It is more than just a panel full of pixels that makes the best gaming monitor. Visualize everything your PC can do and get a sense of what’s possible in other worlds. You don’t just need a good monitor to be able to see high-resolution images; you also need one that can keep up with your fast-paced gaming. From accurate colors to low latency, the best gaming monitors should be the perfect partner to your gaming rig.
To get the most out of your money, you must understand the GPU-monitor symbiosis. Your new 4K monitor won’t be able to achieve its full potential unless you’re upgrading to one of the best graphics cards (opens in new tab) soon. In the case of those high-end AMD RX 6000 GPUs (opens in new tab) or Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPUs (opens in new tab), gaming monitor options are plentiful. These cards can handle 4K panels with ease.
You can always use it at a lower resolution for now if future-proofing your setup is important to you. A high refresh rate monitor (opens in new tab) is the ideal choice for competitive gamers who value speed above all else.
In order to come up with the best gaming monitors for every budget and performance requirement, we test an exhaustive number of gaming monitors each month. Newer models are regularly added to this list as they pass our rigorous testing.
Best gaming monitor
If you’re looking for the best gaming monitor, we’ve got some good news for you. We’ve tested dozens upon dozens of displays over the course of several months, and today we’re taking a look at the Alienware 34 QD-OLed. This large 34-inch display packs a whopping 3440×1440 resolution into a 21:9 aspect ratio. With a pixel density of 163 pixels per inch, this thing looks fantastic. And while it might seem like a lot of real estate for just a computer monitor, this ultrawide IPS panel makes up for it with a high refresh rate of 144 Hz and support for G-Sync HDR.
The 34 QD-OLLED costs $1,499, which isn’t cheap, but it’s worth every penny for gamers. This is our pick for the best gaming monitor because it offers great performance and features without breaking the bank. If you want to see how well it performs in action, check out the video above.
Specifications
Screen Size: 34 inches
Resolution: 3840 x 1080 pixels
Response Time: 1 ms
Brightness: 350 cd/m²
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Viewing Angle: 178 degrees horizontal / 178 degrees vertical
Colors: 16.7 million
Backlight Type: LED
Color Gamut: Wide Color Gamut
Native Resolution: 3840x1080p @ 60 Hz
HDMI: Yes
DP: Yes
USB Hub: Yes
Warranty: 5 Years
Weight: 11 pounds
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.4 x 3.9 inches
Price: $2,200
The Asus ROG Swift PG278Q is a great gaming monitor, especially considering how affordable it is. With a starting price of just $329, you’re getting a high-quality screen with some nice extras thrown into the mix. Let’s take a look at what makes this monitor tick.
Design & Features
If you’re looking for a gaming monitor, you want something that feels sturdy, doesn’t wobble, and won’t fall over during intense play sessions. Thankfully, the PG278Q does all three of those things very well. This model isn’t too heavy, weighing in at 13 pounds, and it has a solid metal base, making it easy to hold steady while playing games. It’s even got rubber feet to keep it stable on a desk.
Asus says the PG278Q has been designed specifically for gamers, and that’s evident in the way it looks. There are red accents throughout the frame, including the logo on the bottom bezel, along with a black matte finish. All of the buttons are placed on the side of the monitor, allowing players to easily reach them without having to move their hands off the keyboard. If you want to adjust the brightness, contrast, and gamma settings, there’s a joystick on the back of the monitor. The PG278Q also includes a USB hub, so you can connect your mouse, headphones, or other peripherals.
While the PG278Q may not have any fancy features, it does include a few extras that make it stand out from the crowd. For starters, it supports FreeSync technology, which allows the monitor to dynamically change its refresh rate based on the framerate of the game being played. That means if you’re running a 30 FPS game, the monitor will run at 144Hz; if you’re playing a 60 FPS game, it’ll run at 120Hz. In addition, the PG278Q supports NVIDIA G-SYNC HDR technology, which takes advantage of the monitor’s peak brightness to create more vibrant colors.
