g sync lcd panel made in china

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g sync lcd panel made in china

G-Sync is a must-have feature in a gaming monitor if you own an Nvidia graphics card. It synchronizes the refresh rate of your display with the frame rate of the games you play, smoothing away stuttering and screen tearing. Believe it or not, these problems were the norm as recently as a decade ago.

However, choosing the right G-Sync gaming monitor can be complex. You must select from several levels of G-Sync certification while also separating out great FreeSync gaming monitors that work with AMD’s video cards. If you don’t want to dig into the details, however, we’ve done the legwork for you and picked out the best G-sync gaming monitors – and click here to see them in the UK.

2See on AmazonScreen Size: 27” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel Type: G-Sync | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 3x USB, Audio out

There are a plethora of G-Sync gaming monitors out there, and the Viewsonic Elite XG270Q ticks all the right boxes. It offers a 27-inch display with 1440p resolution, hitting that sweet spot of a fast refresh rate without sacrificing a sharp image. The true G-Sync module handles any refresh rate from 1Hz and is overclockable to 165Hz. That pairs well with the wickedly fast response time, resulting in a superbly smooth gameplay experience that any gamer will love.

This monitor also stands out for its image quality. It uses a Nano IPS panel with an extremely wide color gamut, great color accuracy, and high maximum brightness, though you don’t get local dimming or HDR. Similar to most IPS panels, it doesn’t offer the deepest blacks, but that issue can be somewhat remedied by the bias lighting available on the back of the display. That lighting is actually RGB lighting, so you can amp up the gamer aesthetic if you prefer.

The Viewsonic Elite XG270Q is a sturdy display with a great stand that’s height, tilt, and swivel adjustable. Unlike some rivals, its design doesn’t scream, “I’m a gaming monitor!” It totes two video ports; a DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 port. There’s also a USB hub for up to three wired USB-A peripherals.

Best Budget G-Sync Gaming MonitorScreen Size: 23.8” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel Type: TN FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, Audio out

You don’t need to spend a fortune for a smooth gaming experience, and the Asus VG248QG is proof of this. This ergonomic 23.8-inch monitor is the predecessor of one of our previous favorites, the Asus VG248QE. Its latest iteration offers 1080p, 165Hz, and uses a TN panel to shave the price below $200. Though it"s not the largest or most capable monitor out there, it sure beats the typical boring 24-inch, 60Hz office monitor.

You get G-Sync compatibility with this option, the least strenuous of the G-Sync standards available. However, the support of any refresh rate between 1Hz and 165Hz using the DisplayPort connection provides a broad frame rate range and prevents screen tearing. The HDMI port doesn’t support G-Sync, but there’s also native FreeSync if you’ve got an AMD graphics card in another rig. You get smooth motion due to a speedy response time, and input lag is low for responsive gaming. Therefore, you’re getting an overall pleasant gaming experience.

The downside? Image quality is not the best out there, and the viewing angles are limited. Its TN panel doesn’t handle contrast ratio well, and you don’t get deep blacks. However, for budget competitive gaming, motion clarity is key, not image quality, so this is the perfect monitor.

0See on AmazonScreen Size: 24.5” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 400 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 280Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 4x USB Type-A, Audio out

The Acer Predator XB253Q GW remains our go-to recommendation for a mid-range 1080p gaming monitor. The 24.5-inch display earns the nod largely on its image quality and impressive refresh rate of 280Hz. The monitor has great color accuracy, outstanding motion clarity, and a good contrast ratio—for an IPS panel, at least. It also gets pretty bright and supports HDR gaming, though you don’t get backlight dimming.

This G-Sync compatible monitor doesn’t have a full G-Sync module baked in. The lack of a true G-Sync is disappointing, but that ups the price of a monitor quickly. It still works with G-Sync at a refresh rate between 50Hz and 240Hz, but when you overclock to 280Hz, you do lose support. The 50Hz lower limit on G-Sync compatibility shouldn’t be an issue with most games, as running games at 1080p isn’t very demanding. That solid motion clarity and a quick response time should keep you immersed in the action for hours.

This monitor is built like a tank, and the stand lets you get the proper ergonimics to be comfortable during marathon gaming sessions. There’s plenty of connectivity, including two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2 that supports the 280Hz refresh rate. Beyond that, there’s an audio out jack and four USB Type-A ports—two on the side bezel and two around the back.

22See on AmazonScreen Size: 27” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel Type: IPS FreeSync and G-Sync | Brightness: 450 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, Headphone out, 2x USB ports, audio line-out

Alienware’s AW2721D is a fantastic gaming monitor and nearly bumped the Viewsonic XG270QG from its top spot. The Viewsonic edged out due to its lower price, but AW2721D is a great alternative. Its 27-inch, 1440p display manages a solid contrast ratio and gets surprisingly deep blacks for an IPS panel. It even totes local backlight dimming. The high pixel density, brightness, and color performance further solidify it as an ideal choice for gaming.

Speaking of gaming, this monitor is Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate certified, supporting G-Sync at any refresh rate between 1Hz and 240Hz on the DisplayPort and includes HDR. The two HDMI ports drop you down to 144Hz, but you’ll still see smooth gameplay in every game, all the time. HDR support is a nice bonus, though it’s only on par with budget HDR TVs. Still, the image quality looks excellent and it’s similar to the Viewsonic XG270QG.

The Alienware has a unique look and class-leading build quality. There’s even some RGB lighting that can be customized through AlienFX software. It also supports two USB Type-A ports for wired gaming peripherals.

Screen Size: 32” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 600 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB, Audio out

It’s difficult to find a great 4K monitor with official G-Sync certification, a somewhat reasonable price, and available stock, but the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ fits the bill. This big 32-inch, 4K monitor stands out most because of its outrageously sharp, bright, and vibrant image. Color performance is excellent, and the monitor’s high 600 nits maximum brightness adds punchy visuals to HDR games.

Going 4K means sacrificing frame rates, but the 144Hz on this monitor still provides a smooth, enjoyable gaming experience. It’s a G-Sync Compatible option that supports G-Sync at a refresh rate between 48Hz to 144Hz. You may likely see issues at low framerates with this monitor’s high native resolution, but that can be avoided by upgrading to a much more expensive monitor like the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX. Other gaming features include a low 1ms response time to eliminate smearing and motion blur and auto low latency for lag-free gaming.

