Best cheap gaming monitor deals today

Gaming monitor deals

A pair of monitors on a green background.

(Image credit: Future - Jorge Jimenez)

1. 1080p: 1920 x 1080 (HD)
2. 1440p: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
3. 4K: 2840 x 2160 (UHD)
4. Ultrawide: 3440 x 1440 (WQHD), 2560 x 1080 (WFHD)
5. OLED: QD-OLED, WOLED
6. UK monitor deals: All the best panels on sale

There are plenty of cheap gaming monitor deals around at any one point; we would know, we're constantly updating this page with them. Whether you're looking to upgrade to a higher resolution because you've just bagged a shiny new graphics card or adding a second panel to your home office desk, there's usually a lot on offer at discount prices.

If you've picked up one of the best graphics cards, you must ensure your monitor can deliver its optimum resolution with a decent frame rate. Otherwise, you're not taking advantage of your fancy GPU's graphical potential and forcing an unnecessary bottleneck.

For the discerning competitive gamer, it's all about frame rate. Resolution be damned! Thankfully we've spotted gaming monitors with refresh rates up to 270Hz on offer lately, and 144 Hz now seems to be the standard minimum.

We've compiled a list of all the best cheap gaming monitor deals we've found, using our years of panel testing expertise to guide us, and we've organized them by resolution below. You can also see how they compare against some of the best gaming monitors. Those top screens don't always go on sale, but the ones listed here can offer a good alternative if you want to save a buck. And rest assured; we will let you know if they get a discount.

What does 'price watch' mean?

We've added a new "price watch" qualifier to all our individual deals, making it easy to see whether a price has gone up 🔼 or down 🔽 since we last checked it out. It's important to note that any deal in this guide (even if it's slightly risen in price) is still one of our top picks, as we only show you deals that are actually worth buying.

Gaming monitor deals — US quick links

Dave James
Five things I always tell people before they buy their first gaming monitor

1080p

Price watch: ➖Acer KC242Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 100 Hz | VA | $117.99 $89.99 at Amazon (save $29)

Price watch: ➖
Acer KC242Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 100 Hz | VA |
$117.99 $89.99 at Amazon (save $29)
Ok, so it's pretty small, and a VA panel. But honestly, for this money and from a well-known and trusted manufacturer, with AMD FreeSync and a 100 Hz refresh rate? A pretty good deal if you ask us. This would make an excellent second monitor, or a pretty quick main monitor in a pinch if you're building on a very tight budget.

Price check: Best Buy $89.99

Price watch: ➖Acer Nitro KC241Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | VA | $172.99 $94.99 at Amazon (save $78)

Price watch: ➖
Acer Nitro KC241Y | 23.8-inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | VA |
$172.99 $94.99 at Amazon (save $78)
Why do monitor model names need to be so confusing? It's an eternal mystery. But if you can decode this Acer, you'll find it's a cracking deal. A 165 Hz gaming monitor for just under $100. Yes, it's VA, but at this price point, something's gotta give.

Price check: Newegg $136

Price watch: ➖ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | IPS | FreeSync | $179.99 $99.77 at Newegg (save $79.22)

Price watch: ➖
ASRock Phantom Gaming | 27-inch | 1080p | 165 Hz | IPS | FreeSync |
$179.99 $99.77 at Newegg (save $79.22)
ASRock has become a favorite of ours around here over busy shopping periods. These screens always seem to be on offer, and from the one we've used (read our review) they're good value for the money, too. You can't really complain with this 165 Hz panel for just under $100.

Price watch: ➖AOC C27G2Z | 27-inch | 1080p | 240 Hz | VA | Curved | $179.99$149.99 at Amazon (save $40)

Price watch: ➖
AOC C27G2Z | 27-inch | 1080p | 240 Hz | VA | Curved |
$179.99 $149.99 at Amazon (save $40)

If you're looking for a super high refresh rate, AOC's C27Q2Z monitor goes all the way up to 240 Hz, offering a 0.5ms response time paired with AMD FreeSync Premium. At a peak luminance of 300, this isn't super bright but can certainly power through your gaming sessions.

Price watch: Acer Nitro XZ270 | 27-inch | 1080p | | 1500 R curved | 240 Hz | VA | Curved | $314.99 $139.99 at Amazon (save $175)

Price watch: 🔽
Acer Nitro XZ270 | 27-inch | 1080p | | 1500 R curved | 240 Hz | VA | Curved | $314.99 $139.99 at Amazon (save $175)
If you're desperate for a super-high refresh rate on a budget, then this Acer Nitro screen should fit the bill. It's not very bright, rated at just 250 nits, but it's a good size, is a VA panel and sports a full 240 Hz refresh rate for a rather tasty price tag.

