For PC gamers, the most important component is the graphics card we choose to jam into our machines.

But without a quality screen to go with it, we're not going to be getting the best out of that GPU. So what makes a "gaming" monitor worth the money? What makes it better than the average LCD? We tested more than a dozen monitors to find the best, with the right balance of resolution, refresh rate, color quality and viewing angles. One of the great things about displays is that, unlike graphics cards where their life span is usually a few years, a good display can keep you going for the better part of a decade.

One of the great things about displays is that, unlike graphics cards where their life span is usually a few years, a good display can keep you going for the better part of a decade. With such a long lifespan, it pays to get something you’ll be happy with for years to come. We put together a list of the technologies and features we want in a good gaming display, with choices for a variety of price points. We cover our testing criteria and 'what to look for' below.

We've updated some of our choices based on newer releases. Prices have also dropped a bit, though the best overall displays are still a long-term investment rather than an impulse buy.

The best gaming monitor Combines 1440p with 144Hz refresh rate G-Sync eliminates screen tearing and need for V-Sync Extremely fast refresh, low input lag for an IPS screen Requires an Nvidia graphics card to use G-Sync Expensive

The Acer XB270HU bprzis the best gaming monitor you can buy right now. For years, gamers have been forced to make a choice between picture quality and refresh rate. Cheaper, faster TN panels delivered fast refresh speeds up to 144Hz, while IPS screens offered more vibrant colors and dramatically better viewing angles, but at much slower refresh rates. Finally, with the XB270HU, that’s a problem of the past: Acer is the first company to pair an IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate.

They're also not the last, and in fact there are three displays that all offer the same core features and panel. Acer has their XB270HU bprz along with a new XB271HUthat has a reworked stand and an option to overclock the display to 165Hz. Asus has their similar ROG PG279Qas well, with refresh rates of 165Hz. Both displays also include an HDMI port, which might be worth the added cost if you want to connect two devices, though refresh rates are limited to 60Hz over HDMI. Unfortunately, Acer also offers the XB270HU Abprz, which uses a TN panel and knocks $100 off the price, but that's not the display we're after.

The XB270HU bprz is dangerously close to being the perfect gaming display thanks to the sheer amount of tech it has shoved into its slimline chassis. It offers a 144Hz refresh with low input lag, Nvidia G-Sync support for variable refresh, and a beautiful, vibrant IPS screen.

Specs

Panel size: 27-inch Native resolution: 2560 x 1440 Panel technology: IPS Refresh rate: 144Hz Pixel response: 1ms Inputs: 1x DisplayPort G-Sync: Yes

One note: if you're an Nvidia user, this is a great monitor for you. If you're an AMD user, however, you won't benefit from the G-Sync functionality and should consider a FreeSync monitor instead. Our pick for that is below.

The XB270HU is a 27-inch monitor with a 2560x1440 resolution, which we currently consider the sweet spot for high-end gaming. It offers substantially more pixels than 1080p without being as demanding as a 4K panel, meaning games look sharp at 27 inches but won’t bring a good GPU to its knees. Plus, you can still get higher than 60Hz refresh rates, which isn't possible on the current crop of 4K dispalys.

The best argument for the XB270HU’s dominance as a gaming monitor comes from TFTCentral’s exhaustive review. The review dives into the panel’s refresh rate, color balance, and every one of its features. Here’s the conclusion: “When you combine the high 2560x1440 resolution, fast response times, freedom from overshoot, 144Hz refresh rate support, ULMB blur reduction mode, G-sync support, and very low lag you have one hell of a gaming monitor.”

Screen sync

Nvidia's G-Sync is the first to synchronize GPU and monitor. It's a way to avoid screen tearing without the stutter or slowdown of V-Sync. The G-Sync hardware added to compatible screens allows the GPU to synchronize with the screen so that it will only deliver full frames when the screen is ready to display them. Because it's a proprietary tech and requires additional hardware installed in the monitor, there is a price premium attached.

There are a few minor drawbacks—the panel could use better presets and doesn’t quite have the build quality or style of the Asus ROG Swift. It also only has a DisplayPort input, which is the case for all monitors that use Nvidia’s G-Sync module. That’s fine for PC use, but if you want an all-around monitor for plugging in consoles, too, it’s not the best option.