As for build quality, this monitor is rock solid and has a stable, height-adjustable stand. Connectivity is a bit bare as it includes two USB Type-A ports for connecting wired gaming peripherals beyond its two HDMI 2.1 that only support 120Hz native refresh rate and one DisplayPort.

40See on AmazonScreen Size: 27” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel Type: VA FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 600 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 240Hz | Response Time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort

Gamers don’t need to choose between AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, as Samsung’s Odyssey G7 shows it"s possible to have both in one excellent display. This gaming monitor has class-leading image quality and offers smooth gameplay with AMD and Nvidia hardware. The G-Sync Compatibility between a refresh rate of 60Hz and 240Hz is a bit high, so you’ll want to pair the monitor with a fast video card for best results. Nvidia fans should note the 32-inch model has a higher minimum of 80Hz, which is why we recommend the smaller monitor for use with G-Sync.

Sticking with a 1440p monitor aids in the impressive frame rates and helps games run better. Those speeds, alongside a 600-nit peak brightness and 10-bit color depth on the VA panel mean you’ll not only be able to see a ton of frames, but each frame can look exceptional. There are also deep blacks and decent pixel density on the 27-inch model for a better viewing experience.

Samsung’s Odyssey G7 is an eye-catching display even when it’s off. It has an aggressive curve for immersive gaming and delivers an attractive design with good build quality. The monitor has two USB Type-A ports for connecting wired peripherals, while the two HDMIs or DisplayPort are great for hooking up your rig.

0See on DellScreen Size: 34” | Aspect Ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Ultimate | Brightness: 600 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB, Audio-out, Headphone-out

Gaming on an ultrawide monitor, like the Alienware AW3821DW, gets you far more immersed in the action than a traditional monitor. This 38-inch ultrawide monster boasts 3,840 x 1,600 resolution for a sharp, crisp image and a 21:9 aspect ratio with a slight curve to wrap your games around your field of vision. Beyond its ample display real estate, you get decent color performance, a high maximum brightness—it totes HDR600—and superb motion clarity with its G-Sync Ultimate support.

If you’re gaming on an Nvidia GPU, this G-Sync Ultimate monitor works with a refresh rate of 1Hz all the way up to 144Hz, so you’re in for ultra-smooth, stutter-free gameplay. It works perfectly in pretty much every game in full-screen or windowed mode. Its HDR performance in compatible games is respectable and provides a punchy look, though it’s nothing to rave about.

Alienware’s outstanding build quality is in full force here. It’s a massive, hefty monitor, so much so that you may need to rearrange your desk or gaming den to make it fit. Luckily, the stand is height, tilt, and swivel adjustable, making it easier to get the most comfortable viewing angles. The monitor only offers two USB ports, which is a bit disappointing, but they use the more capable USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard—most monitors stick to USB 3.0 or 3.1.

4See on AmazonScreen Size: 24.5” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync | Brightness: 400 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 360Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB, audio out

If you’re often playing League of Legends, Overwatch, or other fast-paced esports games, it’s important to grab a monitor with a high refresh rate over a high resolution. Luckily, the Asus ROG Swift PG259QN offers an absurdly fast 360fps for smooth, virtually blur-free motion—if your GPU can even keep up with those speeds. That’s paired with an equally stellar response time for virtually no flickering.

This monitor offers a G-Sync module, which means G-Sync will work at any refresh rate between 1Hz and 360Hz. That’s the widest range of G-Sync compatibility you’ll find on any monitor. The result is super-smooth gaming that always takes full advantage of your Nvidia video card’s performance. There’s even a G-Sync Esports Mode to get the ideal settings for esports games.

This 24.5-inch, 1080p monitor offers good image quality, and the small size makes it easier to see all the action on screen without constantly moving your eyes back and forth. It has excellent build quality and a large, sturdy stand. The monitor includes two USB ports for connecting wired peripherals, though they’re on the rear and can be a bit difficult to access.

4See on AmazonScreen Size: 32” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Ultimate | Brightness: 1400 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 3x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 3x USB, audio-out

To make the most of G-Sync technology, then the ultra-premium and expensive Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is the way to go. This monitor totes G-Sync Ultimate, so it’ll work at any refresh rate between 1Hz and 144Hz. This feature is essential, as most video cards will not be able to sustain a high framerate at this monitor’s 4K resolution, and it’s safe to say everyone wants smooth, tear-free gaming. Unlike most G-Sync Ultimate monitors, this monitor can even make the most of HDR. It’s currently the best HDR gaming monitor money can buy.

The PG32UQX rocks a Mini-LED backlight that sets a new standard for contrast ratio and dark scene performance in an IPS gaming monitor. It also blows away the competition when it comes to HDR and has an insane peak brightness. Motion performance is not outstanding, but it’s alright for a 4K monitor, and it’s ultimately about immersive visuals more than split-second responsiveness.

The build quality goes beyond great and into the realm of the absurd. The monitor is massive, thick, and even has a tiny secondary screen that can display information like GPU system temperatures or current framerate. There are three USB ports, one of which is on the top and meant for connecting a webcam.

0See on AmazonScreen Size: 48” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel Type: OLED Evo G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 800~ cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 4x HDMI, 2x USB-in, Ethernet, Headphone, Digital Optical Out, Co-ax

The LG C2 OLED Evo has more-or-less become the default gaming television. It uses OLED technology for the fastest pixel response time currently available, and you can control color down to each individual pixel. Blacks are truly black, and there’s little worry about annoying “halo” effects around bright objects on dark backgrounds. The absolute contrast also makes colors pop and any scene from bright landscapes and skies to dark caves and creepy basements look incredible.

It’s not only great because of the excellent image quality but also totes strong support for the latest gaming standards, including multiple HDMI 2.1 ports along with Adaptive Sync, FreeSync, and G-Sync. It’s G-Sync compatible and certified to work at a refresh rate between 40Hz and 120Hz. While true G-Sync would’ve been nice, this provides a wide range of refresh rates to work. Large displays with true G-Sync are rare, and those that exist are much more expensive than the LG C2 OLED Evo.

Because it"s a television, not a monitor, the LG C2 OLED Evo’s connectivity is different from other displays listed here. It offers four HDMI ports, all of which support HDMI 2.1 for hooking up your machines, but doesn’t have DisplayPort. It’s a bit pricey, though if you want the best television for gaming with no compromises, this delivers.

