Good morning, everyone! My son is about to turn 17 this Friday, and after a lot of asking, he finally mentioned he wants a solid gaming monitor for his PC. He mentioned wanting to boost his FPS, and I believe he threw around the term '120 Hz'. He's a great kid but is not very vocal about the specific models he likes, so I'm turning to you all for suggestions. He also mentioned needing a monitor with a second HDMI port to connect his PlayStation. I'm not wealthy, but I'm looking to spend between $200 and $300, maybe a bit more for something nice. Any gaming monitor recommendations? Thanks a lot!
5 Answers
You might want to check out some local stores too. Places like Staples often have awesome deals. I once snagged a 32" curved monitor for just $125 during a sale. Plus, seeing the monitors in person can help you get a feel for what he might like!
First off, it would really help to know if he prefers a 1080p or a 1440p resolution. If he’s mainly using it for his PC but also wants to connect the PlayStation, 1080p is usually the way to go. For a solid 1080p option, consider the MSI MAG 244F 23.8" which boasts a 200 Hz refresh rate and is very affordable at around $110. If he’s leaning towards 1440p, the MSI MAG 275QF 27.0" with a 180 Hz refresh rate is a fantastic choice for about $180. Just ask your son which resolution he’d prefer to make the best choice!
If you can, take a picture of his current monitor and the back of his PC to see what connections he has. A good monitor for gaming will ideally be 165 Hz or more with a 1ms response time. For the price, LG gaming monitors are usually solid and often come with multiple HDMI ports. I paid around $220 for two of them. The refresh rate is crucial as it determines how many frames he can see per second, which can give him an edge in competitive games!
Great idea! I’ll do that. I know he’s using a regular Dell monitor at the moment, but I’ll snap some pics of both setups.
For a great value, check out the AOC Q27G3XMN. It’s a 2560 x 1440, 180 Hz mini-LED panel, and it’s perfect for gaming! The price is right for what you’re aiming for and it even supports HDR content nicely. Make sure he has an Nvidia GPU to fully utilize the monitor's capabilities too!
If you can find out his PC specs, it would help a lot in determining whether 1080p or 1440p is more suitable. Also, keep the games he plays in mind—these factors could significantly impact performance. For a gaming monitor, shoot for at least a refresh rate of 120 Hz; if your budget allows, you might even find options with 144 Hz or 165 Hz. IPS panels are often a great balance between performance and visual quality, but if he’s intent on a curved screen, look for a VA panel to avoid issues like smearing. Stores like Micro Center often have knowledgeable staff that can help you out too!
He usually plays RUST, so I think I’ll look for something that fits those specs!
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely check in with him about the resolution.