The experience of gaming depends mainly on the quality of visuals which in turn depends on the quality of the monitor. The gaming PC that you have is just as good as the monitor that makes the real difference between victory and defeat for gamers engrossed with computer games. Fast action games are most thrilling and attractive and to get the most from the gaming sessions, you must get a monitor that can produce top quality images bereft of blurring and flickering without tearing. For the most immersive and smooth gaming experience that gives you an edge over your rivals, here are the things that you must look for in a gaming monitor.
Resolution and panel size
Bigger the better is the concept in choosing the best gaming monitor which makes the 27-inch screen size of the monitor the most lucrative choice. With this monitor, you can venture beyond FHD (Full Hard Definition) as it offers a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080. Newer models of the same size are available in an even higher resolution of 2560 x 1440 by virtue of the feature of WQHD (Wide, Quad High Definition). Although higher resolution means sharper and clearer image, you must have a matching and powerful graphics engine to support the extraordinary excellent images. You can keep increasing the screen size and the accompanying graphics technology provided you have the room in your home to accommodate it and deep pockets to pay for it.
Panel technology
Different types of panel technology are available like Twisted Nematic (TN) panels, Vertical Alignment (VA) panels, and IPS or In-Plane Switching panels.
- TN panels are most popular due to its affordability and for its fast refresh rates and pixel responses. However, when viewed from an angle, the colors seem to shift.
- VA panels are great for robust colors, high native contrast ratio and exceptional ability to display deep blacks but the flipside is the probability of producing considerable ghosting effects that hinder the gaming experience.
- IPS panels have superior strong gray color performance and best all-around color quality with wide viewing angles but the resolution is inferior to TN panels, and there are problems with motion artifacts.
Refresh rate and Pixel response
Speedy pixel response and high refresh rates are the hallmarks of a great gaming monitor.
Refresh rate expressed in Hertz (Hz) is the time taken by the monitor to redraw the complete screen. For example, 60Hz is the refresh rate of LCD monitors which means the screen refreshment happens 60 times in a second. Get a brand new 144Hz monitor that eliminates image blur and tearing by adopting 3D technology.
The pixel response rate is the time taken in milliseconds by a pixel to switch over from a shade of gray to another. 2 milliseconds for a gray-to-gray transition is ideal.
In addition to the above, a gaming monitor must have several video inputs to give access to multiple gaming consoles and PCs simultaneously. Dual HDMI ports are the standard as it adds versatility to the monitor.
