Anyone who has gone from playing on a TV to a Monitor knows how evident the improvement in terms of fluidity is. If you have not yet done so, we advise you to seriously consider purchasing a quality Monitor!
Here are some aspects to keep in mind when choosing a Monitor:
DIMENSION
The size of the monitor is a fundamental feature to consider in order to optimize the gaming experience. The choice of dimensions depends on several factors, including the distance from the screen, the space available on the desk, the type of games you prefer and your personal habits. The most common sizes for gaming vary from 24 to over 34 inches.
In detail:
– 24 ″ inches: 24-inch monitors are ideal for those who play closely, typically within a distance of 50-70 cm from the screen. This dimension is particularly popular for competitive FPS games, as it allows you to keep the whole field of vision without having to move your eyes too much. In addition, they take up little space, making them perfect for game setups with smaller desks or limited environments. Full HD resolution (1920 × 1080) adapts perfectly to these screens, offering good pixel density without requiring excessive system resources.
– 27 ″ inches: this dimension represents a good compromise between visual comfort and occupied space. The 27-inch monitors offer a wider viewing surface than the 24-inch ones, making visual details sharper and promoting greater immersion in games. This dimension is ideal for higher resolutions, such as the 1440p (QHD), which provides a superior quality experience. At distances between 60 and 90 cm, the 27-inch monitors allow for comfortable viewing without straining the eyes too much, maintaining a well-balanced field of vision.
– 32 ″ inches: 32-inch monitors offer a wider and more immersive visual experience, particularly appreciated in games where graphic details are important, such as role-playing games or simulations. To make the most of these dimensions, the 1440p or 4K resolution is recommended, as it offers enough pixel density to avoid viewing unclear images. These monitors are suitable for those with a larger playing space and can afford to sit at a greater distance (around 90-120 cm).
– ≥ 34 ″ inches: 34-inch or larger ultra-wide monitors are excellent for those looking for a cinematic or highly immersive gaming experience. The 21: 9 aspect ratio, typical of these monitors, provides an extended field of vision, ideal for simulation, running or adventure games, where the width of the screen improves the feeling of realism. However, these monitors are not recommended for competitive FPS games, as they require greater eye movement to cover the entire field of vision, which could slow down reaction times. In addition, they take up a lot of desk space and require powerful hardware to maintain an adequate frame rate, especially at high resolutions such as 3440 × 1440 or 3840 × 1600.
RESOLUTION
The term “resolution ” refers to the number of pixels that make up the image on a screen, expressed in two dimensions: horizontal and vertical. The more pixels are present, the more the image will be defined and detailed, since each pixel represents a single point of view. The greater the number of pixels, the greater the monitor's ability to sharpen the details, which significantly improves the visual quality. However, it should be considered that a higher resolution imposes a higher load on the GPU, requiring more powerful hardware to maintain smooth performance.
When choosing a monitor, it is essential to consider the resolution that best suits your needs, taking into account the balance between image quality and system performance (and cost). The most common resolutions for gaming and general use are the following:
– FULL-HD or FHD (1080p or 1920 × 1080): this is the standard resolution for most gaming monitors and represents an excellent compromise between image quality and performance. FHD monitors are particularly appreciated in the competitive context, as they allow to reach high frame rates even with mid-range hardware. The 1080p resolution is optimal for screens up to 24-27 inches, beyond which the pixel density begins to decrease, making clear the need for superior resolution to maintain visual quality.
– 2K or QHD (1440p or 2560 × 1440): this resolution is ideal for those who want superior visual quality while maintaining good performance. Offering 78% more pixels than FHD, 2K allows you to better appreciate visual details, especially on 27-inch screens and up. However, it requires more powerful hardware to keep fluid frame rates in heavier “games ”. For users looking for a compromise between graphics and performance, 2K is an excellent choice, but a high-end GPU is recommended to take full advantage of this resolution.
