The 5 Best 144Hz Monitors for Gaming
Nothing takes us out of the immersion of a video game's universe more than a choppy framerate on a slow monitor. And in the case of first-person shooters, a dropped frame can mean the difference between life and death (thankfully not literally, but you get the point). You may have to see it to believe it, but a monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz displays motion noticeably smoother than its slower 60Hz or 120Hz cousins. Here, we’ve come up with five of our favorite gaming monitors with that super-fast refresh rate, from the prettiest to the priciest.
Asus MG278Q 27″ WQHD
Easy on the Eyes
If it’s time to use your graphics card to its maximum potential, you’re going to want a display that’s fast, bright, and beautiful. The Asus MG278Q is all of that and more. The 2k display is crisp, clear and colorful and boasts an impressive 1ms response time. It also has the latest G-sync technology to further reduce stuttering frames and to smooth out motion. Fast games, like shooters and racers, will run uninterrupted, so you can tear around that corner without tearing the screen. Plus, this monitor not only has a first-rate display, but it’s also engineered to be easy on the eyes. Ideal for long marathon gaming, the MG278Q has flicker-free backlighting and a blue light filter to reduce eyestrain.
Pros:
- 2560×1440 resolution
- Super responsive
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Button placement on the side
- Settings menu is a bit clunky
AOC C24G1 24″ Curved
Small Price, Giant Value
You don’t need to sell the family farm to get a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate. The AOC C24G1 checks all the boxes, offering not only that coveted 144Hz refresh rate, but also a 1ms response time. Plus, with the adaptive FreeSync technology enabled, you can say goodbye to screen tearing and jittery motion. That means buttery-smooth graphics without breaking the bank. Of course, at this price, it does come with some limitations. The resolution is 1080p, the viewing angle can be quite narrow, and you may have to sacrifice higher brightness levels for response time. Nonetheless, for those who are looking for a fast monitor under $150, the AOC delivers.
Pros:
- Adjustable stand is durable
- Backlighting to reduce flickering
- 1-year accidental damage warranty
Cons:
- No HDR support
- Resolution is 1080p
LG 34GL750-B Ultragear
Widen Your Virtual World
If you want true immersion, you may have to wait for a console that plugs directly into your brain and emulates virtual worlds by harnessing your neural networking power. But why wait? For those willing to settle for the next best thing, we suggest the LG 34GL750-B Ultragear. The curved, ultra-wide screen stretches around your field of view, placing you center-stage in your favorite video game universe. Besides the size of the display, this monitor has all the best features that we look for in a 144Hz monitor, including superb color fidelity, frame-syncing compatibilities, and a wide viewing angle. That being said, the vertical resolution is 1080p, so gamers that value a high screen resolution over immersiveness may want to look elsewhere.
Pros:
- HDR10 for better contrast
- Hardy stand
- Rich color tone
Cons:
- Poor HDR compatibility
- Low pixel density
Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
Did Someone Say 4k?
For those of us looking to transcend the world of mere mortals to game with the gods, the Asus PG27UQ is a no-brainer. You may have to take out a small loan to afford it, but divinity does not come cheap. With a refresh rate of 144Hz and a resolution of 4k, this monitor is a dream come true for those of us that happen to possess equally-divine graphics cards. The color range is cinema-standard. The screen has a 1000-nit peak brightness, which is crazy bright. The LED backlight is dynamically controlled, ensuring the most true-to-life images. The best part of all? With the flip of a switch, the PG27UQ will project a color-changing logo onto the wall and desk, so that your enemies can tell from a distance that they’re dealing with a gaming god.
Pros:
- G-sync HDR support
- Rich, vivid colors
- 4ms response time
- Ambient light sensor
Cons:
- Cooling fan can be noisy
- Overclocking is required for 144Hz
BenQ Zowie XL2731
Let’s Get Competitive
It isn’t the biggest display on our list, nor is it the most expensive. It may even require a little tweaking in the settings menu to match your display preferences. However, once you set it up and get to gaming, you’ll realize why the BenQ Zowie XL2731 can provide a competitive advantage. For starters, the “Black eQualizer” feature means details won’t get lost in even the darkest areas, so you’ll be able to spot your enemies camping in the shadows. The color saturation can also be fine-tuned to improve detail, and the 1ms responsiveness of the screen means fast, accurate motion. Even the shape of the monitor is designed to minimize distractions and glare, so you won’t lose your concentration at a critical moment.
Pros:
- 1ms response time
- Limited 3-year warranty
- Great value for the price
Cons:
- Included displayport cable is low quality
- Settings must be calibrated
Frequently Asked Questions
What is refresh rate and why does it matter?
Refresh rate is simply the speed at which your monitor updates the image on the screen. A monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz, for example, will update the screen 144 times in one second. Analogous to traditional filmmaking, refresh rate is proof that the movement that we perceive on a screen is actually a series of still images shown very, very fast to create the illusion of motion.
When we play a video game, the game has its own frame rate, or frames-per-second. Unlike the refresh rate of our monitor, the frame rate is constantly changing, depending on the processing demands of the game. With the latest hardware, modern gaming computers can run games at consistently high frame rates. Some graphics cards are so powerful, they can even produce frame rates that are faster than the refresh rate of the monitor. In such a case, the monitor becomes a bottleneck, and frames will be generated that can’t be displayed.
Even more troublesome than bottlenecking is something called screen tearing. Screen tearing occurs when a discrepancy between the frame rate and the refresh rate causes two or more frames to overlap, causing artifacts in the image. These artifacts can be very obvious and appear as if the screen were torn and shifted around. With a higher refresh rate, the intervals of time between each new refresh are shorter, meaning there are less opportunities for two frames to be rendered on top of each other. The result is smoother motion and more responsive action.
What is G-Sync, and how does it affect my gaming experience?
All of the monitors on our list have some form of frame-syncing technology. In trying to find solutions for screen-tearing and input lag, different companies have developed different strategies for minimizing or eliminating such distracting artifacts. G-sync is the name for Nvidia’s frame-syncing technology, which eliminates screen-tearing by adapting the refresh rate of the display to match the framerate of the graphics card. AMD developed its own frame-syncing technology, the royalty-free FreeSync, which also uses a dynamic refresh rate to tackle the problem.
Although there are technical differences between them, both of these technologies are generally quite good at what they do. With a high refresh rate monitor and G-Sync or FreeSync enabled, most gamers are pleased with the results. Frame-syncing technology has come a long way, and today’s standard for gaming monitors is buttery smooth motion and virtually-instantaneous response times.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.