When it involves upgrading our PCs, we so typically neglect that one of the vital vital components of our system is that large previous display sitting proper in entrance of us, which is why I’m right here that can assist you discover the very best gaming monitor to fit your wants and price range. Let’s face it – shopping for a brand new monitor is arduous. It’s one factor to take a look at the specs, however attempting to guage whether or not that display really produces a very good image or not is nigh on not possible to do from the consolation of your individual dwelling.
Fortunately, I’ve carried out the arduous give you the results you want, as under you’ll discover a checklist of all my high suggestions throughout a large number of various display sizes and resolutions. Tried and examined at Castle Shotgun itself, the one displays you’ll discover listed below are those I’ve had in entrance of my very own eyeballs and measured with my trusty X-Rite Display i1 Pro calibrator. Naturally, this implies I’ll be updating this checklist as and when new gaming displays are available that I believe deserve a spot on the checklist. This time, it’s Acer’s Predator XB241H, which is available in as my new 24in 1920×1080 Nvidia G-Sync suggestion. You’ll additionally discover every part that you must find out about display sizes, resolutions, refresh charges, panel sorts, inputs and adjustable stands over on page 2. By the time you’re carried out right here, you’ll be totally geared up to seek out the very best gaming monitor for you. Let’s start!
Best 24in monitor (FreeSync): AOC G2460PF
Key options: 24in, 1920×1080, TN, 144Hz, AMD FreeSync
The AOC G2460PF is among the most fully-featured 24in displays you should purchase at this time. It’s about to get replaced by AOC’s upcoming G2590FX, which is equivalent in each manner save its considerably slimmer bezels and ever-so-slightly bigger 24.5in display, however till I get one in for testing (simply to make certain its TN panel is simply pretty much as good as its predecessor), it’s the G2460PF that is still my best choice within the 24in gaming monitor class.
Packed inside this tiny display, you get a TN panel with a 1920×1080 decision, a beneficiant 144Hz refresh charge, AMD FreeSync assist for reducing down on tearing and stutter whenever you’ve received a appropriate AMD graphics card, a full suite of inputs (VGA, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort), a four-port USB hub and a peak adjustable stand.
That’s lots for a monitor of this measurement and value, and really provides you extra to your cash than among the bigger screens additional down this checklist. You’ll want a reasonably first rate graphics card to benefit from its excessive 144Hz refresh charge – see our Best graphics card rankings for more information if you happen to’re available in the market for a kind of as properly – however even when your graphics card isn’t fairly as much as the duty of tremendous excessive body charge gaming, its AMD FreeSync assist ought to at the least give AMD graphics card house owners a little bit of a leg up if you happen to can’t fairly hit that 60fps sweetspot. One factor you possibly can depend on, although, is the G2460PF’s excellent image high quality, which covers 95.2% of the usual sRGB color gamut.
Read extra in our AOC G2460PF review.
Best 24in monitor (G-Sync): Acer Predator XB241H
Key options: 24in, 1920×1080, TN, 144Hz (180Hz overclocked), Nvidia G-Sync
The Acer Predator XB241H is much more costly than the AOC G2460PF (thanks, G-Sync tax), however that is by far the very best 24in 1920×1080 monitor for these with Nvidia graphics playing cards we’ve seen to this point. Colour accuracy is simply as excessive because the AOC out of the field, and even goes a bit greater if you happen to tweak the color temperature settings barely.
What’s extra, the XB241H has a brilliant excessive refresh charge of 144Hz that may be overclocked all the way in which up to an enormous 180Hz by means of the monitor’s onboard menu system. It doesn’t have fairly as many ports because the AOC (simply DisplayPort and HDMI), nevertheless it does have a really versatile stand that offers you loads of peak adjustment, swivel, tilt and rotation, making it simple to get into the very best place.
By all means go for the AOC in case your price range doesn’t stretch this far (you’ll nonetheless get the good thing about the excessive refresh charge, in any case – simply be sure to’ve received a ok graphics card to utilize it), however if you happen to’ve received cash to spare and wish the very best of the very best 24in displays have to supply, then that is positively the one to go for proper now.
Read extra in our Acer Predator XB241H review.
Best 27in 1080p monitor: BenQ EW277HDR
Key options: 27in, 1920×1080, VA, HDR
For these after one thing barely larger than the AOC G2460PF and Acer Predator XB241H with out breaking the financial institution, the BenQ EW277HDR is the subsequent smartest thing. This doesn’t include as many options as its smaller rivals (or certainly as many ports or any form of peak adjustment), however it’s a heck of lots cheaper – at the least for these shopping for within the UK.
The EW277HDR could not have a excessive refresh charge or any form of variable body charge expertise included into its 27in 1920×1080 VA panel, nevertheless it does include HDR (or excessive dynamic vary) assist. You can take a look at our what is HDR information to seek out out extra about what it does and means for PC, however basically it permits a monitor to show brighter whites, darker blacks and extra of each color in between in comparison with a non-HDR monitor. This means extra vibrant, vivid and life-like pictures and video games, in addition to extra element within the gentle and darkish areas of the display.
