A Review of the Best Low Input Lag Monitors for Gaming in 2014
Finding a good gaming monitor requires a lot of research. Competitive gaming is demanding and the best monitors for gaming not only have a fast response time, but also low input lag and a high refresh rate as well.If you play time and reaction-sensitive games like I do, then you want a monitor which gives you that extra split second advantage that you need over a difficult opponent. It's not going to make a bad gamer good, rather; it allows those who have already honed their skills to take their game to the next level.
Knowing what monitor to choose is key, but it's difficult to know exactly what type of monitor to purchase based simply off of a manufacturer's technical details. In this post I'll give you additional information you need-to-know as well as 10 gaming monitors which I recommend.
Choosing a Good Gaming Monitor
Response Time is Important, but can be Misleading :
Manufacturers who sell monitors listed for gaming always promote response time as the most important specification. Response time is the time it takes for a pixel to go from black to white and back again. While some monitors advertise response times under 1ms, the truth is that they list the GTG or gray to gray response time rather than the black to white to black response time. For the most part any monitor with under 8ms response time is more than fine to use for gaming. This includes many low response time / input lag IPS panel monitors as well.
Input Lag:
Input lag is often confused with response time but is something completely different. Input lag is a specification which, in my humble opinion, is even more important than response time because its the lag in time from when you enter in a command with your controller or keyboard and when its actually shown on the screen. Most of the monitors I've listed below have sub 1 frame input lag, or 16ms. which is what you want. Manufacturers do not list input lag, but you can find the input lag of many monitors by doing a simple Google search.
Refresh Rate:
Your monitor's refresh rate is basically the amount of times per second that it draws the data. Many monitors made specifically for gaming in 2013 have a refresh rate of beyond 120Hz. This allows them to display up to 120 frames per second.
Is there a reason to get a 120Hz or greater monitor if you aren't getting above 60FPS?
If you aren't getting more than 60 FPS or frames per second with your graphics card, then there is no reason that you would have to have a higher refresh rate monitor. On the other hand, having above 60FPS does matter even if you don't have a higher refresh rate monitor as it lowers the input lag of your mouse and keyboard.
Best 24 Inch Gaming Monitors in 2014
10 Highly Responsive Low Input Lag Options to Consider:
Asus monitors are used in professional game fighting tournaments as one of the most trusted around. This is due to their low input lag as well as response times. Probably the best or at least most well-known 24 inch computer monitors is the ASUS VH236H EVO monitor which is now a few years old and still used in the EVO championship series.
A newer Asus monitor you should consider is the Asus VE248H or the VH238H if you want a monitor that has the same panel as the VH236H in an LED version.
A Good 24" 144Hz Gaming Monitor Option:
The Asus VG248QE is the Gaming Monitor to own in 2014
Final thoughts on the VG248QE:
If you're going for a 24" TN panel monitor, then I feel that this should truly be your choice in 2013. You'll end up paying about $100 more for this 3D ready monitor; however, considering the price of similar monitors, $250 seems like a really good deal.
BenQ XL2420TE A Strong Alternative to the VG248QE:
Following BenQ's recent update to their original model there is another 144Hz monitor that I'd highly recommend. While it costs a little more than the VG248QE, the XL2420TE from BenQ is probably the best TN panel monitor I've seen.
Current Professional Console and PC Gaming Monitors for 2013 - 2014
Want to be a Pro?
MLG PC Gaming Tournaments:
The official monitor for MLG PC gaming tournaments is the BenQ RL2450HT. It's a monitor designed by professional StarCraft II team StarTale and boasts impressive responsiveness through a 2ms response time and under a half a frame of input lag. While the console gaming version below can only tilt, the RL2450HT can actually swivel, tilt, pivot, and has height adjustment.
MLG Console Gaming Tournaments:
For console gaming you should strongly consider the BenQ GL2450HM which is the official monitor for MLG console tournaments. It looks great out of the gate on competitive games like COD, has less than a frame of input lag, and 1 super low 1ms response time.
Image Attribution: Major League Gaming, Intel Extreme Masters, and EVO Championship Series.
2 Good 23 to 24" 120Hz Gaming Monitor Options
While it costs about twice as much as a typical monitor, the Samsung S23A700D combines a 120 hertz refresh rate with a 2ms response time, 10-11ms input lag in 60Hz (under 1 frame), and one of the best images I've seen on a monitor. If you have the money to spend and don't need a tournament monitor, this is one of the best around.
BenQ XL2420T Professional Gaming Monitor
This is one of the best 2D and 3D 24 inch monitors available with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 2m response time, and Nvidia 3D Vision 2. Gaming mode presets can easily changed based on the game you're playing.
Made by professional gamers for other competitive gamers. You'll want to compare it with the Samsung S23A700D to figure out which one better meets your needs.
