Monitor
Everyone wants to appreciate the full potential of a gaming computer. What is the point of playing the latest shooter on an out of date 19" 1080P 60Hz screen when you have a system capable of say 4K or 165Hz? Here at UK Gaming Computers, we have tested rather a lot of monitors out there and have come up with the following recommendations.
When choosing a monitor the main things to check out is:
The resolution
How many pixels are displayed. More pixels = more detail - 1920 x1080 aka FHD is regarded as the "normal". A 2560 x 1440 aka 2K or QHD screen contains more or less twice as many pixels as a FHD (hence the 2K terming) meaning its able to effectively display twice the detail whilst a "4K" monitor which has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 has four times the resolution of a FHD screen and thus four times the detail.
The resolution of a monitor and displayed resolution directly impacts the performance requirements of a graphics card. More pixels = more work the graphics card has to do. Unlike the FPS/refresh link described below where double the refresh rate directly equals double the graphics card workload, doubling the resolution does not directly double the workload on the GPU thanks to something called "scaling". You can read the science behind it all here. For the purpose of simplicity doubling the resolution will add around and extra 50%-90% workload to the graphics card (depending on how well a game or program is optimized) so it is important to ensure your graphics card is good enough to support a higher resolution monitor to get the best from it otherwise you will find yourself turning some settings down for a smooth experience.
Refresh rate
Refresh rate is how many frames per second (FPS) will show on your screen. 60Hz is what us PC gamers would strive to achieve as a minimum - its regarded as the smooth buttery experience. However with the birth of eSports and competitive gaming PC gamers will look to have a higher refresh monitor and thus see more FPS when gaming to gain an advantage. Refresh rate and FPS is a direct 1:1 scale meaning if you go from say 60Hz/60FPS to 120Hz/120 FPS then you exert exactly twice the workload on your graphics card. The science is the same and it is important that if you plan to use a higher refresh rate monitor that your graphics card can handle it otherwise you will find yourself having to turn a few settings down.
Response time
Response time is the time it takes for pixel to change colour. Is almost a spec left over from the dark ages when flat panel TFT monitors first came out, once upon a time they were inferior to the old bulky CRT monitors however with the technology maturing, today anything under 10ms is considered perfectly good enough which of course all our monitors are and would be surprised to even see anything above on the market today.
Input
Simply put what connections are on the back of the monitor to connect to your PC. When ordering a monitor from us we will ensure you have the correct cables and adaptors to ensure it is compatible with your PC from us.
Special Features
Some screens deviate from the norm;
- G-SYNC & FreeSync - is a technology that reduces "screen tear", its not a must have as its relatively pricey but for the pros and competitive bunch, highly desirable.
- Curved screen - Some users like curved screens, its nothing more than a personal preference.
- Aspect Ratio - in other words, widescreens. Monitors that are wider on the edges, again its a personal preference.
- Panel type - VA/TN/IPS & OLED are the main ones. Most monitors are VA or TN and ultimately there is nothing wrong with a TA or TN panel type. IPS offers a few advantages like faster response times (almost redundant now), better viewing angles & better contrast levels. OLED better blacks and all of this is again personal preference and is not massively important.
- HDR - is a technology that produces images with a large perceptible difference between light and dark areas on a screen. Its fancy and again not the end of the world if you do not have it.
Closing
Since we have hand picked these monitors, they all perform well within what we would call the required grade and are all compatible with our systems, so all you have to do is simply pick how big you want it to be! If you are unsure of which monitor to pick with your system/graphics card as you are concerned about both resolution and refresh rate then simply drop us a line and we can advise you the best route to take.
