If you want to get the most out of your gaming experience, you need a gaming monitor that is tailored to your setup. But with so many factors to consider, picking the right monitor is more complicated than finding the largest screen to fit your budget. Luckily for you, at Comet, we know our G-Syncs from our refresh rates, so if you’re in the market for a new monitor, start by reading this definitive guide to buying a gaming monitor…
What is a gaming monitor?
Forgive us for posing what may seem like a question with an obvious answer, but what exactly is a gaming monitor?
Are gaming monitors any different from regular monitors?
The answer is a resounding yes.
Whilst gaming monitors resemble standard computer monitors they are - as you can imagine - tailored to meet the specific needs of gaming.
As a result, gaming monitors tend to have the kinds of features and specifications you won’t find on your run of the mill monitor. These features and specs include:
- High refresh rates - typically significantly higher than a standard computer monitor.
- Fast response times.
- Gaming specific features such as AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync.
To put it another way, if you’re going to be playing games on your computer it’s absolutely worthwhile buying a gaming monitor over and above a standard monitor.
Why should I upgrade my gaming monitor?
The gaming monitor is arguably one of the most important parts of your setup. The technology built into modern gaming monitors is designed to give you the ultimate gaming experience.
If you’ve spent a lot of time and money getting your gaming PC exactly how you want it, then why would you experience those cutting-edge games on a cheap screen you’ve had lying around for years?
To put in plainly, you wouldn’t watch the next big blockbuster film on an old CRT television, so don’t play your favourite games on an old monitor.
There’s also the point that many people will upgrade their computer (or at the least, update their graphics card), but then forget to upgrade their monitor. If you’re running a high-end GPU, then you need to make sure that your display is doing it justice. Should you have something like an RTX 4080 in your gaming PC, but you’ve got a bog-standard 60Hz monitor you definitely won’t be enjoying what that graphics card is truly capable of!
Plus, with flexible finance options, it’s easier than ever to upgrade to the latest and greatest gaming monitor that’ll truly bring those AAA titles to life.
How often should I upgrade my gaming monitor?
Unlike GPUs, which may need upgrading every three to five years, the technology in a gaming monitor doesn’t evolve quite as quickly.
Thankfully, the modern gaming monitor is designed to be durable. The average LED monitor tends to last around 100,000 hours, so even the most hardcore of gamers will get a good number of years out of their monitor before it goes kaput.
The best advice then is to get the monitor with the most bang for your buck. Let’s look at the important factors to consider.
What to look for when buying a gaming monitor
Okay, so you’ve made the decision to buy a gaming monitor (or upgrade your current monitor). What do you need to think about when making your selection? To help you in your journey towards a new gaming display, the Comet team has set out their key gaming monitor buying tips below.
Size, ratio, and resolution
As game developers work hard to squeeze every last pixel of detail into their games, you need a screen that can get the most out of them.
The three things you need to consider here are the aspect ratio, screen size, and the screen resolution.
Aspect ratio
Let’s start with the aspect ratio first, as this will likely vary depending on your gaming needs. Unlike modern televisions, which commonly stick to the 16:9 aspect ratio that has long been the standard for most TV shows, movies and streaming platforms, gaming monitors come in a wide variety of aspect ratios.
Thanks to the flexibility provided by modern games, gamers are able to tailor their games to fit their preferred monitors. There are four main aspect ratios to look at:
- 4:3: once the size of most computer monitors, the 4:3 aspect ratio has slid from popularity as the world shifts to the widescreen format. Modern gaming monitors don’t use this ratio, but for gamers looking to get their retro fix, this is likely the ratio you’ll encounter.
Great for: retro gaming
- 16:9: this ratio is the standard amongst the entertainment industry, and is the most popular ratio for gaming monitors. Most standard widescreen monitors adopt this ratio, and for the majority of gamers, this will be everything you need out of an aspect ratio.
Great for: mainstream gaming
- 21:9: this UltraWide ratio is fast becoming a preferred option for gamers looking for that broader field of view. This expanded view space makes 21:9 a great option for fans of first-person shooters and driving games.
