What To Look For In A Gaming Monitor 2022? Top Full Guide

What to look for in a gaming monitor? There are a few key factors to consider. One of the most important is the refresh rate, which determines how many times the image on the screen is updated per second.

The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the image will be. Another important factor is the response time, which determines how quickly the monitor can change the image from black to white and back again.

What To Look For In A Gaming Monitor: The Specs That Matter

What To Look For In A Gaming Monitor The Specs That Matter

Resolution

First, consider the monitor’s resolution. This is dependent on your graphics card’s capabilities. If your graphics card cannot handle 1080p resolution, then it’s not worth getting a 4K screen. One caveat: If you are planning on upgrading soon, you should get a higher resolution monitor before buying the new GPU.

Are you looking for the best graphics card for your new monitor? Check out our review of the top graphics cards for PC gaming at all resolutions (and budget recommendations).

1080P: 1080p standard monitors have a resolution 1920×1080 pixels. According to the Steam hardware survey, this resolution is still the most used for gaming. This range includes the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super and GeForce GTX 1660 Super graphics cards (our favorite 1080p GPU) and the AMD Radeon RX5500 XT graphic cards.

The advantage of 1080p monitors is their affordability and availability.

1440P: This is a step up from 1080p. It measures 2560×1440 pixels. This is a nice middle ground between 1080p or 4K. The 1440p monitors offer a significant fidelity increase over 1080p monitors without requiring you to spend a lot. There are solid options for graphics cards in this price range, including our favorite 1440p card, the GeForce RX 3070, and the Radeon RX6800.

4K: 4K is also known as UHD (ultra high definition). It has a resolution of 3860×2160 pixels and offers four times the number of pixels of 1080p. This gives it twice the density in width and height. This resolution is highly sought after due to its exceptional clarity. 4K, when combined with HDR (High Dynamic Range), offers an amazing image. You will need a high-end graphics card, such as the GeForce RX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800XT, to play on a 4K screen without visual compromises.

8K: 8K is still in its early stages. It offers four times as many pixels as 4K. Gaming at 8K is costly, and the gaming industry has yet to catch up. While enthusiasts can adopt the GeForce RTX3090 early, it isn’t cheap, and you will likely get better value with 4K.

Refresh Rate And Response Time

Because it is closely linked to frame rates, refresh rate is one of the most important features in gaming. The refresh rate measures how often it displays new images in hertz. The display’s refresh rate and the number of frames per second (fps) pushed out by the graphic card are basically in a 1:1 relationship.

A monitor that refreshes at 60Hz can display 60 frames per second. This is the minimum frame rate for PC gaming. While 30fps can still be played, 60fps should always be the goal.

Higher frame rates generally make game motion appear smoother, more responsive, and look better. High refresh rates are why monitors with higher refresh rates are so popular. For example, a 144Hz monitor can display twice as many frames as a 60Hz monitor with the right graphics card.

After you’ve tried 120Hz and 144Hz, it isn’t easy to go back to 60Hz for any productivity tasks. E-sports enthusiasts will appreciate the blistering 240Hz or 360Hz panels, which are limited to 1080p resolution and very costly.

Refresh rate is only one factor. Response times are another important factor. This is the time it takes for a monitor’s pixel level to change from one color to another. Poor response times can lead to ghosting and other visual artifacts.

A lower number is better. While many monitors can respond in 5ms to 4ms, this is acceptable. Gaming is better, with a response time of 1ms.

These are high-resolution monitors that can be used for high refresh rates:

Asus ROG Swift PG279Q ($849). This 1440p monitor features a refresh rate at 165 Hz and G-Sync. It also supports full sRGB colors with a 4ms response.
Acer Predator Predator XB271HU ($510). Another 1440p monitor with a 144Hz refresh and Nvidia’s G-Sync. It also has a 4ms response speed.

HDR

Many people believe that higher resolution equals better quality. A higher dynamic range, or HDR, is more important than a higher resolution. HDR imagery offers a significant improvement over older displays. It has more pop and vivid colors. You are missing out if you haven’t yet seen an HDR display.

HDR on computer monitors may seem a little unusual. True HDR requires that the display have a minimum brightness and maximum brightness to achieve the dynamic range.

However, many inexpensive displays are unable to meet these requirements. DisplayHDR standard now has an alternative maximum brightness. DisplayHDR 400 and higher are a good choice if you’re shopping. It will give your images more vibrancy.

To get HDR working, your monitor, OS, and graphics card must all support HDR. Each game will also need to support the format. This is a highly recommended feature that is rapidly becoming more common.

Here are some things you need to know

With High Dynamic Range (HDR), Displays offer greater contrast, deeper shadows, and brighter highlights while still retaining detail. They also support more vivid colors.
HDR is dependent on a compatible imaging pipeline that includes the operating system, graphics cards, display, and game.
HDR is a variety of standards. Make sure your monitor supports HDR10. This is where the DisplayHDR standard can be helpful.
HDR is highly recommendable as it is growing in popularity.

