refresh rate on lcd monitors pricelist

Computer monitors are a must-have for PC users and hardcore gamers. Consumers may be looking at computer monitor buying guides and wondering just how much a typical computer monitor costs and the overall price range of displays.

Modern computer monitors can fluctuate wildly when it comes to price, with some models as cheap as $50 and others costing $1000 or more. In the past, the first computer with a screen was astronomically expensive, but thankfully monitor technology become more accessible, bringing the price down throughout the decades. The average computer monitor costs around $200 – $300. There are some features and functionalities that can severely impact the price so be sure to do some research so you make sure you’re getting the best cheap monitor if you have a lower budget.

There are a number of features and functionalities that can increase the overall price of a computer monitor, and that’s without adding accessories to your monitor like a webcam or monitor arm if you know how to mount a monitor.

Generally speaking, LCD displays are the cheapest type of modern computer monitor. LED displays, which are based on the same technology as their LCD cousins, tend to be slightly more expensive while OLED displays are the most expensive of all. The latter being due to the high-priced components that make up the OLED technology.

Modern computer monitors can boast resolutions as high as 8K, offering stunning and true-to-life visuals and graphics. 8K, and even 4K, displays feature newly adopted technological advancements. As such, the higher the resolution, the costlier the monitor. If you are looking to snag a high-quality monitor on the cheap, go for an HD display with a 1080p resolution.

If you are using your PC to stream content or to play graphically intensive games, then the refresh rate is an incredibly important consideration. The refresh rate indicates how often your monitor refreshes the screen. As for price, monitors with ultra-high refresh rates, above 120Hz, tend to be more expensive than displays with refresh rates of 75Hz or less.

The overall size of a computer monitor, and its width, can impact the overall price. Typically, ultrawide monitors and displays that are larger than 34-inches tend to be on the expensive side. This price continues to increase as the monitor size increases. Get the size that may cater better to your needs if you need the monitor for a specific task, like the best size monitor for gaming should help make your gameplay more efficient. Ultrawide monitors and larger-than-average monitors can significantly increase the viewing angle, which can be a useful benefit.

Size plays a huge part in getting the right viewing distance and angles, which you can learn more about in our resource article about how far to sit from a monitor, especially if it’s an Ultrawide monitor.

Certain monitors include additional features that can impact the price. These can include USB hubs, integrated stereo speakers, microphones, ergonomically designed frames, and more. Some monitors also include robust cable management systems, making for a tidy setup. We recommend making a “must-have” list of features before settling on your final purchase.

So, if the price is a problem for you and you’d rather have a better resolution without the high price tag, you may be interested in learning how to build a PC monitor. It’s easier than it sounds.

The best high refresh rate monitors are as important a piece of a competitive gaming setup as a great graphics card, mouse, or keyboard. If you want to see the smooth look of a game running at a high refresh rate like 144Hz or 240Hz, a high refresh rate monitor will deliver that experience, and you probably won"t be able to go back to anything lower.

What refresh rate should you be looking for in a potential upgrade? You can feel the difference between even 60Hz and 75Hz monitors, though you start to notice the benefits in-game around 120Hz. We consider the standard for gaming monitors is 144Hz, though 165Hz is common enough with overclocked panels. Beyond that, you have 240Hz and 360Hz, targeting competitive gamers, such as twitch shooter players. These usually come alongside lower resolutions and higher price tags, so you want to be sure you"ll need that snappy response before investing in a 240/360Hz gaming monitor. Don"t even get us started on 480Hz gaming monitors(opens in new tab)that are supposedly coming pretty soon.

Refresh rate is just one element of modern gaming monitors, though, and what else you desire is up to you. Should you go for an IPS or VA panel, for instance. And what about panel, size, shape, and resolution? Is the 16:9 aspect ratio still the most versatile and compatible, or is ultrawide the way? Do curved panels add anything? And what about resolution? 4K? Or does 1440p strike a better balance? Is 1080p obsolete?

We"ve tested each of these high refresh rate gaming monitors in this list to see whether their claims stand up and make sure no compromise has been made to post those sky-high refresh rate claims.

Refresh rate, resolution, black levels, panel size: pick two. That"s been the PC monitor buyer"s dilemma for several years now, since we collectively realised that yes, playing at a higher refresh rate does actually make you better at Counter-Strike. MSI"s latest panel, bearing the catchy moniker Oculux NXG253R, aims to at least address the most common tradeoff in modern gaming panels: refresh rate for colour quality.

Whereas the majority of high refresh rate panels are VA or TN screens with limited viewing angle and shallow colours, MSI"s latest is built around an IPS panel, with all the inky blacks and rich colours that technology brings with it. Traditionally IPS has been slower to the party since it"s costlier to manufacture high refresh rate panels, but evidently enough of us are sold on 120Hz and beyond.360Hz does look and feel smoother than 120Hz.

Way beyond, in fact. This is the first 360Hz monitor I"ve played on, and I must admit to being sceptical about whatever marginal gains I might see in performance. 60Hz to 120Hz is transformative, but 120Hz to 360Hz? Surely one"s gaming performance doesn"t increase exponentially. And don"t eyes only see 60 fps anyway?

It turns out that while that performance gain might not exist on a linear curve, 360Hz does look and feel smoother than 120Hz, and the decreased ghosting of any targets in your shooter of choice does make them that bit easier to connect with. If your aspirations for online competition are pretty serious, that"s really all you need to know.

At enthusiast level, there"s still just a sense of pure enjoyment in watching Overwatch or Quake Champions zip along. Anecdotally, I found D.Va"s out-of-suit pistol combat that bit easier with frames and refresh rate way up at 300 (the game"s capped there) since my targets were always where my screen told me they were. In similarly frenetic Quake Champions matches, I pulled off Ranger"s tricky teleport kill with a bit more ease, too.

But something to bear in mind: you still need the GPU to get your frame rate up there in the hundreds in order to feel the benefit of that 360Hz refresh.

This being an IPS panel with typically darker blacks, it definitely looks more vivid in-game than even a good TN screen, and the colours hold up at any viewing angle. You"ve got a few preset brightness and color balance modes to cycle between on the OSD, arranged by genre. FPS is super-bright and saturated, racing is a bit more subdued by contrast. Out of the box, the default colour and brightness settings are easy on the eye and really sell the IPS benefit.