*Additional 24" IPS gaming monitors are covered in a separate section below.
Best 27 Inch Gaming Monitor 2014
A Few TN Panel Monitors To Consider Starting with the BenQ XL2720T
Picture and Resolution:
Upon opening it the picture for the BenQ XL2720T was good but not perfect. It's considered full high definition at 1920 x 1080p, but may feel like a slight step down for those of you who are used to using high resolution IPS panel monitors. I was able to calibrate it to achieve what I would consider a pretty good picture overall.
Response Time:
With a 1ms gray to gray response time, the BenQ XL2720T is about as good as it gets in terms of motion rendering and limiting blurring and ghosting that occasionally occur.
Input Lag:
The input lag for this monitor has been officially listed as .002. While this has yet to be tested by a monitor testing website like prad.de, you'll be ok, as far as lag is concerned, with the official Intel Extreme Masters tournament monitor.
For those of you who are die-hard CRT enthusiasts it may be time to make the switch. This monitor, when in 120Hz, reminds me a lot of my old CRT. If you've never played in 120Hz before, then you'll definitely notice the difference. Everything just appears more smooth.
NVIDIA 3D Vision 2
3D technology is definitely still a work in progress, but NVIDIA's 3D vision 2 certainly takes it to a newer level. LightBoost technology for better brightness while you're playing in 3D.
Final Impression: It's far from perfect, but the BenQ XL2720T may be the best in terms of overall responsiveness on a 27 inch TN panel monitor. It's ideal for RTS and FPS genre gamers or those looking for a good 3D monitor.
27" TN Panel Picks
Asus monitors are widely used in the professional gaming community because they generally have some of the lowest input lag available. Details include a 1920 x 1080 resolution / 10M:1 DCR/ 2ms response/ DisplayPort, DVI-D, D-Sub, HDMI/ Tilt adjustment / and 2 x 3W speakers.
Samsung 27-Inch Class LED Monitor S27A350H
I'm fond of the look, design, and sturdiness of the A350H. Although a warranty longer than 1 year would be nice this is still one of my favorite monitors with a 2ms or lower response time.
The Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED 27-Inch is Deceptively Good for PC Gaming
Connectivity for the Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED is good but not perfect. It includes 2 HDMI and a VGA connector but lacks a DVI port. While Viewsonic does include an HDMI to DVI adapter, it would still be nice to have a DisplayPort or at least a DVI option.
Resolution and Picture
After using the VX2753MH-LED extensively for several days and having gamed on it I can say that the picture is good. It's not brilliant like you may see on an IPS display, but for the money it's right up there with other great 27 inch TN panel monitors like the Asus VE278Q. If you've never used a monitor this large before, then the difference is substantial, and like me, you may have to sit back about 2 and a half feet from your display rather than the 20-26 inches you sit back with from a conventional display. Viewsonic also has a 24 inch version of this monitor, the VX2453MH-LED which is more affordable and practical for an office setting or those who simply don't want this large of a monitor.
Deeper Blacks
The LED back light technology for this model is better than I expected. Viewsonic has advertised that their LED technology can be completely dimmed, and as a result I do see darker blacks than I'm used to with LED LCD monitors.
Although I try to judge the look of the screen rather than just look at specifications the VX2753MH-LED does carry a 1ms response time, 30M:1 DCR, and a 1920 x 1080p full high definition resolution.
Integrated Speakers
Let's face it, you're not buying a monitor for the speakers and since I've used this monitor I can confirm that they are somewhat lackluster. That being said they're convenient and I'd rather them be there then not when I take my headphones off.
Cons: For those who'd prefer to mount their monitor it's important to note that this monitor is not VESA compliant. I recommend the ASUS VE276Q listed below as VESA compatible alternative.
Bookstand
Although I haven't used it much another interesting feature for the VX2753MH-LED is the book stand option. You can completely remove the base of this monitor and kick the stand out from the back. At around 10 pounds this makes it nearly portable and good for LAN parties or travel.
Warranty
Viewsonic's VX2753MH-LED has a competitive 3 year warranty that backs up what appears to be a solid new product.
Overall this is a good monitor. It doesn't have the 120hz refresh rate that some of today's 3D-ready gaming monitors have like the BenQ XL2420T or the Samsung T27A950, but it's a good overall budget gaming monitor for the money.
Best IPS Monitor for Gaming from 2014
Dell U2711 Review
What about Response Time and Input Lag?
Specifications state that the U2711 has a 6 ms response time which is low for an IPS panel monitor. The input lag is around 15ms as shown in AnandTech's Review of it but this isn't a deal breaker as it's pretty similar to other LCD monitors.
