Which Monitor Should I Get For PC Gaming?

Cassius101

Member
Aug 29, 2013
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I am buying parts to build a gaming computer this Sunday. I am leaving at 3pm eastern time so I hope I can get at least one reply before then. I narrowed down my Monitor selection to these 3. Which one would be best for gaming? I know the BENQ has that equalizer thing that makes it look better but is that worth it?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8207764&CatId=2318 BENQ

http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/...enQ-BLK-EQ.jpg BENQ Black Equalizer

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2666628&CatId=2318 ASUS

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7874963&CatId=5469 Phillips


I am thinking that I should go with the BENQ, does anyone agree? Also, the only Blacklit monitors are the Phillips and Asus, is having a black lit monitor essential for PC gaming? The Asus has the highest Contrast ratio but the Benq has the fastest response time at 1ms.
 

Black Octagon

Golden Member
Dec 10, 2012
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This Sunday = today or 7 days from now?

Also, you might want to post the model names instead of just links, as some people (like me) are on phones and CBF going to those websites
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
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I have an older BenQ monitor and I liked it for the time I had it. I now upgraded to 27" IPS, but the BENQ is still a good monitor at a good price. I don't know about the back lit being necessary or a real upgrade, but I can tell you that an edge lit monitor can have edge bleed. Where the light can peek out around the bezel.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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if buying TN crap for gaming then spend a little more and get a real gaming monitor with 144hz.
 

BrightCandle

Diamond Member
Mar 15, 2007
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Personally I wouldn't buy any of them. I concur with toyota that if you are going to taint your eyes with a TN screen it should be a decent one with low blur and high refresh rate to at least compensate for the bad colour quality.
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
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If it's not advertised as IPS it's TN usually. Price can also tell you. IPS monitors are more expensive on average.
 

toyota

Lifer
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futurefields

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Jun 2, 2012
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if buying TN crap for gaming then spend a little more and get a real gaming monitor with 144hz.

lol you are so predictable. you just bought a 144hz monitor.

anyways, the "tn garbage" crap is way overhyped. the monitor I use is TN, 60hz, all that bad evil shit. and it looks outstanding. i dont have ane viewing angle issues, and I have a nice IPS panasonic hdtv to compare with. this thing is ace.

also, its the same monitor used at the evo gaming tournaments, hence the nickname evo monitor.
 

PrincessFrosty

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Feb 13, 2008
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www.frostyhacks.blogspot.com
What does TN mean?

www.tigerdirect.ca

What monitor should I get then?

TN is one type of panel technology that monitors can use, there are several different types and each different panel type tends to have pros and cons, currently there's no single good panel type it's always a trade off.

Your suggested links are to TN panels, they're typically very cheap but the image quality is lower, despite that it's a favourite among some gamers because they can have a much faster pixel response rate which give several benefits:

a) Helps lower image ghosting.
b) They can have a higher refresh rate which helps make games look a lot smoother and feel more responsive.

You should consider stretching to a 120hz or slightly rarer 144hz monitor, they're a little more expensive but well worth it for anyone looking for a really smooth gaming experience.
 

PrincessFrosty

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Feb 13, 2008
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lol you are so predictable. you just bought a 144hz monitor.

anyways, the "tn garbage" crap is way overhyped. the monitor I use is TN, 60hz, all that bad evil shit. and it looks outstanding. i dont have ane viewing angle issues, and I have a nice IPS panasonic hdtv to compare with. this thing is ace.

also, its the same monitor used at the evo gaming tournaments, hence the nickname evo monitor.

TN aren't "garbage", but it's incorrect to suggest there's little or no difference in quality between a TN and IPS for example, colour accuracy and viewing angles are 2 things TN panels are extremely poor at.

However TN technology switches fast, fast enough to make nice looking 120hz and 144hz panels, it's worth understanding the trade offs between technology before buying something expensive like a monitor.

