In the realm of gaming, the choice of screens plays a pivotal role. Whether it’s for immersive single-player games or competitive shooters, the right gaming monitor can help elevate your gaming experience. This article will explore the world of gaming monitors, comparing them with standard monitors and TVs and whether they’re a worthwhile investment for gamers. Keep reading to find out about the advantages of going with dedicated gaming monitors.
Key Takeaways_
- If you are gaming a lot on your PC, going with a purpose-built gaming monitor is something of a no-brainer, as we detail in our LG 27GP850-B review.
- These gaming monitors typically feature higher refresh rates than standard monitors, making for ultra-smooth gameplay.
- Modern gaming monitors also tend to include immersive add-ons, such as curved designs and integrated speakers.
What is a Gaming Monitor?
Gaming monitors are distinguished by specific features designed to enhance the gaming experience.
Key characteristics include:
- High refresh rates
- Low response times
- Adaptive sync technology like NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync.
These technologies reduce motion blur and screen tearing, providing the user with smoother motion and sharper images.
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A monitor’s refresh rate refers to the frequency at which the image is changed.
Gaming monitors often feature IPS or VA panels, offering wide color gamuts and superior color accuracy compared to regular monitors.
When considering LCD vs LED monitors for gaming, it’s important to note that LED monitors generally provide better contrast and energy efficiency, which can be crucial for long gaming sessions.
They also come in various sizes, with larger screens providing more screen real estate for immersive gaming.
Additionally, the majority of gaming monitors come with HDMI ports, allowing for easy connectivity with a variety of devices, like gaming consoles and laptops.
Is a Gaming Monitor Worth it?
This comes down to personal preference, but we have assembled some of the key advantages you will encounter when using a gaming monitor over a standard monitor.
Increased Refresh Rate
A monitor’s refresh rate refers to the frequency at which the image is changed.
For instance, a monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate will change its image 60 times per second. That 60Hz refresh rate is fairly standard when it comes to traditional monitors.
With gaming monitors, however, that metric can skyrocket to 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and even more in some cases. The end result? Ultra-smooth visuals with no lag as you play graphically intensive computer games.
This will be extremely noticeable in fast-paced games, like first-person shooters and other games that require quick response times from the player.
You’ll also notice that variable refresh rate technology, like AMD FreeSync, helps regulate the refresh rate to reduce screen tearing.
If you experience monitor ghosting, where trails of pixels are left behind on the screen, adjusting the monitor’s overdrive setting can help. This setting reduces the time it takes for pixels to change color, thereby minimizing ghosting effects.
Increased Resolution
Standard computer monitors are not known for their stellar resolution output, as most simple computing tasks simply do not require a high resolution.
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When it comes to gaming monitors, you can at least get 1080p at a bare minimum, but you will often find monitors with higher resolutions, up to 4K, otherwise known as UHD or ultra-high-definition.
Computer games, on the other hand, can absolutely benefit from an HD or higher resolution. Gaming monitors often boast a native resolution that brings out the finest details of in-game content.
Check out this article comparing 1080p vs 4K gaming to see which is right for you. Some gaming monitors will also be wide with a 1440p screen resolution, otherwise known as QHD.
Increased Immersion
Modern gaming monitors come with all kinds of bells and whistles to increase player immersion.
Some are curved, while others will have integrated speakers that offer surround sound.
Ultrawide monitors provide an even more expansive view. These will typically have curved screens, wrapping the content around the gamer for a more enveloping feel, ideal for immersive gaming experiences.
Gaming monitors can offer better color reproduction, enhancing the visual fidelity of games.
Features like HDR and wide color gamut contribute to more vibrant and lifelike images, making them ideal for both competitive gaming and enjoying rich, detailed game worlds.
If you are looking to get lost in a game, a dedicated monitor will help get you there. Just be sure to set up your gaming monitor right and understand the signs of your monitor bottlenecking your PC.
To ensure that games and applications will default to your preferred monitor, you can adjust the display settings in your operating system to set the primary monitor for gaming.
Gaming Monitors vs. TVs for Gaming
When comparing gaming monitors to TVs, the former often has the upper hand in terms of response times and refresh rates, which are essential for a smoother gaming experience.
While TVs might offer larger screen sizes and are suitable for console gaming, gaming monitors provide more responsive gameplay, higher pixel densities, and features like G-Sync or FreeSync.
STAT: For gaming monitors, the highest response time you’ll likely see is 5ms, while the fastest gaming monitors can have a 0.5ms response time. (source)
Gaming monitors also tend to have better viewing angles, less input lag, and quick response times, often as low as 1 ms, making them a better choice for both PC and console gamers.
Gaming Monitors Cost
Gaming monitors vary in price, with options available for every budget.
High-end models offer features like 4K resolution, HDR, and RGB lighting but come at a premium. These high-end gaming displays often require a powerful graphics card to fully utilize their capabilities.
Mid-range monitors strike a sweet spot, offering good refresh rates and color accuracy without breaking the bank.
When considering a gaming monitor, it’s important to weigh the cost against the benefits like improved gaming performance and enhanced viewing experience.
Choosing the Right Gaming Monitor
Selecting the right monitor for gaming depends on individual needs and preferences.
Factors to consider include the type of games you play, your graphics card capabilities, and your budget. For competitive gamers, monitors with high refresh rates and low response times are crucial.
For those more interested in visual quality, monitors with high resolution, HDR, and wide color gamuts are preferable.
Brands like Corsair, BenQ, and ROG Swift offer a range of options catering to different gaming setups.
In conclusion, gaming monitors offer significant advantages over regular monitors and TVs, particularly for those who value a high-level gaming experience.
With features like higher refresh rates, lower response times, and better color accuracy, they provide a competitive edge and a more immersive experience.
While the investment can be substantial, the benefits they offer make gaming monitors a worthwhile addition to any gaming setup.