Great for: first-person games
- 32:9: the Super UltraWide aspect ratio goes a step further. This expanded field of view is much closer to that seen by the human eye, which can bring the perfect tactical advantage in those online FPS matches.
Great for: competitive multiplayer
Screen resolution
With aspect ratios covered, let’s look at screen resolution next. For those unaware, the screen resolution is the number of pixels that make up the image on the screen. You may see this described as pixel density, or PPI (pixels per inch). The higher the resolution, the more dense the pixels are packed into that space.Gaming monitors can be broken down into five main resolution categories:
- Full HD (1080p): the first of the current gaming resolutions, Full HD (or 1080p as it is commonly known) is widely regarded to be the industry standard. It has been the resolution used by televisions and laptops for many years, although this will likely change as more platforms strive for sharper visuals.
Great for: casual gamers
- QHD (1440p): Quad HD, or 1440p, offers a significant step up from 1080p. It is an excellent middle-ground for those looking for better visuals without breaking the bank.
Great for: gamers looking for that added visual pop
- UW-QHD (1440p): we’re splitting this into its own category because the UltraWide Quad HD model is fast becoming a popular option amongst gamers, and as such, many models on the market tout the longer acronym. Where they really differ from other resolutions is their width. This makes this resolution ideal for games which require a wider field of vision (think first-person shooters etc).
Great for: stunning widescreen visuals
- UHD (2160p): when we talk about 4K gaming, we’re talking about Ultra HD. 4K is on its way to becoming the new standard as new screens adopt the technology. While the higher price and system requirements of a 4K gaming monitor may put off the more casual gamers, the added visual fidelity is truly a sight to behold.
Great for: AAA games
- FUHD (4320p): 4K has yet to dominate the market, but there is already a contender for the throne. Full Ultra HD, also known as 8K, is a whole new level of visual wizardry. Due to their technical advancements, 8K gaming monitors are few and far between, and are likely to remain so for many years to come. They also require a fairly formidable PC setup to be used at their full potential.
At the time of writing, the only 8K screens on the market adopt the 16:9 ratio, but this may change as demand increases. If you want the best of the best, and don’t mind the price, you won’t get a better resolution than this.
Great for: an unbeatable visual experience
You might be wondering just how these screen resolutions match up with the aspect ratios. As a rule, the number value associated with resolution - such as 1440p - is the pixel height. Have a look at this chart of some of the most common screen resolutions to get a better idea of how they work:
|
1080p |
1440p (QHD) |
2160p (4K) |
4320p (8K) |
|
|
4:3 |
1440 × 1080 |
1920 × 1440 |
2880 × 2160 |
N/A |
|
16:9 |
1920 × 1080 |
2560 × 1440 |
3840 × 2160 |
7680 × 4320 |
|
21:9 |
2560 × 1080 |
3440 × 1440 |
5120 × 2160 |
N/A |
|
32:9 |
3840 × 1080 |
5120 × 1440 |
7680 × 2160 |
N/A |
Screen size
Lastly, let’s look at the physical size of the gaming monitor. Like all screens, gaming monitors are measured diagonally from top corner to bottom corner in inches. However, their wider ratios mean that a 50-inch gaming monitor and a 50-inch television screen may look completely different.
Let’s look at the best screen sizes for gaming monitors.
|
Screen size |
Resolution |
Great for |
|
24–25-inch |
Full HD (1080p) |
Getting up close |
|
26–28-inch |
QHD (1440p) |
Small bedrooms |
|
32–34-inch |
UHD (2160p) / UW-QHD (1440p) |
Medium-sized bedrooms or small living rooms |
|
38–42-inch |
UHD (2160p) / FUHD (4320p) |
A room with space to spare |
|
49-inch upwards |
FUHD (4320p) |
That big-screen experience |
Before you jump in with the biggest model, think about the space you have available. An UltraWide Quad HD model might be what you want, but it’ll be no good if you can’t squeeze it in next to your PC.
Also consider how close to the screen you will be sitting. Do you need a screen as big as a wall if you plan to sit a foot away from it? Conversely, don’t pick a smaller screen if you want to plant yourself away on the sofa for a long session. Your eyes will thank you for making the smart choice.