There are, admittedly, higher displays on the market for these after ‘proper’ HDR, which actually go to city on the brightness facet of issues in addition to the prolonged color gamut, however you’re definitely not going to seek out any of these going for much less £200 / $250 just like the EW277HDR. It could not have the identical brightness capabilities as these higher-end displays, however what the EW277HDR does rather well is the color gamut a part of HDR, displaying 99.8% of the usual sRGB color gamut and a formidable 91.9% of the broader DCI-P3 gamut. For comparability, the AOC above can solely present round 70% of this gamut.
That’s fairly rattling good for such an affordable monitor, and whereas its 1920×1080 decision isn’t precisely excellent for a display of this measurement (issues begin to get a teensy bit fuzzy whenever you begin stretching that many pixels throughout a 27in panel), it’s nonetheless a wonderful approach to get a giant display with out spending an arm and a leg on one thing with a better decision just like the MSI Optix MPG27CQ under.
Read extra in our BenQ EW277HDR review.
Best 27in 1440p monitor: MSI Optix MPG27CQ
Key options: 27in, 2560×1440, curved VA, 144Hz, AMD FreeSync
If you actually wish to go all out on a 27in monitor with a 2560×1440 decision, the MSI Optix MPG27CQ is definitely one of many higher methods to do it. With a curved VA panel, height-adjustable stand and Steelseries RGB integration (those that aren’t firmly embedded within the RGB camp might be glad to know you can too flip all of it off), that is one monitor that actually instructions your consideration.
Picture high quality is excellent, too. Covering 100% of the sRGB color gamut and a good 87.6% of the DCI-P3 gamut (which is fairly good going for a non-HDR monitor), photos look wealthy and punchy always on its default User mode, and its intuitive onboard menu system means it’s simple to make any final minute changes or play about with its black tuner management.
If all that wasn’t sufficient, it’s additionally received a 144Hz refresh charge for top body charge gaming (offered you’ve received a beefy sufficient graphics card, that’s – which you’ll want in case your goal is 144fps at 2560×1440) and AMD FreeSync assist to assist remove tearing and judder for AMD graphics card house owners. Round that off with two HDMI 2.zero inputs, one DisplayPort 1.2 and a two-port USB3 hub and also you’ve received your self among the finest 27in displays round.
Read extra in our MSI Optix MPG27CQ review.
Best ultrawide monitor (FreeSync): Philips 349X7FJEW
Key options: 34in, 3440×1440, curved VA, 100Hz, AMD FreeSync
When I heard Square Enix had been including 21:9 facet ratio assist to Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, I knew what needed to be carried out. No one wants to play Final Fantasy XII in 21:9, however hey, if you happen to’re going to do it, you would possibly as properly do it on the Philips 349X7FJEW. Out of all of the ultrawide displays I’ve examined to this point, that is the one which ticks essentially the most containers for me.
I’m not the most important fan of its white chassis, all instructed, nevertheless it’s far by one of many least expensive 21:9 displays on the market nowadays, and its picture high quality is simply pretty much as good because the significantly costlier AOC AG352UCG and Acer Predator Z35p. Of course, a part of the rationale why AOC and Acer’s displays are so expensive is as a result of they arrive with Nvidia G-Sync assist. The Philips, however, solely has AMD FreeSync assist, which gained’t be a lot good to anybody with an Nvidia graphics card, however at the least you’re saving your self a number of hundred kilos / {dollars} within the course of.
If you are after an ultrawide Nvidia G-Sync monitor, nonetheless… then you need to take a look at the AOC AG352UCG, which you’ll find out extra under… For those that’d somewhat save themselves from the dreaded G-Sync tax, nonetheless, the Philips is unquestionably the higher worth for cash alternative.
Read extra in our Philips 349X7FJEW review.
Best ultrawide monitor (G-Sync): Acer Predator Z35p
Key options: 35in, 3440×1440, curved AMVA, 100Hz (120Hz overclocked), Nvidia G-Sync
As talked about above, the Acer Predator Z35p is much more costly than the Philips 349X7FJEW, nevertheless it does have the added benefit of Nvidia G-Sync assist for individuals who have an Nvidia graphics card. Why have I picked this one over the AOC Agon AG352UCG, although? Well, that’s primarily as a result of the AOC is now a lot more durable to come back by than once I first reviewed it, and its value is now roughly the identical because the extra fully-featured Acer – if you happen to may even discover it on sale anyplace.
Both displays are equally glorious in their very own proper, however the Acer has just a few extra tips up its sleeve that make it higher worth for cash general. For occasion, you possibly can overclock its 100Hz refresh charge as much as 120Hz if you happen to’ve received a beefy sufficient graphics card to benefit from it, and it additionally with 4 USB3 ports as a substitute simply two just like the AOC.
The Predator Z35p’s display can also be lots brighter, making it extra versatile in a wider vary of lighting situations, and its picture high quality is top-notch, protecting 99% of the sRGB color gamut. What’s extra, I a lot choose Acer’s onboard menu system, because the AOC’s is, frankly, a little bit of a catastrophe. It’s costly, sure, nevertheless it actually doesn’t get a lot better than this within the ultrawide class.