G-Sync itself is present here too, and although that won"t be a big deal to competitive players due to the miniscule latency increase it adds to the signal chain, for the rest of us dropping this much on a 1080p monitor, it sweetens the deal. Whether or not it actually feels smoother than 300+ fps of non-v-synced gameplay is really in the eye of the beholder, but it has always been, and remains, a useful tool in one"s armoury for those slower games, the Fallout 4s and Cyberpunks, who need all the help they can get to smooth it all out.

The Oculux NXG253R"s mandate is sound, then, but there are still compromises made in this pricey 1080p monitor in order to optimise esports performance. The most obvious are the screen size and resolution, 24.5-inch and 1080p respectively. You could certainly argue that nobody"s getting 360 fps at 4K in… well, anything outside of CS:GO or MOBAs, and quite rightly so. But spending this much on a monitor that won"t even give you 1440p feels like a serious tradeoff, and that resolution dictates a smaller panel size. Nobody wants to see the individual pixels at 1080p on a 32-inch screen.

The Alienware 34 QD-OLED curved gaming monitor completely took us by surprise. It made us believers in Samsung"s new QD-OLED panels, which we are hoping means the OLED PC monitor revolution has begun.

This monitor isn’t perfect. But it is dramatically better than any LCD-based monitor by several gaming-critical metrics. And it’s a genuine thrill to use. Of course, that’s getting ahead of ourselves. First, we need to cover off the basics.

What makes the AW3423DW far superior to your typical LCD panel on a PC gaming monitor is the near-percent color saturation and screen brightness capable of hitting a peak brightness of 1000 nits. It"s done all this while providing a ridiculously fast 175Hz refresh rate and a response time of .1ms. It might just be the best 3440 x 1440p gaming monitor we"ve ever used, and, boy, do we look at a lot of ultrawide.

Common to all OLED tech are two critical advantages over any LCD panel, namely contrast and response. Put simply, every pixel in an OLED panel is its own light source, which can be turned completely off, essentially delivering ‘true’ black levels and more or less infinite contrast. There’s no need for any of that complicated, problematic local dimming to stop the light from leaking through an LCD panel. OLED is the real HDR deal.

Not only is it OLED, it’s also Samsung’s hot new QD-LED tech, which combines the ideal RGB subpixel structure with quantum dot technology to produce both excellent color saturation and an even brighter panel. Net result? Alienware is claiming both an impressive 99.3 percent coverage of the demanding DCI-P3 color space and fully 1,000 nits brightness, albeit that brightness level can only be achieved on a small portion of the panel, not across the entire screen.

Unlike LCD monitors with claimed HDR capability, this OLED screen needs to be in HDR mode to do its thing. And that applies to SDR content, too. Alienware has provided two HDR modes, HDR 400 True Black and HDR Peak 1000. The latter enables that maximum 1,000 nit performance in small areas of the panel but actually looks less vibrant and punchy most of the time.

Instead, it’s the HDR 400 True Black mode that generally gives the best results. That includes SDR content. For SDR content to look its best, you have to jump into the Windows Display Settings menu and crank the SDR brightness up, after which it’s much zingier all around. That’s actually handy because it means that once you have the AW3423DW set up properly, you’re all done. There’s no need to switch modes for SDR and HDR content.

But for most types of gaming on that very platform, this is as good as it currently gets. Put simply, the Alienware 34 AW3423DW sets new standards for contrast, HDR performance, and response.

Why, exactly, does the AOC Agon AG273QXP run at 170Hz refresh? Is it a cynical marketing move designed to give AOC’s latest gaming panel a superficial edge over the usual 165Hz suspects? Is there some specific technical reason for the extra 5Hz?

One thing is for sure; there’s no chance of spotting the difference between 165Hz and 170Hz in-game. It’s hard enough to pick 165Hz from 144Hz or even 240Hz reliably. An extra 5Hz? No chance.

It’s a pity to be distracted by such trivia because the AOC Agon AG273QXP has loads going for it. That 170Hz panel is a 1440p IPS item, making it a goldilocks model for modern gaming. Not too many pixels. Not too few. But just the right balance between visual detail and frame rate.

You can add extras like adaptive sync support in the form of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility, plus VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. Rounding it all out is a claimed response time of 1ms.

Yup, this thing ticks a lot of boxes on paper. And so it proves in practice. It’s undoubtedly as punchy a panel as the 400cd/m2 spec implies. Is it suitable for a 1ms response? Unlikely, in absolute terms. But set the overdrive to medium, and it’s a speedy monitor with minimal blur and no ghosting.

Cyberpunk 2077 looks glorious, that’s for sure. The Agon sports a pretty decent HDR implementation, too. At least it does for an HDR 400 panel that lacks local dimming. Like any other HDR 400 screen, it’s not a true HDR experience. But this is still a great high refresh rate monitor.

1080p not your bag? Better jog on as the Acer Predator XB253QGX won’t be for you. It isn’t really for most of us, either, given 1440p is a better all-around compromise for most gamers from a purely visual point. But if ultra-low latency and frames rates high enough to give you a nosebleed sounds like your thing, this 1080p 25-incher should be on your shortlist.

It’s very similar to the Alienware 25 but clocks in at a mere 240Hz to the Alienware’s outrageous 360Hz. In truth, only the most demanding esports addicts will be able to tell the difference. But if you are that sensitive to latency, the Acer’s 1080p resolution actually makes sense. After all, the fewer the pixels, the higher your frame rate.

As it happens, this Acer is slightly more vibrant than the ostensibly identical Lenovo Legion Y25-25, even if it isn’t as punchy as the much pricier Alienware. As with many screens of this type, you can fine-tune pixel response through an overdrive setting. Predictably, the most aggressive setting introduces some ghosting. But set to medium, this is a very quick IPS monitor. That said, even with a claimed MPRT response time of just 0.5ms, this is not an entirely blur-free monitor. That’s LCD technology for you.

Of course, it’s in pure visual punch where a 1080p panel like this stumbles. There’s significantly less detail on offer than a 1440p monitor, much less a 4K screen. This would not be our weapon of choice for soaking up the sheer spectacle of Cyberpunk 2077, that’s for sure.

There’s an elephant in this high refresh rate monitor round-up. And it’s the inevitable question of diminishing returns. When, exactly, do they kick in? 165Hz? 240Hz? How about 360Hz? Oh yes, this updated Alienware 25 is good for the full 360. In purely experiential and subjective terms, it’s not easy to separate it from otherwise similar 1080p IPS monitors that hum along at a comparatively pedestrian 240Hz refresh. They all feel swift.