The price is painful, however, at $700/£580. That's still a bit less than the slightly improved Acer XB271HUand the Asus ROG PG279Q, both of which feature better stands and support overclocking the refresh rate to 165Hz. While good displays and perhaps better in some ways than the older XB270HU, the added costs doesn't really get you a substantially better display. Truth is, depending on price, you could choose any of these three and be happy, and if prices change we may switch our primary choice to one of these others.

We consider a monitor an investment. Don’t buy something cheap you’ll want to replace in two years. Buy a great monitor that will still be going strong half a decade from now. There are 144Hz IPS monitor that's similar to Acer’s offering, only with FreeSync instead of G-Sync, but the Acer XB270HU bprzis the best choice and worth every dollar.

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The best FreeSync monitor IPS, 144Hz, 2560x1440 Very good picture quality out of the box Cheaper than competing G-Sync monitors Adaptive refresh range is only 35-90Hz No blur reduction mode

Right now there's really no competition for the Asus MG279Q: this is absolutely the best monitor for AMD users who want a FreeSync display. It's a 1440p IPS screen that can refresh up to 144Hz, like our favorite monitor above. But because it uses the open FreeSync technology instead of G-Sync, it doesn't cost as much (though price differences have narrowed of late).

Thanks to that IPS screen, colors look great even from off-angles. The base is sturdy (and allows for lots of tilting, pivoting, and height adjustments) and the bezel is fairly thin, which is nice for a 27-inch monitor that’s already taking up a good deal of space. Like most other gaming displays, it also has a light anti-gloss coating, which I like; some older IPS displays went too heavy on the coating and affected image quality, but the MG279Q doesn’t have that problem.

Specs

Panel size: 27-inch Native resolution: 2560x1440 Panel technology: IPS Refresh rate: 144Hz Pixel response: 6.5ms Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x Mini DP FreeSync: Yes

In TFTCentral's review of the MG279Q, they found the monitor neck-and-neck with the Acer XB270HU (our favorite monitor) in terms of performance, although the Asus is missing the blur reduction feature available on the Acer monitor. Here's a quote from their MG279Q review:

“Input lag is very comparable at the maximum 144Hz refresh rate (very low lag), but because of the scaler present in the MG279Q there is more lag at the lower refresh rates. The Acer has a wider dynamic refresh rate range between 40 and 144Hz, whereas the Asus is more limited at 35-90Hz. To be fair, it probably doesn't make much difference to normal users as that range is more than adequate, and in fact the slightly lower minimum range might be useful to a lot of people as opposed to the higher upper limit.”

The dynamic refresh ranges they mentioned are pretty standard for G-Sync and FreeSync monitors, but the most important thing to note is that performance is nearly identical, which is great for a cheaper screen. Still, it is a bit of a drawback that the MG279Q doesn't support the adaptive refresh rate all the way up to 144Hz. You have to choose between 144Hz and a lower (but still good) 90Hz cap if you want a dynamic refresh rates.

The contrast ratio is also great, and the ability to support multiple inputs makes this screen better for people who might want to connect a second system, like a gaming console. This is thanks to the presence of the internal scaler, one of the main differences you'll find between G-Sync and FreeSync offerings. With no other IPS FreeSync displays that can match the MG279Qon specs, this is a great monitor and an easy choice for anyone with an AMD graphics card.

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The best 1080p monitor for gaming Fast and affordable Supports 144Hz and FreeSync Uses a TN panel Some reports of FreeSync issues

Sometimes you're forced to make compromises, like not being able to run at high resolutions or maxed out image quality on older graphics cards. For displays, one of the biggest compromises is often giving up features in order to save money. You don't have to lose out on everything in pursuit of lower prices, however, as the AOC G2460PFstill supports up to 144Hz refresh rates and FreeSync, all on a 24-inch 1080p TN display.

Finding a great budget gaming display is difficult, and the AOC G2460PF may prove more than a little controversial. It's not the nicest looking display, and the TN panel gives washed out colors compared to the IPS panels we've selected elsewhere, but the inclusion of 144Hz refresh rates makes this a better choice for gaming than most 60Hz 1080p displays.

Specs

Panel size: 24-inch Native resolution: 1920x1080 Panel technology: TN Refresh rate: 144Hz Pixel response: 1ms Inputs: DP, DVI, HDMI FreeSync: Yes

AMD's FreeSync has been billed as a less expensive alternative to G-Sync, and with prices on G-Sync starting at over $350, clearly AMD and their partners are succeeding on the pricing front. The AOC G2460PF is nearly half the price of the least expensive G-Sync display, and AOC's own G2460PG runs $380. So what's the catch?

