I'm using a Ryzen 7 5700X with an RX 9060 XT 16GB and currently game on a 27-inch 1080p monitor. Even with High or Ultra settings, the picture looks softer than I expected, so I suspect the low pixel density is the problem. Would a 27-inch 1440p monitor be a good upgrade, or would it make more sense to stay at 1080p with a smaller 24-inch display? I'd like to play at QHD while staying comfortably above 60 FPS and avoiding my hardware running at full load constantly. I'm also curious whether a VA monitor's stronger contrast makes it a better choice than IPS for gaming.
2 Answers
VA can offer noticeably better contrast and deeper blacks than IPS, which is useful in dark games and for watching movies. IPS usually has more consistent motion handling, viewing angles, and often better colors, while some VA panels can show dark-level smearing. Choose based on the specific monitor rather than the panel type alone: a quality VA is a good option if contrast matters most, but a good IPS is generally the safer all-around gaming choice.
A 27-inch 1440p display should be a worthwhile upgrade. The higher pixel density will make games and desktop text look noticeably sharper, and your RX 9060 XT 16GB is intended to handle QHD gaming well. You may not stay above 60 FPS in every demanding game at maximum settings, but adjusting a few settings or using upscaling should make that goal realistic. Look for a good 144Hz-or-faster panel with low response times.
That makes sense. I was mainly worried because I’m already around 75 FPS in Expedition 33 and wasn’t sure how much moving to QHD would hurt performance.