Of course, esports aficionados with ninjascopic reflexes will appreciate the difference. And there’s certainly no penalty to pay, given this IPS panel. It’s not like you’re forced to suffer a dingy TN panel to have all those Hz. As for pixel response, it’s about as good as IPS monitors get, though once again hard to really separate from the cheaper 240Hz brigade.

But it’s actually Alienware’s other qualities that set it apart. For starters, this is the brightest and punchiest of the 25-inch bunch. The integrated Nvidia G-Sync chip also makes for a noticeably smoother low-frame-rate experience than a mere G-Sync ‘Compatible’ or FreeSync display. Ironic, given the 360Hz refresh is the main attraction.

The Alienware 25 also supports Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer(opens in new tab), which helps you fine-tune input lag with millimetric precision. Provided you have a compatible mouse and an Nvidia graphics card, that is, and that you are playing a game that supports it.

Given the highly focused remit, our only major reservation is that the ‘Esports’ preset in the OSD menu crushes brightness to a fairly intolerable extent. So, the Alienware 25’s very best performance comes at quite a price, both literally and figuratively.

Never mind a new generation of GPUs you can’t buy, and consoles in short supply; 4K remains a problematic resolution for gaming. It’s just sooo many pixels. Over eight million, in fact. Even at a mere 60Hz, that’s 500 million pixels that have to be rendered, rasterized, ray-traced—whatever—every second.

That works out at over a billion per second at 144Hz, which just so happens to be the refresh rate of the Acer Predator XB273K, Acer’s more affordable 4K gaming panel. Compared to the pricier Acer Predator X27, it lacks local dimming, delivers lower peak brightness, and is merely G-Sync ‘Compatible’. So, there’s no Nvidia G-Sync module onboard.

Of course, affordability is relative, and the XB273K is still a pretty pricey panel. Indeed, with 120Hz 4K OLED TVs available for not all that much more than this 27-inch monitor, the value proposition isn’t exactly compelling.

None of which is to say this screen lacks appeal. No, siree. Once you’ve seen Cyberpunk 2077 running in full IPS-plus-4K glory, you won’t want to go back to 1440p, let alone crummy old 1080p. The problem is the philosophical incompatibility between maximizing image quality and frame rates at the same time. You can’t really have both. Not even with, say, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080(opens in new tab).

In other words, while this monitor is capable of 144Hz, you’re not going to get near those kinds of frame rates in the prettiest games. And if you’re not bothered about prettiness, you probably don’t need 4K if you follow. It’s a very nice screen, this Acer Predator XB273K, and better value than its Acer Predator X27 sibling, but it still doesn’t make much sense for this kind of money.

VA panel technology used to spell certain doom when it came to pixel response. More recently, Samsung, among others, has proven that VA really can deliver. If not quite an IPS-matching response, then certainly good enough performance for all but the most demanding esports gamers.

Unfortunately, the Viewsonic VX2718-2KPC-MHD is a VA screen slightly out of the old school, despite delivering a 165Hz refresh. Crank this 27-inch, 1440p curved monitor over for the first time, and it doesn’t bode well. In fact, the VX2718-2KPC-MHD is a bit of a blurry mess. It does improve with a little time and temperature. But even fully warmed up, it’s simply not as quick as the latest IPS panels. Or, for that matter, the implied performance of the 1ms MPRT response specification.

Incidentally, the VX2718-2KPC-MHD ‘1ms’ mode does little to improve response, but it does crush brightness and vibrancy pretty effectively. While we’re beating on Viewsonic’s latest, we note it lacks a refresh rate counter. It’s a small detail, but it’s also a handy feature to ensure that you’re running at the right refresh rate and confirm that adaptive sync is enabled.

Elsewhere, the stand feels a bit cheap and only offers tilt adjustment, while the external PSU adds to clutter. Meanwhile, as the 250cd/m2 brightness rating implies, this screen won’t exactly sear your retinas.

This isn’t to imply this screen has nothing to offer. The 1440p native resolution on a 27-inch panel is a sweet combo for balancing frame rates with in-game detail, while the VA panel tech delivers plenty of contrast. Of course, as 1440p 165Hz monitors go, it’s competitively priced, but the mediocre response and lack of punch might feel a bit too budget for most.

On paper, the Lenovo Legion Y25-25 is an absolute dead ringer for the Acer Predator XB253QGX. It’s a pretty close cousin of Alienware’s updated 360Hz 25-incher, too. But it just goes to show the specs don’t tell the whole story because this is clearly the bum of the 25-inch bunch.

That’s not to say the Lenovo Legion Y25-25 is an outright dud. Not with a 25-inch IPS panel that fires at fully 240Hz. Sure, it’s only 1080p. But then so is the competition and the point here is maximum fluidity, minimum latency. Giving up the visual detail and precision of 1440p or 4K goes with the territory, in other words.

The Lenovo also has pretty sweet build quality with a lush alloy stand, full adjustability including height, tilt, rotate and swivel, plus styling that little bit slicker and more grown-up than your average, rather adolescent, gaming peripheral. The integrated, rather than external, power supply likewise soothes our collective OCD, and G-Sync compatibility is welcome if expected in this class of screen.

To all that, you can add excellent pixel response with the overdrive set to medium (max it out and some ghouls and ghosts turn up uninvited), predictably minimal latency, plus buttery smooth rendering, as you’d expect for a 240Hz panel.

So what, exactly, is the problem? Basic image quality, that’s what. The Lenovo Legion Y25-25 is just a little bit dingier, a little duller than the competition. It’s unclear if it uses a different panel from the Acer and Alienware. But for sure, its colors are less vibrant, and games look less immersive. In isolation, and given the esports remit, that argument doesn’t matter. This certainly isn’t a terrible-looking screen, but when you can have all of Lenovo’s upsides, plus better basic image quality, elsewhere it is a bit of a non-starter of a monitor.