Thankfully all of the best monitors listed are also available to pick up in the UK. The retailers will certainly be different, but each and every one of the G-Sync displays we"ve mentioned can be purchased on the other side of the pond as well. Typically, most of these can be found on sites like Amazon, Currys PC World, Overclockers, and more. Funnily enough, Dell even stocks its own products, such as this 24-Inch Gaming Monitor, one of the best options for those on a tight budget.

Nvidia G-Sync comes in three flavors: G-Sync Ultimate, G-Sync, and G-Sync Compatible. It’s important to understand the difference between G-Sync standards before you buy.

The G-Sync Ultimate and G-Sync standards require a dedicated G-Sync hardware module inside the display. This module is a dedicated chip that synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the Nvidia video card’s output.

The G-Sync module’s key benefit is the ability to display smooth motion across a monitor’s entire refresh rate range. You will see smooth, evenly paced gameplay even when a game’s frame rate takes a dip. The motion will not feel as smooth as at a higher framerate, of course, but it will remain free of tearing and stuttering.

G-Sync Ultimate adds image quality standards including HDR and wide color gamut support. This is a sly marketing move from Nvidia, as it suggests these benefits are related to G-Sync. That’s not the case: Nvidia is only certifying the monitor performs to a certain minimum standard. The motion performance of G-Sync Ultimate is the same as standard G-Sync.

G-Sync Compatible is where things get dicey. G-Sync Compatible monitors don’t have a G-Sync module at all and instead rely on the open VESA Adaptive Sync standard. This standard is now common to a wide variety of monitors and, because it doesn’t require a G-Sync module, can hit very low price points.

However, the VESA Adaptive Sync standard does not support refresh rates any lower than 40Hz, and some monitors that are G-Sync compatible have a minimum G-Sync refresh rate even higher than that. G-Sync may not work properly at a framerate below the minimum refresh rate the monitor is G-Sync Compatible monitor is certified to support. You could see flickering or blanking (blank frames) while gaming. Nvidia maintains a database showing the certified specifications of all G-Sync and G-Sync compatible monitors.

Technically, G-Sync Compatible monitors may also have issues when a game’s framerate exceeds a monitor’s refresh rate. This is less frequently an issue, though, and can be addressed with a frame rate cap.

The downsides of G-Sync Compatible monitors are rare in practice. We test dozens of monitors every year at IGN, and it’s unusual that we see flickering or blanking during our review process. Most G-Sync Compatible monitors are certified to work down to a refresh rate of at least 48Hz, which means gameplay should remain smooth and trouble-free at 48 frames per second or above. That’s not a difficult standard to achieve, especially on 1080p and 1440p monitors.

Still, you should keep the difference between G-Sync Compatible and G-Sync in mind. If you want smooth and trouble-free G-Sync in every game, at any frame rate, you’ll want to buy a monitor with G-Sync or G-Sync Ultimate.

g sync lcd panel made in china

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g sync lcd panel made in china

Gain the edge you need over the competition with the ViewSonic® XG250. Overclock the refresh rate up to 280Hz (default 240Hz) for ultra-smooth gameplay and aim with precision thanks to the 1ms response time. This battle-tested G-Sync Compatible display annihilates stuttering and tearing for silky smooth images from the loading screen to the end credits. Optimize your performance with our proprietary ScopeView, ClearView and NightView modes to win the day.

When it comes to competitive gaming, every frame counts. This powerful monitor features an ultra-responsive 280Hz refresh rate, overclockable from the default 240Hz, for gaining an edge over the competition.

NVIDIA® G-SYNC™ technology seamlessly synchronizes the frame rate output between your graphics card and monitor. This eliminates screen tearing, and minimizes stutter and input lag for the most breathtaking gameplay experience.

*The image contained herein is simulated to reflect an image under different resolution (or scheme) for demonstration purposes only, and may not be the actual image displayed from the product.

This stunning display is engineered to provide a better field of vision for esports and competitive play. View and easily access menus, maps, utilities and more with enhanced clarity.

With 90% DCI-P3 color coverage and certified for VESA DisplayHDR 400, this monitor delivers incredibly vivid and realistic imaging for any gaming adventure. Witness the next evolution in open-world storytelling with HDR in-game detail enhancement.

This monitor features both 99% sRGB coverage and 99% Adobe Coverage, providing creatives with incredible color accuracy across work for digital and print.

g sync lcd panel made in china

Preorder for LG UltraGear™ OLED gaming monitors 45GR95QE-B and 27GR95QE-B is available only on LG.com December 12-26, 2022. Preorders are estimated to start shipping in early January and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. All standard Terms of Purchase apply.

Purchase an eligible LG UltraGear™ OLED gaming monitor and UltraGear™ Gaming Pad in a single transaction on LG.com and receive $199.99 instant additional savings off of the pre-tax sale price plus Free Expedited Two-Day Shipping once the order ships. Available only on LG.com for preorders made December 12-26, 2022. Savings will be reflected in the cart when all offer requirements are met. If any of the qualifying items are removed from the cart or part of the order is cancelled or returned, the promotional savings will be void. Prices and offers are non-redeemable for cash, non-transferable and may not be combined with other offers/discounts. Availability, prices and terms of offer are subject to change without notice. Quantities are limited.

Prices, promotions and availability may vary by model, store, and online. Prices subject to change without notice. Quantities are limited. Check with your local retailers for their final price and availability.

g sync lcd panel made in china

After running a sale on the 27-inch E27QP4K 1440p 16:9 monitor, Jlink is now slashing prices on its much larger 34-inch 1440p 21:9 ultrawide monitor for $100 USD off the original price of $570. The deal is notable for its low asking price relative to other 34-inch curved gaming monitors like the $800 ASUS ROG Strix XG349C or the $580 Samsung Odyssey G5 LC34G55TWWNXZA.

a rundown on the specifications shows the Jlink monitor offering most of the core features including FreeSync/G-Sync compatibility, 144 Hz native refresh rate, 96% DCI-P3 color coverage, and USB-C PD passthrough support for up to 65 W. If you have a USB-C-powered Ultrabook like the Dell XPS 13 or HP Spectre, for example, then you can use just a single USB-C cable for both charging and video simultaneously in order to reduce cable clutter.