1440p

Price watch: ➖Acer KA272U | 27-inch | 1440p | 100 Hz | IPS | $199.99 $139.99 at Best Buy (save $60)

Price watch: ➖
Acer KA272U | 27-inch | 1440p | 100 Hz | IPS |
$199.99 $139.99 at Best Buy (save $60)
If you're on the tightest of budgets, this will get you a decently sized 1440p monitor for a real bargain price. It even has a higher-than-60 Hz refresh rate. Okay, 100 Hz isn't spectacular, but it is still notably smoother than 60 Hz. It's also not the brightest screen, rated at 250 nits peak, but the compromises will have to come in somewhere.

Price watch: ➖ASRock Phantom PG27Q15R2A | 27-inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | VA | $239.99 $142.77 at Newegg (save $97.22)

Price watch: ➖
ASRock Phantom PG27Q15R2A | 27-inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | VA |
$239.99 $142.77 at Newegg (save $97.22)
ASRock's gaming monitors are always so darned cheap—we love them for that. This 1440p panel offers resolution and a rapid refresh rate for a potent PC gaming combo, though the built-in Wi-Fi antenna helps it stand out from the crowd. That's hardly essential, but could come in useful for some.

Price watch: NEW DEAL!Acer Nitro ED270U | 27-inch | 1440p | 170 Hz | VA | $249.99$159.99 at Newegg (save $90)

Price watch: NEW DEAL!
Acer Nitro ED270U | 27-inch | 1440p | 170 Hz | VA | $249.99 $159.99 at Newegg (save $90)
This is one of the best deals on a 1440p gaming monitor we've seen so far. A respectable brand and a respectable spec, although it might be worth holding out for an IPS panel. Still, a good price on a great little screen.

Price check: Amazon $159.99

Price watch: ➖Acer Nitro XV271U M3bmiiprx | 27-inch | 1440p | 180 Hz | IPS | $289.99$178.94 at Amazon (save $111.05)

Price watch: ➖
Acer Nitro XV271U M3bmiiprx | 27-inch | 1440p | 180 Hz | IPS | $289.99 $178.94 at Amazon (save $111.05)
This Acer monitor is a steal for all you prospective competitive gamers, hitting a high refresh rate and low response time sweet spot (0.5-1 ms gray-to-gray). It's the same price as the Odyssey G5 below but is better for those of you who prefer an IPS panel to a VA.

Price check: Newegg $254

Price watch: ➖Acer Nitro EDA323QU S3bmiiphx | 31.5-inch | 1440p | 180 Hz | 1500R | $249.99 $189.99 at Amazon (save $60 for Amazon Prime members only)

Price watch: ➖
Acer Nitro EDA323QU S3bmiiphx | 31.5-inch | 1440p | 180 Hz | 1500R |
$249.99 $189.99 at Amazon (save $60 for Amazon Prime members only)

Yes, the name of this monitor is ridiculous, and yes, you need an Amazon Prime membership to get the deal but it is a super reasonable price for a large curved 1440p screen. Acer makes solid monitors and this one, with its 180 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time, is sure to plenty snappy. That 1500 R curvature also allows for greater levels of immersion. If you don't have a Prime membership and don't want one, it's $10 more at Acer.

Price check: Acer $199.99

Price watch: NEW DEAL!Samsung Odyssey G5 G55C | 27-inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | VA | Curved| $299.00$195.99 at Newegg (save $104)

Price watch: NEW DEAL!
Samsung Odyssey G5 G55C | 27-inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | VA | Curved | $299.00 $195.99 at Newegg (save $104)
This monitor was already a great deal at its previous price. Now, for under $200 it's a steal. Samsung has form when it comes to getting VA panels to achieve good response. Put simply, Samsung VA panels are the quickest.

4K

Price watch: ➖Dough Spectrum One | 27-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | IPS | $369.99 $349.99 at Amazon (save $20)

Price watch: ➖
Dough Spectrum One | 27-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | IPS |
$369.99 $349.99 at Amazon (save $20)
Monitor start-up Dough, formerly Eve, has had a bumpy inception. But as you're buying from Amazon, you probably don't have to worry if it will actually turn up. The Spectrum One is a very nice-looking display and also now miles cheaper than it used to be, just note that you don't get the stand for this price. You'll need to add another $100 for that.