So, we’ve looked at three of the core points to consider when buying a gaming monitor; aspect ratio, screen resolution, and screen size. But, there’s still a few other points you should think about. Let’s take a look!
Panel type
Monitor technology has improved enormously over the past decade, and with that, various competing technologies have emerged, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. This is most obvious in the monitor panel itself, tasked with putting the image in front of your very eyes. Let’s have a look at the different monitor panel types.
LCD panels
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors are the most common monitor type available. These monitors are illuminated by a backlight which passes through a layer of liquid crystals that twist, turn, or block the light. This light is then passed through a series of voltage-charged RGB filters, which causes them to illuminate, creating the coloured pixel on the screen.
There are three main types of LCD panel technology, each with their own pros and cons. Let’s run through them:
- TN: Twisted Nematic (TN) panels boast low response times and high refresh rates, making it a great option for gaming monitors. They are a cheap option for people who don’t mind a reduction in colour reproduction and viewing angles, but want to hit the best refresh rates.
Great for: fast-paced gaming
- VA: Vertical Alignment (VA) panels are a cheaper, mid-range option. Their name comes from the vertical alignment of crystals, which allows them to offer good colour reproduction, especially in their contrast ratios. However, the response times of VA panels is a shortcoming, and can leave fast-paced gameplay looking blurred.
Great for: great visuals
- IPS: In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels take elements from VA and go another step further. IPS panels offer the best reproduction of any LCD monitor, and are a great all-round monitor for people who don’t mind the bump up in price.
Great for: all-round quality
OLED panels
Short for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, OLED monitors differ from LCD in that each pixel emits its own light. The result is a thinner, more energy-efficient monitor capable of an overall superior viewing experience compared to LCD monitors.
Colour reproduction, refresh rates, brightness, and contrast all excel on OLED panels. This comes with a large price trade off, but if you want a monitor that can do it all, OLED really is the way to go.
|
Panel Type |
OLED |
TN |
VA |
IPS |
|
Viewing angle |
Great |
Good |
Great |
Great |
|
Refresh rate |
Great |
Great |
Good |
Good |
|
Response time |
Great |
Great |
Average |
Average |
|
Colour reproduction |
Great |
Average |
Average |
Great |
|
Cost |
Higher |
Average |
Average |
Medium |
Response time
Response time is an important factor to consider. It is the time a pixel needs to change from one colour to another as the image is refreshed.
Response time in a monitor is measured in the milliseconds it takes to go from black to white, then back to black. A slow response time will result in a blurred image as the screen struggles to keep pace with a fast game.
For those fast-paced racing games or first-person shooters, you want a monitor with a response time between 1-5 milliseconds. Anything above that, and you’ll start to notice the blur.
Is this the same as input lag?
Have you ever played a game and seen a prompt to hit a button? You hit it just in time, only to have your character fail the prompt. That’s what we call input lag, and is a delay between your gaming machine registering the button input and performing it.
To put it clearly, input lag is felt, response time is seen.
Refresh rate
Refresh rate is the frequency of which your monitor refreshes the image on screen. This is measured in hertz (Hz), which represents the number of cycles that occur per second. If we take the example of a 120 Hz refresh rate, this means the monitor refreshes the pixels on the screen 120 times per second.
The faster the refresh rate, the smoother the image on the screen will appear. This will reduce perceived motion blur as the eye is able to track moving objects with more ease.
As with every other element of this article, times have changed, and while 60 Hz used to be the norm, many gamers find that a 144 Hz gaming monitor is the ideal refresh rate. Let’s run through the best refresh rates.
- 60 Hz–100 Hz: this is a good choice for those who want a smooth experience from their monitor. Most monitors on the market will offer more than this, but if your PC is running on an older graphics card or GPU, you likely won’t see much benefit by opting for a higher refresh rate.
Great for: casual gamers or budget PCs.
- 110 Hz–144 Hz: if you find yourself in a competitive online match or two, and have a PC that can handle it, you want a monitor capable of higher refresh rates. Those fast-paced, first-person games will feel all the more visceral and visually stunning when played on a monitor with a refresh rate of between 110 and 114 Hz.
