If you’re looking for the best gaming experience, there’s certainly a great deal to consider. Your keyboard, speakers, headset and a host of other accessories all have an impact on the quality of your games. However, there’s one item that is more important than the rest: your monitor. Choosing the right gaming monitor can be a daunting task. You need to find one that enhances your gameplay but also fits with your budget. Not sure what you need to be looking for? Read on as we’re here to help.
Your Game of Choice
It’s worth noting that the type of games that you play will have an impact on the monitor that’s right for you. There has been a dramatic rise in the popularity of online casinos in recent years and those who play here will have different needs to those who are playing some of the latest PC releases. The likes of PokerStars Casino have games that have been developed in such a way that they offer a great mobile experience as well as a desktop one and there isn’t the same need for the best-in-class monitor to enjoy the experience. Sites like this offer a range of mobile-compatible games that also play well on PC if you want to take in the visuals of bouncing slots and live casino dealers.
Source: Pixabay
Now you know the impact your gaming choices have on your needs, let’s take a look at the basic specs that you need to consider:
- Resolution: This impacts the sharpness of any images. For casino players, and even competitive gamers, 1080p may well be enough as it provides a smooth experience. If visuals are your main priority, you may want to explore 4k models.
- Refresh Rate: This is measured in hertz and controls how often an image updates each second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the images. This is a must for fast-paced games.
- Response Time: This is all to do with how quickly pixels can change colour. For most gamers, 1ms is the target to aim for.
- Panel Type: TN comes with the fastest response times but lacks when it comes to colour accuracy. IPS offers excellent colour reproduction but slower response times. VA offers a balance, making it an ideal choice.
Source: Pexels
Advanced Monitor Features
Beyond the basics, there are other features that you may want to consider when choosing your monitor. Let’s take a look:
- Variable Refresh Rate: With G-Sync and FreeSync, your monitor and graphics cards are synchronised. This eliminates any stuttering and offers a seamless experience.
- High Dynamic Range: Here, you get a wider range of colours, and the visuals are much more detailed and realistic.
- Curved Screens: While text quality can be impacted, a curved screen can create an immersive experience and is ideal for race-type games.
Finding the ideal monitor is all about identifying your needs, but also aligning these with your budget. If you’re a competitive gamer, then speed is going to be your priority. You’ll need a high refresh rate and fast response times. If you favour online casinos, then these factors are going to have less of an impact.
Ultimately, you’re going to have to be guided by your wallet. Now you have an overview of what you need to be looking for, the challenge is to find the right one with the right price tag.
