Are you a PC gamer or seeking to start your hands in the same and looking for a quality monitor for an amazing gaming experience? Well, the kind of PC you use will definitely determine the kind of experience you have especially when it comes to the display. Both casual and hardcore PC gamers will discover that the kind of hardware they use does greatly affect their gaming experience and this could cost one the victory.
As such, when buying your hardware, make sure that your PC choice has some powerful graphics and that the monitor is also capable of displaying the action without having them blurred or flickered. Below are some valuable tips to help you choose the right monitor
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1. Buy the right screen size and resolution
If you want to have a realistic experience and feel like you are right at the center of the action, a bigger gaming monitor will be ideal. This, however, will be dependent on whether you have room and if yes, then you can pick any big screen that meets the requirements.
You can find some great Wide, Quad High-Definition monitor models with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels maximum or 1,920 by 1,080 minimum. If you can afford a screen with the highest pixel count, the better but also make sure you have powerful graphics to support some of the latest games.
2. Check the pixel response & refresh rate
Whether you are a pro or beginner, it is very important to have a gaming monitor with fast pixel response as well as high refresh rate. A 144 Hz monitor will be ideal especially if you are a professional gamer and want the best overall performance. Pixel response specs normally refer to the time it takes for pixels to change from one shade to another (either gray or black and white shade).
3. Choose the best panel technology
Different monitors have varying display technologies with each offering both pros and cons. These range from Vertical Alignment (VA) to Twisted Nematic (TN) with the former offering faster pixel refresh rates and response while the latter has robust colors, high native contrast ration, and deep blacks display capabilities. Twisted Nematics are popular with many gamers and are also more affordable. Vertical Alignment monitors can produce visible ghosting effects thus likely to mess up your performance.
4. Consider the connectors
Some of the common inputs and outputs you’ll find in a gaming monitor include HDMI 1.4/2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 and 5mm Audio Out. It’s good to understand how each of these affects your gaming experience especially the level of refresh rate supported. Monitors may also offer 3.5mm audio input plus USB ports of different types.
As you buy a monitor for gaming, always consider the available USB ports as they are ideal for connecting external peripherals such as thumb drives, gaming controllers, and mouse among others.
5. Look at the input lag
Normally referred to as Display lag, the term refers to the amount of time it normally takes for the mouse to appear on your screen after clicking the button. Speed is of importance when it comes to your gaming experience with 30ms input lag time being at least ideal for casual gaming. If you are a gaming competitor, at least you should go for between 10ms and 15ms. Both your internet connection and input lag are essential if you want to avoid mess-ups or calculated mistakes.
6. Adaptive-Sync
Adaptive-sync is as necessary as input lag and should be one of your considerations when looking for a display monitor. Having the right adaptive sync will help in the reduction of motion artifacts and image tearing thus supporting low input lag for better game-play delivery.
There are two adaptive sync technologies namely AMD and NVIDIA which build specific Free-Sync and G-Sync respectively. You can learn more about these two technologies to help you make the right choice.
7. Price
The price of the monitor is also important to consider when making a purchase. While we all would want to save some money, it is good to note that cheaper models are not always the best. The price is determined by a number of factors including panel technology, screen size, and available features. You can get monitors for as low as $170 or as high as $3,500 for UHD monitors. This does not mean that the most expensive monitors are the best for gaming but the price tag could also help you make a decision based on your budget.
It is worth investing in a 144Hz monitor if you can find a good model within your budget. This will help you enjoy a good gaming experience but always consider other features as well when making a decision. Monitor reviews could also come in handy to help you make a decision especially if you are a beginner.