I have discovered after thorough testing.
In most cases, the bigger gaming monitor you have, the better your playing experience is. However, in some cases, it is better to go after a 27-inch monitor or chose an option with an even smaller screen.
For the best computer monitors for gaming, great pixel response is a must. A great refresh rate is also important as it offers a faster frame rate.
Thanks to HDR, even an average game will look great on your screen thanks to enhanced colors, higher contrast, and sharpness. Nowadays, monitors have one of four available HDR levels, namely, 400, 600, 1000, and 1600 nits. The best monitors for photo editing as well as top panels for gaming support the highest brightness levels and significantly reduce eye strain.
To connect your monitor to a wide selection of devices, for example, your gaming PC under 300 dollars and consoles among them, it must have an HDMI port. The top gaming Acer, ASUS, and Samsung monitors have both DisplayPort and HDMI, with some of them going so far to offer DVI as well.
The Asus ROG Swift PG279Q is the best high-end deal you can find on the market right now, provided you have the cash to shell out.
Starting from 120Hz, you will hardly even notice any sign of tearing when playing games. Usually these are BenQ monitors that have a lower input lag.
144Hz is also great but the difference between them is too minor to justify a higher price if you are on a budget.
Yes, most games support 60Hz, so you will be able to enjoy them as other users do. In the meantime, start saving some money to upgrade to 144Hz.
Some monitors with HDMI 1.4 support 144Hz (1920×1080) but make sure to check it before you buy a monitor as some of them have only a 120Hz refresh rate at 1080p.
TN (Twisted Nematic) panels offer faster response times, which can be beneficial for fast-paced gaming, but they generally have limited viewing angles and poorer color reproduction compared to IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels.
On the other hand, IPS panels provide wider viewing angles and more accurate color representation, resulting in better image quality and immersive gaming experiences, but they tend to have slightly slower response times. Ultimately, the choice between TN and IPS panels depends on the individual's preferences and priorities in terms of gaming performance and visual quality.
Adaptive sync technology, such as AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-Sync, synchronizes the refresh rate of the gaming monitor with the graphics card's output, reducing or eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. This technology is important for gaming monitors as it enhances the overall visual experience by providing smooth and tear-free gameplay, resulting in improved immersion and responsiveness for gamers.