Price check: Newegg $449.99

Price watch: ➖Gigabyte M28U | 28-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | IPS | $599.99 $399.99 at Newegg (save $200)

Price watch: ➖
Gigabyte M28U | 28-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | IPS |
$599.99 $399.99 at Newegg (save $200)
Here's a monitor we really rate from our Gigabyte M28U review. We actually loved this package for its blend of speed and resolution, even at its original $650 price tag. At this tantalizingly cheap price, it's that much better.

Price check: Amazon sold out

Price watch: ➖Gigabyte M32UC | 32-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | VA | Curved | $629.99 $489.99 at Best Buy (save $140)

Price watch: ➖
Gigabyte M32UC | 32-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | VA | Curved |
$629.99 $489.99 at Best Buy (save $140)
Here's our pick for the best budget 4K gaming monitor, but now it's even cheaper. That's a deal we can't pass up. It's a gloriously simple panel with a no-frills look paired with a speedy refresh of up to 144 Hz and a handy USB hub. Our Jacob uses this panel daily, and he's had no complaints with it so far.

Price check: Newegg $489.99

Price watch: ➖Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd gen | 55-inch | 4K | 165 Hz | mini-LED | Curved | $2,999.99 $1,799.43 at Amazon (save $1,200.56)

Price watch: ➖
Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd gen | 55-inch | 4K | 165 Hz | mini-LED | Curved |
$2,999.99 $1,799.43 at Amazon (save $1,200.56)
Do you need the Ark? Probably not, but damned if it isn't at least worth a look nonetheless. This screen offers something few others do, probably for good reason. It's absolutely massive, curved out the wazoo, ready for HDR to the extreme, built with Mini LED tech, and runs at 165 Hz. It's something different, and that's why it bears mentioning that it's pretty much always on sale.

Price check: Best Buy $1,799.99 | Walmart $1,799.99

Ultrawide

Price watch: ➖LG UltraGear 34GP63A-B | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 160 Hz | VA | Curved | $399 $306.98 at Amazon (save $93.01)

Price watch: ➖
LG UltraGear 34GP63A-B | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 160 Hz | VA | Curved |
$399 $306.98 at Amazon (save $93.01)
At its current price, this LG ultrawide is a genuine bargain. By comparison, Alienware's fancy QD-OLED 34-inch panel is around $800 even on sale. This LG matches its size, resolution, aspect ratio and refresh rate for less than one-third of the price, although of course, it is a VA panel, not an OLED. It's also not the brightest gaming monitor ever, but it is a very good deal.

Price check: LG $399.99

Price watch: Samsung Odyssey G5 | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 165 Hz | VA | Curved | $549.99$357.99 at Best Buy (save $192)

Price watch: 🔽
Samsung Odyssey G5 | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 165 Hz | VA | Curved |
$549.99 $357.99 at Best Buy (save $192)
34-inch ultrawide 1440p gaming remains one of our firm favourites. It's a great compromise between lots of detail and decent frame rates. This Samsung panel gives you all that with 3,440 by 1,440 pixels, 165 Hz refresh and 1 ms response. It's not the brightest at 250 nits. But if you can live with that, it's an awful lot of monitor for the money.

Price check: Best Buy $549.99

Price watch: GIGABYTE M34WQ| 34-inch | 3440 x 1400 | 144 Hz | IPS | $449.99 $335.99 at Amazon (save $114)

Price watch:
GIGABYTE M34WQ | 34-inch | 3440 x 1400 | 144 Hz | IPS | $449.99 $335.99 at Amazon (save $114)
Gigabyte makes some of our favorite gaming monitors, and as ultrawides go, this one's a bit of a peach. That IPS panel is plenty fast with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and it's got plenty of ports for all sorts of connection possibilities. A 400 nits brightness rating is pretty great for this sort of price, too.

Price check: Newegg $349.99 | Walmart $349.99

Price watchSamsung Odyssey Neo G9 | 57-inch | 3200p Ultra Wide| 240Hz | Curved |$2,499$1,599.99 at Amazon (save $900)

Price watch: ➖
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 | 57-inch | 3200p Ultra Wide| 240Hz | Curved |
$2,499 $1,599.99 at Amazon (save $900)
Of all the big and wide Samsung monitors on this page, this is the biggest and the widest. It's still a huge amount of cash (and personally, I'd have to buy a whole new desk for this wideboi) but it's also over $100 more everywhere else I've seen it.