Great for: fast-paced gaming on a well-specced PC.
- 150 Hz–240 Hz: while some communities are divided on the benefits gained from refresh rates above 144Hz, it’s hard to deny the smoothness of a monitor running at these higher rates. Until the everyday PC catches up, this is a refresh for the elite gamer who wants nothing but the best.
Great for: professional gamers on top-end gaming PCs.
Is refresh rate the same as frame rate?
In short, no. Frame rate measures the number of images your graphics hardware is able to draw per second. A good graphics card and GPU should give you frame rates over 60 FPS (frames per second), which is widely considered to be a smooth gaming experience.
However, you won’t reap the benefits of this smooth frame rate if your refresh rate can’t match it. The refresh rate of your gaming monitor needs to match or exceed that of your GPU’s output if you want to get the most out of your equipment.
G-Sync or FreeSync?
The casual gamers among you may start to glaze over in the eyes at this point, but this next bit is important, especially for those custom PC builds.
NVIDIA and AMD have been hard at work creating new technology that can adapt your monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU’s frame rate. While these technologies differ, they both achieve the same result, which is to prevent screen tearing issues and reduce display stutter.
Check your graphics card to see if it makes use of this technology, because if it does, you don’t want to miss out on it.
But be warned. NVIDIA and AMD do not play nice on this. NVIDIA G-Sync will only work with NVIDIA graphics cards. Likewise AMD FreeSync will only work with AMD GPUs.
Colour
When reviewing monitors online, it can be hard to determine which offers the best colour output. This is because different manufacturers focus on different specifications to show off.
Contrast ratios, luminance, black levels, and colour depths all cover different aspects, so let’s review what we mean by each of these.
Contrast
One of the most basic measures of a monitor’s performance, contrast ratio measures the ratio between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites.
The baseline ratio is 1000:1, which means that the whitest parts of the image are 1000 times brighter than the darkest part.
What we want from our contrast ratios are higher numbers, not lower. A contrast ratio of 100:1 would mean the black areas look more grey than they should, and the coloured areas would look faded.
Compare this to a ratio of 4000:1. This would make your monitor’s visuals really and truly ‘pop’.
Luminance
Luminance, or brightness, is the precise measurement of how much light is emitted from the screen. This unit is also known as a “nit”. The higher the nit count, the brighter the screen.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you should find the highest nit count and go with that. Think about where you plan to put your monitor. The darker the space, the more your monitor will illuminate it, so a higher nit count isn’t as necessary as if your room is well-lit.
Black level
This is more of a consideration for LCD screens, as their technology differs from OLED.
As light inevitably leaks through the liquid crystal, this affects the contrast ratio. 1% of light leakage will diminish an area that was supposed to be black. This glow is an issue in darker environments, which means that achieving low black levels is a big selling point for LCD monitors.
OLED monitors have incredible black levels because they don’t rely on a backlight. When an OLED pixel isn’t activated, it creates no light, so OLED monitors will often advertise superior black levels to LCD.
Colour depth
Improvements in graphics bring with them subtlety in colour depth. When comparing two different monitors side by side on the same image, differences in colours may appear.
This is what is known as colour banding — a dramatic shift between different colours that should have more of a gradience.
So when we look at colour depth, this is the amount of data the screen can use to build colour into a pixel. Every pixel has three colours — red, green, and blue. Each of these can be illuminated differently to create millions of different colours.
These are the three common colour depths:
- 6-bit colour — 262,144 colours.
- 8-bit colour (true colour) — 16.7 million colours.
- 10-bit colour (deep colour) — 1.07 billion colours.
Monitors with the highest colour depth will provide the most accurate image quality.
Colour space
Also known as colour gamut, colour space is different to colour depth, as it specifies the spectrum of colours that can appear, rather than just calculating the number of them.
The human eye can see a much wider colour spectrum than displays are able to create. To visualise all the available colours, monitors use defined colour gamuts: sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3.
sRGB is the common standard for most monitors, as it is the designated colour space for the Internet. Adobe RGB is most commonly used in photo and video editing. DCI-P3 is used for HDR content.
