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Want to balance high frame rates at 1080p?
Only you know the true capabilities of your gaming PC.
A proper gaming monitor can make all the difference.
What is Super Resolution?
You also want to buy amonitorthat supports your PC GPU’s variable refresh rate.
That’s going to either beNVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, and many monitors now support both.
The ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is a 27-inch monitor with QHD resolution, ideal for many gamers.
In this section, I’ll examine the preferred monitor sizes for popular gaming resolutions.
But first, a quick breakdown of common terms you’ll run into when shopping for a monitor.
A 24-inch monitor at 1080p is also generally going to be very affordable.
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED 49 is a monster gaming display with ultrawide form factor and 5120x1440 resolution.
However, this size is big enough that you’ll notice some blurriness at 1080p.
Refresh rates are usually among the highest on a 1080p monitor.
This is the “sweet spot” for most PC gamers, including many on the Windows Central team.
An ultrawide monitor offers the best screen real estate, but it takes up a lot of space.
As with any monitor, attempt to get the highest refresh rate possible while keeping within your budget.
You’ll see a lot of 27-inch QHD monitors come with a 144Hz refresh rate.
Looking at a 34-inch 4K display, the density hits 129.58 PPI.
An ultrawide monitor might work well for some games but not for others.
That’s still considerably better than a 27-inch monitor at 1440p.
Even at 40 inches, a 4K monitor’s 110.15 PPI density is superior.
You’ll also find 27-inch monitors with a 4K resolution.
At 4K, you’ll need a powerful PC to maintain high refresh rate in demanding games.
Anything in the 24- to 32-inch range should work well on a desk.
What aspect ratio do I want?
Gaming monitors commonly come with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Ultrawide monitors buck the trend by extending the picture horizontally.
Many ultrawide monitors have a 21:9 aspect ratio, typically with a 3440x1440 resolution.
The premium stuff can go up to 32:9 with something like a 5120x1440 resolution.
The vertical resolution usually won’t differ much compared to a 16:9 screen.
What panel key in should I get?
Gaming monitors commonly come with IPS and VA panel types.
But these aren’t the only two panel types.
We’re now seeing more OLED and mini-LED gaming monitors enter the market.
They’re relatively expensive, but they blow IPS and VA panels away in terms of color and contrast.
Do I want a curved or a flat screen?
The larger the monitor, the more chance you’ll find options with a curved display.
Return to a flat display, and it’ll seem like it’s curving in the opposite direction.
I highly recommend a curved display if you’re shopping for an ultrawide monitor.
Flat ultrawides are relatively rare, so chances are you won’t have a big decision to make.
Gamers focused on one genre will have an easier time choosing a monitor.
It’s often tough to track everything going on with so much screen real estate in front of me.
When I played Counter-Strike competitively years ago, I swore by a 24.5-inch screen.
Now, however, an ultrawide is perfect for work and for less competitive games of all genres.
Think somewhere around 24 or 27 inches.
Aim for a high refresh rate and a low response time for best results.
RPGs usually attempt to immerse you in a different world, and they often have beautiful graphics.
This is also where ultrawides really start to show their usefulness.
A higher resolution also can’t hurt, since it’s less important to hit a high refresh rate.
Racing
Racing games and flight sims benefit most from an ultrawide display.
I say the bigger, the better for these types of games.