Read extra in our Acer Predator Z35p review.
Best bonkers ultrawide monitor: Samsung CHG90
Key options: 49in, 3840×1080, curved VA, 144Hz, AMD FreeSync 2, HDR
The Samsung CHG90 is fairly ridiculous, but when the considered setting up three monitors for super ultrawide gaming is simply an excessive amount of to bear, then why not chuck some cash on the drawback and get this beautiful factor as a substitute?
While not fairly as broad as three displays put collectively, the CHG90’s 3840×1080 decision means it’s basically the identical measurement as two 27in 1080p displays caught collectively. It’s fairly swish within the flesh, lemme inform ya, and also you even get some fairly first rate HDR out of it if in case you have an AMD graphics card in your PC because of its FreeSync 2 assist.
Personally, I’m actually fairly keen on ultrawide displays, and far choose them to having two 16:9 screens. The CHG90 could take up much more room in your desk than two such displays, nevertheless it definitely beats having to flick forwards and backwards throughout totally different screens and having large bezels interrupt every part within the center. More and extra video games are beginning to assist ultrawide facet ratios as properly, and I managed to get each Final Fantasy XV and Far Cry 5 trying very, very beautiful certainly on the CHG90 to beautiful impact. Combine that with its 144Hz refresh charge, trendy design, plentiful provide of ports and inputs and intuitive onboard menu, and the CHG90 goes a good distance in justifying its £1000 / $1000+ value.
Read our full Samsung CHG90 review.
UK value: £1074
US value: $1100
Best price range 4K HDR monitor: BenQ EL2870U
Key options: 28in, 3480×2160, TN, AMD FreeSync, HDR
The BenQ EL2870U is not at all the very best 4K HDR monitor on the market, nevertheless it is among the least expensive, which makes its barely underwhelming HDR a bit extra forgivable. Indeed, getting your palms on any form of 4K monitor nowadays is a little bit of a problem, however if you happen to actually can’t anticipate one thing higher to come back alongside or don’t have the money to splash out on one thing a bit fancier, then the EL2870U is at present your greatest wager.
Picture high quality remains to be fairly cheap, however with an sRGB gamut protection of 83% (and 62% DCI-P3), it’s not precisely sensible both. Still, in case your main purpose is having a number of pixels at your disposal, the EL2870U has that in spades. With its 3840×2160 decision unfold throughout its 28in TN panel, the EL2870’s sharp pixel density of 157 pixels-per-inch (PPI) is considerably greater than every other display on this checklist. A 27in 1080p monitor can solely ever have 81 PPI, for instance, whereas a 27in 1440p monitor is just a fraction higher at 108 PPI.
You’ll in all probability nonetheless should make use of a few of Windows’ scaling settings to make issues like textual content and desktop icons even remotely legible, however at the least every part will look beautiful and crisp within the course of. Admittedly, if you happen to’re shopping for a 4K monitor to max out your shiny new 4K-capable graphics card just like the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080Ti or AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (though ideally the Vega given the EL2870U’s AMD FreeSync assist), then there are in all probability higher screens to spend your cash on than this one. Really, I’d solely advocate this as a 4K monitor for working functions, and 4K gaming provided that you’re on a very tight price range. I’ve but to seek out the right 4K monitor that I’d be pleased recommending for each work and play, however you possibly can wager your backside greenback I’ll be updating this checklist as quickly as I do.
Read our full BenQ EL2870U review.
Best 4K HDR monitor: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
Key options: 27in, 3840×2160, IPS, 120Hz (144Hz overclocked), Nvidia G-Sync HDR
It’s loopy costly, however if you happen to’re after the very best that 4K HDR at present has to supply, the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is the monitor to get – till I get my palms on Acer’s Predator X27, that’s. With a loopy excessive peak brightness degree of round 1000cd/m2, that is the best implementation of HDR I’ve ever seen. It actually brings HDR video games like Final Fantasy XV and Assassin’s Creed Origins to life, however you’ll need a graphics card that helps Nvidia G-Sync HDR with a purpose to benefit from it – i.e.: an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or greater. For extra information about what graphics cards support HDR and what PC games support it, click on the hyperlink.
Admittedly, I used to be a bit cool on the standard of its panel in my preliminary assessment, however Asus have since instructed me that you must allow its broad color gamut assist manually in a somewhat unobvious menu setting, which I didn’t find out about once I first examined it. I’ll be getting it again in for one more take a look at very quickly to offer it a correct trying over, however as I point out in my HDR guide, it’s actually the brightness a part of HDR that makes essentially the most affect, which it did in spades because of its phenomenal 384 dynamic backlight zones.
You additionally get a completely adjustable stand (with LEDs burning a ROG brand into your desk and your ceiling) with peak, swivel, tilt and rotation choices out there to your hassle, and a bevy of ports, recreation modes and numerous show choices.
Read our full Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review.
