How to Choose a Monitor for Computer – Definitive Guide

Do you know how to choose a monitor? In this definitive guide, in the end, you will have all the knowledge you need to make the best decision. When a computer, most people don’t pay much attention to the monitor.

However, it’s critical to your experience with text and video. Therefore, you should choose it carefully. You must consider a few important points to get the most out of your new monitor. So many specifications, technologies, and features can make you spin.

But don’t worry, in addition to this guide teaches you everything you need to know about computer monitors, we’ve separated some recommendations so you can avoid mistakes when choosing a monitor.

Quick Tips for Choosing a Monitor:

When buying a new computer, you need to consider your actual needs. If you want to buy a 144Hz 4K monitor, for example, you may not need a powerful computer or buy one.

For an optimal presentation of your work, choose a suitable display. Here are some quick tips on how to do this:

  • What is its main use? The most important thing when choosing a new monitor is its main usage. Gamers should prioritize the refresh rate, response time, and input lag. Professionals should prioritize eye comfort, ergonomics, sharpness, and color accuracy. General users may choose the one with good value for money.·    
  • Resolution: Most monitors sold are Full HD (FHD) which is great up to 27″ in resolution; however, it does not offer the same sharpness and setting of higher resolutions such as 2K (QHD), 4K (UHD), and 8K (FUHD).
  • Screen size (Inches): When purchasing a monitor, you must consider the size of your room. A 32″, Full HD monitor may disadvantage you if you are short on space. A larger, lower-resolution monitor will offer fewer pixels per square inch (PPI), resulting in pixelated images or serrated text.
    Refresh rate (Hz): The higher the screen’s hertz (Hz) rate, the faster it updates, but the higher the chances of ghosting. It is most desirable for gamers, and 60Hz or 75Hz is sufficient for regular use.
  • Response time (ms): The response time (MRPT or GtG) a monitor is one of the most important factors, especially for those who want to play online games. The response time is usually expressed in milliseconds, and the best monitors have response times between 0.5 to 8 ms.
  • Panel technology (IPS, VA, TN): There are many types of panels available in the market, with each type having pros and cons. The most commonly used panel is IPS (in-plane switching), which has the better color quality and viewing angles, VA (vertical alignment) has better contrast, and TN (twisted nematic) is better for gamers.
  • Screen ratio (16:9 or 21:9): This is the ratio between the width of the display and its height. Wide-proportioned monitors (21:9 or 32:9) have more screen area, meaning more information can fit on the screen, whether in games, study, or work. This will give productivity a competitive advantage.
  • Curved or flat screen: Curved displays can better fill the field of view (FOV). So it is
    less tiring to the eye and provides better immersion, especially in games. 
  • What’s your budget? The most simple way to decide which monitor to buy is to decide the most you want to spend. From this, you can compare them in this price range and choose the one that most meets your needs.

To sum up, these are the factors that affect the choice of a gaming monitor, work (design, video and photos, spreadsheets, text, etc.), and general purposes (studies and entertainment).

There are many more features that may be important to some but not so much to others. If there are still questions about how to choose a monitor, continue reading our guide that will go into each of these technical specifications, as well as others that can help you make your decision.

Read here- Types of monitors.

Screen Size and Resolution

The larger the screen, the more clearly you can see, but the smaller the resolution, the more details you can see. A larger screen with a low resolution won’t have the exact definition of a smaller screen with a higher resolution.

Screen Size and Resolution of computer Monitor

For example; a 32″ Full HD (1080p) monitor will have worse image quality when compared side by side to a 27″ UltraHD 4K or 2K (QuadHD) monitor. Pixel density is the number of pixels per inch of your monitor.

On a liquid crystal display, there are millions of small points of light (pixels), and each dot has 3 subpixels that use the primary colors (red, green, and blue) to generate the colors we see.

8K (FUHD) > 5K (5120×2880) > 4K (3840×2160) > 2K (2560×1440) > WUXGA (1920×1200) > Full HD (1920×1080) > HD (1280×720).

