Most standard LCD monitors (including some gaming panels) have a peak 60Hz refresh rate, which means the screen is refreshed 60 times per second. When we test monitors for their PC gaming capabilities, we also look at what they can do in general use cases like watching movies or browsing the web, as well as how well they can reproduce accurate color in a number of different chromaticity tests. PC Gamer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The Acer Predator XB3 is a nearly perfect compromise between the lowest and highest ends of the 4K 144Hz monitor market. The Dell S3220DGF is an ideal 32-inch monitor for people needing a practical work and high-performance gaming screen. Razer's Raptor 27 gaming monitor is, quite simply, a 144Hz HDR triumph. In-plane switching (IPS) panels provide the best all-around color quality, strong grayscale performance, and wide viewing angles, but they can't match the pixel response of TN panels and are subject to motion artifacts. VA The EIZO monitor test consists of various test scenarios that your monitor can handle to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the model. In 4:3, those cinematic moments are going to look stunted with black strips along the top and bottom. In the middle are those monitors that meet Nvidia's traditional G-Sync standards, containing specialized circuitry to support the standard: They have passed some 300 image-quality tests and are capable of operating over the full VRR range. Nvidia has also extended a sort of G-Sync certification to a select group of FreeSync monitors. Read the full Gigabyte G27Q review. We use a Klein K10 colorimeter to … A. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Slow response times can lead to ghosting. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Great colour depth. With the 27GL850 acting as a pioneer, however, we imagine these issues will get ironed out as time goes on. The Test During my testing of the Aorus CV27Q, it has been used for normal desktop purposes, as well as, of course, a lot of gaming. LG has developed a new IPS panel (dubbed "nano IPS", or "Fast IPS," depending on the manufacturer) that claims 1-millisecond gray-to-gray response time with overdrive turned on, and the first monitor to feature this technology is already on the market, the LG 27GL850. Again, see the link above. The most common refresh-rate increments we are now seeing in these so-called "high refresh" gaming displays are 75Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz, with panels up to 240Hz and even, in a couple of cases, 360Hz now on the market. So, the Aorus CV27Q is a nice monitor that is suitably subtle and doesn’t scream of “gaming design” as we see with so many other monitors from the same product segment. The best budget 1080p 144Hz gaming monitor, Screen size: 27-inch | Panel type: VA | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560x1440 | Response time: 1 ms | Refresh rate: 165 Hz | Weight: 16.3 lbs. We would always recommend an IPS panel over TN. The colors aren't quite so hot, but the contrast performance is impressive. One of the first panels that qualified as G-Sync Ultimate is the Acer Predator X27, but more have appeared since, especially with the introduction of 65-inch Big Format Gaming Displays (BFGDs) from HP and others. These gaming monitors will have you playing in style. Test the monitor’s viewing angle stability. And for games that properly support ultrawide resolutions, the surround effect of the XR382CQK is incredibly immersive—sitting at your desk, the 38-inch panel will fill your field of view. Shooters like CS: GO, and Apex Legends benefit from the buttery smooth refresh rate. It has a 5120x1440 resolution and 32:9 aspect ratio, which is the equivalent of placing two 27 inch, 1440p monitors side-by-side. Where it is supported, you can try to switch G-Sync on from the Nvidia control panel and see if, and how well, its adaptive sync works. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, Diablo 2: Resurrected singleplayer test runs this weekend, Outriders is the most divisive game of 2021 so far. These will provide a much more immersive, encompassing experience. TN panel technology means narrow viewing angles. … The trend in gaming panels over the last couple of years is the wave of models from all major gaming-LCD makers featuring refresh rates higher than 60Hz. A. (See our review of the first of these, the HP Omen X Emperium.) (More on that in a moment.). It features a not-quite-4K QHD ultrawide panel with a 3840x1600 resolution. On paper, the Gigabyte G27Q is rather a plain Jane. While not the cheapest on the market, it has the style and performance to make you want it on your desk. If you're a fan of flat-out overkill, the ROG Swift PG259QN will check those boxes. Vertical alignment (VA) screens are known for their high native contrast ratios, robust colors, and ability to display deep blacks, but they are also known to produce noticeable ghosting effects, which can hurt gaming performance. IPS Click Here for iPhone or iPad user. That said, in some select cases you'll want to keep the size of your monitor at 27 inches or under. The other alternative, less expensive than IPS and better than TN, is VA tech. Battle-royale titles like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Apex Legends both support full 21:9 resolution. Then, Nvidia released a new version of its driver for its GeForce cards that allows users of FreeSync monitors to turn on G-Sync in the GeForce driver software. Buying one of the best gaming monitors is an investment in the future of your gaming setup. For a list of gaming monitors with AMD FreeSync, see List of FreeSync Monitors. Thank you for signing up to PC Gamer. Many newer models are Wide Quad High-Definition (WQHD) monitors with maximum resolutions of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels (also dubbed "1440p"). Screen size, panel technology, and features will determine how much you'll pay for a gaming monitor. It's one of the best gaming monitors we've tested as it's one of the few with a 280Hz max refresh rate and an IPS panel. We’re taking it down a … (We've tested displays up to 65 inches.). The results may vary, but in essence, owners of FreeSync panels can now try out VRR with an Nvidia card. Fantastic contrast levels. Best CPU for gaming: the top chips from Intel and AMD For example: 1920 x 1080p, 2560 x 1440p (2K), and 3840 x 2160p (4K). It's impossibly