– 4K or UHD (3840 × 2160): The 4K currently represents the highest level of image quality, with four times more pixels than Full HD. On large monitors, such as 32-inch ones, the 4K offers extraordinary sharpness and unparalleled visual immersion, making it ideal for detailed graphic experiences such as role-playing games or simulations. However, the impact on performance is significant, as maintaining high frame rates at this resolution requires a very high level GPU. Due to the load it imposes on the system, 4K is less recommended for competitive FPS games, where fluidity and fast response times are essential.
– ULTRAWIDE 21: 9 (various resolutions including 2560 × 1080, 3440 × 1440 or 3840 × 2160): ultrawide monitors offer a panoramic visual experience, making them perfect for users looking for a wider field of view or for those who use the monitor also for multitasking work. Resolution 3440 × 1440, for example, provides image quality comparable to 2K but with an extra width, ideal for driving games, simulators or immersive role-playing games. Also in the professional field, ultrawide monitors are appreciated for productivity, since they allow you to view multiple windows and applications simultaneously without the need for a second monitor. However, as with 4K, these resolutions also require a powerful GPU to ensure a smooth experience.
A high resolution monitor such as a 4K or 2K can still support lower resolutions such as FHD (1920 × 1080). This means that, if necessary, you can reduce the resolution to improve system performance. However, using lower resolutions on a screen designed for higher resolutions can reduce the sharpness of the image and slightly alter the visual quality.
The final choice of resolution depends on various factors, including available hardware (since older components may not handle high resolutions), the budget available, personal preferences and game titles that you intend to play.
APPEAL REPORT
The aspect ratio (Aspect Ratio) indicates the proportion between the width and height of the monitor. A square has an aspect ratio of 1: 1 because the width and height are the same; if the first number is significantly higher than the second, it means that there is more space available horizontally. For example, in the case of FHD resolution, 1920 × 1080 pixels, the aspect ratio is 16: 9. This is because, by simplifying the 1920/1080 fraction, 16/9 is obtained.
Here is a list of the aspect ratios that characterize the various displays associated with pixel resolutions:
– 32: 9: 3840 × 1080, 5120 × 1440
– 21: 9: 2560 × 1080, 3440 × 1440, 5120 × 2160
– 16: 9: 1280 × 720, 1366 × 768, 1600 × 900, 1920 × 1080, 2560 × 1440, 3840 × 28
– 16:10: 1280 × 800, 1920 × 1200, 2560 × 1600
This information is useful for better understanding the visual characteristics of monitors and choosing the one that best suits your needs and preferences.
PANEL
The various types of panels used in the monitors differ in the display technology, which affects various aspects such as response time, color reproduction, viewing angle and contrast.
– VA: VA panels offer much higher contrast than TN and IPS panels, which makes them ideal for visual content with dark or high contrast scenes. While having better viewing angles than TNs, VAs are not at the level of IPS, showing some distortion of color and brightness when viewed from extreme angles. VAs tend to have slower response times, which can lead to an effect of “ghosting ” or blurring in fast moving images.
– TN: the great advantage of TN panels is the speed, thanks to which they can offer very fast response times (even under 1 ms) and high refresh rate rates (144 Hz, 240 Hz and higher).
The main compromise with TN panels is the limited reproduction of colors and narrow viewing angles, which means that looking at the monitor from a different angle than the central one, the colors and brightness can distort.
– IPS: IPS are known for their accurate color reproduction and color depth, making them ideal for graphics, photo editing and videos.
They have very wide viewing angles, without color distortions or loss of brightness, unlike TNs.
Historically, IPS panels had slower response times than TNs, but technological improvements have reduced this difference, making them competitive even for gaming, although not as fast as TNs.
– OLED: OLED panels do not use liquid crystals or backlighting, unlike TN and IPS. Instead, OLED pixels are made of organic materials that emit their own light when powered by an electric current.
Each OLED pixel can be completely off, which allows for absolute blacks and a practically infinite contrast. This offers exceptional image quality, especially in dark scenes.