We recommend these combinations of screen size and resolution:

  • 25″ (or smaller): 1920×1080 (Full HD)
  • 27″ to 32″ (or larger): 2560×1440 (QuadHD 2K) and 3840×2160 (4K)
  • 24″ to 32″ Ultrawide: 2560×1080 (Full HD)
  • Above 34″ to 38″ Ultrawide: 3440×1440 (2.5K) or 3840×1600 (4K)
  • Above 38″ Super Ultrawide: 3840×1200, 5120x1440p or 5120×2880 (5K)

To play games at optimum results on modern PCs, it is best to go for models with high resolution, such as QHD and 4K. Older computers and notebooks and/or onboard video card computers may experience display issues at high resolutions such as QHD and 4K.

Sometimes, you may need to purchase a video card supporting high resolutions. The most affordable is the GTX 1650 that you can buy on Amazon. Alternatively, you can check the compatibility of the graphic card with the motherboard and notebook.

If your budget is tight, choose a Full HD monitor (including Ultrawide), as it is the most popular resolution and has minimal risk of compatibility problems with the operating system, software, and games. If you want to play QHD games on your laptop, you need at least a 1GHz processor and 8GB of RAM.

You also need 4GB of RAM for 1080p games on the sharp 7,4-inch display. If you want to play on a 4K monitor, a GeForce RTX 3080, RTX 3090, or newer ones will be the right choice.

Here- Monitor Reviews.

Pixel density

We recommend that the pixel density is above 80PPI, so you do not have problems with the pixelation of images or text with serrated borders. The pixel density refers to the number of pixels per screen unit area.

Pixel density of computer monitor

The higher the pixel density of a screen, the better the definition. High resolutions such as 2K, 4K, and 8K displays are often used. These increase the scaling factor from 125% to 200%. This enables texts to be easily read. 326 PPI is considered a RETINA resolution, where it is impossible to perceive individual pixels with the naked eye.

However, this pixel density is more found in smartphones. To calculate the PPI of your monitor, you must divide the number of pixels by the number of inches diagonally. We recommend the PPI calculator and simply multiply the ratios (width/height / diagonal) by pixels per inch (PPI).

For example, 3.73 / 4.29 / 3.14 = 1.37 (width in inches / height in inches / diagonal in inches), so the resolution is 1.37 x 3.73 x 4.29 = 17.26 pixels.

  • 15.6″ HD screen: 94.14 PPI
  • 24″ HD screen: 61.19 PPI
  • 24″ Full HD screen: 91.79 PPI
  • 27″ Full HD Screen: 81.59 PPI
  • 32″ Full HD screen: 68.84 PPI
  • 27″ QHD screen: 108.79 PPI
  • 32″ QHD screen: 91.79 PPI
  • 27″ 4K screen: 163 PPI
  • 32″ 4K screen: 137 PPI

As you can see in the examples above, the larger the screen size you choose, the higher the screen’s resolution should be so as not to compromise on the sharpness and fullness of images.

However, suppose you are more than 60 cm from the monitor (recommended distance for eye health). In that case, it will be difficult to notice the individual pixels on the 32″ screen of Full HD resolution.

Here are details about- Parts of a Monitor.

Aspect Ratio

Curved monitors are growing in popularity in today’s market, and ultrawide 21:9 monitors are proving to be a great choice for gamers and productivity.

Aspect Ratio of computer monitor

They help to increase productivity by providing a wider field of view. 16:9 is the aspect ratio of the iPhone 6, but applications designed for the 4:3-sized screen may have black bars in the left and right margins.

This can be resolved using a third-party app. Some games and software may have problems playing Ultrawide resolutions, so before buying a new monitor, check and see if you are affected.

If you are into editing software, programming, day trading, etc., the 21:9 ratio will be a perfect option. Therefore, we recommend productivity purposes, such as Excel spreadsheets, sound editing, video and image, designers, or automotive users.

  • 16:9: more common, ideal for most.
  • 21:9: great for productivity, editing and immersion in games
  • 4:3: Good for SD channels (old TVs use this square ratio)
  • 14:10: proportion found in IMAX movie theatre (Movies)
  • 19:10: proportion found in most IMAX Digital cinemas.

