The monitor in your gaming setup will play an important role in the overall gaming experience. This is why you need to know some tips for choosing the right gaming monitor for your rig. There is no point in having a high-performance rig if the screen is going to be letting you down. The more powerful your gaming PC is, the more important it is to have a high-quality monitor which allows you to take full advantage of the expensive hardware that you are using.
The monitor you choose should offer you crisp and clear details without any annoying screen lag. Screen lag or ghosting is when the screen is unable to keep up with the fast action of the game. This should not be confused with lag from your gaming PC not being powerful enough.
When choosing a gaming monitor, you need to be aware that you are likely to keep it for many years. This is why you need to ensure you are getting a good one which will allow for immersive gaming for a prolonged period. There are many important factors that you have to be aware of when choosing a gaming monitor which will ensure that you get value for your money and the best monitor for the job.
Gaming Monitor Response Rates To Avoid Ghosting
The response rate of your monitor refers to the speed at which the screen will update and this is one of the most important specs to look for. A lower response rate will be better because it means that the screen updates faster. When looking for a monitor for fast-paced gaming you need a response rate that is no higher than 8ms. 6ms and lower will be better with the perfect monitor having 2ms or 1ms response rates.
If you are going to play action games such as first-person shooters and racing games, a monitor with a slow response rate of 10ms will have ghosting. Ghosting will cause the previous image to remain on the screen as a blur while the new image appears. This will be less noticeable when you have a better response rate.
The Size Of The Monitor
There is no ideal size for a gaming monitor and the size you choose will be down to personal preference. Large displays will cost a lot more particularly if you are looking for one with high specs. Other than the costs, you should also consider how powerful your gaming system is when you look at the size of the monitor. A large monitor will have larger resolutions and this requires more power from the hardware to render the images smoothly and quickly.
Most gamers are happy with monitors of 23 to 24 inches as they are large enough to be immersive. However, if you want a better gaming experience, you might want to consider a 27-inch screen which is also quite popular. It is important to note that once you start gaming on a larger screen it will be hard to go back to a smaller one.
The Screen Resolution
When it comes to the screen resolution of your monitor, you will not want to look at anything less than FHD 1080p which is generally 1920 x 1080. Most gaming monitors will have this resolution, but it is important to check before you buy. A step up from this will be 1440 Quad-HD which is found in scre en over 25 inches. If you choose these screens you will need a high-end gaming computer to provide the power and smooth rendering you need.
Many monitors are now in 4K resolution which requires, even more, power from your hardware and will not be for everyone. These monitors will also cost much more than others. It is also important to note that not all gaming cards will support 4K resolution making the benefits small.
Refresh Rates
When choosing the best gaming monitor you should also look at the refresh rates which should not be confused with the response rates. Higher refresh rates allow you to enjoy higher frame rates when gaming without any graphical tearing in the image. This will happen when there is a difference between the refresh rate of the screen and the frame rate of the graphics card.
A standard monitor will have a refresh rate of 60 Hz and this is fine for people gaming on a budget. However, if you want to have the best gaming experience you will need to spend a bit on a better monitor. You should look at getting a monitor that has a refresh rate of 120 Hz or 144 Hz. There is a noticeable difference between monitors with 120 Hz and 60 Hz, but a 60 Hz monitor will not be the end of the world. You will still be able to enjoy fast gaming as long as the response rate is fast enough.
LCD Or LED
LCD and LED monitor are almost exactly the same with the exception of LED monitors using backlighting to provide a few advantages. The advantages will include a sharper and brighter display, a thinner screen and lower power usage. LED monitors will cost a bit more than an LCD monitor, but are considered better for gaming. They are also fairly standard now so it should not be a problem to get one.
The Contrast Ratio
To compare picture quality between different monitors you should take a look at the contrast ratio. The rule of thumb is that a higher contrast ratio will provide a better picture quality. High contrast ratios provide deeper black levels on the screen which creates a visually sharp experience. Of course, you should keep in mind that contrast ratios are not always an accurate measurement of image quality and should not be the sole determining factor when looking at different monitors.
The Viewing Angle
When you view at an LCD monitor at an angle, you will find that the colors start to distort and the images appear dimmer. At extreme angles, the image will disappear completely from view. The viewing angle of the monitor is the angle at which the screen can still be seen clearly and it will be listed in the specifications of the monitor.
A greater viewing angle is considered better when looking at monitors, but many gamers do not focus on this specification. This is due to the fact that they will be sitting directly in front of the screen at all times. However, there are still people who feel that the viewing angle is important particularly if you are going to be showing your screen to other people or be using it for something other than gaming as well. The way you are going to use the screen will help you determine if you need to consider the viewing angle when you look at buying a gaming monitor.
