When it comes to gaming on a competitive level there are so many variables that can affect the gameplay and the way you respond to it. Therefore the monitor that you choose needs to feature certain specs to make sure that you are on a level playing field with your competitors, if not at an advantage.
Some displays come with additional features or options which may not directly affect everyone the same but be more of a preference for the player, an example of this would be the crosshair overlay which many gaming monitors have in their settings.
Alienware AW2518H and AW2518HF
Although these are two different monitors, they’re still one in the same, the difference being that the AW2518HF supports AMD Freesync Technology, where as the AW2518H works with NVIDIA G-Sync technology. This monitor is popular amongst many pro players and streamers alike. It boasts impressive specs with all the advantages that you need in an intense competitive gaming situation.
Resolution: 1920×1080 Refresh Rate: 240Hz Response Time: 1ms Screen Size: 24.5″ Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 Video Inputs: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2 Panel Type: TN
ASUS ROG Swift PG258Q
ASUS always seem to aim to create the best gaming experience possible with their monitors, and the ASUS ROG Swift PG258Q is no exception to that. It comes with four different crosshair overlay options to choose from for those who prefer to have these options.
Some people find these crosshair overlays can help with in game tracking and allow them to have the same crosshair across different titles. Other additional monitor features include a FPS counter, timer overlay and display alignment marks for multi-monitor setups.
Resolution: 1920×1080 Refresh Rate: 240Hz Response Time: 1ms Screen Size: 24.5″ Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 Video Inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort Panel Type: TN
ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ
The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ hosts an array of impressive specs, with 4k UHD Resolution at 144Hz with Nvidia G-Sync HDR Technology. The only downside to this monitor is that it has a response time of 4ms, which isn’t the best for competitive gaming, however it’s well made up for by the other features of the monitor. The PG27UQ also features Aura Sync compatibility for your gaming setup aesthetics.
For those who want a good competitive monitor but also enjoy the immersion of story mode and campaign gameplay the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ might be the choice for you. Due to the use of an IPS panel the PG27UQ provides better viewing angels and color than the typical TN panel used in most competitive monitors. The drawback however is usually a reduction in response and refresh rate.
With this ASUS monitor you get the best of both worlds; a high resolution, with a competitive 144Hz refresh rate and decent response time for stunning graphics and gaming experience.
Resolution: 3840×2160 Refresh Rate: 144Hz Response Time: 4ms Screen Size: 27″ Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 / 50000:1 HDR Video Inputs: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 Panel Type: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546
High range BenQ products feature their exclusive DyAc technology and the XL2546 is no exception. The DyAc feature allows for clear and high performing visuals in rapid fast gaming situations, put simply it reduces blur which is vital in a competitive environment. This paired with the incredible 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time makes for easy tracking of players.
Resolution: 1920×1080 Refresh Rate: 240Hz Response Time: 1ms Screen Size: 24.5″ Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 Video Inputs: DVI-DL, HDMI, DisplayPort Panel Type: TN
ViewSonic XG2560
Competitive gameplay is full of rapid movement, instinct reactions and important decision making under pressure, which makes information and time a valuable asset amongst professional players. The XG2560 provides the optimal experience for such gamers with its high 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and NVIDIA G-Sync capability.
Resolution: 1920×1080 Refresh Rate: 240Hz Response Time: 1ms Screen Size: 24.5″ Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 Video Inputs: HDMI 1.4, Displayport Panel Type: TN
Understanding Monitor Specs
Often when you’re looking at a monitor you will see the refresh rate or Hz mentioned, this refers to how many still images can be shown every second. The higher the refresh rate the better when it comes to gaming, as you will be able to see more frames when playing and receive information quicker.
When looking at monitors it is common for people to confuse response time with refresh rate or how quickly an action is seen on the screen. Response time however is more how quickly a pixel can change from one color to another, often described as gray-to-gray.
A low response time can help a lot with fast paced games, like shooters and fighters. This is because it helps make the image sharper and reduce blurring or ghosting.
There are two primary types of panels used in gaming monitors, Twisted Nematic (TN) and In-Plane Switching (IPS). The common panel type used in competitive monitors are TN, this is because they allow for a high fps and low response time.
IPS panels often will have less preferable specs when it comes to competitive gameplay, as they’re not as capable when it comes to response time and refresh rate.
The advantage of IPS panels is the greater viewing angels, color accuracy and contrast ratio. TN panels will typically have a more washed out look, which will be more noticeable when viewing the monitor from alternative angles.
Resolution refers to the amount of pixels that will be displayed on the screen, the higher amount the better picture quality you will see. When looking at resolution it will be displayed width x height. Commonly gaming monitors will be at least 1920×1080.
The aspect ratio of a display is also based off the pixels on the screen, it refers to how many pixels there are in wide in comparison to height. A lot of people prefer the 16:9 ratio and is what you’ll typically see in gaming monitors. This means that for every 16 pixels there are wide there are 9 up.
Conclusion
For the best advantage in competitive gaming you’re looking for a monitor with low response time, high refresh rate and either Nvidia G-Sync or AMD Free-Sync, depending on the graphics card in your computer. The higher the resolution the better the picture, typically you’d want 1920×1080 or higher.