Many have reported issues with FreeSync on this particular display, which is a definite concern, though versions with the latest firmware appear to be doing better. Even if FreeSync doesn't work quite properly on the display, however, you can still use the display as a fixed 144Hz refresh rate panel—yes, with Nvidia as well as AMD graphics cards. And that's exactly what we'd recommend doing if FreeSync gives you any problems.

If you want to save even more money, the 23-inch Viewsonic VX2370Smhincludes an IPS panel and is only ~$130 online, though it's not without drawbacks and is harder to find in the UK. It's still an IPS bargain, and there’s none of the washed out colors you get with a cheap 1080p TN panel.

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The best 4K monitor for gaming G-Sync eliminates screen tearing Newer TN panel has good horizontal viewing angles Relatively affordable for a 4K G-Sync monitor Requires an Nvidia graphics card to use G-Sync 4K gaming requires a ton of expensive GPU power

For the same price as the Asus Swift you can pick up the very first 4K monitor with G-Sync built in, the Acer XB280HK. Your excitement levels about such a thing are going to be entirely bound up in just how powerful a graphics array you have in your PC, and whether it’s an Nvidia-based setup. The good news is prices have come way down from the original $800 MSRP, to a current $650/£588.

One of the biggest issues with gaming on 4K monitors is that you need a colossal amount of rendering power to game at decent frame rates at such a high resolution. Even the new GeForce GTX 1080doesn't hit 60+ fps in all games at 4K, though two GTX 1080 cards should get you there.

Specs

Panel size: 28-inch Native resolution: 3840 x 2160 Panel technology: TN Refresh rate: 60Hz Pixel response: 1ms Inputs : 1x DisplayPort G-Sync: Yes

A good 1440p screen will generally offer around twice the frame rate of a 4K monitor because of the demands it puts on your graphics card (assuming you're playing at native resolution). So, is a G-Sync 4K monitor worth the money or the effort?

Most affordable 4K monitors are currently rocking TN panel tech, which allows for a 1ms pixel response. That means they’re actually pretty good receptacles for having a bit of G-Sync hardware tucked inside. However, you can pick up IPS 4K displays without G-Sync (like the Acer S277HK) for only $450/£316, making the XB280HK a $200/£140 price premium.

Thankfully, the latest TN panels used in 4K monitors are far better than most of the older TN panels we've tested. The better quality of the latest panels is shown most noticeably in the viewing angles of the Acer XB280HK. The vertical angles still aren’t on the same level as a good IPS or VA display, especially when you’re looking up at the screen, but the horizontal angles are almost indistinguishable from an 8-bit IPS monitor.

You’ll also see the difference in the white saturation levels too; this Acer screen gets almost perfect image quality in that regard, but black levels are worse than the whites. There is one other problem with 4K: size, and how it affects pixel density.

At 28 inches, the Acer XB280HKis almost too small to be a 4K display; you’ll still end up having to scale the OS to get comfortably readable text and icons at the screen’s native resolution. And Windows scaling is still not perfect. Things have improved with Windows 8 and Windows 10, but there are still problems and a whole host of third-party applications will struggle to cope or work with a scaled display.

Until our graphics hardware gets to the point where you can run a 4K display from a modestly-priced single GPU, I'd recommend sticking with a lower resolution screen like the XB270HU or  MG279Q we mention above. That way you get great gaming frame rates and are better able to take advantage of the benefits of the 144Hz and G-Sync/Freesync technology.

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The best widescreen gaming monitor Extra wide curved screen is immersive IPS panel provides beautiful colors and viewing angles 100Hz G-Sync enabled Extremely expensive 3440x1440 resolution requires beefy GPU

If the price of your display isn't a critical factor, or if you simply want the best monitor you can buy, the Asus ROG PG348Q belongs at the top of the list. It's an absolutely stunning display, with an ultrawide 3440x1440 curved IPS panel. Still not content to end there, the display also features G-Sync technology with up to 100Hz variable refresh rates. If you're looking for something to really turn heads, this is the best widescreen gaming monitor. And boy, is it wide.

The 34-inch span across its diagonal is measured with a 21:9 aspect ratio (even though it's technically 21.5:9). It's the same height as the XB270HU but almost a third again as wide. The native resolution is a nice compromise as well, since it's not as demanding as 4K. More importantly, it's a dramatic change to your gaming experience—in a good way.