Adaptive Sync

Next, adaptive sync. This feature syncs your graphics card’s refresh rate with your display. This feature syncs the refresh rate between your graphics card and your display to reduce screen tearing and stutter, allowing for “buttery-smooth gaming” (or what we like to call “buttery-smooth”)

Nvidia GSync and AMD’s free-of-charge FreeSync are two options for adaptive sync. This is the most popular and cheapest option for manufacturers. It is why Nvidia’s GeForce cards can now be used with FreeSync. FreeSync can be used with a GeForce card, but it is better to use GSync with Nvidia cards for the best performance.

These are two excellent monitors worth considering: one that supports FreeSync and G-Sync.

Dell S2417DG ($470). This monitor is 24 inches in size and has a 1ms response speed. G-Sync is also supported.
AOC G2590FX ($214). This 25-inch 1080p display features FreeSync, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and a 1ms response.

Color Gamut

This is a rough one. This is a rough one. I did an article on color gamuts, but I don’t want too much to say. At a minimum, you should aim for a coverage of at least 99% sRGB. This will give you a solid base and provide great color.

You will need to have good coverage of Adobe RGB or Rec.2020 colors if you plan to use it to edit video or watch movies in HDR.

Summary:

It would help if you aimed for coverage of at least 100% in sRGB.

Display Size

Personal preference will dictate the size of your display for computer gaming. Keep in mind that screen size, resolution, and pixel density have a direct relationship.

The image will be better if more pixels per inch (PPI). Sharpness is related to density. You can find a variety of PPI calculators online that will help you determine what to expect at each resolution.

For example, a 24-inch 1080p monitor will have less than 92ppi. This is acceptable for 1080p. The PPI drops to 70 at 32-inches. Upgrade to 1440p, and a 32-inch monitor will get about the same PPI that a 24-inch 1080p monitor. A 32-inch 4K monitor is close to 138 PPI.

Gaming will work well on any modern monitor between 24 and 32 inches. The higher resolution will improve image quality. If you are a big fan of large displays but can only afford one 1080p, go for it.

Dell S2421HGF ($171). This 24-inch 1080p monitor has a 144Hz refreshrate, FreeSync, 1ms response times, and a 1080p resolution.
Asus VG278QR ($249). We move up in size with this 27-inch 1080p monitor with FreeSync, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a refresh rate of 0.5ms.
AOC C32V1Q (200). This budget 31.5-inch 1080p display has a high refresh rate and a quick response time of 4ms.

Panel Type

While some people may be more concerned about the panel type, others won’t care as long as they meet the other specifications you need. Let me summarize.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels offer excellent color reproduction and fast response times. However, they can be expensive for more advanced features.

While TN panels (Twisted Nematics) have better pricing and faster refresh rates, they are less effective for color rendering or viewing angles.

VA panels (Vertical Alignment) offer great contrast but are less reliable than IPS or TN. They are not recommended for gaming-critical performance and are not highly recommended.

You will likely be forced to choose one of the two depending on your budget and requirements. You don’t have to choose between the two, but if you do, you will need to decide which panel type you prefer.

Some related articles:

Inputs/Outputs

This should be easy because computers have many standards. This is a good thing, as we are moving towards a few objectively superior standards today. These are DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB Type C/Thunderbolt. Each one comes in multiple versions. You will need the most recent version.

DisplayPort and HDMI are the most common monitor inputs. Nearly everyone has probably seen HDMI, and it’s almost everywhere nowadays. DisplayPort is close by. DisplayPort has historically been more efficient due to its higher refresh rates and resolutions.

Although HDMI has advanced to the latest version, DisplayPort still offers an advantage due to its locking connector that prevents accidental disconnects. Nevertheless, most monitors include both.

DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.0 are what you’ll likely find. These are both reliable and can handle high resolutions up to 4K. They also have 60Hz refresh rates and even higher if you’re using lower resolutions.

DisplayPort 2.0 and HDMI2.1 will be available in the future. These connections will allow for higher resolutions and frame rates. DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 are the preferred connections.

The new alternative is USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3. Although technically they are two different connections, they appear identical. These connections can transmit the same formats as DisplayPort or HDMI by using adapters. You can transmit data, video, and power with one cable using Thunderbolt and USB.

You should also consider audio output, USB ports, and the number of connections. You won’t have to worry if you plan only to use the monitor with one computer. You should plan to connect a laptop and a desktop if you need one monitor.

Here are some things to consider:

DisplayPort and HDMI are safe options.
HDMI 2.0 is solid and current, but 2.1 is better if you want future-proofing.
DisplayPort 1.4 is currently available, but 2.0 will be soon and help you stay ahead of the curve.
Thunderbolt, USB Type-C, and Thunderbolt can support DisplayPort and HDMI via adapters.
Consider how many connections are necessary.
Do not forget to connect USB and audio cables.
This is where cables are important. You will need compatible cables that match the connectors you already have.

Conclusion

A gaming monitor is a display device specifically designed for use in conjunction with video game consoles and personal computers. They typically have a higher refresh rate than standard monitors and a higher resolution. Gaming monitors are also often equipped with AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-Sync, which help reduce screen tearing and stuttering.