Most monitors will list that they are ‘99% sRGB’ which in essence means they can display 99% of the sRGB colour gamut.
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
HDR monitors display brighter images with improved contrast. Though they work best with HDR supported content, HDR monitors typically support 10-bit colour depth.
For LCD displays, a high-end backlight is critical to HDR quality, which gives more precise control and less blurring of the image.
Curved or flat-screen?
In recent years, curved monitors have started to infiltrate the market, and have fast become a favourite amongst gamers. But should you invest in one, or stick to a flat-screen monitor?
Flat-screen monitors
Chances are you have already used a flat-screen monitor at least once in your life. Since the old CRT monitors of the nineties and early twentieth century drifted from glory, flat-screen monitors quickly became the standard.
They are a great option for space-saving or wall-mounting, but start to show their limitations, especially when seen on wide-screen monitors.
Great for: multipurpose PCs.
Curved monitors
The new kid on the block, curved gaming monitors might seem like an odd choice at first, but there are a great many benefits for them.
Curved screens boost immersion with their greater field of view that brings you one step closer to the in-game world. This feature is improved when coupled with an ultra-wide monitor.
Thanks to the physics of light projection, this curvature also eliminates the distortion that can be found on flat-screen monitors, making it a more comfortable experience for your eyes.
Unfortunately, this curve also works against it when it comes to glare when viewed at certain angles. They also face difficulties when wall-mounting, so are better suited for sitting atop desks.
Great for: rich, immersive experiences.
Ports
We’ve looked at the technical elements of the monitor, but even the best monitor on the market will be no good to you if it lacks the correct ports to connect your devices. Let’s run through the different types of port.
Display
Recent decades have seen considerable evolution of display ports, with various types falling in and out fashion as technologies advance. Below, we’ve set out some of the most common displays ports you’re likely to see on monitors:
- VGA: Video Graphics Array is less of a mainstay than it used to be. Older monitors may feature this legacy port, which features a 15-pin analogue connection that is only capable of transmitting video up to 3840 × 2400.
- Single-Link Digital Visual Interface (DVI): this is likely the oldest interface you’ll find on a modern monitor. Similar to VGA, it only transmits video through a 24-pin connection. It can connect to HDMI with an adaptor.
- Dual-Link DVI: an upgrade to the Single-Link DVI, this doubles the bandwidth of its predecessor, and can support a higher resolution and refresh rate.
- HDMI: High-Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, has long been the standard interface. It is capable of transmitting video and audio, and is compatible with other devices such as games consoles.
- DisplayPort: these high-bandwidth ports can transmit video and audio. The biggest difference between DisplayPort and HDMI is that the former can support multiple monitors simultaneously, whereas HDMI typically only supports one.
Peripherals
An increasing number of people wish to connect peripherals to their monitors (be it for charging or connectivity purposes). Below, we’ve provided more detail on the two most common peripheral ports you’ll find on today’s monitors:
- USB: a common port for the transferral of data and power, USB ports can connect devices such as keyboards, mice, and data storage devices.
- Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt devices have fast transfer speeds, and can supply power to devices.
Audio
Some gamers are practically unable to function within their headphones. If you fall into that camp, then you’ll want to buy a monitor with an appropriate audio port:
- 3.5 mm jack: this audio input port is the standard for connecting headphones or external speakers. Note that both HDMI and DisplayPort cables also transmit audio, and are a simpler solution for many users.
Find your next gaming monitor at Comet
We hope that this article has helped to demystify the complexities around gaming monitors.
If you’re ready to find your new gaming monitor, we’re here to help.
We stock a large selection of gaming monitors from the top brands, including Acer, AOC, Samsung, and more.
We also offer a number of flexible financing options to take the hassle out of paying for your new gaming monitor. You can use Klarna Pay in 3 or PayPal Credit to spread those costs over three, interest-free payments. Plus, we have a partnership with Snap Finance which allows you to spread the cost of your new monitor over 48 months.
We also offer express delivery, so you can get your new gaming monitor set up sooner!
Shop the best Acer gaming monitors at Comet today
For more news, product buying advice, and inspiration, check out the Comet blog…
