Your monitor is definitely one of the most important parts of your gaming PC. A keyboard, mouse, or even GPU will be replaced a lot more frequently than a monitor. A monitor is one of those components that are really going to determine what your experience is like gaming, and control how you interact with the game. The best gaming monitors have to allow you to get a great FPS, along with getting high-resolutions.
When you’re choosing the right gaming monitor, there are a few things you have to consider. The best gaming monitors can get a great response time and give you an advantage in competitive playing. They can display graphics in 4K or ultra-wide or other graphical feats that might be impressive. However, most do a compromise somewhere between these features! The best monitors out there could do all these things, but most prioritize. Essentially if you’re on a budget, you need to think about which is better for you. Do you want 4K or do you want a monitor that is really responsive?
Of course, these things aren’t mutually exclusive, you can get a monitor that is both responsive and really high fidelity. However, that will be kind of expensive. If you’re looking for the best gaming monitors for being responsive, or for getting great fidelity, you’ll need to look around the market a bit. These are the best gaming monitors out there at the moment:
1. ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q – The Best Gaming Monitor
The Asus ROG Swift is one of the best gaming monitors out there, if not the overall best. At its core, this is a monitor that can do great resolution but also a high refresh rate. You can use it to get a great response for competitive gaming, or you can use it for a great resolution when playing less competitive games. This monitor is an all-rounder that can do most things pretty well, although it does have a price tag to reflect this.
The monitor is 27 inches and can get a 2,560×1,440 resolution. This is considerably better than regular HD and more than good enough to show off even the most beautiful modern games. The refresh rate on the monitor is going to be good enough to get the most out of your hardware too. One particular benefit only comes with NVidia GPUs. You can use G-Sync which allows for variable refresh rates and can significantly improve the performance by having your monitor and GPU work in sync. However, you won’t get this benefit with an AMD GPU.
This is one of the best gaming monitors available at the moment, and if the price is no object then it is the best choice for a competitive monitor.
Pros
- 27-Inch Screen
- 144-165Hz Refresh Rate
- Fast
- Low-Input
Cons
- Price
- Only Some GPUs can Make Most of G-Sync
2. Acer Predator XB273K – The best for 4K Gaming
4K is going to be more than just a fad, but it isn’t for everyone. If you’re building a gaming PC to make the most out of 4K resolutions, it is going to cost you a bit. If you’re specifically trying to build a 4K gaming pc though, this is the best gaming monitor you can get. It offers both 4K and HDR.
This is a 27-inch screen with a resolution up to 3840×2160, and a response time of 4ms. The refresh rate is a bit more standard with 144Hz. However, with those stats, you’re getting a good responsiveness from the screen. It is the resolution and detail that you’re going to get that is impressive here. You’re getting a good price to say that this monitor is both 4K and HDR, which is about as good-looking as a monitor can get.
This is the best gaming monitor in 2020 if you’re looking for visual fidelity and quality. However, it is worth keeping in mind that a GPU to make the most of this will be pricy too!
Pros
- 27 Inch Screen
- 3840X2160 Aspect Ratio
- HDR and 4K
- Fast Response Time
Cons
- Price
- Needs High-End Components to Get the Most Out of it
3. BenQ Zowie XL2411P – The Best 1080p Monitor for Gaming
4K is fine, but it isn’t exactly necessary. If you’re looking for the best gaming monitor for a response time without caring too much about pushing the visual fidelity, then this is the one for you.
This screen is a great choice for those looking for the best gaming monitor on a budget in 2020. It features a 1ms response time which makes it great for competitive gaming. You’ll have few problems with your monitor causing lag using this. It works great if you’re going for 1040p, you’ll be able to get a great response time.
While this particular monitor isn’t 4K, you’re getting a fantastic functional device for a gaming PC.
Pros
- Perfect for 1080p
- 1ms response time
- 16:9 Aspect Ratio
- 144Hz Refresh Rate
Cons
- No 4K or HDR
4. Acer XR382CQK – The Best Widescreen Curved Gaming Monitor
The Acer XR382 is something a bit different, this is the best gaming monitor that is curved and widescreen. This is a bit niche, but it can be really immersive. There are some advantages to using a curved monitor, but they all improved upon by making it widescreen too. The extra immersion is even more impressive with a wider image. You can use this in more cinematic games, or just to dial up your field of vision in-game and get more sight than your opponents.