The main double-edged sword about the Jlink is its underlying VA panel. While VA panels can offer 2x to 4x the contrast ratio of IPS panels, their black-white response times and viewing angles are not nearly as fast or as wide, respectively, as the latest IPS-based monitors. The narrower viewing angles in particular might put the Jlink at a disadvantage for buyers who want to share the monitor with others nearby because the sides of the screen may look worse than the center. As a personal gaming monitor or PC, however, this shouldn"t be a problem for the sole viewer.

g sync lcd panel made in china

Whether you"re an ultra-competitive esports gamer or prefer to immerse yourself in a gorgeous AAA single player experience, using one of the best gaming monitors can make the world of difference to your gameplay. From higher resolution support to higher refresh rates and response times, using a great gaming monitor can make your gameplay look better and feel more responsive, helping you play your best through a visually superior window.

There are much bigger gaming monitors available today, too, adding a whole new level of immersion—from amazing ultrawide gaming monitors to huge gaming OLED TVs co-opted into serving a gaming monitor when needed.

Whatever kind of gaming monitor you"re interested in, you"ll find something below that fits your needs, tastes and budget. Here are the best gaming monitors you can buy today.

OLED technology isn"t commonplace in gaming monitors like it is in gaming TVs, but it"s starting to slowly make an appearance, and in dramatic fashion. The Alienware AW3423DW 34-inch gaming monitor is the best looking gaming monitor ever made, leveraging Samsung"s new QD-OLED technology to great effect. This gives it greater contrast than any LCD monitor—no matter how high quality—with richer colors and wide viewing angles. It doesn"t even lose out on brightness, as this model can manage over 1,000 nits at its peak.

It"s an ultrawide curved monitor, so its resolution isn"t a typical one, but at 3440 x 1440 and 34-inches, it has loads of screen space at high detail. That"s not as demanding as native 4K, but will still need a decent graphics cards to play games natively with high detail settings. It has a high refresh rate of 175Hz too, making games look buttery smooth, and with its 0.1ms response time, you needn"t fear any ghosting, even in the fastest pace games.

You can usually find mid-range gaming monitors around the $500 mark, so the fact that this LG 27GP850 is so heavily discounted is very exciting. For just a few hundred dollars you can get a capable 1440p gaming monitor with a high refresh rate, fast response time, and support for both AMD Freesync and Nvidia G-Sync. It ticks all the boxes that you could ask for, and now that it"s available at a much lower price, it"s all the more attractive.

The 165Hz refresh rate is plenty fast for most gamers, and though esports aficionados and semi-professional gamers might want to target something faster for the ultimate competitive advantage, it should still give you a leg up over much of your competition by shaving milliseconds off of your input lag. The whole monitor is pretty fast on that front too, and the response time is miniscule, making sure this monitor feels responsive and won"t hold you back in games. Colors and brightness are solid at this price, and though it won"t make you squint unless you turn the brightness all the way up, it gets bright enough in regular use that it can do basic HDR. With its unremarkable contrast, however, this won"t be a replacement for your OLED TV.

Move over ultrawide monitors—here"s a truly ultra ultrawide display. At 49 inches wide, the Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo is a sight to behold, but you might question what separates it from the equally massive G9 and CRG9 that came before it. The key here is brightness. With Mini-LEDs providing the backlighting for this model, it can achieve a staggering peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is practically unheard of on gaming monitors. With HDR10 support, that makes this monitor just as good for watching HDR movies as it does playing HDR games. They look ultra smooth with this monitors" high 240Hz refresh rate, too.

It also has a staggeringly high resolution—effectively two 1440p monitors sat side by side. That’s a demanding task for many PCs to muster for AAA games. There aren"t many games that actually support a monitor of this sheer size (you"ll need to play with black bars in those cases), but for games that do support it, the immersion is incredible. Flight simulators, first person combat games and some RPGs really open up your field of view like nothing else on a monitor this big. It"s also great for multi-tasking. If you"re a streamer, you can have your game on one side or in the middle, and chat feeds, and other information on the side(s).

Ultrawide monitors don"t have to be ridiculously wide. Take the Acer Predator X38, for instance. At 38 inches, it"s still plenty big for experiencing truly wide screen gaming, but it isn"t so big that you end up with black bars around your favorite games. It doesn"t get as bright as the Samsung G9 Neo either, but it"s still bright enough to make your games really pop when there are light and dark areas, and is rated DisplayHDR 600, so will offer solid support for HDR gaming. With a DCI-p3 gamut support of 98%, this monitor is color accurate enough that you can use it for professional photo and video editing work when you aren"t gaming.

It"s just short of 4K resolution, so is a little less demanding on your graphics card, all while providing a highly detailed gaming experience for whatever you"re playing. With its 175Hz refresh rate and sub-1ms response time, it"s plenty fast for all of the most high-paced and competitive games; you won"t feel left behind with a high-end ultrawide gaming monitor like this one. It also supports Nvidia Reflex if you want to dial in your monitor"s responsiveness to maximize your chance of winning.

4K gaming monitors that also enjoy high refresh rates are finally coming down in price to more affordable levels, and the LG 27GP950 is a great example of that. The fact that its default price falls under $1,000 is notable enough, and it"s now discounted even further, making a 4K gaming experience that also has smooth animation more attainable than ever. With a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, you can enjoy fast and competitive play on this 4K display, and in games where you can really crank those frame rates up (you"ll need a powerful GPU to do so at 4K) then you"ll get a really smooth looking and feeling game too.

There are a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports on this monitor, so though you"ll want a DisplayPort connect for your PC, you"ll also be able to connect Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles for console gaming on this excellent gaming monitor. It supports AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync to help alleviate screen tears and stuttering, and with a super low input lag, this might actually be one of the best ways to play your favorite console games—even if it"s not as big as the latest gaming TVs.

If you have a small gaming laptop or a Nintendo Switch and want to be able to play on a screen that is a bit bigger while on the go, the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE is the best portable gaming monitor for the job. It supports Full HD 1080p resolution, and has a refresh rate up to 240Hz on supporting systems. You can connect to it over USB-C or Micro-HDMI, and it has its own built-in battery, so you don"t even need to worry about powering it from your already power-sapped gaming system.