High refresh rate gaming monitor FAQWhat"s the best PC monitor panel type for gaming?If in doubt, go IPS. There are now VA screens with good response speed, like the fabulous MSI MPG ARTYMIS 343CQR. But IPS more consistently delivers the goods and is now sufficiently fast in terms of refresh rate that you absolutely needn"t settle for TN anymore.What refresh rate do you really need for PC gaming?If you"re asking the question, 144Hz is probably plenty. Esports fiends who will really appreciate higher refresh rates already know who they are and what they want. And that answer is likely getting on for 240Hz these days.What"s the best resolution for a gaming monitor?With the latest unobtainable graphics cards, 4K gaming at high triple-digit refresh rates is a stretch in the most demanding games. So, 1440p (at either 16:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio) is probably the better compromise. 1080p is only of interest to those who demand the very highest frame rates for competitive shooters.Should I buy a curved gaming monitor?For our money, curved panels make the most sense in larger formats and with super-wide 21:9 or wider panels. A curved panel on, say, a smaller 27-inch 16:9 panel isn"t necessarily a bad thing. But, nor does it really add much to the experience.Does HDR matter for PC gaming monitors?The problem with HDR in this context is that few LCD monitors offer a true HDR experience. What"s more, monitors with HDR-boosting local dimming remain painfully pricey and for what is really only marginal benefit. That said, HDR certification usually ensures high brightness, and HDR 600 and beyond requires wide color support.G-Sync or FreeSync: which adaptive screen tech is best?We think screens with Nvidia"s G-Sync module built-in have the edge when it comes to smooth performance at lower frame rates. At higher frame rates, mere G-Sync compatibility is fine, and AMD"s FreeSync is likewise much of a muchness.Round up of today"s best deals

The best high refresh rate monitors deliver crisp and smooth visuals during your gaming sessions. That doesn"t just mean a more enjoyable experience; it also means you"ll have a winning advantage as a fast display is able to deliver more images per second to keep up with your fast movements, making them great for competitive gaming.

60Hz and 120Hz monitors are hardly obsolete and will more than suffice for most of your viewing needs. However, some situations do call for a higher refresh rate. The best monitors that offer refresh rates 144Hz and faster are the cream of the crop, especially where gamers are concerned. If your PC’s graphics card is putting out higher frame rates, for example, or if a smoother, screen tearing-free gaming experience is much more important than higher resolution gameplay, then a higher refresh rate monitor is a better solution.

We"ve tested many gaming monitors in the last few years, so we know which ones are worth your money. To help you, we found all the best high refresh rate monitors available right now, considering size, budget, and different needs. From 165Hz panels that will serve you well when playing the latest fast-paced PC games to those monitors with a whopping 360Hz refresh rate that will help you rise to the top of the leaderboards, here are our top picks.

High refresh rate monitors may typically cost more, but that doesn’t mean that there aren"t excellent affordable options available. Out of those, the Gigabyte Aorus CV27Q may be the best, offering that fast refresh rate in a QHD package for less than you"d expect. You can count on its reliable 165 Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync to deliver a smooth gaming experience.

Just in case that isn’t enough to convince you, Gigabyte also throws in 1500R curvature, 3000:1 contrast ratio, VESA-certified DisplayHDR 400 should, and 1ms response time. That’s a lot of impressive features for gaming immersion that you won’t find in some of the more premium panels. The color support is limited to 90% DCI-P3 and the input ports don’t include a USB-C, but at that price, we’re not complaining. Especially if you need something fast yet affordable for gaming.

The AOC CU34G2X is similar to the Samsung Odyssey G7 in that you get a refresh rate of 144Hz, 1ms response time, and a 1440p resolution. Unlike the Samsung panel, however, this one is much lower in price point, which makes it a fantastic budget option for those who need something cheap.

Just because it"s a budget monitor, however, that doesn"t mean there"s very minimal features here. On the contrary, you"re getting an ultrawide 21:9 monitor with a curvature, a brightness of 300 nits, and a solid port selection with two HDMI 2.0 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two DisplayPort 1.4, and two USB 3.2 Type-A ports.

The Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165 comes at a premium, but you’re also paying for more than just its fast refresh rate. A 1440p resolution, DisplayHDR 400, 100% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 color gamuts, and all the ports you could ask for including one USB-C port — they all make this an impressive display and not just for gamers.

We found that its core image quality bright, vibrant and punchy, while also being natural looking and nicely calibrated right out of the box. Thanks to its fast refresh rate, there’s also almost no visible overshoot or inverse ghosting and very minimal blurring.

While it may need some calibrating out of the box, the Samsung Odyssey G7 is quite the panel. An incredibly fast 240Hz refresh rate paired with a 1440p resolution will make you forget all about those 4K options as this is the sweet spot for a lot of gaming. Even if you don"t notice the difference, but still you"ll have the peace of mind knowing that if you"re hitting up to 240fps in games, your monitor is keeping up.

The first thing you’ll notice with the Alienware 27 Gaming monitor, aka the AW2721D, is how hefty its stand is. While that can be a problem for those with cramped desks, it’s sturdy and full of ergonomic adjustments for a more comfortable experience. It’s also quite attractive, especially with its sports RGB lighting in the back that you typically see on Alienware products.

But, none of that matters if the performance isn’t there. Luckily, the Alienware AW2721D is fast, thanks to that 240Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp, clean, and smooth picture quality. That"s certainly an advantage during fast and hectic gameplay when crisp visuals are crucial to winning.

The Asus TUF VG259QM might be the a speedy little monitor you want if you"re looking for display that can deliver exceptionally smooth performance. Not only does it boast an incredibly fast 280Hz refresh rate, but it also allows you to use G-Sync at the same time as the Asus’ own ELMB or Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync. What you"re getting, therefore, is picture quality that’s incredibly crisp and smooth no matter how fast you’re pushing it.

The MSI Oculux NXG253R is yet another affordable monitor if you"re looking for something that"s incredibly fast. Its 360Hz refresh rate at this price point, however, is especially uncommon, but it does mean don’t have to break the bank to gain access to these blazing fast speeds.

MSI’s ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) technology keeps fast-moving images silky smooth. And, its variable backlighting allows you to dramatically increase the contrast ratio.

The ASUS ROG Swift PG259QNR might be light on features, but it comes with everything necessary to make the most of its lightning fast performance. That 360Hz refresh rate is already impressive. But, the inclusion of ULMB or Ultra Low Motion Blur, Nvidia G-Sync, and Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer allows you to fine-tune that speed.

So, what you"re getting here is an ultra smooth experience that"s advantageous for gaming. It even has a large custom heatsink to keep things cool when you’re playing for hours on end.

The Alienware AW3423DW is a fantastic option if you"re looking to merge fast refresh rates with OLED technology, which has only recently come to computer and gaming monitors. This display delivers an almost impeccable gaming performance, thanks to its smooth motion processing, 175Hz refresh rate, and quick response time, which makes it a great proposition for gamers who love fast-paced games or do competitive gaming.

Its speed isn"t its marquee feature, however. Its color reproduction is, thanks to its cinema-grade color coverage of 99.3% DCI-P3, Delta E color accuracy of less than 2 out of the box, and infinite contrast ratio. An OLED panel, you"re getting deep blacks and vivid colors, which when combined with its sharp and smooth visuals, deliver a stunning image.