The colors are extremely vivid and the precise control on each pixel ensures very accurate detail reproduction.
They have a practically instant response time, even lower than TN panels.
One of the downsides is that they can suffer from “burn-in ” or image retention, in which static images remain etched on the screen after prolonged use.
Other details about OLED panels:
There are various types of OLED panels that differ in their technology, with the main types being:
– QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED): combines two technologies: OLED and Quantum Dots (quantum points). In a QD-OLED display, the blue OLED sub-pixels emit light, which is then filtered through the Quantum Dots to produce red and green. No green or red OLED sub-pixels are needed, as Quantum Dots convert blue light.
The advantages are brighter and more saturated colors and better viewing angles. Being a more advanced technology, QD-OLED panels tend to be more expensive and are currently less popular than other OLED technologies.
– W-OLED (White OLED): uses white OLED pixels, obtained by superimposing organic layers that emit white light. This light is then filtered through RGB filters to obtain the colors.
The advantages are excellent contrast, deep blacks and good color reproduction and more competitive prices than QD-OLED.
The W-OLED panels are not as bright as the QD-OLED, especially in very illuminated environments and there may be slight variations in color uniformity due to the nature of the filters.
QD-OLED is superior in terms of color range and brightness compared to W-OLED, but the latter is cheaper.
Finishing of OLED panels:
– Glossy OLED: OLED displays with finish glossy (glossy) tend to have a reflective surface. Since there is no anti-reflective treatment that can diffuse light, the colors appear more vibrant and saturated.
Thanks to the greater saturation and perceived contrast, it offers spectacular visual quality, particularly in dark or controlled environments and the images appear sharper and clearer.
However, glossy displays are much more subject to reflections, which can make it difficult to use in very bright environments.
– Matte OLED (also called Anti-glare): the finish crazy (opaque) reduces reflections thanks to an anti-reflective coating. The opaque surface can diffuse the light and slightly reduce the perception of the vividness of the colors.
They are ideal for very bright environments, as they minimize reflections and fingerprints.
Compared to the Glossy finish, the colors may appear slightly more muted and less vivid and the images may seem slightly less sharp due to the diffusion of light.
The choice between Matte and Glossy depends on the use: the glossy displays are perfect for those looking for optimal visual quality in controlled environments, while the matte are better for daily use in brighter spaces.
REFRESH RATE AND FPS
The refresh rate of a monitor, measured in Hertz (Hz), represents the number of times the screen updates every second. This parameter is crucial not only to guarantee a fluid visual experience, but also to make the most of your PC's performance, especially if you play competitive titles.
For example, a monitor with an update frequency of 60Hz updates 60 times per second, while one with 144Hz updates 144 times per second. A higher refresh rate means that the monitor can display multiple frames (images) per second, which results in greater visual fluidity.
It is important to clarify the difference between update frequency and frame rate (FPS). The frame rate is the number of frames generated by the GPU in one second, while the update frequency represents the number of times the monitor can view these frames.
To make the most of a monitor with a high update frequency, the PC must be able to produce an FPS number equal to or greater agli Hertz del monitor.
Ad esempio:
Un monitor a 144Hz è in grado di visualizzare fino a 144 FPS. Se il tuo PC genera solo 60 FPS, vedrai solo 60 fotogrammi al secondo, nonostante il monitor possa teoricamente supportarne di più.
Se hai un monitor a 240Hz, ma il gioco che stai eseguendo produce solo 120 FPS, la fluidità visiva sarà comunque limitata a quei 120 frame al secondo.
Perciò, se desideri sfruttare appieno monitor con frequenze di aggiornamento elevate, il tuo PC deve essere in grado di generare un numero di FPS uguale o superiore alla frequenza di aggiornamento del monitor. Questo significa che non è sufficiente avere un monitor con alta frequenza di aggiornamento se il tuo hardware non è in grado di mantenere un frame rate elevato nei giochi.
The choice of the monitor refresh rate strongly depends on the type of game you prefer, the type of performance you want to achieve, the resolution and hardware of your PC.