Also important for a portable display, this gaming monitor is both lightweight and relatively compact, despite offering a full 17 inches of screen space to game on. You can easily slip it into a backpack or laptop messenger bag and carry it around with your gaming system so that it"s ready to play when you are. It supports variable refresh rates to help cut back on screen tearing and avoid stuttering at lower frame rates. There"s a built-in kick stand, but you can buy it with a tripod mount too, which can make it versatile for balancing on more precarious or limited surfaces.

Most gaming TVs offer a 4K 120Hz gaming experience, but the Samsung Odyssey G8 can do the same resolution at up to 240Hz, which is unheard of for gaming TVs. While you won"t be able to take full advantage of that when playing on consoles limited to 120Hz, it does mean you can play those console games at their maximum detail and frame rate, and then jump over to your PC and play on the same display, but at an even higher frame rate. It also has fantastic colors due to Samsung"s Quantum Dot technology, and thanks to Mini-LED backlighting, it gets incredibly bright. It"s rated to hit 2,000 nits at its peak, making HDR gaming on this monitor a very different experience from most gaming monitors.

There"s a light 1000R curvature which can improve immersion when you"re sat right in front of it, and with its incredibly low input lag and fast response time, you"ll be able to have a few milliseconds advantage over those playing on older, slower monitors and TVs. With variable refresh rate support, you won"t see any screen tearing or stuttering on this monitor, either.

Most gamers play at 1080p, so don"t feel alone if you"re still playing at what for TVs has become an antiquated resolution. On a good-looking, 1080p monitor around 24-inches, like this Acer Nitro model, you"ll get a crisp picture with plenty of screen space; perfect for all of the latest games and classic esports titles. With a 165Hz (overclocked) refresh rate, the Acer Nitro XF243Y is plenty fast to enjoy smooth animations and lower input lag than more traditional non-gaming monitors, and with its incredibly low response time, you won"t bump into any ghosting or blurring during fast motion.

At 24 inches, this monitor is relatively compact and easy to transport, and it features an impressive ergonomic stand that offers deep customization for tilt, height and swivel adjustments. That configuration makes it easy to get access to all of the ports, as well as helping you place the screen in the perfect spot to enjoy the latest games. It"s not the brightest monitor in the world, but it does support AMD FreeSync, so you needn"t worry about screen tearing or stuttering at lower frame rates. If you do want a larger screen, there are plenty of 27-inch models available at around this sort of price, but know that 1080p does start to lose a little clarity at that size due to the lower pixel density.

Using a TV as a PC gaming monitor never made much sense when refresh rates were low and input lag was high. But that all changed with the advent of modestly sized (for a TV) OLED televisions. LG"s fantastic C1 OLED range makes for an amazing gaming TV for the living room, but at its smallest size (48 inches), it"s also an astounding gaming monitor, albeit just about the largest one you can imagine. It has a true 4K resolution and native 120Hz refresh rate, and thanks to OLED technology, there’s a near instantaneous response time and zero input lag. That makes this an incredibly fast and responsive gaming monitor, as well as one that looks amazing in darker rooms thanks to its perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio.

FreeSync variable refresh rate and G-Sync compatibility means AMD and NVIDIA gamers can take advantage of frame syncing and anti-stutter technologies. Its brightness for HDR content isn"t stellar, but it"s better than most gaming monitors, giving significant pop to visuals in all the right places. It also has full support for the most important standards, including HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. As with all OLED screens, however, this one is susceptible to burn-in, so keeping away from peak brightness—especially if playing games with static HUD elements—might be worth considering.

4K gaming monitors don"t have to be egregiously expensive. Take the Gigabyte M28U, a 4K gaming monitor with a high refresh rate and fast response time, and yet you can now grab it for under $500. At 28 inches, it"s quite compact for a 4K display, but it"ll look extra detailed up close. It has a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs if you want to connect your Xbox Series X/S or PS5, and though it doesn"t get super bright, it"s still VESA DisplayHDR400 rated, so should get bright enough to make HDR games look good.

One unique feature of this monitor is its built-in KVM Switch. That"s more of a professional feature than one used for gaming, but if you have a mouse or keyboard that you want to use for work and another you want to use for gaming, you can switch between them quickly and easily by plugging them into this monitor directly. As an IPS panel, it has wide viewing angles, so if you want to play cooperative or hot seat games with someone else, they"ll still get a great picture wherever they"re sitting.

Ultrawide monitors like the Dell S3422DWG are a great way to improve your gaming experience. They improve immersion thanks to the extra room, and when they"re curved like this one, they ensure the entire screen is an equal distance from your eye, making sure colors and detail are consistent across the entire screen. This model isn"t quite 4K, but its resolution isn"t far off and iis capable of delivering a crisp and clear picture that won"t tax your graphics card as much as a native 4K display. It"s bigger than most, though, so you"ll get all the detail and screen space you need to make your games look amazing.

The 144Hz refresh rate is plenty fast for smoothing out animations and ensuring you aren"t at a disadvantage in competitive games, and with FreeSync support, there"s no concern over screen tearing and stuttering. There is some basic G-Sync support too, but it won"t work under 60Hz, so make sure to only enable it in more lightweight games. Viewing angles aren"t great, as with many VA panels, so this one isn"t the best for cooperative play (curved screens are designed with single gamers in mind, anyway), but for a relatively affordable screen, it has an attractive design and thin bezels.

The answers to these questions will help guide you in buying your gaming monitor. Although there is some nuance to how each can effect your best choice, they can lead you in the right direction.

If you play immersive, single player RPGs and other slower games, then larger, higher resolution monitors may lead to a better gaming experience for you. They let you bring out the detail in what you"re playing. You will need a powerful graphics card to play at 1440p or 4K though, so make sure that your PC is up to the task.

If you prefer to play faster paced, competitive games, then high refresh rate gaming monitors are much more important than resolution. They help lower your input lag and improve your perception of movement in game, making it easier to hit accurate skill shots. The whole experience is smoother too, which can help your immersion even more than added detail and resolution.

Unless you have the highest of high-end graphics cards, you"ll want to stick to lower resolutions, as they not only allow for faster refresh rate options, but will let your system push out as many frames as it can without the demands of higher resolutions holding it back.

Typically, top gaming monitor features don"t cost the earth by themselves. A high refresh rate or high resolution monitor doesn"t have to cost more than a few hundred dollars. Combine those elements, though, and costs can quickly rise into the thousands. So be realistic about what you can afford and prioritize appropriately.