You are paying quite a sum for all of that. However, if you can afford it, rest assured you"re getting your money"s worth.How to choose the best high refresh rate monitor for youThere are a couple of caveats to know before you invest in a high refresh rate monitor, however. First, these panels tend to be pricey – or at least, more expensive than their 60Hz and 120Hz counterparts – for the simple reason that they’re more expensive to make. Second, you’ll be sacrificing high resolution to get that high refresh rate.

While there are now 4K displays with 144Hz refresh rate, there are only a few of them out there as it’s fairly new. And, if you want one with an even higher refresh rate, you’re stuck with 1080p and 1440p options. At least, for now. So, if you have a tight budget or if having a 4K screen is a priority, this might not be the best option for you.Round up of today"s best deals

23.8" LED-backlit LCD monitor / FHD (1920x1080) resolution IPS display / 178° (H) 178° (V) viewing angle / 250 cd/m² brightness / 5ms (GTG) response time (in FAST mode) / 1xUSB‑C input (video/audio/60W charging capability), 1xDisplayPort (in), 1xDisplayPort (out) with MST, 1xHDMI, 1xUSB‑C output (data/15W charging capability), 3xSuperSpeed 10Gbps USB Type A ports / 1xDisplayPort, 1xUSB-C to USB Type A cable included / 3 year system/panel warranty

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A 24-inch PC monitor with the ability to update its image 500 times per second will be available soon, Asus and Nvidia announced Tuesday. The monitor should boost desktop monitors from the 360 Hz max native refresh rate they see today while putting a mysterious new spin on an old panel technology.

Aptly named the Asus ROG Swift 500 Hz Gaming Monitor, it manages high refresh rates with lower resolution. The 1920×1080 screen leverages a new take on TN (twisted nematic) panels called E-TN, with the "E" standing for esports. According to Asus, the E-TN panel offers "60 percent better response times than standard TN panels," and in its own announcement, Nvidia claimed the E-TN panel brings "maximum motion and clarity." But neither detailed how the technology differs from regular TN.

Standard TN panels have been becoming less common among PC monitor releases as IPS (in-plane switching) and VA (vertical alignment) panels continue catching up in speed while being known for stronger viewing angles, in the case of IPS, and larger contrast ratios, in the case of VA. Those opting for TN are willing to sacrifice some image quality in the name of speed or, often, lower prices. It"s unclear how much sacrifice E-TN may require (besides a max resolution of 1080p) or how much of a premium it"ll have compared to today"s standard TN monitors.

Today, you can buy 360 Hz monitors, including some that can overclock to 390 Hz, but 500 Hz is a new level. The panel maker behind the monitor wasn"t specifically named, but Nvidia"s announcement made a point to note its work with partner AU Optronics, which we recently showed off in 480 Hz monitors and laptops, with the former coming in the 24-inch TN variation. BOE has also been linked with a 500 Hz panel that uses an oxide TFT (thin-film transistor) active layer rather than the more common silicon TFT active layer.

So who needs the fastest PC monitor yet? According to Nvidia"s announcement, "this benefits every game and gamer, not just competitive games and esports pros." Although, if you prefer a sharper image over the fastest speeds, don"t have a powerful enough system to push 500 fps, or play graphically intensive games where 500 fps isn"t feasible, you won"t fit in that "every games and gamer" category. Advertisement

Nvidia claimed that when paired with a system that can push 500 frames per second—which, of course, is no short order—you would be able to track movement more easily. In a video Nvidia shared claiming to demonstrate the benefits of 500 Hz, it showed a virtual character moving across the screen on a 144 Hz, 240 Hz, and 500 Hz display, and motion appeared jumpier with the lower refresh rates and framerates.

In Nvidia"s virtual keynote for the Computex conference this week, Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of Nvidia"s GeForce business, said Asus" 500 Hz monitor has the "lowest latency" of any monitor with Nvidia G-Sync. Nvidia also pointed to a system latency challenge it recently conducted with Steam players of various skills levels gaming with 25, 55, and 85 ms latency levels. The challenge led Nvidia to conclude that lower latency "improves your score regardless of aiming skill" and made "difficult aiming tasks possible."

In addition to Nvidia G-Sync, which helps fight screen tears when your Nvidia graphics card"s framerate and the monitor"s refresh rate don"t match up, Asus" 500 Hz monitor will have Nvidia"s latency analyzer, Reflex. Nvidia claimed that playing a game on the monitor that also supports Reflex "can further reduce system latency," which you could then measure with the monitor"s Reflex feature.

The upcoming display also supports Nvidia Vibrance Mode, which is made for gaming and "allows more light to travel through the LCD crystals, giving colors new levels of vibrancy and allowing you to pick out details and highlights that might give away an enemy’s position," Asus claimed.

Neither Asus nor Nvidia shared a release date for the Asus ROG Swift 500 Hz Gaming Monitor. Asus demoed its first 360 Hz monitor in person in January 2020, and those were available later that year; although, as of writing, there doesn"t seem to be in-person demos of the ROG Swift 500 Hz yet.

The best 1080p monitor we"ve tested is the Dell Alienware AW2521H. It"s a good monitor that"s also the best 1080p gaming monitor because it"s mainly designed for competitive esports gamers who are going to take full advantage of its high 360Hz refresh rate. It means it"s a fantastic choice for high-frame-rate gaming, and the lower 1080p resolution helps put a lighter workload on your graphics card compared to higher-resolution displays. Motion looks incredibly smooth thanks to its quick response time and has a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur. It also has low input lag for a responsive feel while gaming.

It has many features, including native G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing while gaming. Because it"s a native G-SYNC monitor, it can take full advantage of your NVIDIA graphics card and has a few extra features like the Reflex Latency Analyzer, which helps identify which sources in your gaming setup have the highest latency. It also RGB lighting on the back that you can customize to complete your gaming setup.

High refresh rate monitors have become all the rage in recent years, showing up in many of the best gaming monitors and the best 4K displays. But do you actually need a high-refresh gaming monitor?

Although a high refresh rate can indeed do wonders for gamers, a higher number isn’t better for everyone. Depending on what you use your computer for, it might be a better idea to look at screen resolution, the panel type, and color accuracy. To help you know what to look for, we’ve broken down what a high refresh rate does, what it doesn’t do, and why it’s important.