PC gamers are often accused of being fanatics. This isn’t entirely untrue; we’re obsessed with our machines, and it’s easy to see why. We’ve got thousands of dollars invested in hardware, and we want every single ounce of performance out of it. But sometimes we forget that there are different kinds of enthusiasts. Some people just enjoy tinkering around with their computers, while others prefer to focus on games. If you fall into the latter category, here’s what you need to know about buying a computer.
Why Buy?
If you’re looking to play some games, there’s no better way to do it than with a powerful desktop machine. You’ll be able to run high-end graphics cards well beyond their recommended limits, and you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues or driver quirks. Even if you don’t plan on playing games, having a powerful rig ensures you’ll be able to multitask, edit photos, watch movies, and perform other tasks efficiently.
What Not To Do
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a perfect build. Every component has tradeoffs, and choosing the wrong components can lead to frustration and poor performance. For example, if you go cheap on RAM, you could end up running out of space later down the road. Similarly, if you pick a CPU that’s too weak, you might find yourself unable to use your GPU to its fullest potential. Choosing the right components is important because even though you might save money now, you’ll likely pay dearly in the long term.
How To Choose
You’ll probably have a lot of questions when you start shopping for a new PC. So let’s take care of those first. First off, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting the best value possible. While you certainly want to invest in quality parts, you shouldn’t feel compelled to overspend. Instead, look for deals where you can score great components for less than $1,000. Once you’ve found the right deal, you’ll want to figure out how much power you actually need. Most desktops come with plenty of options, but you might find that you need something smaller. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a quad-core processor and 16GB of RAM. These specs are enough to handle most tasks, but you’ll still have room left over for expansion.
MSI’s new GX273H is a 27in 1440p 144Hz IPS display, capable of HDR10+ and FreeSync 2 support. Its specs include a 2560 x 1080 pixel resolution, 300 nits brightness, 400 cd/m2 maximum luminance, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 178° wide viewing angles, 4ms response time, and a 5 ms grey-to-grey response time. There’s also a DisplayPort 1.4 input alongside HDMI 2.0a and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports.
The screen supports Nvidia’s G-SYNC variable refresh rate tech, allowing gamers to choose whatever frame rate they want while still maintaining full compatibility with Nvidia’s GameWorks anti-aliasing software. The screen features a native 16:9 aspect ratio, though there’s no mention of widescreen support here either.
The stand offers tilt, height, swivel, pivot and rotate adjustments, along with VESA mounting options. This model weighs 11kg.
Price & Availability
MSI’s GX273H starts at £499 / $599, making it one of the cheapest models out there. You’ll find it online today from major retailers such as Amazon UK and Newegg USA.
– Resolution: 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
– Panel type: VA
– Screen size: 32 inches
– Brightness: 300 cd/m2
– Response time: 5 ms GtG
– Viewing angle: 178 / 178 degrees horizontal / vertical
– Color gamut: sRGB
– Input lag: 0.5ms
– Contrast ratio: 1000:1
– Speakers: 2x 7W
– Webcam: 720p HD
– Connectivity: VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0
– Warranty: 3yr warranty
PRICE: $799
The Pixio PX277 is a 27-inch monitor with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 165 Hz maximum refresh rate, a 60 Hz response time, a 3000 :1 contrast ratio, a 5 ms gray-to-gray response time, a 1000 cd/m2 brightness rating, 178° viewing angles, a 10-bit color depth, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a 2W stereo speakers. This model supports HDMI 2.0 inputs; DisplayPort 1.4 outputs; and USB Type A ports.
The screen features a futuristic design inspired by science fiction movies such as Blade Runner and Star Wars. Its black matte finish looks great against most desktop backgrounds, and its silver stand offers a sturdy hold.
Design
The PX277 measures 26.8 inches wide by 15.6 inches deep by 7.9 inches high. Its weight is 8.7 pounds. The display stands 9.1 inches tall.
This is a very basic gaming monitor. There are no extras like a joystick port, DVI input, or even a VGA connector. You do get a pair of 2W speakers though.
Features
The PX277 features a single HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 output, and one USB Type A port. The monitor does support HDR10 and Dolby Vision video playback.
Leave a Reply