Level up your gaming setup by picking the perfect monitor for smooth gameplay

Choosing the best gaming monitor for your rig is important because it can make or break your gaming experience. The right monitor means smoother gameplay, better visuals, and less lag, which all add up to more fun and better performance. Here’s how to pick a gaming monitor that fits your setup and gaming style, and make a smart move you won’t regret.

Choosing the right screen size for your setup

The first thing to look for in a gaming monitor is the size and resolution. Decent gaming monitors start from 27 inches and go up to 49 inches ultrawide, and the size you choose depends totally on personal preference.

One recommendation is that if you are a dedicated PC gamer and do not plan to hook up a console to it, then 27 inches is the perfect size for you. If by any chance you also game on console to play those exclusive titles, then I recommend you get a bigger monitor for sure.

Resolution and refresh rate

Refresh rate and resolution are two very important specifications to look for when choosing a gaming monitor. You will see the resolutions up to 4K and refresh rates up to 240Hz and beyond. But the thing to understand is that both are inversely proportional unless you are paying a premium price.

You will get a 4K monitor with 60Hz easily at very affordable prices and you can get up to 240Hz refresh rate on an FHD monitor at affordable prices. But to get a 4K monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate, you need to pay a premium price. Now, to make it easy, if you play single-player games more, go for a 4K monitor because you need sharper visuals. And if you play competitive games, then go for a lower resolution like FHD, but with the highest refresh rate you can find.

Panel type: IPS, VA or OLED

Different panel technologies offer unique advantages, and you need to understand what each one brings to the table. IPS panels provide wide viewing angles and decent response times, making them a solid all-around choice. VA panels deliver superior contrast ratios ideal for visual clarity and punchy visuals.

OLED panels, on the other hand, offer exceptional motion clarity and deep blacks that you simply cannot get from traditional panels. Modern OLED gaming monitors achieve impressive response times at competitive refresh rates, but they do come at a premium price point.

Adaptive Sync technology

Adaptive sync technology is all about eliminating screen tearing and ensuring smooth gameplay. You will see two main technologies dominating the market: G-SYNC from NVIDIA and FreeSync from AMD. These technologies synchronise your monitor's refresh rate with your GPU output, which eliminates screen tearing completely.

Now, to make it simple, choose based on your graphics card brand because this ensures maximum compatibility and performance benefits. If you have an NVIDIA GPU, go for G-SYNC, and if you have an AMD GPU, then FreeSync is your best bet.