Price check: Best Buy $1,599 | Walmart $1,599

OLED

Price watch: MSI MAG 341CQP | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 175 Hz | QD-OLED | Curved | $679.99 $599.99 at Amazon (save $80)

Price watch: 🔽
MSI MAG 341CQP | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 175 Hz | QD-OLED | Curved |
$679.99 $599.99 at Amazon (save $80)
OLED gaming still isn't as affordable as we'd like. But it's getting there. This 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED beast is still a good deal at this price, however. The 175 Hz refresh is a tiny bit pedestrian, but it's plenty fast enough for us and in all other regards, this is the full OLED experience, including 0.03 ms response and serious HDR sizzle.

Price check: Newegg $729.99

Price watch: ➖Samsung Odyssey G85SB | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 175 Hz | QD-OLED | Curved | $1,199.99 $799.99 at Amazon (save $400)

Price watch: ➖
Samsung Odyssey G85SB | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 175 Hz | QD-OLED | Curved | $1,199.99 $799.99 at Amazon (save $400)
With a 175 Hz refresh rate, this 34-inch curved ultrawide OLED monitor has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and it's buttery smooth, thanks to that impressive 0.03 ms response time. With True Black 400 HDR, the panel looks fantastic, and the built-in Gaming Hub makes for a much snappier gaming experience.

Price check: Newegg out of stock

Price watch: NEW DEAL!MSI MAG 321UP | 32-inch | 4K | 165 Hz | QD-OLED | $829.99 $779.99 at Amazon (save $50)X

Price watch: NEW DEAL!
MSI MAG 321UP | 32-inch | 4K | 165 Hz | QD-OLED |
$829.99 $779.99 at Amazon (save $50)
What a difference a letter makes... especially when it comes to gaming monitors. The code names given to monitors are often impenetrable, but the difference between this MAG 321UP and the MAG321UPX is that this one has a 165 Hz refresh instead of 240 Hz. That's the only difference between this and the more expensive one. If you're not concerned about the refresh rate difference (and do you have the hardware to hit a matching 240 fps otherwise?) then this is where the smart OLED money is spent.

Price check: Newegg $838.69

Price watch: NEW DEAL!MSI MAG 321UPX | 32-inch | 4K | 240 Hz | QD-OLED | $899 $832.34 at Amazon (save $66.66)

Price watch: NEW DEAL!
MSI MAG 321UPX | 32-inch | 4K | 240 Hz | QD-OLED |
$899 $832.34 at Amazon (save $66.66)
With its special launch price of $949, the MSI MAG 321UPX was already by far the cheapest of the new generation of gorgeous high-pixel density 4K gaming OLEDs. But you can already get for $50 off. It makes most 27-inch 1440p OLEDs look painfully overpriced. It may be out of stock when you click through, but it's worth checking back for this great deal.

Price check: Newegg Sold Out

Price watch: Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ | 49-inch | 5120 x 1440 | 144Hz | QD-OLED | Curved | $1,099.99 $859.99 at Amazon (save $240)Price check:

Price watch:
Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ | 49-inch | 5120 x 1440 | 144Hz | QD-OLED | Curved |
$1,099.99 $859.99 at Amazon (save $240)
It's not been around for long but the Aorus CO49DQ already has a decent discount, and it's a lot of monitor for the money as we found in our review. Those rocking the RTX 4090 might be better off with the higher refresh rate of the Samsung Odyssey G9 G93SC, but the rest of us can take advantage of this very wide, very pretty-looking panel for a bit less.

Price check: Best Buy $949.99

Price watch: NEW DEAL!LG UltraGear 32GS95UE | 32-inch | 4K (240Hz) | (480 Hz @ 1080p) | WOLED | $1,399.99 $1,046.99 at Amazon (save $353)

Price watch: NEW DEAL!
LG UltraGear 32GS95UE | 32-inch | 4K (240Hz) | (480 Hz @ 1080p) | WOLED |
$1,399.99 $1,046.99 at Amazon (save $353)
There was just one thing obviously wrong with this stunning 32-inch 4K monitor when we reviewed it. The price. At $1,400 it was just so expensive. But now it's been trimmed by a full $300+, it's much more competitive. OK, it's still not exactly affordable. But this is one of the best 32-inch 4K gaming OLEDs available right now.