Hz stands for hertz, which is a unit of frequency. Regardless of the context, 1Hz equals one cycle per second. So, you may see a computer processor that runs at 4GHz, meaning it completes 4,000,000,000 instruction cycles per second. The same thing is true for monitors, except Hz measures something known as the refresh rate.

Refresh rate is the number of times per second a display refreshes its image. Since movement is displayed by the difference between frames, the refresh rate effectively places a hard cap on the framerate that’s visible. That said, refresh rate is not the same as framerate. Refresh rate is an attribute of the monitor, while framerate is an attribute of the information being sent to it. They have to agree on just what is being shown on screen.

If you can run a game at 100 frames per second, you may see a tangible benefit from playing it on a monitor that can refresh that many times per second. But if you’re watching a movie at a classic 24 fps, a higher refresh rate monitor won’t make any difference.

If your computer can play a game at a high enough framerate to match a 120Hz or 240Hz monitor, you’ll see a noticeable change in the perceived sharpness of a moving image. Blurring occurs because of how the human brain processes the set of individual frames a monitor displays. The brain blurs together the series of frames to create a sensible moving picture, but some detail is lost along the way.

A higher refresh rate helps to decrease the blur by giving our brains more information to act on, in turn reducing perceived blur. However, unlike computer hardware, our brains aren’t all made to the same specification. Some people notice the difference between a 60Hz and 120Hz display immediately, while others can’t see what everyone is all worked up about. The difference between 120Hz and 240Hz is even more subtle.

Again, it is very much dependent on what you’re doing on your system. Gamers will notice sharper visuals during fast action, and moving a mouse can feel smoother compared to a more typical 60Hz display. Web browsing when fast scrolling down a page can look a little smoother, too, but in watching online videos and answering emails, you won’t see any advantage.

Because refresh rates and framerates are very different things, they can often mismatch. That’s when something called screen tearing can occur. It tends to happen when a computer’s video card is spitting out frames at a rate well beyond the refresh rate of the monitor connected to it. Because more frames are being rendered than the monitor can handle, half-frames are sometimes shown together on the screen, manifesting as an obvious split between two portions of it, neither of which appears to line up correctly with the other. It’s a distracting problem that even the least sensitive viewer will usually notice.

In games that aren’t particularly taxing, framerates can often exceed 100 fps. However, a 60Hz display only refreshes 60 times per second. This means gamers are not fully benefiting from the enhanced responsiveness of the higher framerate and may notice tearing as the display fails to keep up with the data fed to it. A 120Hz display refreshes twice as quickly as a 60Hz display, so it can display up to 120 fps, and a 240Hz display can handle up to 240 fps. This will eliminate tearing in most games.

Although you always run the risk of screen tearing with a framerate above your refresh rate, it’s only to a certain point. In games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,where framerates are often well about 100 fps, there are more, smaller tears. A single tear is easy to notice, but several minor ones don’t register for most people.

Frame syncing technologies like V-Sync, Freesync, and G-Sync also help prevent screen tearing, but they have their own drawbacks. V-Sync will cap performance. Freesync and G-Sync, meanwhile, require specific combinations of video card and monitor hardware. These technologies are getting better, but they still require some key choices about GPUs and displays.

Syncing technologies are designed to work with GPUs to help solve issues like screen tearing, but that’s far from the only role GPUs play in display performance. If you want 120 to 144Hz or higher performance, you also need a GPU that can keep up with your gaming.

There’s no perfect choice for getting a GPU that can output 120 or more frames per second, but more processing power and a greater amount of faster memory are always good signs. The latest generation of Nvidia’s RTX 3000 series GPUs are excellent candidates, but they’re not the only ones.

You can also play less detailed games, or lower the in-game settings to get higher framerates to take better advantage of a high refresh rate display.

The refresh rate of a monitor has an impact on input lag. A 60Hz display, for example, will never have a visible lag below 16.67 milliseconds, because that’s the amount of time that passes from one refresh to the next. A 120Hz display halves that time to 8.33ms, and a 240Hz display further reduces it to 4.16ms.

Decreasing lag by less than 10ms may not seem important, and for many people — even gamers — it’s not. However, lag can be worth eliminating for ultra-competitive gaming or for those who like games to feel as smooth as possible. This is, once again, an issue some people will notice more readily than others.

It’s important to note here that the refresh rate has nothing to do with input lag. Whenever you click your mouse or input a keystroke, your PC still receives and processes it at the same rate. The refresh rate just has to do with how quickly you see the result of your action on screen, compromising the entire input chain.

We think that gamers will see a more significant benefit in switching to a high refresh rate monitor than they will in upgrading to 4K since doing both can be quite expensive as well as taxing on your hardware. 120Hz or 144Hz displays deliver smoother, tear-free gaming with less input lag. This improved performance is especially beneficial in games where fast inputs are vital to winning and in games with competitive fighters or shooters, including Fortnite, Overwatch, Mortal Kombat, and others in these genres.

The best way to get an understanding of how this feature works is by physically witnessing motion demos on screens in an actual store. Thus, you will be able to make a more informed decision on whether to upgrade.

If you’re a non-gamer, higher refresh rates supply an almost unnoticeable change in your system’s overall performance. It will make your desktop appear smoother when surfing the web, but you won’t see much improvement beyond that. Televisions with 120Hz or 240Hz panels further improve motion quality with image processors that change their input. Some can even add frames, which increases the framerate of content. In contrast, monitors don’t usually have a processor, which minimizes the panel’s benefit when watching video content. An improved refresh rate also does not guarantee to eliminate “ghosting.”

Ultimately, we think that dedicated gamers will definitely benefit from upgrading their systems with high refresh rate displays. If you aren’t an avid gamer, there are plenty of features that will better fulfill your non-gamer desires.

It’s natural for anyone shopping desktop monitors to be swayed by size, shape, resolution and color quality. But depending on your business needs, you may also want to consider a less flashy feature: the monitor’s refresh rate.

Refresh rate is the frequency at which the screen updates with new images each second, measured in hertz (cycles per second). The content may look steady on the display, but what the viewer can’t see is how fast the content is changing — up to 360 times a second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the visual quality.

Super high monitor refresh rates aren’t all that important for office workers focused on lighter computing like word processing, spreadsheets and emails. But in more visual professions like creative production and game development, a high refresh rate for monitors is invaluable.

The standard refresh rate for desktop monitors is 60Hz. But in recent years, more specialized, high-performing monitors have been developed that support 120Hz, 144Hz and even 240Hz refresh rates, which ensure ultra-smooth content viewing, even for the most demanding visual processing needs.