When shopping for a monitor, you’ll frequently come across these abbreviations denoting the specific panel technology in use. All are based on the underlying liquid crystal display tech (LCD), but each bears its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and it’s worth knowing the difference to make sure you’ll get the most out of your purchase.

In-plane switching (IPS) panels are the most common you’ll find, and they’re also heavily favored by the gaming community. IPS monitors are known for their wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction all throughout the spectrum, and with recent advancements in technology, they’re also now just as fast as twisted nematic (TN) panels. You can now find IPS panels with 1ms response times and refresh rates up to 360Hz, but they get extremely pricey with each uptick in size, pixel resolution and speed.

TN panels are also still fairly common, partly because it was the de facto flat display standard for years, and it wasn’t until recently that competing technologies began matching the responsiveness they’re known for. However, TN monitors also suffer greatly at more extreme viewing angles, particularly how sitting off-center causes colors to appear washed out. These drawbacks can largely be mitigated for most gaming scenarios, but if you’re doing any sort of work that relies on accurate colors or you anticipate multiple people will huddle around the monitor at times, you’ll want to pay a bit more for an IPS monitor.

VA panels sit somewhere in the middle of both. For gaming specifically, VA panels often can’t achieve the fastest response times, but they do offer excellent black uniformity and contrast that neither other panel type can match.

So which should you go after? If you’re gaming and you have a stretchable budget, you should almost always opt for a newer IPS display for the best experience. If you’re a little more strapped for cash and don’t mind having to sit squarely in front of your monitor to maintain the best picture, you can get by with a TN panel all the same.

And you can always mix and match if you’re planning a multiple monitor setup. Think about everything you’ll be doing on each of the monitors and plan accordingly.

If you game regularly, they can make a world of difference to your enjoyment. Higher resolutions can improve immersion immeasurably, and if you"re a competitive player, higher refresh rates can give you a considerable edge.

There"s little point in a high-end gaming monitor if you haven"t got the PC power to take full advantage of it though. If you"re looking to do piecemeal upgrades for your system, focus on improving performance first and when you have the raw graphical and processing horsepower to make the most of a gaming monitor, then spring for that display upgrade.

As competitive players, professional gamers almost all focus on speed. That means they want the fastest refresh rates and the lowest of response times, even if that means sacrificing color clarity or resolution. Typically they use 300Hz or faster displays at 1080p resolution.

They also almost exclusively use 24-inch monitors, which are not only standard for tournaments, but also retain a tight perspective so minimal eye and head movement is required to see the edges of the screen. To see what monitor your favorite Esports player uses, check out ProSettings.net.

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Gaming monitors are designed to make the output of your graphics card and CPU look as good as possible while gaming. They"re responsible for displaying the final result of all of your computer"s image rendering and processing, yet they can vary widely in their representation of color, motion, and image sharpness. When considering what to look for in a gaming monitor, it"s worth taking the time to understand everything a gaming monitor can do, so you can translate gaming monitor specs and marketing into real-world performance.

Display technology changes over time, but the basic goals of monitor manufacturers remain consistent. We"ll break down each group of monitor features below to isolate their benefits.

Resolution is a key feature of any monitor. It measures the width and height of the screen in terms of pixels, or “picture elements”, the tiny points of illumination that compose an image. A 2,560 × 1,440 screen, for example, has a total of 3,686,400 pixels.

Sometimes manufacturers only reference one measurement for standard resolutions: 1080p and 1440p refer to height, while 4K refers to width. Any resolution higher than 1,280 × 720 is high definition (HD).

The pixels being counted in these measurements are usually rendered the same way: As squares on a two-dimensional grid. To see this, you can either move closer to (or magnify) the screen until you perceive individual blocks of color, or zoom in on an image until it becomes “pixelated”, and you see a staircase of small squares instead of clean diagonal lines.

As you increase your display resolution, it gets harder to pick out individual pixels with the naked eye, and the clarity of the picture increases in turn.

Beyond increasing the detail onscreen in games or movies, there"s another benefit to higher resolutions. They give you more desktop real estate to work with. That means you get a larger workspace on which to arrange windows and applications.

You might already know that a screen with 4K display resolution doesn"t magically make everything it displays look 4K. If you play a 1080p video stream on it, that content usually won"t look as good a 4K Blu-ray. However, it may still look closer to 4K than it used to, thanks to a process called upscaling.

Upscaling is a way to scale lower-resolution content to a higher resolution. When you play a 1080p video on a 4K monitor, the monitor needs to “fill in” all of the missing pixels that it expects to display (as a 4K monitor has four times as many pixels as 1080p). A built-in scaler interpolates new pixels by examining the values of surrounding pixels. HDTVs often feature more complex upscaling than PC monitors (with line-sharpening and other improvements), as the latter often simply turn one pixel into a larger block of the same pixels. The scaler is likely to cause some blurring and ghosting (double images), especially if you look closely.

Monitors can also change resolution. Modern screens have a fixed number of pixels, which defines their "native resolution" but can also be set to approximate lower resolutions. As you scale down, onscreen objects will look larger and fuzzier, screen real estate will shrink, and visible jaggedness may result from interpolation. (Note that it wasn’t always this way: older analog CRT monitors can actually switch between resolutions without interpolation, as they do not have a set number of pixels.)

Screens with 4K resolution and higher introduce another scaling concern: at ultra-high definition, text and interface elements like buttons can start to look small. This is especially true on smaller 4K screens when using programs that don’t automatically resize their text and UI.

Windows’ screen scaling settings can increase the size of text and layout elements, but at the cost of reducing screen real estate. There’s still a benefit of increased resolution, even when this scaling is used — onscreen content, like an image in an editing program, will appear at 4K resolution even if the menus around it have been rescaled.

Manufacturers measure screen size diagonally, from corner to corner. A larger screen size, in tandem with a higher resolution, means more usable screen space and more immersive gaming experiences.

Players sit or stand close to their monitors, often within 20”-24”. This means that the screen itself fills much more of your vision than an HDTV (when seated at the couch) or a smartphone/tablet. (Monitors boast the best ratio of diagonal screen size to viewing distance among common displays, with the exception of virtual reality headsets). The benefits of 1440p or 4K resolution are more immediately perceptible in this close-range situation.