Price check: Newegg $1,049.99

Price watch: Samsung Odyssey G9 G95SC | 49-inch | 5120 x 1440 | 240 Hz | OLED | Curved | $1,799.99 $1,047.94 at Amazon (save $752.05)

Price watch:
Samsung Odyssey G9 G95SC | 49-inch | 5120 x 1440 | 240 Hz | OLED | Curved | $1,799.99 $1,047.94 at Amazon (save $752.05)
All evidence points to this being a computer monitor, but let's be real: This is a surfboard that can display moving pictures. An extremely nice surfboard, to be sure: You're getting just about every bell and whistle you could want in an ultra-ultrawide monitor at the steepest discount we've seen.

Price check: Samsung $1,078.99

Gaming monitor deals — UK quick links

  1. Amazon: Tons of deals on gaming monitors
  2. Ebuyer: MSI MAG 27CQ6F 27 inch 2K gaming monitor for £158.99
  3. Overclockers: 1080p panels for around £100
  4. Currys: Up to £180 savings on gaming monitors
  5. Argos: HP Omen 165Hz IPS 1080p for £149

UK monitor deals

Price watch: ➖Cooler Master GM238-FFS | 24-inch | 1080p | 144 Hz | IPS | £144.95 £119.99 at Overclockers (save £24.96)

Price watch: ➖
Cooler Master GM238-FFS | 24-inch | 1080p | 144 Hz | IPS | £144.95 £119.99 at Overclockers (save £24.96)
It's not big, and it certainly isn't from a name we normally associate with gaming monitors, but if space is at a premium and you just want a good, little 1080p display for your desk, this 24-incher has a lot going for it. To start with, it's a fast IPS panel, so you get good colours and a 0.5 ms response time, and it delivers a 144 Hz refresh rate, too.

Price watch: ➖AOC Q27G2S/EU | 27-inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | IPS | £269.99 £260.97 at Amazon (save £9.02)

Price watch: ➖
AOC Q27G2S/EU | 27-inch | 1440p | 165 Hz | IPS | £269.99 £260.97 at Amazon (save £9.02)
Besides this monitor's significant bezels, there's a lot to like here. It's a bit old-fashioned looking, but all the important specs are here: 1440p, 165 Hz, FreeSync compatible. It's in a sweet spot for gaming and it's made by a manufacturer we trust with budget screens.

Price watch: ➖AOC CQ32G4VE | 32-inch | 1440p | 180 Hz | VA | £229.99 £178.97 at Amazon (save £51.02)

Price watch: ➖
AOC CQ32G4VE | 32-inch | 1440p | 180 Hz | VA | £229.99 £178.97 at Amazon (save £51.02)
It might only be a VA panel, but this AOC display still has some excellent specs for the cash. That 180 Hz refresh rate is great for the cash, and at 32-inches, it's a great size for eyeball-sizzling visuals without being overwhelming. AOC make some great budget gaming monitors, and this one's very difficult to argue with at this price.

Price watch: NEW DEAL!AOC CU34G2XP | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 180 Hz | VA | £329.99 £309.97 at Amazon (save £20.02)

Price watch: NEW DEAL!
AOC CU34G2XP | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 180 Hz | VA | £329.99 £309.97 at Amazon (save £20.02)
If you though decent ultrawides were expensive, I'm happy to prove you wrong. VA panel of course, but otherwise this wide boi has very little wrong with it for the cash. That 180 Hz refresh rate is very nice to see at this price.

Price watch: ➖LG UltraGear 32GR93U | 32-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | IPS | £649.99 £499.98 at Amazon (save £150.01)

Price watch: ➖
LG UltraGear 32GR93U | 32-inch | 4K | 144 Hz | IPS | £649.99 £499.98 at Amazon (save £150.01)
LG makes some of our favourite gaming monitors, and this 4K IPS panel is part of its UltraGear line, of which we are very much fans. The 144 Hz refresh rate might not be the fastest, but it's still plenty speedy for most, and otherwise, this panel has near-flawless specs for the cash. Okay, it's not an OLED, but that's some serious extra cash to spend.

Price watch: ➖MSI MAG 341CQP | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 175 Hz Hz | OLED | £899 £648.95 at Amazon (save £251.04)

Price watch: ➖
MSI MAG 341CQP | 34-inch | 3440 x 1440 | 175 Hz Hz | OLED | £899 £648.95 at Amazon (save £251.04)
OLED tech is where it's at for the best gaming monitors, and this 34-inch curved ultrawide is built to absolutely stun. With lush colours and gorgeously deep black levels, OLED is where you want to be if you've got the cash. This MSI model is cheaper than the rest, plenty fast, and will look fantastic on your desk.

