STACK #263 September 2026

TECH FEATURE

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Match the monitor to your games Competitive shooters: Prioritise high refresh rates, low response times, and VRR Racing and simulation: Consider a curved ultrawide display for a broader, more immersive view Resolution, HDR, contrast, and screen size become more important A bit of everything: QHD with a high refresh rate offers an excellent balance of image quality and speed. RPGs and open-world games:

A gaming monitor can make your games look smoother, sharper, and more immersive – but what separates a great gaming display from an everyday monitor? Here’s what you need to know. Words Bec Summer Why do you need a dedicated GAMING MONITOR?

displays and visually spectacular games, but you'll need more PC muscle to drive it. Ultrawide WQHD screens add horizontal viewing space, which can make racing, simulation, and expansive games especially immersive. Good HDR can add impact to highlights while revealing more detail across bright and dark areas of compatible games. Absolutely! If picture quality matters, OLED can deliver deep blacks, excellent contrast, and very fast pixel response because individual pixels can switch themselves off. QD-OLED combines OLED’s contrast and speed with quantum-dot colour technology, while conventional LCD gaming monitors remain compelling too, particularly when value, brightness, or a larger screen is the priority. Is OLED worth it for a gaming monitor?

What makes a gaming monitor different?

second. Higher isn’t automatically better for everyone. A 160-180Hz monitor provides very smooth gameplay, while 240Hz and 280Hz models suit fast-paced, competitive gaming where every frame can matter. There's little point chasing 280Hz, however, if your PC can't generate the frame rates to take advantage of it.

Gaming monitors are designed around speed and responsiveness. Higher refresh rates make movement smoother, while low response times help keep fast action looking clear. Many also support variable refresh rate technologies that synchronise the monitor with compatible gaming hardware, helping reduce screen tearing and stuttering. Look for AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, or VESA AdaptiveSync, which use VRR to help smooth gameplay when frame rates fluctuate. Add gaming-focused display technologies, HDR, and ultrawide or curved screen options, and the difference goes well beyond simply putting “gaming” on the box.

Does response time matter? Yes, particularly in fast games. Response time measures how quickly pixels can change, with lower figures helping reduce blur or ghosting during rapid movement. Some current OLED gaming monitors specify response times as low as 0.03ms (GtG) for particularly crisp motion. Is QHD or 4K better for gaming? It depends on your priorities and hardware. QHD (2560×1440) balances sharp detail with high frame rates, particularly on 27-inch monitors. 4K (3840×2160) steps up the detail for larger

Don’t forget your gaming hardware A 280Hz or 4K badge on the box doesn't magically make every game run at 280fps or 4K. Your PC’s graphics card, processor, game settings, and connection all play a part. Check that your hardware can take advantage of the resolution and refresh rate you're paying for, and that the monitor's HDMI or DisplayPort connection supports the combination you want to use.

What refresh rate do you need for gaming?

Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), tells you how many times the screen can refresh each

32 SEPTEMBER 2026

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