Basically, you want to find a screen where you never perceive an individual pixel. You can do this using online tools that measure pixel density (in pixels per inch), which tells you the relative “sharpness” of the screen by determining how closely pixels are packed together, or the alternative pixels per degree formula, which automatically compares its measurements against the limits of human vision.

It"s also worth considering your own eyesight and desktop setup. If you have 20/20 vision and your eyes are around 20” from your screen, a 27” 4K panel will provide an immediate visual upgrade. However, if you know your eyesight is worse than 20/20, or you prefer to sit more than 24” away, a 1440p panel may look just as good to you.

A monitor"s aspect ratio is the proportion of width to height. A 1:1 screen would be completely square; the boxy monitors of the 1990s were typically 4:3, or “standard”. They have largely been replaced by widescreen (16:9) and some ultrawide (21:9, 32:9, 32:10) aspect ratios.

Most online content, such as YouTube videos, also defaults to a widescreen aspect ratio. However, you"ll still see horizontal black bars onscreen when watching movies or TV shows shot in theatrical widescreen (2.39:1, wider than 16:9), and vertical black bars when watching smartphone videos shot in thinner “portrait” mode. These black bars preserve the original proportions of the video without stretching or cropping it.

UltrawidesWhy opt for an ultrawide screen over regular widescreen? They offer a few advantages: They fill more of your vision, they can provide a movie-watching experience closer to the theater (as 21:9 screens eliminate “letterboxing” black bars for widescreen films), and they let you expand field of view (FOV) in games without creating a “fisheye” effect. Some players of first-person games prefer a wider FOV to help them spot enemies or immerse themselves in the game environment. (But note that some popular FPS games do not support high FOV settings, as they can give players an advantage).

Curved screens are another common feature on ultrawide monitors. These can correct one typical issue with larger ultrawides: Images at the distant edges of the screen look less distinct than those in the middle. A curved screen helps compensate for this and provides a clearer view of the extreme edges of the screen. However, its benefits are most noticeable on larger screens over 27”.

When viewing two monitors side-by-side, it"s sometimes easy to see which has more brilliant hues, deeper blacks, or a more lifelike color palette. It can be harder to put the picture together in your head when reading specifications, however, because color in monitors is evaluated in many different ways. There"s no one spec to focus on: Contrast ratio, brightness, black level, color gamut, and more all come into play. Before moving on to larger color features, let"s define these terms one-by-one.

Contrast RatioContrast ratio, one of the most basic measures of a monitor"s performance, measures the ratio between the extremes of black and white that the screen can display. A baseline contrast ratio like 1,000:1 means that the white parts of the image are 1,000 times brighter than the dark parts.

When it comes to contrast ratios, higher numbers are better. A high contrast ratio, like 4,000:1, means bright highlights, inky blacks, and dark areas where details are still perceptible. A contrast ratio of 200:1, on the other hand, means that the blacks look more like grays, and the colors look faded and indistinct from each other.

Use caution when LCDs advertise very high “dynamic contrast ratios”, which are achieved by changing the behavior of the backlight. For gaming or everyday use, the standard “static” contrast ratio discussed above is a better marker of the monitor"s quality.

LuminanceBrightness is often measured in “luminance”, a precise measure of how much light is emitted by the screen. It"s given in candelas per square meter (cd/m2), a unit which is also called a “nit”. For HDR displays, the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) has standardized a suite of tests for luminance using specific test patches. When comparing luminance specs, check to make sure they use this consistent test platform, rather than a proprietary metric.

Black LevelIn all LCD screens, light from the backlight inevitably leaks through the liquid crystal. This provides the basis for the contrast ratio: For example, if the screen leaks 0.1% of the illumination from the backlight in an area that"s supposed to be black, this establishes a contrast ratio of 1,000:1. An LCD screen with zero light leakage would have an infinite contrast ratio. However, this isn"t possible with current LCD technology.

“Glow” is a particular issue in dark viewing environments, which means that achieving low black levels is a major selling point for LCD monitors. However, an LCD screen can’t reach a black level of 0 nits unless it’s completely turned off.

OLEDs have incredible black levels because they don"t use backlights. When an OLED pixel isn"t activated by electricity, it creates no light at all. OLED screens may advertise black levels “below 0.0005 nits”, as taking measurements more precise is usually prohibitively expensive. However, the black level is usually much closer to 0 than 0.0005.

Color DepthMonitors need to display many subtle shades of color. If they can"t smoothly transition between slightly different hues, we see onscreen color “banding” — a stark shift between two different colors, creating visibly lighter, and darker bands where we should see a seamless gradient. This is sometimes referred to as “crushing” the colors.

A monitor"s ability to display many slightly different colors, and thus avoid banding and inaccuracy, is measured by color depth. Color depth specifies the amount of data (measured in bits) the screen can use to build the color of one pixel.

Each pixel onscreen has three color channels — red, green, and blue — illuminated at varying intensities to create (typically) millions of shades. 8-bit color means that each color channel uses eight bits. The total number of shades possible in a screen with 8-bit color depth is 28 x 28 x 28=16,777,216.

True 10-bit monitors are rare — many monitors use forms of internal color processing, such as FRC (frame rate control), to approximate a greater color depth. A “10-bit” monitor could be an 8-bit monitor with an additional FRC stage, often written as “8+2FRC”.

Some inexpensive LCD panels use 6-bit color along with “dithering” to approximate 8-bit color. In this context, dithering means the insertion of similar, alternating colors next to one another to fool the eye into seeing a different in-between color that the monitor cannot accurately display.

Frame Rate Control, or FRC, alternates different colors with each new frame to achieve this. While this can be implemented more cheaply than 8-bit True Color, color accuracy suffers, especially in low-light environments. Some screens also feature 8-bit color depth with an additional FRC stage (commonly listed as “8-bit + FRC”) to approximate 10-bit color.

Monitors sometimes feature a Look-Up Table (LUT) corresponding to a higher color depth, such as 10-bit color. This helps speed up color correction calculations that take place within the monitor as it converts color input to a color output appropriate for your screen. This intermediate step can help create smoother color transitions and more accurate output. These are usually reserved for more professional grade monitors than general consumer and gaming displays.

Color SpaceYou"ll often hear about a monitor"s color "space" or "gamut", which is different from its bit depth. The color space specifies the spectrum of colors that can appear, rather than just calculating the number of them.