The widescreen really makes the curved screen into something more. However, you’re getting more than just shape here. It has a FreeSync feature that can have a variable refresh rate up to 75Hz. This is good for keeping your image responsive and all synced up. The resolution is pretty good here too.
How large of a monitor this is does limit some things like responsiveness. However, to say you’re getting such a big picture this monitor has great performance.
Pros
- Curved Monitor
- Ultra-Wide Screen
- 5ms Response Time
- 3840×1600 Resolution
Cons
- Not as Responsive as Some
- Price
5. Samsung CRG9 – The Biggest Gaming Monitor
This one is big. If you’re looking for the biggest screen that doesn’t sacrifice performance, then the Samsung CRG9 is one of the best monitors for gaming for you. This one has good resolution and great response times.
The major thing here is the screen size, this is a 49-inch screen. That’s pretty big. It is going to serve you well on big competitive games, but also on flashier AAA titles. With a decent refresh rate of 120Hz, it gets a good competitive performance despite the size.
This is one of the best monitors for gaming in 2020 if you want a big display without ruining your reaction times then this is the one to choose.
Pros
- 49 Inch Screen
- 5,120 x 1440 Resolution
- 4ms Response Time
- HDR
Cons
- Size Could Be Overkill
- Price
6. Pixio PXC273 – The Best Curved Gaming Monitor
A curved monitor has a lot of advantages beyond just having a bigger screen. You get more immersion, a wider field of view, and more space to work with. This is a curved monitor that is perfect for playing at 1080p. While it can go a bit beyond that, its reaction time and refresh rate are perfect for competitive gaming.
This monitor doesn’t have a whole lot of extra features. It can do free synch, but its 144Hz refresh rate should be perfect for regular gaming anyway. The monitor is the standard 27 inches but curved to give a different feel.
One big selling point of this particular monitor is its price. It comes in at a pretty low place to say that it is curved. It might not be the best option in a world of limitless budget, but this is one of the best gaming monitors for a reasonable price.
Pros
- Curved
- Great Price
- Perfect for 1080p
Cons
- Standard Sized Despite Curve
7. AOC Agon AG322QC4 – The Best Budget HDR Gaming Monitor
the AOC Agon AG322QC4 is one of the best gaming monitors around for getting a decent budget HDR. Great monitors don’t come too cheap, so usually, you need to make a compromise. If you’re looking for HDR quality without having to spend too much, then this is the best choice.
HDR can make visuals on a screen look fantastic. This is a great looking monitor since it includes it. You’re going to see the benefit when playing games, or even just high-quality movies or pictures. If you’re looking for quality at a decent price, then this is the best budget gaming monitor for you.
Pros
- HDR
- 144Hz Refresh Rate
- 3,840 X 1,080 Resolution
Cons
- Pricier Than Similarly Sized Monitors
8. BenQ Zowie RL2455S – The Best Cheap Gaming Monitor
This BenQ Zowie monitor is definitely the best gaming monitor in 2020 if you’re working on a budget. This thing is really cheap considering what you’re getting. This monitor is perfect for competitive gaming.
You’re not getting 4K or any of the visual flairs that other monitors provide. However, you’re getting great performance for competitive gaming out of this monitor. It has a 1ms response time. This is really fast, especially when you consider the price.
On top of the great response and refresh rate, there isn’t much else to talk about with this monitor. It has all your standard connectors like HDMI along with a decent pair of built in speakers. At its core, this is a fast and responsive monitor at a great price.
Pros
- Great for a Budget
- 1ms Response Rate
- 1080p Monitor
Cons
- No 4k, Wide, or Other Thrills
9. BenQ EL287OU – The Best Gaming Monitor for 4K on a Budget
This is one of the best gaming monitors that are around at the moment if you want 4K on a budget. 4K and low cost don’t exactly go hand in hand. However, this one manages to accomplish it.
You’ll get a 4K image on this monitor. It is a 28-inch screen with a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. This is going to give you a great image, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a game that needs a better monitor to look its best. The refresh rate is only 60Hz. This is a bit of a disappointment, but if you want 4K at an affordable prize something has to give.