Specs

Panel size: 34-inch Native resolution: 3440 x 1440 Panel technology: IPS Refresh rate: 100Hz Pixel response: 5ms Inputs: 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI G-Sync: Yes

Sat at your desk, the 34-inch panel will almost entirely fill your field of view. That makes a big difference in-game, adding another level of immersion that the standard 16:9 aspect ratio cannot manage. What's more, the PG348Q has an absolutely beautiful IPS panel. It’s a stunning screen, with glorious color reproduction and contrast levels, and the 1440 pixel height makes it just as effective on the Windows desktop as it is playing games.

This is something of the kitchen sink approach to displays, giving just about every feature you could possible want...unless you're using an AMD graphics card. If that's what you're after, take a look at the similarly equipped Acer XR341CK, a less expensive curved display with FreeSync support (though it's only guaranteed to support a 75Hz refresh rate; more than that requires overclocking of the display signal and may not always work). As another alternative, the Acer X34is a G-Sync display that's virtually identical to the PG348Q, other than the stand and a few minor differences; if you prefer Acer to Asus, you can safely go that route.

There is another minor drawback for ultrawide dispalys: some games don't provide native 21:9 support. This can lead to images being stretched or unsightly black bars being placed around your screen. Thankfully, the PC gaming community has come to the rescue as always with the excellent Flawless Widescreenapplication. It's a piece of third-party software that is continually being updated with to support games that don't have native 21:9.

The PG348Q is also an incredibly high-priced display, currently going for $1300/£1000). That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but the good news is the beauty of this screen will wash away the nasty taste that leaves in your mouth the instant you boot up your favorite games in its full 21:9 glory. And unlike your graphics, which will likely be replaced in two or three years, this display should keep you happy until 2025 (barring hardware failure).

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How we test gaming monitors and others we tested

The search for the best gaming monitor is a tough challenge. There's no perfect screen, and there's a whole lot of exciting new technology being squeezed into current monitors, so finding a panel that combines everything is an impossible mission. A mission so impossible (because 70’s TV shows have taught us there are gradations of impossibility), we might need to get Leonard Nimoy and Tom Cruise on the case.

You might be reading this on a slow, dull, washed-out TN panel. Our eyeballs are lazy, and they quickly become used to whatever panel they're looking at. Why upgrade? Because a good gaming monitor will improve your gaming experience just as much as a new graphics card. And it will last longer.

Seeing Doomor Rise of the Tomb Raiderrunning on a high-res, 144Hz G-Sync or FreeSync IPS display will make you question why it's taken you so long to make the change. A great panel will likely outlast your entire PC. Possibly twice over. I've got a decade-old 2560x1600 HP LP3065 30-inch panel that's still going strong, and in some ways I prefer it to the modern 28-inch 4K and QHD displays.

panel technology

There are three main types of panel technology: twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS).

The Asus RoG Swift PG278Q has a 1ms pixel response, 144Hz refresh rate and instant-on capabilities. It’s the fastest gaming screen in existence. The 2560x1440 panel uses Nvidia’s G-Sync technology to smoothly sync the panel's refresh rate to the graphics card's. Paired with a GeForce GPU, this is the best gaming monitor around.

But the AOC U3477Pqu has a stunning IPS panel and an utterly immersive and vision-filling 21:9 aspect ratio. With a native resolution of 3440x1440, it’s crisper and more vibrant than the Swift’s weaker panel, and when you’ve got proper widescreen content it’s more dramatic than anything else. There are still some issues with ultrawide screens, however, like the need to fiddle with custom resolutions in some games.

What to look for

There are three key items of interest for any gaming monitor. First is the native resolution, but while it's tempting to simply assume that higher resolutions are better, that's not always the case, particularly outside of gaming use. 4K displays for example require seriously powerful graphics cards to run games at higher quality settings at their native resolution, and when you're at the Windows desktop, sometimes the resolution ends up looking a bit too fine. That means you'll need to use DPI scaling, which still isn't a perfect science. And sometimes it's better to step down a notch on resolution in order to get other features.

One item that you have to experience to fully appreciate is high refresh rates. 60Hz was the standard for LCDs for so long that many became blind to its drawbacks, but before the LCD switch, gamers often sought after better refresh rates. I remember owning a 21-inch 1600x1200 CRT back in the mid-90s that had an 85Hz refresh rate, and when I finally upgraded to a 1920x1200 60Hz LCD, the drop in refresh rate was immediately noticeable.

