Technology Bureau
While buying a gaming monitor, many factors have to be considered. They include the right display, resolution, refresh rates and response times. Faster refresh rates and low response times are the most desired properties.
The market brims with a platter of gaming monitors that include Samsung CRG9, Alienware AW3418DW, AOC Agon AG352UCG6, Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ, BenQ PD3200U, MSI Optix MPG341CQR, BenQ Zowie XL2540, Samsung CHG90, AOC Agon AG322QC4, and MSI Optix MAG271CR among others.
There was the recent news that the Dell S2719DGF 27-inch FreeSync LED monitor price has come down to $289.99 at Best Buy. The standard retailer price used to be around $385.
Important features to look for
The refresh rate of the monitor points to the number of times a monitor refreshes the image on the screen. A higher refresh rate offers a smoother image and the game becomes more responsive.
It is also the index of how fast the monitor updates with new information per second and measured in hertz.
Investing in monitors with higher refresh rates will be wise. G-Sync by Nvidia and AMG by Freesync are good in eliminating the screen tear problem.
Higher resolution
A higher resolution will offer better picture quality. Although 1920 x 1080 known as 1080p / Full HD (FHD) / HD is the minimum need sharper images on a QHD will be desirable.
Pixel density makes a big impact on monitor quality. A larger monitor will have a low pixel density if the resolution is low. For typical desktop distances, 32 inches is ideal at 4K resolution.
The choice of panel technologies matters as they determine image quality. Twisted nematic (TN) panels are not very costly but complaints about poor image quality exist.
But TN offers some of the best response times. IPS or in-plane switching enhances the viewing experience.
There are curved monitors as with Samsung that makes the experience immersive with the large field of view and less strain on the eye.
The 1800R curvature suggests a curved radius of 1800mm and the best max viewing distance to be 1.8 meters.
Choose Monitor in terms of the best hardware
The right choice of game monitor is important because hardware makes a big difference for hardened PC gamers and casual players.
For first-person shooter (FPS), sports, racing, and fast-action games best monitor hardware makes a big value addition.
The gaming PC must have powerful graphics and the monitor must display the action without blurred images, flicker, tearing, etc. For the customer, the monitor must deliver a smooth, immersive gaming experience.
Common problems with the Game Monitor
Playing games on a PC provides better freedom than a console. But complex nature of game PCs and lack of standardized components as in consoles, graphical glitches trigger performance problems.
Commonplace PC gaming problems include visual glitches such as distortion of visual media and graphical weirdness stemming from deformed geometry, wonky textures, and flickering elements.
Replacing outdated window drivers can help.
If graphic glitches recur despite putting the latest drivers, then the monitor must be checked for heat in the system.
While playing games, Graphics card heats up to 60 to 85 degrees celsius. But anything above 90 celsius can create issues.
Online lag: Lag is the delay between an action taken in an online game and the server’s reaction to what has been done. Lag can be reduced by improving the internet connection. Lag is an issue with any unstable internet connection. Those playing online via Wi-Fi must switch to an Ethernet connection.
Network Ping: Most games allow viewing ping in real-time, which can gauge the health of a connection. Ping at 50 or below spells a good connection.
The location also determines ping. A user playing in the US a game on EU servers will face lag as higher ping caused by inputs travel a greater distance. So, servers that are closer will cut the lag.
Freezing/Hanging: Sudden freezes in games are a problem where the game struggles to “catch up” and at least one component of the system will be involved in the bottleneck. Upgrading system to an SSD and adding more RAM can keep a game running smoothly.
Screen Tearing: Screen tearing is a visual problem when the screen shows multiple frames at a time. It occurs because the feed sent by the video card to the monitor does not sync properly with the display’s refresh rate.
Most games have V-sync (vertical synchronization) facility to combat this.
Games Crashing: Games that continually crash impede progress and continuity. Using the latest video drivers with the recommended requirements will help.
Beware of hyped claims on the spec sheet
Every piece of technology sold has a spec sheet and it must be read for objective facts as in the case of a processor’s speed or resolution.
But guarding against inflated claims such as 1,000,000: 1or “Mega Infinity Contrast Ratio” will make sense. When the fact is even the best monitors are not above 1,000:1, if measured with calibration tools lag, it will prevail until desktop displays use OLED technology.
Most monitors with a contrast ratio above 1,000:1 are the elite so higher claims need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Sometimes resolution also gets hyped just like a 4K display advertised with “comparison images” against a 1080p screen.
Never fall for hype; do the research and buy the display that excels. As mentioned, the best features must guide the choice of the new monitor and the price must justify the performance.
Market outlook
A price consolidation in the gaming monitors is in sight as growth will expand volumes in the next three or four years, and the expectation is that 10 million units will be shipped worldwide.
As for the market outlook, the trend is toward bigger Monitor sizes. The 43-inch and 49-inch Asus XG438Q and Samsung C49RG90 are indicators of demand for a larger display. But monitors in the range of 24-inch to 27-inch is also favored as seen in the uptick in supply and demand for regular-sized monitors. (By Our Technology Bureau)
