Guide

What resolution should your gaming monitor have?

4.2.2022

Need a new gaming monitor but don’t know which resolution to get? As always, the answer is: it depends.

For once, more doesn’t necessarily mean better. When you’re deciding on the resolution for your next gaming monitor, you should consider other factors too. Why? The higher the gaming resolution, the more requirements are made of your PC. I’ll demonstrate this using the three most common resolutions.

Generally speaking, there are two other factors aside from a computer’s power that determine which resolution is best for you.

How much you want to spend on a monitor and PC
What games you play

1080p for competitive games

Competitive games tend to have a high frame rate, but not a high resolution. «CS:GO», «PUBG», «Fortnite», «Rocket League» and even «League of Legends» don't get better at a higher resolution. On the contrary, a lower frame rate – which is the result of a higher resolution – can have a negative effect on your game. Unless you have an absolute powerhouse of a gaming PC.

Here’s an example: «PUBG» runs with an RTX 2060 Super and Ryzen 5 3600X in 1080p resolution in a great deal of detail, with an average of 120 frames per second (fps). In 1440p resolution, the average frame rate is only 80 fps. If you have a 1440p monitor with a refresh rate of 120 Hertz (Hz), in this 1080p example, you can’t benefit from the monitor’s high frame rate at all.

You can see where I'm going with this: to a certain degree, your PC hardware determines what kind of monitor you need. If your hardware isn’t up to the job, the best monitor on the market won’t make any difference. If gaming isn’t your main focus, a higher resolution can make sense – it has its benefits when you’re surfing the web or in the office.

If you play competitive games, a 1080p display with a high refresh rate is still recommended. You can find models with 240 Hz at a reasonable price, but there are monitors with 1440p or even 2160p resolution with 240 Hz. However, they’re expensive and require a hugely powerful system, which is also very expensive.

1440p is the sweet spot

If you play games in massive, immersive worlds which tell extended stories, you’re better off with higher-resolution monitors. A higher frame rate is less decisive here. Personally, I always say: anything over 60 frames per second is playable. And that’s also possible with new-generation graphics cards – currently either the Nvidia RTX 30 Series or the AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series.

For example, on its highest settings, open world shooter game «Far Cry 6», runs with an RTX 3060 and Ryzen 5 3600X in 1440p resolution with over 60 fps. In theory, a 1440p monitor with 60 Hz would also be enough. Personally, I’d go with a monitor with at least 100 Hz. These kind of displays are available at reasonably affordable prices. They also enable you to play competitive games at lower resolutions so that you can benefit from the higher refresh rate. In most cases, there’s also a minimum of FreeSync included, where the refresh rate is synchronised with the graphics card and screen tearing is no longer an issue.

2160p – it’s becoming more and more tempting

The latest generation of graphics cards also makes displays with 2160p resolution an attractive option. With an RTX 3080 and Ryzen 5 5600X, there are over 80 fps in «Forza Horizon 5».

Corresponding monitors and PC components are obviously expensive. Games in 2160p draw you into the action more than games in 1440p. And everything looks even better, of course. Which is definitely great for games in huge, immersive worlds where you don’t encounter other gamers.

Verdict: what you need depends on your gaming habits – and your budget

In summary, your choice of monitor depends on how much you can afford and what PC hardware you have. Knowing the type of games you’re going to be playing is also important. That way, you’ll know whether you need a monitor with 1080p, 1440p or 2160p.

Of course, this is far from all there is to say on the matter. Keep your eyes peeled for another article where I’ll take a closer look at refresh rates.

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