For example, if you play FPS such as “VALORANT ”, where reaction speed and accuracy are paramount, it is preferable to opt for a monitor with a high refresh rate rather than a high resolution, for example a 240Hz. This is because the game can reach high frame rates even without high-end hardware. On the other hand, if you play FPS such as “Warzone ”, a monitor with higher resolution such as a 165Hz 2K can improve the visibility and clarity of images, especially at a distance.
ANSWER TIMES
The response speed, measured in milliseconds (ms), represents the time interval necessary for the monitor to process and display the input signal. This parameter is crucial in gaming, especially for FPS, where responsiveness is fundamental for an optimal gaming experience.
In short, the lower the response time of the panel, the less delay between the player's input and the visual response on the screen. This is especially important to avoid annoying visual artifacts such as ghosting, which occurs when fast moving images leave a trail or halo behind them on the screen.
The monitor's response speed is often measured using the Gray-to-Grey (GtG) transition time which represents the time it takes for a pixel to switch from dark gray to light gray and return to dark gray, or the MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) which measures the time needed to reduce motion blur while moving images, as in games or videos.
Both are important for players, as a shorter GTG time reduces ghosting during rapid color changes, while a shorter MPRT time reduces blur during movement, improving clarity of images during play.
In the process of selecting an optimal monitor for gaming, it is advisable to pay attention to both the GtG response time and the general response time. A shorter GtG tempo can contribute to greater sharpness and responsiveness in images, especially during rapid scene changes or fast player movements. Therefore, a monitor with a fast GtG tempo, together with other features such as a high refresh rate and a sharp resolution, can offer a more engaging and immersive gaming experience. It is therefore important to choose high quality monitors with the lowest possible response times (1, 0.5 or 0.03 ms).
MONITOR TECHNOLOGIES & DEFECTS
In the context of gaming, it is essential to ensure synchrony between the GPU and the monitor so that the frames produced are transmitted in a fluid and coherent way. When this synchrony fails, several unwanted phenomena can occur, which compromise the gaming experience:
– Tearing: occurs when the GPU sends more frames to the monitor than its update frequency. In practice, the monitor tries to display multiple frames simultaneously, causing a “tear ” visible in the image. This phenomenon manifests itself as a broken horizontal line, with the two parts of the image that seem not to align correctly.
– Ghosting: occurs when a moving object leaves a sort of blurred trail behind it, like a shadow or a ghost. This effect is caused by the too slow response time of the monitor pixels, which cannot change color quickly enough during quick movements. Monitors with reduced response times, generally below 5 ms, are preferable to avoid ghosting, especially during high-speed games or with many quick image transitions.
– Stuttering: manifests itself as a snap or discontinuous movement, where images do not flow smoothly. This occurs when the GPU fails to produce enough frames to keep up with the update frequency of the monitor, creating a delay between subsequent frames. The result is a little fluid gaming experience, with interruptions in visual continuity.
Making sure that the monitor is able to effectively synchronize with the GPU is crucial to avoiding these problems and enjoying a smooth and visually distracting gaming experience.
One of the first technologies developed to deal with synchronization problems between GPU and monitor is the V-Sync (Vertical Sync). This technology works by limiting the number of frames produced by the GPU to align them with the update frequency of the monitor. Its goal is to prevent the tearing phenomenon. However, the V-Sync has an important disadvantage: it can reduce PC performance, as it forces the GPU to comply with the monitor's refresh rate. This can lead to a decrease in the frame rate and an increase in latency, which is why the V-Sync is often not recommended.
The most modern technologies, such as Adaptive Sync, offer a more efficient solution. Adaptive Sync requires smoother communication between GPUs and monitors, allowing the monitor to dynamically adapt its refresh rate to the frames produced by the GPU. This approach eliminates most of the problems of tearing, stuttering and lag, ensuring a more fluid and pleasant gaming experience. Unlike the V-Sync, it does not impose strict limits on the GPU frame rate, thus improving overall performance.