Just buying a high refresh rate monitor doesn’t mean the display quality will magically improve. The monitor’s refresh rate reflects the maximum rate at which the display can change the visuals. What happens on the screen depends on the frame rate of the output — the number of video frames that are sent to the display each second.

The majority of Hollywood movies, for example, are shot and produced at 24 frames per second (fps), so a 60Hz monitor will easily offer smooth playback. But having a 120Hz monitor (or even faster) won’t provide any visible benefit to playback quality.

A 120Hz monitor has obvious benefits, though, for modern gaming platforms that animate at 100 fps or higher. A high refresh rate helps the screen keep pace with the high-twitch inputs of players and translate them into super smooth actions on screen.

When refresh rate and frame rate are mismatched, it can result in something called screen tearing. If the computer’s graphic card is pushing out more frames than the monitor’s refresh rate can handle at a given moment, users may see two half-frames on the screen at once, bisected horizontally and slightly misaligned. In short, it doesn’t look good. Games are usually configured to automatically match the PC’s graphics capabilities to avoid tearing, but running high-action visuals more slowly than intended makes for a compromised viewing and playing experience.

Response time — the time it takes for a pixel to change color — also plays a role in refresh rate. A monitor can only refresh as quickly as the LCD display can make those rapid-fire color shifts.

Particularly for fast-paced visuals, higher refresh rates and faster pixel response times reduce ghosted visuals, and ideally eliminate them. With slower tech, a high-pace action sequence may come with trailing images that result in softer, even blurry on-screen visuals.

The appeal of high refresh rates is obvious for at-home gamers looking for a responsive, hyperrealistic playing experience. And this leisure use is part of a vast global industry. SuperData reported that the video gaming industry generated roughly $140 billion in 2020, up 12 percent from $120 billion in 2019. Statista estimates there are now more than 3 billion gamers worldwide.

The nascent esports industry is already worth more than $1 billion, and companies of all sizes and sorts — including casino operators — are scrambling to establish esports gaming zones and arenas for fans to watch and play popular games like Overwatch.

In the U.S. alone, the video game industry employs 220,000 people across all 50 states, according to the Entertainment Software Association. That’s a lot of game developers, graphic artists and playtesters working in front of monitors, most of them in need of optimal visual quality and speed at their workstations. While 60Hz refresh rates may work fine for people in finance and human resources — and even the clerical side of gaming companies — people on the visual and testing side need at least 120Hz to do their jobs well.

And it’s not just gaming. While the film industry has long produced movies at 24 fps, that frame rate is a relic of times when there were different technical restraints on cameras and projection, so a faster frame rate required more expensive film. The 24 fps standard has stuck around largely because that’s what the public is used to. Today, filmmakers are increasingly pushing frame rates as high as 120 fps.

High-performance monitors with high refresh rates come with obvious visual improvements, but monitor upgrades in general bring a broader range of business benefits.

Higher-quality monitors — notably those with Quantum Dot enhancement film — offer an immense color palette and extreme color accuracy. Users don’t just see red; they see the exact shade of red the artist intended. High dynamic range (HDR), featured on high-resolution monitors from Samsung, clarifies every element of every scene — even the brightest highlights and darkest shadows — so the smallest details are fully discernible and distinct.

Premium monitors also come with built-in (adjustable) technologies that can reduce eye strain. Manufacturers, led by Samsung, have increasingly introduced curved widescreen monitors that equalize the focal distance of every part of the screen. The left and right edges are the same distance from the viewer’s eyes as the middle of the screen, reducing eye strain, as viewers don’t have to adjust their eyes as they scan the display.

High refresh rate monitors with high response times also tend to come with other premium features, such as full support for USB-C connections. With a single cable, the user can connect their PC to a monitor that functions as a USB hub for peripheral devices. This negates the need for expensive and often clunky docking stations, and can significantly reduce the number of cables at each workstation. In addition to tidier, streamlined workspaces, this also reduces the demand for IT support. With fewer connectors and devices, you tend to get fewer problems.

Around the workplace, anyone in a visually creative role will see immediate benefits from a higher refresh rate. And while those in non-visual roles probably won’t see any difference, the key may be futureproofing.

When IT and information systems (IS) teams plan capital purchases, they need to look several years ahead for potential technical requirements down the road. While high-refresh monitors may have a defined user community right now, it’s likely more use cases and worker needs will develop. Monitors with low refresh rates can’t get better, but higher-refresh monitors can serve your display needs both now and in the future.

As you consider making a monitor upgrade for your team, walk through the market drivers, societal shifts and technologies of the reimagined office in this free guide. And no matter what your industry, Samsung’shigh-performance monitorshave you covered.

Depending on your needs, even cheap and budget-friendly monitors can deliver a great gaming experience. While they may lack some advanced features and fancy designs found on more expensive models, budget monitors still offer low input lag, excellent response times, and variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies like FreeSync or G-SYNC. Budget gaming monitors are typically smaller with lower resolutions, but because the gaming monitor market has been expanding, you can still find 1440p budget gaming monitors.

We"ve bought and tested over 260 monitors, and below you"ll find our recommendations for the best gaming monitors to buy on a budget. Also see our recommendations for the best monitors under $500, the best monitors under $200, and the best budget and cheap monitors.

The best budget gaming monitor we"ve tested is the ViewSonic XG2431. It"s an impressive gaming monitor with more features than even more expensive options. It has a fast 240Hz refresh rate, and even though its 1080p resolution and 24-inch screen size may seem small to you, this is typical of budget monitors, and the lower resolution makes it easier for your graphics card to achieve a high frame rate. Despite its budget price, it"s well-built, and the stand offers great ergonomics, making it easy to adjust to an ideal viewing position.

The stand-out feature is the incredible motion handling, thanks to the quick response time across its entire refresh rate range. It also has a customizable backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, where you can adjust the pulse width and phase of it, which is something many monitors can"t do, meaning it"s a nice addition to a budget-friendly monitor. Lastly, it has native FreeSync variable refresh (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing, and it"s also G-SYNC compatible to work with NVIDIA graphics cards.

If you want something bigger, consider the Gigabyte M27Q. There are trade-offs to getting this monitor over the ViewSonic XG2431 as it has a lower max refresh rate of 170Hz, and its backlight strobing feature isn"t as versatile. However, it also has a larger screen with a 1440p resolution for sharper images and a more immersive gaming experience, so you have to decide whether you want sharper images or a higher refresh rate.