Most new games or software released after the wide monitors emerged are compatible with this ratio, so it is easy to get ultrawide monitors.

The super ultrawide (32:9), found in some Samsung monitors over 49″ is a rare exception.

To know all about Computer Monitors visit- About Monitor.

Refresh Rate

To play a smooth FPS or racing game, you need a monitor with at least a 75Hz refresh rate where you can use it in general. However, a 60Hz monitor may not be wrong for work or public use. Gamers should always opt for a higher upgrade fee they can afford.

There are from 120Hz to 360Hz refresh rates. If the money is short, there are gamers’ monitors with 60Hz and 75Hz, but they can be upgraded. It is essential to avoid screen-tearing, lag, and other desynchronizations as much as possible when playing a game; that is why it is better to have compatible screens.

With compatible screens, there are greater differences between refresh rates of 60Hz and 144Hz, from 144Hz to 240Hz or up to 360Hz, which is not so remarkable. However, if you are a competitive player and earn money as a gamer, opting for the highest refresh rate is best. Monitors or TVs with 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 are best for next-generation consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

If you play only on pc, it’s worth picking up a monitor 144Hz or higher. Remember: The higher the refresh rate and resolution, the better your computer’s hardware should be.

A low resolution (FHD) with a good video card is easier to reach 144Hz/240Hz than an input/intermediate card at a high resolution (QHD/4K).

Read also- What is a Monitor? 

Input lag

Input lag is the time your monitor takes to recognize your signal from your video card when you press a key or click with your mouse. It is generally not seen in the monitor specification list. Our FPS gamer might never go through a frustrating situation in which he shoots an enemy and is not hit.

But, there are times when FPS gamers can be found experiencing video input lag. This can be frustrating, and once in a while, this can also be connection latency (ping). Generally, a monitor with a higher refresh rate reacts faster to what you are actually doing on the monitor.

This, however, does not exactly correspond to lower input lag. The lower input lag is reduced only if the monitor’s refresh rate is higher than 60 Hz. This number can only be determined through measurements of gamers’ monitors.

Panel Technology

Panel technology is very important when choosing a monitor. Especially if you want to choose a monitor for video and image design or treatment.

There are several panel technologies, such as IPS (In-plane Switching), VA (Vertical Align), TN (Twisted Nematic), and OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes), and all have positive and negative points.

We’ll highlight the pros and cons of key monitor panel technologies without getting into the nitty-gritty of technical details.

We’ve added images showing the difference between these screen technologies, so you’ll know which one will suit your preferences best.

VA – Vertical alignment

The advantage of VA panels is that they are used in monitors, televisions, notebooks, and mobile devices such as smartphones because VA panels have better viewing angles and darker blacks than IPS panels. Compared to IPS panels, VA panels have better contrast levels and deeper blacks.

The main complaint about monitors is response time, which in fast games like FPS can leave traces and ghosting. There are some features that manufacturers add to mitigate the problem.

However, it does exist. One of the benefits of using a TFT-LCD display is that they provide a good viewing angle and color acuity compared to TN panels, are more affordable than IPS panels, and still offer a better level of contrast than IPS panels.

If you have a limited budget, we recommend monitors with a VA screen, as they provide the best contrast among monitors with the same resolution.

IPS – In-plane switching

The IPS (In-plane Switching) panel is the best in color quality and fidelity, grayscale, and viewing angle. In comparison, the IPS Glow phenomenon is more visible in TN panels.

The response time of IPS panels is slower than that of TN panels. We recommend IPS screen monitors to graphic designers, such as designers, photographers, architects, animators, editors, etc. Besides, of course, general use as studies and media consumption.

There are IPS monitors, but they tend to be more expensive than those TN and VA monitors. If your budget allows, you can have the best of both worlds – image quality and performance.

TN – Twisted nematic

A monitor with a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel called Twisted Nematic (TN) panels is commonly used for gaming. It helps the user see things clearly and simultaneously, with very low response times and input lag.

In addition, the panels consume less electricity, making them more accessible. If you’re looking for a cheap monitor with good performance for games, those with a TN screen may be the solution. As long as you don’t mind limited viewing angles and “washed out” colors when viewed off the axis.

OLED – Organic Light Emitting Diodes

When you demand the best quality for gaming and movies, OLED is the right choice for you. OLED panels are the best gaming and movies with perfectly black blacks and a perfect viewing angle.

This technology’s main advantages are its low energy consumption and the dark screen, which is ideal for watching movies. The downsides are the dimpled burn-in, low brightness for HDR, and astronomical price.

If you are a gamer, do not buy an OLED or QLED monitor because the colors are quite saturated. The response time is low, and the input lag for consoles and PC games is high.

Response Time and Input Lag

Different monitors have different measurements, but response time measures how long it takes for a pixel to change from one shade of grey to another. Response time is important for gamers, but for other users, response time should be secondary.

According to experts, the best monitors for gamers should have a response time of less than 2ms and preferably 1.5ms. More than 4ms response time is usually okay, but ghosting is usually observed in this case. Input lag is the time it takes for the monitor to recognize the signal from the video card after you press some button on the mouse or keyboard.

The refresh rate usually helps in reducing input lag. For example, if a 60Hz monitor has at least 16.67ms of input lag, at 120Hz, it will be around 8ms. You’ll have to purchase a monitor with the highest refresh rate if you are an enthusiastic gamer. As a result, you’ll have less input lag in your games.

Overdrive

Overdrive is a video processing trick that increases pixel transition speed using higher voltage. The effect is similar to pixel overdrive.

When it works, the pixels change faster before the voltage gets too high, causing inverse ghosting or pixel to past normal transition on some monitors. A bright (white) trail forms a crown around moving objects in this case.

Overshoot

Overshoot occurs when the monitor overcompensates the transition time caused by Overdrive (mentioned above).

Thus, the pixels change color BEFORE the frame, causing a trail in front of the object while ghosting is behind the object.

Ghosting on monitor

Ghosting often happens when you play on computers. Usually, it is noticed when you play games like Flight Simulator or racing games.

It happens because the response time can’t keep up with the frames you receive on the game when you play on a monitor.

This causes the decompensated transition, which causes a delay in transitioning pixels from one color to another.

Color Gamut

Color quality is the most important when choosing a monitor for designers and work with photos, videos, and other images. The more colors a monitor can reproduce from a given color gamut, the more vibrant and realistic the images will be.

No one wants a monitor with pale or lifeless colors, so even gamers are opting for IPS or VA monitors. Purchase a monitor with IPS or VA panels if color fidelity is important to you. Because monitors with TN/TFT panels are often cheaper, scratch it off your list.

Currently, most IPS and VA monitors reproduce at least 99% of the sRGB color gamut, the most popular on the web. But monitors for designers, photographers, and artists need to cater to other color ranges such as NTSC, DCI-P3, and Adobe RGB.

In addition, they need a better dynamic range, displaying more detail without bursting the image. This is possible with a monitor gamut expansion, but for you to reach your monitor’s full potential, you need proper calibration.

sRGB

RGB is based on the Rec.709 color gamut and requires less color than other color gamuts. It uses the standard color spectrum (Red, Green, and Blue), most commonly used in internet applications.

sRGB of Monitor

For gamers or general use, the sRGB range (99% or more) is all that’s needed to provide images with vibrant, vibrant colors and good detail on the gradients.

It is good enough for designers and novice photographers to save money starting their careers. However, we recommend you check out professional monitors for designers and photographers.

DCI-P3

DCI-P3 color gamut is becoming more popular as it is designed for TVs with Ultra High Definition and HDR resolution.

It focuses more on yellow and red tones, 25% wider than Standard Rec. Currently, the DCI-P3 standard is only gradually replacing the sRGB standard, but the change is slowly being made.

Adobe RGB

The Adobe RGB color space was developed in 1998 by Adobe Systems, Inc., and includes 50% of what the CIELAB color space judges as visible to the eyes.

Adobe RGB of monitor

It’s a reasonable improvement compared to sRGB color space. The CMYK color model is most widely used in color printers. This is because RGB colors are often used in monitors which do not show the actual color well.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology is a highly sought-after feature on TVs, but now it has also made its way into monitors. It offers a wider color gamut than the sRGB standard, providing more vibrant colors and better gradient detailing.

Few monitors are compatible with HDR, and since it is important to notice some differences, the brightness should be at least 500 nits.

However, when you find a monitor with true HDR, you notice colors with better understanding and greater contrast between black and white scales. The result is more realistic-looking graphics and full of details.

Luminance (Brightness)

Did you know that your monitor’s backlight’s brightness level (minimum and maximum) is the brightness level? The brightness that you need for HDR environments or reflections. 

You should also look for computers with Flicker-Free technology so that they don’t have eye fatigue caused by the oscillation of the frames. Monitors with a higher brightness of 250cd/m2 are the cheapest but will be good enough to work indoors or with a lot of reflection from windows, lamps, and other light sources, we recommend a monitor with more than 300cd/m2.

Contrast

It is important to have the best contrast level to achieve the best image quality. Color fidelity is also important, so a good contrast level enables grey colors to show well.

If the contrast level decreases, the result can be greyish blacks and lacklustre colors. The higher the contrast scale, the better. For example, a contrast of 5000:1 (VA) is better than 1000:1 (IPS). Currently, there are IPS screens with contrast levels as low as 600:1, especially in notebooks.

If deep blacks are important to you, we suggest that you should choose your monitor one that offers at least 1000:1 contrast. However, it will be best served with one with contrast over 3000:1.

Panel uniformity

The uniformity of the monitor is what the name says; how uniform are the colors in all regions of the screen? If you have good uniformity, you’ll have images with great quality, faithful colors, and details all over the screen, without changes in tones.

It is known as the Dirty Screen Effect (DSE), or Portuguese, dirty screen effect. To test the quality of a dashboard, many buyers choose the DSE test because it is much more visible than any other test method.

Curved or flat screen monitor?

Curved monitors are more comfortable for your eyes and provide better visual comfort than flat screens. This is according to studies conducted by manufacturers themselves. It’s recommended caution when deciding. In playing tests, the curvature provides greater immersion in racing games.

In FPS and MOBA games, it’s easier to notice when enemies enter the field of view. The curved screen of the LG 34UC79G 34-Inch Curved UltraWide Gaming Monitor delivers clear and crisp pictures from any distance thanks to its 99.8% color gamut, but where the monitor falls short is in lowlight viewing, which can be affected by reflections.

We recommend that you consider the curvature specifications, measured in millimetres (mm) and represented by the number + R in the datasheet. The lower the R number, the more curve the screen is and the closer you should stay to enjoy this immersion.

For example, a 1500R monitor has a 1500 mm curvature recommended for a viewing distance of up to 1.5 m. A 4000R has 4000 mm curvature and can be viewed up to 4 m away without interfering with immersion.

Build Quality

In this part of our “how to choose a monitor” article, we will discuss what the build quality of a monitor should be. When buying a monitor, it’s essential to look at both materials and finishing. Not all IPS displays are the same. Those finished poor quality plastic does not add value to the environment.

Nowadays, many manufacturers use soft plastics in the base of their monitors, making them prone to damage; if a strong tap or knock is put on them, they will fall off and take what is connected to them, such as laptops, monitors, and other hardware.

Finally, you should remember that the point of setting up a gaming or harmonic system is to have a monitor that is easy to use and cheap.

Here we recommend that to improve clarity when using earphones, it is preferable to use harder materials (ABS plastic, stainless steel, or aluminium), 3M anti-reflective coating, ergonomics with an adjustable base, matte finish to avoid distractions, etc.

Ergonomics

If you have to choose an adjustable base monitor, get one that’s adjustable in height, tilt, and rotation. These are important features for monitoring ergonomics. However, if you choose to save, you will have to check if you have at least compatibility for table or wall brackets.

Ergonomics of computer monitor

The savings made on the basis that it is not adjustable will be spent buying a good bracket. Fortunately, you can use this support for several future upgrades if you respect the maximum load in kilograms or inches.

We recommend that when buying a monitor, it has at least height and tilt adjustment. If not, it is VESA compatible with a table or wall brackets through VESA drilling. That way, if you want better ergonomics in the future (or even use multiple monitors), you won’t have to buy a new monitor just to have VESA drilling.

Base

When buying a new monitor base, the robustness and stability of the materials used are important. Avoid hard plastics (ABS), stainless steel, or aluminium. Beyond that, make sure you choose a wide base for greater stability and durability.

After all, you don’t want the monitor to swing with even the slightest movement on the table, right? The most durable materials that make up a stable base are stainless steel and aluminium. These are present only on more expensive monitors and are accompanied by ergonomic adjustments.

Panel coating

The panel coating aims to improve the viewing, facing reflections of light and windows. Cheap monitors can come without coating, making it hard to view the image. The coatings made of plastic or glass reproduce more vibrant colors.

On the other hand, they are more easily scratched by abrasion, scratches, or falls. Although rubber coating (rubber) has many advantages, it also comes with downsides. It’s harder to get right than a matte coating and requires more technical skills.

Sometimes, the friction against clothing is a little too rough for rubber in tough conditions. They come in different finishes, such as glass, textured, matte, etc., and it depends entirely on the user’s individual tastes. The advantage of going for panels with a matte coating is that it will reflect less light.

Inputs and Connectivity

Connectivity is one of the main points to which the observer must pay attention. The essential aspects you should consider when buying one. Most monitors will work with HDMI 1.4 or 2.0 ports, but next-generation video games require HDMI 2.1.

So be sure to check which ports are available on the monitor before you buy it. For example, today’s monitors have HDMI 1.4 or 2.0 input, but new video games have HDMI 2.1. You must use a display with DisplayPort only if your G-Sync-compatible graphics card.

These are the main inputs for monitors:

  • HDMI, mini HDMI and micro HDMI.
  • VGA and mini-VGA.
  • DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort.
  • USB Type-C.
  • DVI-D and DVI-I.
  • Mini-DVI and micro-DVI.
  • Thunderbolt.

Which video inputs should I look for on monitors? HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, and USB-C (for notebooks).

We recommend purchasing monitors with both the HDMI and DisplayPort inputs to ensure you don’t need to buy another monitor in the future.

Monitors with USB-C input are more expensive, but manufacturers add the port to their latest monitors. Most computer monitors use HDMI or DisplayPort inputs, so ensure that the current configuration does.

HDMI

HDMI is the most widely used technology because it sends and receives audio and video over a single cable. Thus, the analog video signal is replaced with digital data with no need for av cables.

  • HDMI 1.4: supports 4K resolution at 24-30Hz, or 1080p Full HD up to 120Hz
  • HDMI 2.0: supports 4K resolution at 60Hz, new versions (2.0a and 2.0b) support HDR
  • HDMI 2.1: supports resolution up to 10K at 120Hz, better HDR compatibility with dynamic metadata, and eARC improvements.

We recommend choosing a TV or monitor with HDMI 2.1, but if you want to make the most of your PlayStation 5 or Xbox One Series X, you should choose a TV or monitor with HDMI 2.1 or higher.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort Is HDMI’s rival technology, offering high-speed, quality bandwidth transfer rates, with the advantage of achieving higher refresh rates at high resolutions.

The new graphics card technology, unveiled by AMD and NVIDIA, is the future technology and promises many possibilities and advantages.

It has been designed to enable easier installation of multiple monitors, thus making the interface more intuitive

VGA

Video Graphics Array (VGA) ports are still used today but slowly phasing out. When buying a monitor with VGA inputs, make sure to look for monitors with HDMI or DisplayPort connections, otherwise, you need to buy another one shortly.

DVI

A digital visual interface (DVI) is one of PC monitors’ most common image interfaces. It has a better safety level because the cables have screws, which are very important for household use.

Although its resolution was better than VGA, it was quickly replaced by the HDMI and DisplayPort standards.

So, when buying a new monitor, you should pay special attention also to the type of port you need for DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort.

Features and technologies

Extra features and technologies can enhance your productivity or make your gaming experience more enjoyable. Check out the list of popular features of monitors and what they can do for you.

AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync

AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC (Adaptive Sync) are variable refresh rate technologies. If you buy a gaming monitor, one of these technologies should be in the desired monitor specifications. These technologies allow the monitor to dynamically change the refresh rate.

It reduces visual artefacts, like screen-tearing and crashes, performing better than the V-Sync option of games. AMD FreeSync monitors are generally compatible with G-Sync (Adaptive Sync on DisplayPort input).

This technology is not patented, which is the most common in cheap gamers’ monitors. The adaptive-sync technology in AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards works using the Adaptive-Sync function. Compared to native G-Sync, this type of technology has lower input lag. However, it is not as good in terms of color gamut and range of broader refresh rates.

The AMD Radeon 500-series and RX 600-series video cards are compatible with AMD FreeSyncTM technology, Adaptive Sync technology, and NVIDIA VRR technology. AMD FreeSync – Radeon R9/R7 RX Series 200 and later

  • Adaptive Sync (G-Sync Compatible) – GTX 10XX/20XX/30XX and recent via DisplayPort
  • NVIDIA G-Sync – GeForce GTX 650TI and later

Motion Blur Reduction

Motion Blur reduction technologies are recommended for gamers as they offer motion clarity comparable to older CRT monitors (tube ones).

Opt for gamer monitors with strobe backlight technology, known by several names such as:

  • 1ms Motion Blur Reduction (MBR),
  • NVIDIA Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB),
  • 1ms MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time),
  • Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), etc.

Some gaming monitors are compatible with Motion. Blur Reduction technology. Enabling this option gives you a more realistic gaming experience in fast-paced games. However, this option reduces the image’s brightness and disables AMD FreeSync/G-Sync (for mixed reality headsets).

When choosing your monitor, it’s important to keep in mind how the quality video card running above 60FPS with G-Sync or AMD FreeSync active. Good-quality video cards reduce motion blur, so choosing high-quality 144Hz monitors and above is crucial.

Flicker-Free and PWM

Flicker-free or flicker-safe technology is designed to reduce the flicker level in the monitor, which does not lead to eye fatigue or headache.

An invisible but otherwise irritating oscillation known as flickering can trigger nausea, headache, and watery eyes (burning) in sensitive people.

Therefore, we recommend that you opt for a Flicker-Free monitor if you spend many hours in front of the monitor, whether working, studying, playing, or any other activity.

Low Blue Light Reduction

In this part of our how to choose a monitor article, we will discuss what a monitor’s low blue light reduction should be. Blue light reduction technology is offered as an option in the monitor’s On-Screen Display (OSD) menu; however, currently, the operating system (Windows, Linux, and macOS) offers an option to filter the blue light when desired.

By turning on the night light, there will be a reduction in the accuracy of the colors, leaving the screen yellowish (warmer tones). We strongly recommend enabling this option only if working with text and at night so as not to impair your sleep.

Turn off the option to work with images, watch videos (movies and series) and play, so you won’t have the overall colors and experience affected.

Compatibility with your system (Linux, Windows, macOS)

Suboptimal compatibility of the monitor with the operating system, although cases are rare. The chances increase when different programs, e.g., a gaming monitor, are installed.

The most common operating system drivers that interrupt connection are Linux distributions, especially minimalist ones. macOS devices such as MacBook and Mac Mini generally do not experience incompatibility via HDMI, USB-C, Thunderbolt, or DisplayPort.

However, for Windows Vista users and older, there are drivers preinstalled in Windows 10 and above versions. So, Windows 10 and above users will not encounter any problems when using Windows 10 monitor.

Conclusion

Did we mention that this guide was long? We still think it was worth it because we could help you make an informed decision.

Now that you know the main factors for choosing a monitor, it is time to put that knowledge you’ve learned into practice and look at Amazon, Magazine Luiza, and other retailers for your ideal monitor.

If you want to make the most of your time and rely on our suggestions, check out some guides with the best monitors for every budget, use, and necessity below:

In addition to selecting the best monitor, you will find specific information about each technology and feature of the chosen monitor.

We appreciate the time you have taken to read this about how to choose a monitor; please share this with someone who may also need this information.


Leave a Comment