pricey and far from flawless, but play on it is unmatched, if you have the monster PC to support it. Portable monitors give you a second screen during travel without the fuss. With 165Hz, FreeSync 2 HDR, excellent contrast and … Chris Stobing is a hardware analyst at PCMag. Twisted-nematic is the most common (and cheapest) gaming panel. Anyone looking for a competitive edge and values speed over anything else will be overjoyed with this Swift gaming monitor. It may have once been a niche, but 240Hz gaming has quickly become more widespread, and Alienware has set itself ahead of the pack with the gorgeous AW2521HF gaming monitor. There was a problem. And boy, is it broad. Why? LG UltraGear 27GN950 27" TechSpot Metascore: 90 User Reviews: 9.0. Also, more advanced options like SteelSeries' GameSense work in tandem with monitors like the MSI Optix MPG27CQ to display in-game information like your ammo and health levels via RGB LED strips on the monitor. The LG UltraGear 27GN950-B bags you a terrific panel with exquisite IPS image quality and, despite the lesser HDR capabilities, beautiful colors and contrast in your games too. Up to you. Display drivers are essential to control your monitor or laptop displays. Pixio PX277 Prime. Contact your seller or manufacturer if you have backlight bleed. The latter is the ability to sync the frame rate of a GPU with that of a monitor, even when the GPU's frame rate falls below the minimum frame rate of the monitor. Whenever you see one out in the wild, it's usually attached to someone's boring work laptop tasked with displaying mind-numbing spreadsheets. A low pixel response will help eliminate the smearing of moving images and provide a smoother overall picture than a higher pixel response. More importantly, the AW252HF has some impressive viewing angles regardless if you have it set in the middle of your desk for gaming or off to the side as a second monitor in portrait mode while you work. Gigabyte G27Q. (A 24-incher seems to be the sweet spot, especially in esports-focused models like the Asus ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN.) If you're looking for a big-screen, ultra-wide monitor with a curved panel, plan on spending even more. Gaming monitors should have a fast pixel response time and a high refresh rate, the latter commensurate with the frame rates your PC can push. Or literally encompass yourself with a curved monitor. Each of 25 different test screens have been created to test a particular aspect of the monitors performance. While consoles like the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PS5 do HDR flawlessly on almost all their games, the PC still lags behind in terms of the number of game titles that support HDR, and only some monitors support it. This thin and lightweight 17-inch IPS display has a 240 Hz refresh rate, along with a 3ms response time, making it the perfect gaming monitor for a LAN party. At $330, Gigabyte's 27-inches packs in many features but, more importantly, provides rich color and smooth gameplay. It basically allows the monitor to sync up with the GPU. A 30-inch 4K UHD monitor will deliver a stunning picture with amazing resolution; you can go all out with a 34-inch ultrawide monitor with or without a curved panel; or you can pick up something larger still. *Deals are selected by our partner, TechBargains. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Most movies and games of today are best enjoyed in a widescreen format at 16:9 aspect ratio or above. Nowadays though, it is possible to find G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitors, if you're intent on spending less. Their biggest drawback? Dell UltraSharp UP3218K. AMD's take on frame synching uses a similar technique as G-Sync with the biggest difference being that it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive-Sync technology which doesn't cost monitor manufacturers anything. Welcome to our pick of the best 5K and 8K monitors you can buy in 2021. For the ultimate gamer or creative, the Dell UltraSharp is the pinnacle of … A curved-panel ultrawide monitor has enough of a curve to make you feel a bit closer to the action, and in some games will also give you a competitive edge. HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Which Should I Use for My PC Monitor? This is due to the throughput limitations of the two most popular cable technologies, HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4b. Acer Predator X38. In general, Freesync monitors will be cheaper, and it used to be the case that they would only work in combination with an AMD GPU. We use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness, sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut of … The most commonly used pixel response spec is gray-to-gray, which is measured in milliseconds (ms) and signifies the time it takes a pixel to transition from one shade of gray to another. The EIZO monitor test consists of various test scenarios that your monitor can handle to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the model. They are prone to color shifting when viewed from an angle. You should also consider if you can afford a little extra for an IPS panel over a TN, or settle for VA tech. For example, gaming monitors are distinguished by particularly short response times, whereas graphic monitors impress with a particularly homogenous image display and smooth gradients. The result is a smooth gaming experience, with decreased input lag and a lack of tearing. If you really want to future-proof yourself set up, we're seeing awesome 4K 144Hz just hitting the market. ... For a list of gaming monitors with NVIDIA G-SYNC, see List of G-SYNC Monitors. HDR technology isn't just for making movies and TV shows look good. The higher refresh rate can show motion more fluidly, when it is in sync. Refresh Rate (Hz) The top tier is G-Sync Ultimate (formerly known as G-Sync HDR), which in addition to meeting the G-Sync standards combines high-end features such as extreme luminance (1,000 nits) and a refresh rate of at least 144Hz. © This 4K 27-inch HDR monitor has a 144 Hz refresh rate, and 1 is response time, which is kind of wild for a 4K monitor. To test our best gaming monitors, we employ a colorimeter and benchmarking software to measure a monitor's color accuracy, contrast and brightness. What is most impressive about this LG is the Nano IPS tech that offers a wider color gamut and stellar viewing angles.