When it comes to competitive gaming, having a fast gaming monitor can mean the difference between victory and defeat. A good gaming monitor for esports is one that offers fast response times and high refresh rates.
However, with so many options available in the market, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. That’s why we have created this buyer’s guide to help you find the best monitors for esports such as DOTA 2, Counter-Strike and Overwatch 2.
What Makes an Excellent Esports Monitor?
When buying a gaming monitor for esports, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the monitor should have a fast response time of 1ms or less, which will minimize input lag and improve the overall gaming experience.
Secondly, the refresh rate should be at least 165Hz or higher, which ensures smoother visuals during fast-paced games.
Lastly, it screen resolution should also be easy to run on most GPUs, hence a full HD resolution would be ideal for most esports scenarios on competitive settings.
ASUS ROG Swift PG259QNR
Kicking off our list is the ROG Swift PG259QNR fast-IPS monitor. It has a whopping 360 Hz refresh rate with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It also has blazing fast response times of 1ms (GTG) to complement the high frame rate. For moments when you want to wind down and immerse yourself in the game world, the IPS display combined with Nvidia G-Sync offers a ton of versatility for different genres of games.
It also boasts a Smart Cooling design with a custom heatsink and unique internal airflow, delivering up to 12% cooler temperatures than normal displays during marathon gaming sessions. In terms of ergonomics, you get a height adjustable stand with swivel, pivot and tilt adjustments.
Where to buy: Shopee and Lazada
BenQ Zowie XL2566K
The venerable BenQ Zowie series of competitive esports monitors are a mainstay in most professional esports leagues, such as the ESL Pro League. While most of the monitors in this series are excellent options for esports gaming, our pick would be the BenQ Zowie XL2566K.
While the TN panel is not as pretty as IPS panels, it delivers a speedy 360 Hz refresh rate at a more affordable price point. The XL2566K also comes with DyAc+, which when enabled improves motion clarity and sharpness.
The base is also relatively compact, allowing you to position it much closer to your face than other conventional monitor bases.
Where to buy: Shopee and Lazada
Gigabyte G24F 2
If you are on a budget, the Gigabyte G24F 2 is a great affordable monitor for you to get your feet wet in esports. It has a 165 Hz IPS panel that can be overclocked to 180 Hz. Response time is excellent too, as you can get up to 1ms (MPRT).
It also comes with a detailed OSD allowing you to fine tune the monitor’s behaviour. For newbies, it has a few gaming assist features such as aim stabiliser and black equaliser to help you get started.
Where to buy: Shopee and Lazada
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right gaming monitor is crucial for esports gamers who want to take their gaming to the next level. The above-mentioned gaming monitors offer high-quality visuals, fast response times, and high refresh rates, making them great options for esports gaming. Consider the factors mentioned above when buying a gaming monitor, and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
For more buyer’s guides such as this one, do check out our full list here.
