As an enthusiastic gamer you know of course: A fast processor is not enough – the size of the monitor can be crucial to the game, so that you are always prepared for the first person shoot and do not miss the hiding shooter , the monitor can not be big enough at most . Before buying, make sure you have the highest possible resolution, which should not be below Full HD , and of course, a fast response time – sometimes milliseconds decide on the further course of the game. But aspects such as height adjustability, a sufficient number of ports and the quality of the integrated speakers is important too.
Purchase advice: How to find the right product in our Gaming Monitor Comparison 2018
the essentials in brief
- Guaranteed gaming pleasure: A gaming monitor is optimized for the smooth, fluent display of video games on the PC.
- The most popular size in the gaming monitors is between 24 and 27 inches, with a larger screen size you could quickly lose track of the game.
- A good and cheap gaming monitor is already available from about $200.
Battlefield 1, FIFA 18, Call of Duty: The list of compelling PC games is endless and the fan communities of each game are growing steadily. Quite a few users spend several hours daily in front of the screen and the demands on the equipment are correspondingly high. In addition to powerful processors and high-quality graphics cards, special keyboards and even chairs are available for gamers. An important factor when it comes to successfully mastering the next challenge is also the monitor.
Big gaming screen does not mean better picture
The image quality is not only the size of a Full HD monitor responsible. The second important factor is the resolution. With a larger PC monitor with the same resolution, the pixels are further apart. If the larger image is viewed from the same distance as the smaller one, it will appear out of focus. To get the same sharpness, the monitor must be further away from the viewer.
In addition to the resolution and the size of the monitor play a number of other factors in the game a role. The image repetition rate and the reaction time are important. We explain to you what these terms are all about and which technical features are otherwise important.
You’ll also get valuable tips on buying a gaming monitor. With the facts in this article, you can easily make your personal gaming monitor comparison and select the best gaming monitor for your purposes.
1. These characteristics affect the image quality
1.1. Screen size and resolution: More than 27 inches are not recommended
Regardless of the manufacturer and category, all gaming monitors have features that make them ideal for hours of gaming sessions on the PC.
Not only the quality of the graphics counts. Also, the interaction of the monitor with the computer and aspects of ergonomics are important when it comes to your personal gaming monitor test.
These advantages and disadvantages are offered by gaming monitors:
ADVANTAGES
- smooth, smooth image
- Protection of the eyes and neck
- high resolution
DISADVANTAGE
- higher price compared to standard monitors
- need a high quality graphics card
Most gaming monitors currently have a size between 24 and 27 inches. Smaller models are outdated. A 24-inch gaming monitor or a 27-inch gaming monitor offer the benefit of capturing the entire screen at a glance. Focusing the eyes on a particular image section on larger screens can cost valuable milliseconds and thus virtual life.
When it comes to panoramic views such as car racing or football, a 32 “or larger gaming monitor may be a good choice.
The larger screen in this case simply provides the more impressive visual experience. If the gaming monitor is curved, nothing stands in the way of maximum gaming enjoyment. When it comes to resolution, a Full HD screen or 1080p is now mandatory in gaming. From a screen diagonal of 27 inches, monitors with WQHD or UHD resolution are also useful. A smaller HD monitor can not display these high resolutions accordingly.
1.2. Response time: 3 to 5 milliseconds are standard
The response or switching time refers to the time interval that a pixel needs to change its color. The reaction time has a decisive influence on the dynamics of the image reproduction. While in the past a response time of ten milliseconds was considered reasonable by the human eye, the response time of many gaming monitors today is about 3-5 milliseconds. But also gaming monitors with 1 ms response time are available.
Tip: If you prefer games in which the dynamics of image construction does not play a major role, you can rely on a monitor with a longer reaction time and a larger display and more color brilliance.
1.3. Refresh Rate: Guaranteed flicker-free, it is from 120 hertz
The refresh rate or refresh rate indicates how often an image is refreshed every second. This rate is measured in Hertz. Many TVs use a refresh rate between 50 and 60 hertz.
Accordingly, the image is rebuilt 50 to 60 times per second. For a long time, this value was considered an upper limit that can be perceived differently by the human eye. Meanwhile, however, it is known that our eyes also perceive higher repetition rates differently.