Asus VA249HE 23.8" FHD
VA249HE feature with a 178° wide-view angle that minimizes colour shift on both horizontal and vertical planes to ensure quality visuals from almost any direction.
| Screen Size | 23.8" |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Response Time | 5ms |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Connectivity | VGA & HDMI |
ViewSonic VX2718-2KPC-MHD 27" 2K 165Hz
Designed with an immersive 1500R curved and borderless panel, the ViewSonic VX2718-2KPC-MHD provides a stunning viewing experience. A high 165Hz refresh rate delivers smooth animations with minimal input lag while Adaptive Sync virtually eliminates screen tearing and stuttering for fluid gaming. With 1ms MPRT response time, the monitor delivers unprecedented screen quality and speed. VX2718-2KPC-MHD is also equipped with ViewSonic’s exclusive ViewMode™ presets, which offer optimised screen performance for different home entertainment applications, such as watching movies, editing, or playing video games. In addition, a DisplayPort and two HDMI inputs offer flexible connectivity for both general use and entertainment.
| Screen Size | 27" |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 2560x1440 |
| Response Time | 1ms |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Connectivity | HDMI, VGA, DVI, DisplayPort |
AOC AGON AG251FZ 24.5" FHD 240Hz Esports Monitor
The AOC AGON AG251FZ is a 25" premium gaming monitor that offers intense on-screen action without tearing, stuttering or motion-blur, thanks to a 240 Hz refresh rate suitable for the eSports pro gamer, Freesync Premium and a 1 ms response time.
| Screen Size | 24.5" |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Response Time | 1ms |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| Connectivity | VGA, DVI, HDMI, DIsplayPort |
| Special Features | 240Hz, Freesync Premium, G-Sync, Headset holder |
Asus ROG Strix XG27AQ 27" 2K 170Hz
The Asus XG27AQ has all the tools in it's arsenal to be your secret weapon on the way to victory. Boasting a 27" fast IPS panel with a rapid 170Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, you'll be so far ahead of the game when it comes to your opponents and leave them in the dust. It's sleek modern design comes packed with ergonomic features so that you can tilt, swivel and adjust the height to perfectly match your setup. This will show you gaming the way it was meant to be played!
| Screen Size | 27" |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 2560x1440 |
| Response Time | 1ms |
| Refresh Rate | 170Hz |
| Connectivity | HDMI, DisplayPort |
| Special Features | G-Sync, IPS |
AOC AGON Q27G2E 27" 155Hz QHD FreeSync
The AOC Q27G2E/BK offers a 27” VA panel with QHD resolution, ShadowControl and super contrast ratio of 3000:1. Enjoy the most responsive gameplay and fastest battles with its stutter-free Adaptive Sync, 144 Hz overclocked to 155 Hz refresh rate, 1ms MPRT and low input lag to decrease motion blur and input-output delay. Gaming has never been so fun and intense.
| Screen Size | 27" |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 2560x1440 |
| Response Time | 1ms |
| Refresh Rate | 155Hz |
| Connectivity | HDMI , DisplayPort |
| Special Features | FreeSync, G-Menu, VA Panel |
Asus TUF VG35VQ 35" 2K 100Hz HDR Ultrawide
TUF Gaming VG35VQ is a 35-inch, WQHD(3440x1440), 21:9 curved display with a fast 100Hz refresh rate designed for professional gamers and those seeking immersive gameplay. Those are some serious specs, but not even the most exciting thing the VG35VQ has in store.
Its impressive curved display features 1ms MPRT response time and Adaptive-Sync technology, for extremely fluid gameplay without tearing and stuttering.
The 35-inch WQHD (3440 X 1440) panel of TUF Gaming VG35VQ delivers stunning visuals from all angles with an 1800R curvature that ensures every point is equidistant to your eyes. This contributes to greater viewing comfort — even during extended use —and lets you enjoy a wide viewing angle with less distortion and color shift when gaming and watching movies. It also features Picture-in-Picture (PiP) and Picture-by-Picture (PbP), enabling multiple content sources to enhance productivity.
| Screen Size | 34" |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 3440x1440 |
| Response Time | 5ms |
| Refresh Rate | 100Hz |
| Connectivity | HDMI, DisplayPort |
| Special Features | 21:9 Aspect Ratio, G-Sync, RGB LED effects |