Now we have 144Hz and higher LCDs, though, and even without G-Sync or FreeSync, such displays are preferable to 60Hz panels. Even running at a static refresh rate of 144Hz, for gaming purposes the lower latency and faster updates (screen updates every 6.9ms instead of every 16.7ms) covers a multitude of sins. Gamers all know about disabling V-Sync to reduce latency, but that can cause noticeable image tearing. Here's the thing: tearing with a 144Hz refresh rate is far more difficult to detect, and the pixel response times often make it a non-issue with a 144Hz display.

That brings us back to resolutions, though. 4K generally means giving up high refresh rates...or at least, it does until the next generation displays arrive with DisplayPort 1.3 support. The best current 4K displays are going to be G-Sync or FreeSync, but we should see true 120Hz 4K panels with DP1.3 late this year or early 2017. Just don't be surprised if the price premium is massive.

The final item is the panel technology. TN panels traditionally have the fastest response times, but colors and viewing angles are the worst. IPS is at the other end of the spectrum, with great viewing angles and colors, but they cost more and response times may be slightly lower. In between those two is VA, which offers great contrast and colors, but again slower response times. We're working to do additional validation and testing of gaming displays to really see how fast they are. OLED is another panel type that we'd love to see in more gaming displays, but it can be prohibitively expensive. Dell's UP3017Q is a 4K 120Hz 30-inch OLED that should be out this year, which ticks all the right boxes. It's a real beauty, judging by CES 2016, but it will sell for $5000. We can dream, right?

Testing gaming monitors

There are two main ways to test out our screens to determine the best gaming monitor. The first is by playing games on it, obviously. Subjectively testing the gaming performance of each panel isn’t necessarily going to give you the lowdown on the specifics of a particular screen, but it will let you test the functioning aspect ratio, native resolution, and any particular gamer-centric technologies they’re sporting.

Side-by-side comparative testing in this manner is also incredibly valuable for keying into the sometimes subtle differences between each panel. When you use a screen in isolation it’s easy to become blind to its comparative faults as you simply get used to them. Testing screens back-to-back allows us to discover and highlight specific issues between them.

Objective testing can be great, but it's also far more difficult. To do it properly, you need hardware for testing the true latency, color accuracy, and other metrics. Most gamers don't have access to any of this, but you can do a semblance of objective testing using the LCD calibration pages here. This site offers several test screens you can bring up on any web connected panel to make some qualitative assessments. The days of actual retail space for such things are dwindling, but if you can get a look at a screen before purchasing it, plugging a notebook or such into it and checking out the Lagom pages is very handy.

Future testing

We tested a huge range of monitors to get a bead on the best panels to recommend, so we can be confident in our choice of the best gaming monitor. We think a gaming monitor is a serious investment, and it's worth spending money now on a great display rather than 'getting by' with a lesser option. A good display will make your gaming experience better and still be great years from now.

Obviously this isn’t a complete list of every single monitor available—not by a long shot—but we’ve covered a wide variety of different panel technologies, sizes, aspect ratios and manufacturers. Right now the Acer XB270HU bprz/XB271HU and Asus PG279Q/MG279Q represent our top choices, depending on your graphics card, with the Asus PG348Q and Acer XR341CK right behind with their mega-wide aspect ratios. But we’re still waiting on the perfect panel.

For my money that would be a 21:9, 40-inch IPS panel, running at 144Hz with either G-Sync or FreeSync capabilities—a guy can dream, right? I like the idea of a larger (taller) display, because I used a 30-inch 2560x1600 display for years and moving to a 28-inch 4K panel actually felt a bit like a step back. And if money is no object, and I mean really no object—keep an eye out for the upcoming Dell UP3017Q, a 4K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and DisplayPort 1.3 support. It should be out within the next few months, but try not to choke when you see the $5000 MSRP. But hey, we remember when 50-inch 720p plasma displays set you back $20,000.

The monitor landscape is moving pretty fast, and new panels will soon arrive and we’ll make sure we take a look at the very best on offer. If there are some we simply must check out, let us know in the comments. We'll be updating this guide as we game on new screens.

A note on affiliates: some of our stories, like this one, include affiliate links to stores like Amazon. These online stores share a small amount of revenue with us if you buy something through one of these links, which helps support our work evaluating PC components.

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