It"s an impressive gaming monitor as it has VRR support to reduce screen tearing, low input lag for a responsive feel, and a quick response time for smooth motion, but there"s a bit more motion blur compared to the ViewSonic. It"s a great choice if you tend to game in a bright room because it gets bright enough to fight glare, and the reflection handling is decent. It also has a few extra features to improve your overall experience, like a USB hub that features two USB ports if you want to charge your devices, and there"s a USB-C port if you need to connect a laptop when you aren"t gaming.

If you want an even bigger screen with an ultrawide display, you"ll have to pay a bit more than regular budget gaming monitors, but there are still some great ultrawide gaming monitors that cost less than others. If that"s something you"re interested in, then the Dell S3422DWG is a great choice. It has a 3440x1440 resolution with a wider screen than the Gigabyte M27Q for a more immersive gaming experience, so you"ll see more of your game at once. It offers a great gaming experience thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate, native FreeSync support with G-SYNC compatibility, and low input lag.

It has a different panel type than the Gigabyte M27Q, resulting in more black smearing with fast-moving objects, meaning its motion handling isn"t as good. However, it delivers better picture quality in dark rooms thanks to its higher contrast and good HDR peak brightness. It also displays a wide range of colors in HDR, meaning it"s a decent choice for gaming in HDR, as it"s better than most budget monitors.

If you"re on an even tighter budget and want a cheap gaming monitor, there are a few great options. You won"t find ultrawide monitors like the Dell S3422DWG, so you"ll find smaller displays with lower resolutions. If that"s fine for you, the HP X24ih is a great cheap gaming monitor with the same 1080p resolution and 24-inch screen size as the ViewSonic XG2431. However, the reason it"s cheaper is it has a max refresh rate of 144Hz. It isn"t ideal if you"re a competitive gamer, in which case you"ll be better off with the ViewSonic, but if you want something simple for your first gaming monitor, you"ll be happy with this one.

Besides the lower refresh rate, it has many of the same characteristics as the ViewSonic, like the extremely fast response time, low input lag with any signal, and FreeSync VRR support to reduce screen tearing. Although it"s a cheap monitor without many extra features, you can add a virtual crosshair that your system won"t detect, giving you a competitive advantage while gaming.

If you find the 24-inch screen size too small, there are some cheap 27-inch gaming monitors, like the LG 27GL650F-B. It"s very similar to the HP X24ih because it has a 144Hz native refresh rate with a 1080p resolution, and although it has slightly lower pixel density, the image clarity is still good. The main difference is that the LG has worse motion handling than the HP, so if you want amazing motion handling, go for the HP, but the response time on the LG is still fast. Like other budget and cheap monitors, it has VRR support in the form of native FreeSync, and it"s also G-SYNC compatible.

Its input lag remains low across its entire refresh rate range for a responsive feel. It has a flicker-free backlight that helps reduce eye strain during long gaming sessions, and it has the option to introduce flicker to reduce persistence blur, but it only works within a narrow range. While it doesn"t have many extra features, it does have gamma adjustment and crosshair features to give you a competitive advantage while gaming.

The Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx is a great cheap gaming monitor with similar specs as the HP X24ih, but it can be harder to find at times, so if you want something cheap and easy to buy, go for the HP.

The AOC CU34G2X is an ultrawide monitor that"s comparable to the Dell S3422DWG as it has similar specs and is in the same price range, but its picture quality isn"t as good because it doesn"t get as bright.

The LG 27GN750-B is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1080p resolution, so it"s a larger alternative to the ViewSonic XG2431. Get this if you want something bigger than the ViewSonic, but for the same price, you can also get the Gigabyte M27Q, which has a higher resolution at the cost of a lower refresh rate.

The Dell G2722HS is a cheap 27-inch gaming monitor like the LG 27GL650F-B, and it has a slightly higher 165Hz refresh rate, but it isn"t as versatile for other uses as it doesn"t support HDR and has worse picture quality.

Replaced the AOC CU34G2X with the Dell S3422DWG for consistency with other articles; removed the Acer Nitro XV272U because it"s hard to find; added the LG 27GL650F-B as the "Best 27-Inch Cheap Gaming Monitor" for consistency with other articles; updated Notable Mentions based on changes and market availability.

Restructured article to reflect user needs and current prices and availability; removed the Acer Nitro XF243Y and renamed the ViewSonic XG2431 as the "Best Budget Gaming Monitor" because it"s better overall; replaced the LG 27GN800-B and the Dell S3422DWG with the Acer Nitro XV272U and the AOC CU34G2X for consistency with other articles. Removed the Dell S2722DGM and added the Gigabyte M27Q as the "Best 27-Inch Budget Gaming Monitor"; added the HP X24ih; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.

Restructured article to reflect the current price of monitors; replaced the ASUS VG259QM with the ViewSonic XG2431 because it"s better; removed the Gigabyte M27Q and the Dell S2722QC because they"re expensive; replaced the Acer XV340CK with the easier-to-find Dell S3422DWG; added the LG 27GN800-B as the "Best Console Gaming Monitor".

Replaced the Gigabyte M34WQ with the Acer Nitro XV340CK Pbmiipphzx, as it"s significantly cheaper and offers similar performance overall. Removed a few out-of-date Notable Mentions, and refreshed the text throughout.

Replaced the Dell S2721QS with the newer Dell S2722QC and replaced the Acer Nitro XV340CK with the Gigabyte M34WQ due to lack of availability; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best cheap gaming monitors currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.

If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our budget monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

The monitor deals are out there, if you know where to look! Seriously, do you know how many monitors exist? There are so many! They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and prices. Some are great for gaming, but some are built for consuming media. Others are built for professional work or creative types. One monitor will have a feature like a super high refresh rate but sacrifice pixel resolution to save on cost. Another monitor will use a cheap panel to get fast response times but sacrifices color accuracy. If you want to get everything, you"re probably going to have to pay out the nose for it.

It"s important for you as a consumer to know what you want in your monitor. Gamers often look for high refresh rates well above the 60Hz standard, but the higher the refresh rate usually the higher the cost. So how much pixel resolution do you want? Do you need a USB hub, too? Does it need to be wall mountable? Ask yourself these questions before you start shopping.

But, above all, ask yourself how much you want to spend. There are a lot of great monitor deals out there, but the features on these monitors vary widely. We"ve got budget screens and fancy displays with curves and 4K resolution. All of them are on sale, although some of the best monitors have high prices even when discounted.

If you"re working from a limited budget and need something that gets the most out of the money you spend, this is a good place to start. The display has 1080p resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a response tim