The reason I, and many others, recommend 120hz is because it genuinely improves the gameplay experience, and more importantly its one of the few benefits of TN panels. If for example someone asked me to recommend a monitor but they explicitly stated that they didn't want/need 120hz then I wouldn't recommend TNs at all, unless they were on a budget in which case you don't have much choice.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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lol you are so predictable. you just bought a 144hz monitor.

anyways, the "tn garbage" crap is way overhyped. the monitor I use is TN, 60hz, all that bad evil shit. and it looks outstanding. i dont have ane viewing angle issues, and I have a nice IPS panasonic hdtv to compare with. this thing is ace.

also, its the same monitor used at the evo gaming tournaments, hence the nickname evo monitor.
how the hell is that predictable? so you think I am telling him to get a 144 hz screen because I have one? anyone with a lick of sense and at least one good eye knows damn well that a TN is most certainly crap compared to a real IPS. so yes if going to put up with TN crap then at least get the fast 120/144 refresh rate.
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
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None of them. They all would have pretty heavy input lag.

Just get a decent TN at 24" if you cannot afford 120hz. Most of the claims of 2ms or 1ms response time and huge contrast ratios are lies from the manufacturer. Actual testing from 3rd parties doesn't find the same numbers to be accurate. Also, good monitors cost more, that's just how it is.

BenQ XL2420T 24" 120HZ 2ms Lightboost 2 Monitor $319.99 canadian. $100 off until 9/4/13 (regular price $419)

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=66305&vpn=XL2420T&manufacture=Others&promoid=1190
 
Last edited:

Cassius101

Member
Aug 29, 2013
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None of them. They all would have pretty heavy input lag.

Just get a decent TN at 24" if you cannot afford 120hz. Most of the claims of 2ms or 1ms response time and huge contrast ratios are lies from the manufacturer. Actual testing from 3rd parties doesn't find the same numbers to be accurate. Also, good monitors cost more, that's just how it is.

BenQ XL2420T 24" 120HZ 2ms Lightboost 2 Monitor $319.99 canadian. $100 off until 9/4/13 (regular price $419)

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=66305&vpn=XL2420T&manufacture=Others&promoid=1190


Okay I might go with that if I have enough money. Right now, including installation and testing, keyboard and gaming mouse and the previous 180$ BenQ Monitor, I am at about 2100$.

I found it for a little cheaper being sold by Amazon, but why does it say it is a LCD screen on Amazon? Which is it?

http://www.amazon.ca/BenQ-XL2420T-24.../dp/B006HIKIG0
 

Cassius101

Member
Aug 29, 2013
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I have to go with the 180$ BenQ Monitor, it is over my budget if I get the 295$ one on Amazon. I don't think 60hz vs 120hz is a big deal, some people can't even tell the difference.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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Cassius101 said:
I found it for a little cheaper being sold by Amazon, but why does it say it is a LCD screen on Amazon? Which is it?

Virtually all current PC monitors are LCD's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display

I have to go with the 180$ BenQ Monitor, it is over my budget if I get the 295$ one on Amazon. I don't think 60hz vs 120hz is a big deal, some people can't even tell the difference.

Everyone can tell the difference, maybe some people aren't very attentive or aren't even trying, but if you tell people what to look for they will instantly see the difference.

Even for $295 the BenQ XL2420T is a worse deal than the VG248QE for $280.
 

PrincessFrosty

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I have to go with the 180$ BenQ Monitor, it is over my budget if I get the 295$ one on Amazon. I don't think 60hz vs 120hz is a big deal, some people can't even tell the difference.

Everyone can tell the difference, some peoples expectations are just so low that they're happy with 60hz, that's fine because not everyone's standards are the same, but everyone can actually tell the difference.

60hz gaming is fine at the end of the day, it's just 120hz is better, how much that's worth to you is down to each individual, it's hard to say without trying them side by side.

If you're constrained by budget then it's a moot point, but it's worth being knowledgeable about the difference for future reference, including debunking those who claim there's no difference.
 

Skott

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2005
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I wouldn't get all hung up on the 60hz vs 120hz debate. A good 60hz will be just fine for gaming. We been using them for years and now all of a sudden they are bad? No. 120hz does offer some better viewing but you are going to pay more for it. Also not all 120hz monitors are good. Like when buying a 60hz monitor you have to do your research and find the better models whether it be 60hz or 120hz. Your wallet will also be a determining factor as to what you can get. Set yourself a budget and then start researching what fits into that budget.