This is a great monitor if you want the best picture possible on a budget.
Pros
- 4K
- Great Price
- 28in Screen
- 3840×2160 Resolution
Cons
- Not a Great Refresh Rate
10. Samsung CRG5 – The Best 240Hz Monitor
This Samsung monitor is a bit higher on the price scale than the others. However, it is one of the best gaming monitors around if you’re looking for both quality and performance.
This is a 24-inch monitor with a curve. This makes it widescreen and perfect for immersive gaming. There is a refresh rate that typically hits 144Hz, but can get up to 240Hz. This is about the fastest response rate you’ll see from most monitors. You’ll get a high FPS if the rest of your gaming PC build can keep up with it.
This is one of the best gaming monitors out there, but it does come at a high price!
Pros
- 4 Ms Response Time
- 144-240 Hz Refresh Rate
- Curved Monitor
- 1080p
Cons
- High Price
Buying Guide
These are all some of the best gaming monitors out there at the moment. Which one is exactly right for you though? There can be a lot of confusing attributes to these gaming monitors. It can be difficult to know what type of monitor you need, and what might be overkill. This is all you need to know:
What’s the Difference Between a Gaming Monitor and a Regular Monitor?
Gaming monitors carry a much higher price tag than your normal PC monitor. Why exactly is that? These are some of the differences, although it will vary depending on your exact model:
- Response Time – All of the gaming monitors listed here have a response time within 5ms. This helps you react quicker while gaming. Non-gaming monitors don’t have such a fast response time.
- Refresh Rate – The refresh rate of a monitor is how often the screen can change the image on it. A high FPS is useless unless your refresh rate can actually display the images as often as frames as generated. The refresh rate is higher on a gaming monitor.
- Resolution – Most PC’s don’t need a 4K or really high-quality resolution. Looking at a document isn’t really improved in 4K. A gaming monitor will have a high resolution.
Those are the main differences between the two types of monitor. However, specific monitors will have a lot of other features.
Are Gaming Monitors Worth It?
Gaming monitors typically cost quite a bit more than a normal screen, so are they worth it? It all depends on what you want. Gaming monitors give you an advantage in getting a better response time along and a higher frames per second. You can also get a much better resolution and image in your game. If this is what is important when you’re choosing a monitor, then a gaming monitor is worth the extra investment.
What Response Time Do You Need?
Response time is how long your PC’s monitor takes to respond to inputs. As you can imagine, response time is pretty much just the lower the better. However, a response rate for gaming that is good tends to be 1ms-5ms. Above that might be doable for some games. However, once you push 10ms you’ll see significant slowdown and be limited when playing games.
What Hz Do You Need?
The Hz rate of your monitor is how quickly it can update its limit. This is something of a cap on the performance of your PC, even with a great GPU rendering frames really fast. Our full guide covers the whole topic. However, a higher Hz is better for gaming.
What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Monitor
These are some of the best gaming monitors available at the moment. However, which is right for you comes down to what you need. You need to think about your specific requirements before you decide which monitor is right for you. This is what you need to keep in mind and consider before buying a gaming monitor:
- Price – This is kind of the most important factor. It isn’t much good to check out various monitors that are way out of your price range.
- Size – Make sure you consider what size you need. If you want widescreen, or ultrawide, limit your view to them.
- Resolution – If you’re all in for 4K, then go for a 4K monitor. However, if you’re not really sold on that extra quality then don’t feel like you need to go for 4K to get longevity out of the monitor. 4K is pretty unlikely to become standard, so it just comes down to if you want it or not.
- Curved – Curved monitors have their benefits, but they’re not for everyone. Figure out if this is what you want
- Refresh Rates – The higher the better is the main thing here, but it depends on your PC too. If you PC can’t get a really high frame rate and is unlikely to go beyond 120 FPS, then don’t go for a refresh rate above that.
What is the Best Monitor for Gaming?
These are all some of the best gaming monitors in 2020 that are available. However, each one is going to be better for one type of person over the other. A gaming monitor has to fit your needs. Some might think the best gaming monitor is one that can hit 240 FPS, others might want a curved screen in 4K. It all comes down to what you need, and what your budget is.
A gaming monitor is just one part of your whole set-up though. These are our guides to the rest of your build, so you can have everything working in tandem: