Monitor choices for gaming

BuffetSlayer

BuffetSlayer

BuffetSlayer

Soldato
Joined
19 Jun 2012
Posts
5,478
Hi all

I don't really know much about monitors or what kind of spec rig I need to drive higher res, higher Hz monitors so I am looking for some direction please.

My current set up is what you see in my sig below put through a very dated 60hz (75 max) Viewsonic VX922 19'' monitor (It is basic 4:3 shape).

However that monitor has now started playing up and I don't think it will be long before it goes to the big monitor heaven in the sky. :D Still, I cant complain, I have used it heavily for over 6 years!

So, I am a PC gamer, and although I don't have an epic rig it handles most things OK for my needs.

I have read that 120Hz monitors are where it is at for gaming but they seem a little expensive.

So - first question, is upgrading to 120Hz really worth it, or are the performance gains likely to go unnoticed once I am engrossed in a game of Tribes or Dishonored? Are the performance gains only going to be noticeable by people in the know, or is someone like me who knows very little about monitor performance going to jump up and say "WOW!!" ?

Second question - size!? I have quite a nice big desk so could happily stick a bigger monitor on it, but again bigger screens are more expensive. Am I going to notice much of a difference between 24'' and 27'', for example? How will screen size dictate the kind of performance I will get with my rig? I don't need everything maxed out to enjoy a game, but I like it to look attractive still :) Is my rig powerful enough to run, lets say, a Iiyama Prolite 27'' 120hz on reasonable settings?

Or would I be better buying a 23/24''?

I would appreciate some input and advice as I dont really know what to go for.

Oh, and my ideal budget will be around £200-£250 mark, but I could put an application in to the missus for more and cross my fingers!! :D

Cheers

Buff
 
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If the sig you use is the one in your rig I'd say it isn't worth it. You need to be pushing 60-120fps at all times to notice the difference.
 
ACEOWNER said:
If the sig you use is the one in your rig I'd say it isn't worth it. You need to be pushing 60-120fps at all times to notice the difference.
Click to expand...

My current set up is what you see in my sig below put through a very dated 60hz (75 max) Viewsonic VX922 19'' monitor (It is basic 4:3 shape).
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's really what I needed to know. A nice 120hz monitor sounds great, but I didn't know if my rig could drive it. Depending on the game and settings I can get the kind of FPS that you mention, but the main game I play at the moment is Tribes, and I am only consistently hitting about 60-80 FPS with my current rig.

I can hit higher FPS in single player games, but I cant help feeling my rig is a bit underpowered to fully utilise 120hz.

So if I scrapped the idea of 120hz, what are the recommendations for a good 60hz monitor, 24-27''?

Cheers

Buff
 
You basically need a 1080p 27 inch 60hz monitor with little to no input lag. I can't remember now but one of the samsungs is good, might be 24 inch actually. Someone will come in and name it I'm sure.
 
I just thought about viewing distances as well......

My desk is wide, but only a standard depth - about 2.5 feet, so in use my face is likely to be only 2.5 feet from the screen.

Is it advisable to go with a 27'' screen at that distance? Both for eye strain/headaches and image quality? Will the picture on screen appear blurred/pixelated at that distance?

Given the relatively short distance between my eyes and the screen, what kind of screen size would be the best?

Cheers

Buff
 
Given that 120hz isn't an option for your rig then I'd say just get a decent 24" IPS panel. I just got the Dell U2412M and I'm loving it. I don't notice any lag in the bit of FPS gaming I've tried and the colours and detail on it are great. Only downside is a bit of backlight leaking which isn't noticeable in normal use and the IPS glow which again I don't notice in normal use.
 
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