Price watch: ➖MSI MAG 321UP | 32-inch | 4K | 165 Hz | QD-OLED | £949 £848.99 at Amazon (save £100.01)X

Price watch: ➖
MSI MAG 321UP | 32-inch | 4K | 165 Hz | QD-OLED |
£949 £848.99 at Amazon (save £100.01)
What a difference a letter makes... especially when it comes to gaming monitors. The code names given to monitors are often impenetrable, but the difference between this MAG 321UP and the MAG321UPX is that this one has a 165 Hz refresh instead of 240 Hz. That's the only difference between this and the more expensive one. If you're not concerned about the refresh rate difference (and do you have the hardware to hit a matching 240 fps otherwise?) then this is where the smart OLED money is spent.

Check out our dedicated WhatsApp channel for the latest PC hardware deals.

Gaming monitor FAQ

Should I go for an IPS, TN or VA panel?

We would always recommend an IPS panel over TN. The clarity of image, viewing angle, and color reproduction is far superior to the cheaper technology, but you'll often find a faster TN for cheaper. The other alternative, less expensive than IPS and better than TN, is VA tech. The colors aren't quite so hot, but the contrast performance is impressive.

Should I go for a FreeSync or G-Sync monitor?

In general, FreeSync monitors will be cheaper. It used to be the case that they would only work in combination with an AMD GPU. The same went for G-Sync monitors and Nvidia GPUs. However, it is possible to find G-Sync-compatible FreeSync monitors if you intend to spend less.

Should I buy a HDR monitor?

With a High Dynamic Range monitor, you can take advantage of the ever-growing list of games and apps with HDR support. It offers more vibrant colors and greater contrast but will slightly increase the price. Windows' native HDR function also leaves much to be desired, and you may have to fiddle with the settings to get HDR looking like it should.

What aspect ratio should I go for?

Today's movies and games are best enjoyed in a widescreen format at a 16:9 aspect ratio or above. In 4:3, those cinematic moments will look stunted with black strips along the top and bottom. There are a host of minute variations on each ratio, but at the end of the day choosing between these depends entirely on your personal preference.

And the very far-out option, if you have a little extra cash to blow, is ultra-wide aspect ratios like 21:9 and 32:9 and their variants. These will provide a much more immersive, encompassing experience. Or literally, encompass yourself with a curved monitor, up to you.

Jargon buster - gaming monitor terminology

Refresh Rate (Hz)
The speed at which the screen refreshes. For example, 144 Hz means the display refreshes 144 times a second. The higher the number, the smoother the screen will appear when you play games.

V-Sync
Graphics tech synchronizes a game's framerate with your monitor's refresh rate to help prevent screen tearing by syncing your GPU frame rate to the display's maximum refresh rate. Turn V-Sync on in your games for a smoother experience, but you'll lose information, so turn it off for fast-paced shooters (and live with the tearing). Useful if you have an older model display that can't keep up with a new GPU.

G-Sync
Nvidia's frame synching tech that works with Nvidia GPUs. It basically allows the monitor to sync up with the GPU. It does so by showing a new frame as soon as the GPU has one ready.

FreeSync
AMD's take on frame synching uses a similar technique as G-Sync, with the biggest difference being that it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive-Sync technology which doesn't cost monitor manufacturers anything.

Ghosting
When movement on your display leaves behind a trail of pixels when watching a movie or playing a game, this is often a result of a monitor having slow response times.

Response Time
The amount of time it takes a pixel to transition to a new color and back. Often referenced as G2G or Grey-to-Grey. Slow response times can lead to ghosting. A suitable range for a gaming monitor is between 1-4 milliseconds.

TN Panels
Twisted-nematic is the most common (and cheapest) gaming panel. TN panels tend to have poorer viewing angles and color reproduction but have higher refresh rates and response times.

IPS
In-plane switching, panels offer the best contrast and color despite having weaker blacks. IPS panels tend to be more expensive and have higher response times.

VA
Vertical Alignment panels provide good viewing angles and have better contrast than even IPS but are still slower than TN panels. They are often a compromise between a TN and IPS panel.

HDR
High Dynamic Range. HDR provides a wider color range than normal SDR panels and offers increased brightness. The result is more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and a brighter picture.

Peak Brightness
This refers to the maximum brightness of a monitor or television and is measured in nits.

Ultrawide
Shorthand for monitors with aspect wider aspect ratios like 32:9 or 21:9

Resolution
The number of pixels that make up a monitor's display, measured by height and width. For example: 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p), 2560 x 1440 (2K), and 3840 x 2160 (4K).

TOPICS
Dave James
Editor-in-Chief, Hardware

Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000!). He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others. Now he's back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.