The 4 Best Gaming Monitors
In a rapidly evolving tech space, it's hard enough to stay up to date with the newest hardware options, let alone know which of them is the best. When it comes to PC gaming, choosing the right monitor is essential to maximizing your gaming experience. Whether you're playing immersive world-based games or fast-moving shoot-'em-ups, you'll want to seek out a monitor that best suits your style of gaming. Here we've included some of our favorite picks, ranging from an affordable, budget-priced champion all the way to a premium, ultra-responsive beauty, as well as a couple of high-value options in between.
Acer Predator X27
The mother of all monitors
With great cost comes great responsibility. At this price, the Acer Predator X27 has to meet some pretty high expectations. Our verdict is that for the most part, it does just that, and then some. Rather than running off an insanely long litany of industry-leading specs, we hope you’ll take some time to read user reviews and watch some videos to decide whether or not you can justify the cost.
For gaming, running 4K at an overclocked 144 Hz works excellently, and the resulting graphics provide one of the most immersive, luscious visual gaming experiences that you can experience today. Still, to experience the full potential of the Acer Predator X27, you’ll need a serious gaming rig. Most likely, if you’re considering a purchase this expensive, the rest of your setup is probably pretty first-rate as is. However, those who don’t have a monster graphics card should be warned: this one simply isn’t worth the investment if your hardware can’t support the full extend of this monitor’s demands.
Pros:
- Adjustable hood shields from glare and adds privacy
- Supports HDR
Cons:
- Fantastically expensive
- Takes some manual tinkering to achieve optimal settings
Viewsonic XG2401
Low latency, low cost
AMD loyalists have a budget-friendly champion in the Viewsonic XG2401, which offers FreeSync-supported, full-HD resolution gaming with a 144Hz refresh rate at a fraction of the cost of high-end gaming monitors. At 24 inches, it may not be as big as your dream monitor, but alack and alas— sacrifices must be made in the name of cost savings.
It does have built-in speakers, but they’re fairly awful, so don’t expect much on that front. A more glaring flaw is how sharp the viewing angles are — especially from below — but this isn’t uncommon to TN (twisted nematic) panels. Still, thanks to the adjustable stand, you can mitigate this fairly easily.
Pros:
- One-millisecond response time
- Stand has built-in headphone hook
- Plenty of features
- Black stabilization for heightened visibility in darkness
Cons:
- Mediocre color accuracy
- Navigating menus is needlessly complicated
Asus ROG Swift PG279QZ
Too good to be true?
In terms of price and specs, the 27″ Asus ROG Swift PG279QZ occupies a sweet spot for gamers playing first-person shooters, RTS games, and action-packed racers. Its 165Hz refresh rate towers above most competitors, and you’ll notice the drastic reduction in lag and motion blur immediately. Features includes the company’s proprietary Eye Care Technology, which supposedly minimizes minimizes ocular strain. Because of that, this one’s great for people who plan on indulging in marathon-length gaming sessions. Its Ultra Low Blue Light filters are easy to access and on the units on-screen display.
Pros:
- Color-enhancement presets
- Minimal lag and excellent motion-handling
- 4 preset crosshair overlays
- Can be easily tilted and pivoted
Cons:
- Lacking in brightness
- Does not support HDR
- Mild IPS glow
Dell Alienware AW3418DW
An uber-immersive, curvaceous ultra-wide
If you’re running a Nvidia GPU, this one is, hands-down, the cream of the crop when it comes to ultra-wides. With a futuristic-looking design that mimics the brand’s desktop and laptop units, it has style and substance in equal parts. Featuring a 3440 x 1440p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (overclocked), and G-Sync capabilities, you can expect minimal lag and beautiful color reproduction from this highly-lauded monitor.
Aside from the competitive edge you can expect to gain by utilizing the AW3418DW’s superior specs, this monitor simply looks gorgeous. Alienware products have developed a reputation for quality, and with good reason. The same attention to detail that results in such a good-looking monitor is going into engineering the internals of this beauty. It’s no surprise, then, that its performance inspires such loyalty in its owners.
Pros:
- Customizable AlienFX lighting
- 4 USB ports
- Virtually no screen tearing
Cons:
- Not compatible with USB-C
- Susceptible to backlight bleeding
Frequently Asked Questions
How do gaming monitors differ from regular ones?
Because one of the primary requirements of gaming is the ability to respond to stimuli quickly, gaming monitors are usually designed with a higher refresh rates, low input lag, and faster response times. All of these help provide you with a competitive advantage, whether its against other people in multiplayer games or otherwise. Being able to react even a millisecond quicker than your opponent could be the difference between winning and losing a match, so you can see why a monitor built to provide you with that advantage is desirable.
What does term refresh rate mean?
Put simply, refresh rate refers to the number of times per second your computer updates the image displayed on the screen. This is measured in Hz. Typically, gaming monitors are rated at least over 75Hz. A gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, then, refreshes more than twice as quickly as a standard, 60Hz monitor.
What size panel should I buy?
This totally depends upon the time of games you’ll be playing most frequently. If you’re all-in on MMORPGs or other world-based single-player games, you’ll likely want to enjoy the highly-detailed worlds that are designed purely for your gaming pleasure, and a bigger screen will help you do this. To miss out on the beauty of a game like Witcher 3, for example, would be a shame.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better, though. Competitive gamers usually aim for a 24″ monitor, although 27″ is popular too. Playing a first-person shooter with a monitor that’s too big would result in you having to be more precise with your aim. A smaller monitor requires less motion, both from your mouse-holding hand and from your eyes.
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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.