Your eye can see a much wider spectrum of color than current displays can reproduce. To visualize all visible colors, a standard called CIE 1976 maps them to a grid, creating a horseshoe-shaped graph. The color gamuts available for monitors appear as subsets of this graph:

Common, mathematically defined color gamuts include sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3. The first is a common standard for monitors (and the officially designated color space for the web). The second, wider standard is mostly used by photo and video editing professionals. The third, DCI-P3, is even wider, and is commonly used for HDR content.

Monitors advertising "99% sRGB" are claiming the screen covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, which is often considered indistinguishable from 100% when viewed with the naked eye.

In LCD screens, the backlight and color filters determine the color space. All of the light created by the backlight passes through a color filter with red, green, and blue spots. Narrowing the “band-pass” of this filter restricts the wavelengths of light that can pass through, increasing the purity of the final colors produced. Although this lessens the screen"s efficiency (as the filter now blocks more of the backlight"s output), it creates a wider color gamut.

White LED (W-LED) backlight: A blue LED coated in yellow phosphors emits white light, which is filtered through red, green, and blue color channels to become the pixel"s final color. W-LED backlights produce a standard sRGB gamut color space. Sometimes an additional coating of special nanoparticles can be applied to a W-LED backlight to produce wider color gamut, often resulting in wider DCI-P3 color space coverage.

Quantum Dot Coating (QD): A blue LED backlight shines on green and red nanoparticles, which are manufactured to a tight tolerance. These emit a narrow frequency of green and red light. The nanoparticles don"t actually filter out light, which makes the process highly efficient. Instead, they convert and re-emit light on a narrow frequency range, which yields a wide color gamut.

HDR monitors display brighter images with better contrast and preserve more detail in both light and dark areas of the screen. Using an HDR monitor, you might be better able to spot something moving down a dark corridor in a horror game, or see more dramatic shafts of sunlight in an open-world title.

Though they work best with HDR content (which only some games and movies support), these monitors typically support 10-bit color depth and backlights that support a wide color gamut, which will also improve standard content (SDR). (Note that HDR monitors are often not true 10-bit color, but rather 8+2FRC displays that accept a 10-bit input signal).

For LCD displays, a high-end backlight feature called local dimming is critical to HDR quality. Dimming zones for the backlight behind the screen control the brightness of groups of LEDs; more dimming zones means more precise control, less “blooming” (where light areas of the image brighten dark ones), and generally improved contrast.

Edge-lit local dimming relies on groups of LEDs clustered around the edges of the screen to brighten or dim the image in what is typically a fairly limited number of dimming zones.

Full Array Local Dimming (FALD), a more high-end option, uses far more dimming zones (typically hundreds) directly behind the panel rather than just at the edges of the screen. It can give more finite control of the HDR content and dimming of the screen as a result.

It can be tough to evaluate the quality of an HDR monitor on your own. You should rely on HDR standards like VESA’s DisplayHDR, which measures the relative quality of an HDR monitor by listing out specs like their dimming capability.

The DisplayHDR standard is more reliable than specs that are advertised as "Typical", as that wording allows manufacturers to list results that are true averages. Look for monitors that meet the minimum specification for different levels of DisplayHDR.

On the low end, a DisplayHDR 400 screen can have a peak brightness of 400 nits (compared to a 300-nit standard monitor), but only needs a standard 95% sRGB color gamut and 8-bit color depth. DisplayHDR 400 doesn"t require backlight local dimming.

On the higher end, a DisplayHDR 600 screen needs a brightness of 600 nits, 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut (providing a wider color space), 10-bit color depth, and some form of local dimming.

OLED standards add additional requirements to showcase the technology"s deeper black levels. DisplayHDR True Black 400 and 500 require a black level below 0.0005 in addition to similar peak brightness standards.

Refresh rate is the frequency at which your entire screen refreshes the image. Higher refresh rates make onscreen motion look smoother, because the screen updates the position of each object more rapidly. This can make it easier for competitive players to track moving enemies in a first-person shooter, or just make a screen feel more responsive as you scroll down a webpage or open an app on your phone.

Response rates are measured in hertz: A response rate of 120Hz, for example, means that the monitor refreshes every pixel 120 times per second. While 60Hz was once the standard for both PC monitors and smartphones, manufacturers are increasingly adopting higher refresh rates.

The benefits of jumping from 60Hz to 120Hz or 144Hz are clear to most players, especially in fast-paced first-person games. (However, you"ll only see benefits if you also have a GPU powerful enough to render frames faster than 60fps at the resolution and quality settings you"ve chosen).

A higher refresh rate makes it easier to track moving objects with your eye, makes sharp camera movements feel smoother, and reduces perceived motion blur. Online communities are divided about the improvement provided by monitors over 120Hz. If interested, it"s worth checking one out in person to see how much of a difference it might make for you.

Frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), tracks the number of images your graphics hardware draws. This online motion test demonstrates the improvements players will see when tracking moving objects at higher frame rates and refresh rates.

However, you"ll only actually see those extra frames onscreen if you have a refresh rate that matches or exceeds them; similarly, you only benefit from a high refresh rate screen if you have a CPU and graphics card capable of high frame rates. Plan your build accordingly to get the full benefit from your hardware.

Response time measures the time it takes a single pixel to change color in milliseconds. Lower response times mean fewer visual artifacts, such as motion blur or "trails" behind moving images.

Response times must be fast enough to keep up with the refresh rate. On a 240Hz screen, for example, a new frame is sent to the screen every 4.17 milliseconds (1000/240 = 4.17).

Manufacturers often list "gray-to-gray" response time — the time it takes for a pixel to change from one shade of gray to another. The quoted number often indicates the manufacturer"s best-case result from a battery of different tests, rather than a reliable average.

An image-sharpening process called overdrive also influences test results. Overdrive applies increased voltage to pixels to boost the speed of color changes. If adjusted carefully, overdrive can lessen visible trails and ghosting (a faint double image) during motion. If not, it may "overshoot" the intended values and cause other visual artifacts.

Turning overdrive up can yield better results on gray-to-gray tests, but can also create visual artifacts that aren"t disclosed when quoting the best number from those gray-to-gray tests. Due to all the factors affecting reported response times, it"s best to refer to independent reviewers, who can measure response time across different manufacturers.

Players sometimes confuse response time with input lag, a measurement of the delay before your actions appear onscreen, similarly measured in milliseconds. Input lag