An IPS Level of Picture and Color
The overall picture and detail of this monitor is what really sets it apart from TN panel monitors. Dell's specifications show that this monitor can display up to 1.07 billion colors and it has a solid color gamut at around 96% of the standard Adobe RGB. Resolution is 2560 x 1440 pixels which makes the picture really feel stunning while gaming and the picture is nearly perfect from all angles at up to 178° vertical / and 178° horizontal of the possible 180° .
Overall the Dell UltraSharp U2711 is a really incredible monitor. The input lag and response time isn't overwhelming and the incredible picture really enhances your gaming experience. You'll have to decide whether spending about double of what you normally would on a 27" TN panel is worth it, but the price is low compared to other similar IPS panel monitors and in line with the latest 27 inch 3D gaming monitors.
Good IPS Gaming Monitors
Dell UltraSharp U3011 30" Monitor
The Dell U3011 gives you 30 inches of 2560x1600 low input lag bliss. Response time issues are minimal and a minimal level of ghosting is a small price to pay for the detail on a screen like this.
Dell UltraSharp U2412M 24-Inch Screen LED-lit Monitor
This is an inexpensive alternative that allows you to get a super high-quality monitor for around $300. While it's 24 and not 32 bit, the 16.7 million colors available on this monitor still make it super accurate.
Computer Monitor Buying Guide for 2014
Terms to Know
While various gamers experience different levels of eye strain while using their computer for long periods of time, one thing known to relieve some of the problem is by having a monitor with a high refresh rate. The refresh rate on a monitor is basically the amount of times that the hardware draws information from a source. Even low end computer monitors have a higher refresh rate, then many of the better monitors in years past. PC monitors go as high as 120hz while some newer HDTVs go up to 240hz. A good 3D-ready monitor will have a 120hz refresh rate.
HD 1920 x 1080p and TN Vs. IPS Panels
While it's important to purchase a monitor that is high definition. Most new release monitors today 22 inches and above are full 1920x1080p resolution. While the resolution can certainly go above this for some IPS monitors you are still better off with a TN or twisted nematic panel as they do much better with video and generally have lower response times. That being said IPS monitor response times have come down in recent years and their color reproduction is much more accurate.
Contrast Ratio
Contrast ratio measures the darkest color that a monitor can produce (blackest black) vs. the lightest color (whitest white). In general the higher the contrast ratio, the better the color. Because various manufacturer's define how they label their contrast ratio differently (static vs. dynamic etc...), we recommend you read consumer reviews in order to get a better understanding of your monitors color output.
LED Vs. LCD
There are some pretty complicated descriptions and definitions of the difference between an LED and LCD monitor. The only real difference is in the type of back lighting and energy they use. LED monitors use LED (light emitting diode) technology for back lighting which consumes up to 40% less energy. Gaming and entertainment viewing tend to be less strenuous on the eyes with an LED monitor. In addition, LED monitors do not emit mercury like CCFL lit displays. Since LED monitors are newer, thinner, have more options, use less power, and are less strenuous on your eyes than LCD monitors I recommend you go with an LED monitor if you can afford it.
Signal Input
Consider what type of signal input you want to use with your computer before purchasing your monitor. The most common inputs are DVI-D, HDMI, and VGA. DisplayPort connectors are also seen on more expensive monitors.
3D Capability
Wikipedia defines 3D Capability as "any display device capable of conveying a stereoscopic perception of 3-D depth to the viewer". While technically many monitors could produce a 3D image, various monitors have been built specifically for 3-D viewing and gaming. Any monitor built for 3D viewing can also be viewed in normal 2D format. See below for top 5 3d monitors for 2011.
Other Things to Consider:
Consider the horizontal and vertical viewing angle as well as the power consumption of your monitor when making your purchase. Similarly sized computer monitors can use as little as 28 watts all the way up to 70+ watts. In the long-term you'll be better off sticking with a monitor that consumes less power. Horizontal/vertical viewing angles will always be better on IPS panel monitors and up to 180 degrees; however, if you purchase a TN panel monitor look for one that has an extended viewing angle so that your picture doesn't distort easily when tilting or swiveling it.
How Big Should Your Monitor Be?
With gaming it works a little bit different. If you have a monitor that is too large from where you are sitting, then seeing everything becomes much more difficult, however, an expanded line of site with an Eyefinity or dual screen setup can certainly give you an advantage in seeing your opponent. That being said these setups can get too large and I prefer to use 24-27 inch monitors for Eyefinity.
Optimal Resolution for Your Monitor
Although this is somewhat dated Microsoft recommends that if your monitor is 20 - 22 inches the optimal viewing resolution is 1680 × 1050 and anything above 22 inches be 1920 x 1080p resolution. That being said most 22 inch monitors come with 1980 x 1080p resolution so you'll have to decide what works best for you by trial and error. For additional tips see Microsoft's article on "Getting the best display on your monitor".
Thank : nsb250
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