Many game manufacturers specify the frequency with which the game in question recreates the images on the player monitor. A currently common value, which guarantees no flicker on the monitor, is 120 or 144 hertz.
function |
properties |
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resolution |
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reaction time |
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refresh rate |
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2. Connections, ergonomics and panel: This is important when buying
Whether an Asus gaming monitor, a Benq gaming monitor, or an Acer gaming monitor emerges victorious from your personal gaming monitor test depends not only on which brand is the best. A gaming monitor test winner must also convince technically. It does not matter if it is a Gamiong monitor for PS4 or the PC. When buying a gaming monitor, it’s also important to know if the gaming monitor is cheap.
2.1. Player type decides the size
When buying advice for a gaming monitor, it depends on what type of player you are. If you’re into a multiplayer shooter, you should not choose your monitor too big and prefer a high refresh rate and a short reaction time. Those who are more into strategy or skill games can confidently resort to a larger model. Both Asus and Acer as well as Benq, Samsung and Dell with its Alienware models have corresponding types of monitors in the program.
2.2. Connections: HDMI ensures optimal resolution
In order to receive the highest possible signal from the monitor, the appropriate gaming monitor connection must be available. While the analogue VGA standard is largely a thing of the past for player monitors, digital transmission channels such as HDMI are becoming more and more popular.
With them, larger amounts of data can be transmitted in less time. As a result, not only a higher resolution, but also a quality gain in dynamics is possible .
One of the common standards used to connect the graphics card to the monitor is DVI or Digital Visual Interface. Another standard developed specifically for consumer electronics is HDMI.
Most graphics cards now have at least one slot each for these two types of connectors. In terms of image quality, both types are equal. If a gaming monitor is only equipped with a VGA slot, significant losses in image quality during gaming must be expected.
2.3. Ergonomics: adjustment of the viewing angle for a high level of playing comfort
Once a gamer has licked blood, hours of gamer sessions are not uncommon until late into the night. For this reason, the monitor should be adapted to the needs of the user as closely as possible. In this way, the risk of posture and eye damage can be kept low.
Most importantly, a gaming monitor is tiltable about its horizontal axis. Thus, an optimal viewing angle can be achieved , which not only protects the spine.Also, the eyes are less burdened by the adjustment of the angle. Whether the LCD monitor can be swiveled and the change between landscape and portrait format is possible plays only a minor role in the game.
2.4. The panel: smears on cheap models
Panel is the actual display of a monitor. For the panel, the higher the better. It is a crucial factor when it comes to the question of which is the best gaming monitor.
This also applies when it comes to a 4k gaming monitor or a 144hz gaming monitor. Last but not least, the panel is decisive for the price. If you want to buy a cheap gaming monitor, you probably have to make a few sacrifices to the panel.
In cheap models, TN panels are widely used due to their low cost price .Gaming monitors with IPS and PVA panels have a significantly lower viewing angle dependency, but are also more expensive.
MVA panels convince with a very low viewing angle dependency and high contrasts and a brilliant color representation. Due to their long reaction times, however, they are usually not the first choice for gamers. The panels at a glance:
| property | TN | IPS | MVA / PVA |
|---|---|---|---|
| perspective | medium | very well | very well |
| contrast | Well | Well | very well |
| reaction time | very well | Well | Well |
| power consumption | very low | medium | low |
3. Frequently asked questions about the gaming monitor
3.1. How much hertz should a gaming monitor have?
The Hertz number indicates how often the image is refreshed on a monitor per second. If the build-up rate is low, the picture flickers before our eyes. Above about 40 to 50 hertz moving images are perceived as fluid, with the human eye can perceive differences up to 80 Hertz and more. To be on the safe side of gaming , the monitor should offer 120 or better 144 Hertz.
3.2. How much ms should a gaming monitor have?
In ms or milliseconds, the response time is specified for a gaming monitor. This is the amount of time that a liquid crystal needs to change its color. Thus, the reaction time is less. The shorter the reaction time, the faster the crystals can change color and the more dynamic the image will appear.
3.3. What does a good gaming monitor need?
What distinguishes a good gaming monitor depends primarily on the main purpose. In addition to a fast response time, which provides dynamic images, the frequency of the image structure for flicker-free games is important. For a high image quality, the connection to the graphics card according to a digital standard is crucial. Here are DVI and HDMI to choose from. The analog VGA standard is considered obsolete and is no longer fashionable in the gamer scene.
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