Most LCD displays have one flaw or another so you have to weigh what’s most important to you for gaming. For some gamers color reproduction and accuracy in an IPS display may be important while for others input lag, response time, size, refresh rate or even 3D compatibility might reign supreme. In this post I’ll look at a variety of my favorite gaming monitors and weigh the pros and cons that come with each.
Best Gaming Monitors for the Money :
Viewsonic VX2453MH-LED
If you’re looking for the best overall buy, then the Viewsonic VX2453MH-LED is one of the best you’ll come across. It has a super fast 2ms response time and the screen looks great while gaming with a 30,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio in full HD 1920 x 1080p. Input lag numbers for the larger version of this model, the VX2753MH-LED have come in at around 17ms and should be under 1 frame rate for the smaller version.
The VX2453MH-LED is a newly designed monitor with a lot of really great features. It’s lightweight at around 9 pounds, and you can remove the stand completely and tilt it back. This is a nice option if you like to look down at the monitor, but Viewsonic also hid the internal speakers in the large lower bezel, which is somewhat unattractive. Another negative feature for this particular model is that it doesn’t include mounting holes in the back like Viewsonic’s previous gaming monitor models. Overall it’s still a great value for what it is and should do a great job holding up in FPS-type games. The 27 inch version of this model, the VX2753MH-LED has a 1ms response time and costs around $100 more.
Technical Details: 1920 x 1080p full high definition resolution, dynamic contrast ratio 30,000,000:1, D-Sub and 2 HDMI connectors, 2W x 2 built-in speakers, tilts 5 degrees down, 20 up, anti-glare surface, and it comes with a 3 year parts and labor warranty backed by Viewsonic’s pixel performance guarantee.
ASUS ML238H 23-Inch Wide Ultra-Slim LED Monitor :
Low Input Lag, Response Time, and Price
Another monitor in the widely popular under $200 category is the Asus ML238H which has a super slim design (16.5mm) which includes a ring stand with Ergo-Fit II Technology that allows you to easily pivot and swivel the monitor into the perfect position. The stand for this particular model is great but be sure not to confuse it with the MS model whose stand I find to be a little bit annoying. One negative is that like the VX2453MH-LED above it doesn’t have VESA compliant mounting holes so if you need to mount your monitor you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Overall this is an incredible buy at under $200 and if that’s your budget, then you might want to just go ahead and pull the trigger. The low input lag of around 5.05ms average along with a fast response time makes this an ideal monitor for gaming. Asus also did a great job including a DVI, Analog, and HDMI connector which makes it easy to connect to those DVI only video cards floating around.
Best IPS Monitor for PC Gaming :
If you’re looking for an IPS monitor for gaming, then I highly recommend either the Dell U2312HM or U2412M. While the response times for these monitors may seem high to some (6-8ms) any blurred motion is largely unnoticeable. Another plus is that both of these monitors have less than 10ms input lag, good enough for even the most dedicated FPS gamers.
With all of that being said this is a budget IPS display. It certainly doesn’t have the color accuracy that the more expensive Dell Ultrasharp or Eizo monitors would have; however, for the money you do get 24 bit (16.7 million colors) color reproduction with ultra-wide viewing angles. If you’re looking for a photo editing monitor I’ve also written on the best IPS photo editing monitors.
Technical Details for U2312HM: 1920 x 1200 resolution, 178 degrees Horizontal and Vertical viewing angle, 0.27mm pixel pitch, 16.7 Million display colors, 300 cd/m2 brightness rating, 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 8ms response time, DisplayPort, D-Sub, DVI connectors, 1 USB 2.0 up, 4 USB 2.0 downstream, Height, Pivot, Swivel, and Tilt adjustable, VESA wall mount compliant, and it comes with a 3 year parts and labor warranty.
