Buying a Gaming Monitor

A gaming monitor isn’t a regular display; it has a refresh rate and response time that are better tuned to fast-paced games. A high refresh rate means you can see all of the frames your graphics card or game console produces in a second, leading to smoother motion. A low response time, measured in milliseconds, means you can quickly get back to the action without annoying blurring or ghosting.

The best gaming monitors also feature adaptive sync technology, which synchronizes the refresh rate of your monitor with that of your graphics hardware to eliminate screen tearing and other artifacts. Some even have built-in image processing to help with things like color and brightness to create a more immersive experience. These extras can make a huge difference when you’re immersed in a heart-pounding first-person shooter or expansive open world adventure.

Curved gaming monitors are a big thing, and they’re great for getting you closer to the action in your games. You’ll be able to see the details of your character’s head and body better, which is important in first person shooters, where the slightest movement can reveal your position to enemies around you. Some curved monitors have a higher R-value for a more pronounced curve, while others are lower to suit your preferences and budget.

Many plain gaming monitors are designed for PCs, leaving them with fewer ports than you might want to connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X to. We recommend choosing one that supports dual HDMI 2.1 ports or DisplayPort 1.4 so you can use it with consoles and your PC at the same time. It’s also a good idea to look for a monitor with HDR support, as it can bring out more detail in bright or dark areas. gaming monitor