Some advanced monitors include proprietary technologies that further refine synchronization between GPUs and monitors. Among these, the most popular are G-Sync is FreeSync.
– G-SYNC: developed by NVIDIA, this technology represents one of the most advanced solutions for synchronization. G-Sync requires the installation of specific hardware modules in the monitor, which increases its costs, but offers excellent performance. You need to have an NVIDIA GPU and a compatible monitor to use it. Its advantages include the elimination of tearing, a significant reduction in motion blur and ghosting, and better support for monitor overclocking.
– FreeSync: created by AMD, FreeSync is a more economically accessible solution than G-Sync. This technology does not require additional hardware, making FreeSync monitors generally less expensive. FreeSync uses a software approach to synchronize the AMD GPU with the monitor, offering a good gaming experience in terms of fluidity and reduction of tearing. However, one of the main disadvantages of FreeSync is the variability of quality between monitors: there is no univocal quality standard, therefore some monitors may have limited compatibility with certain frame rate ranges. For this reason, FreeSync's performance may vary based on the model and monitor specifications.
FUNCTIONALITY ’ ADDITIONAL MONITOR
In addition to the technologies already mentioned, there are other details to consider when selecting a gaming monitor:
– Overclock: some monitors allow you to overclock on the refresh rate, exceeding the factory settings. This means that, for example, a 144Hz monitor can be pushed to 165Hz or more, allowing for greater visual fluidity. However, this practice carries some risks. Overclocking can introduce visual artifacts such as tearing and ghosting, problems that occur when the monitor is not designed to handle such a high refresh rate. Consequently, although overclocking may seem like an attractive option, it is advisable to carefully evaluate possible compromises.
– Monitor control panel: Each manufacturer provides a control panel to adjust monitor settings, such as brightness, contrast and sharpness. The range of options can vary greatly from model to model.
– HDR (High Dynamic Range): one of the most popular technologies in modern monitors is HDR, which allows you to view a wider dynamic range of colors than the SDR standard. HDR monitors are able to reproduce images with brighter whites and deeper blacks, making colors more vibrant and more realistic contrasts. This feature is particularly useful in games and films, where scenes with high visual content benefit from high contrast and a wider color range. However, not all HDR monitors are the same: high-end monitors offer superior performance, while lower-end monitors may not offer a complete HDR experience.
– LED and RGB lights: Many modern gaming monitors include integrated LED lights or customizable RGB lighting systems. Although this feature does not directly affect monitor performance, it can add an aesthetic touch to the game setup.
– VESA support: another important feature is compatibility with VESA supports. This option allows you to mount the monitor on adjustable arms or supports, allowing greater flexibility in the arrangement of the screen. VESA supports are useful for those who want an ergonomic workplace or for those who use multiple monitors simultaneously, facilitating the organization of the space.
– Curvature: Curved monitors are designed to improve the visual experience, especially on large screens (greater than 27 inches). The curvature allows you to have a more uniform view of the edges of the screen, reducing visual distortion and increasing immersion in the game. This feature is particularly appreciated in games that require a wide view, such as driving simulators or role-playing games.
– Rotation: some gaming monitors offer the possibility to rotate the screen up to 360 degrees. This function is useful for those who want to use multi-monitor configurations or for those who need to adapt the screen to limited spaces.
– Audio jack: the presence of 3.5 mm Jack audio inputs and outputs allows you to connect external headphones or speakers directly to the monitor, simplifying the user experience. Some monitors also include integrated speakers, although the sound quality is generally not comparable to that of external audio systems. If audio quality is important, it is always advisable to use dedicated headphones or speakers.
– USB and video ports: Some monitors offer additional USB ports, which can be used to transfer data or to power external devices, such as mice and keyboards. As for video ports, most modern monitors include HDMI, DisplayPort and, in some cases, USB-C connections, to facilitate the transmission of video and data signals from the PC or other peripherals.
