The 7 Most Important Factors When It Comes to a Gaming Monitor
Thinking of starting an esports organisation? Upgrading your own setup at home? Wherever you’re deciding to refresh your display(s), keep the following five factors in mind when upgrading, so you’re not left disappointed when it’s all set up.
Resolution
One of the most fundamental considerations when choosing a display is the resolution of the panel. 1080p is still by far the most commonly used pixel density in the gaming market today; according to Steam’s Hardware Survey conducted in November, 67.11% of gamers (or more than two thirds) use a 1920x1080 display, a rise of 0.61% from the previous survey. Full HD displays still offer premium visuals, and with modern advancements in refresh rate, HDR, and other core display features directed at gamers, many now opt for a 1080p panel with those features included. Displays like our TUF Gaming VG277Q1A offer full HD resolutions, along with 165Hz refresh rates, 1ms response times, and more. However, many gamers are looking ahead to larger resolutions for higher visual fidelity; 1440p (or 2K), and with recent graphics technologies allowing it, 4K is also quickly becoming a popular choice in PC gaming. Browse our range of gaming monitors to discover panels in various resolutions.Refresh Rate
Following resolution, is refresh rate. Measured in hertz, the refresh rate indicates how many times the display can draw a new image on-screen. The higher the refresh rate, the quicker the display can update with a new image. Those displays with higher refresh rates allow gamers to keep track of what’s happening on-screen more easily, and make quicker adjustments and control decisions as a result. It’s why many esports professionals opt for displays that offer the highest refresh rates available, like our ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN; the world’s first 360Hz gaming monitor that we released last year. In the right games and with the right setup, pro gamers can enjoy silky smooth action, and combined with technologies like NVIDIA’s G-Sync, and AMD’s FreeSync, sublime performance even in the most intense moments of gameplay.Response Time
Along with refresh rate, gamers will want a best-in-class response time. The response time is how long a monitor pixel takes to shift from one colour to another, and is measured in milliseconds (ms). Much like refresh rate, this response time reduces the time between changes in-game (such as an enemy appearing) happening, and it being displayed on-screen. Serious gamers will be looking for very low response times, at a millisecond or below. We offer 20 distinct displays, each with a response time of 1ms or less; you can browse them here.Panel Type
TN, IPS, VA and now Mini LED; there are so many different panel types to choose from now, it can be difficult to know what will suit you best. Here are the key differences and benefits between each. TN TN - or Twisted Nematic - panels offer low-cost displays with low response times and input lag. Overall, TN panels are fast at the cost of colour reproduction; something that may be important to you if you also spend time editing photos, videos, or creating art. IPS IPS - or In PLane Switching - offers a variety of benefits. Wider viewing angles, accurate colour reproduction, and silky black levels. However, IPS displays are often more expensive than TN panels, and sometimes offer slower response times. VA VA - or Vertical Alignment - offers higher contrast ratio to IPS but at the cost of narrower viewing angles with slower blackj to white pixel transitions. Mini-LED Mini LED panels are a relatively recent addition to the market, offering bright visuals with hyper-efficient energy usage. Additionally, the switch to mini-LED technology means that image quality is now on equal footing with IPS panels, offering deep blacks and rich vibrant colours The primary downside is the cost of the modern technology compared to its predecessors.G-Sync/FreeSync Compatibility
Most PC gamers will know what V-Sync is – a technology that prevents artifacting when a game’s frames per second (FPS) is higher than the monitor’s refresh rate. This usually occurs in the form of screen tearing. V-Sync eliminates this by limiting games to a certain upper limit of FPS, usually 60. The drawback to V-Sync is that it often causes stuttering in games as well as input lag (thereby eliminating the benefit of high refresh rates and low response times). G-Sync and FreeSync, technologies created by NVIDIA and AMD respectively, build on this technology in a smart way; by matching a monitor’s refresh rate to the FPS being output by the graphics card, both the graphics and display output remain in sync. You can browse the various ASUS displays that support G-Sync and/or FreeSync here.HDR Support
A relatively recent addition to gaming displays, HDR – or High Dynamic Range – unlocks a wider range of lightness and darkness in displays. Blacker blacks, and whiter whites mean that dark scenes such as caves and night can be more atmospheric, while bright scenes such as sunny environments, or vibrant lights can pop from the screen, offering gamers more visually striking images. Windows 11’s Auto HDR function also helps bring HDR in a streamlined way to the PC gaming audience. You can find nineteen ASUS displays here, each of which supports HDR output.Connections
Modern displays now offer a variety of connection options, with the latest technologies supported. If you’re a gamer who desires 4K, high-refresh rate gaming, you’ll want to look for displays offering HDMI 2.1 support, and if you use plenty of peripherals, USB-C support may also be a factor to consider. Meanwhile, displays like the TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A｜Monitors｜ASUS United Kingdom fully support the full Chroma 4.4.4, ideal for those who value picture quality above all else. There are other factors to consider, many of which come down to personal preference; curved displays, aspect ratio, panel type, and so on. You’ll find options that cater to each need and use-case from ASUS. If you’re in the market for a new display for gaming (or for other needs), you can browse our full range here.
