The Best 144Hz Monitor for the Ultimate Gaming Station

Finding Your Next 144hz Monitor: A Buyer’s Guide

With advancements in technology and the corresponding rise in the number of options available on the market, adequate knowledge about whatever you're looking to buy, especially computer-related, has added significance. Let’s face it, keeping track of these current trends in technology and how they translate to functionality is tough. We will answer all of your pressing questions in this complete guide to choosing the best 144Hz monitors in 2022.

What Are 144hz Monitors, and Why Are They the Monitors of Choice for the Majority of Gamers?

144Hz monitors are called this because they have a refresh rate of 144Hz. A monitor's refresh rate refers to the frequency at which a monitor can refresh the image on its display; it is measured in Hertz (Hz). It is the number of times a monitor will update the information it displays in one second, and it varies from 64Hz to 240Hz in most modern displays. The lower a monitor's refresh rate, the more likely it is that you can visibly notice screen flicker, a phenomenon whereby a visible change in brightness between cycles is displayed on video displays. A higher refresh rate means better, seamless display and gameplay. It also boosts your gaming as you can better see and react to things in real-time. This advantage is most apparent with fast-paced games.

Although 240Hz monitors exist (and 360Hz monitors are very uncommon), 144Hz monitors are still the more popular options with gamers worldwide.
Why is this, you may wonder?

• The first reason is that although the 240Hz and 360Hz monitors are better on paper, the difference in real-life functionality compared to the cheaper and more common 144Hz monitors is barely noticeable, unlike the very apparent jump in functionality from 60Hz to 120Hz to 144Hz. And so, for most gamers, the vast difference in price makes it not quite worth it.
• Another reason why the 144Hz monitors are preferred is that they harness the power of your 240/360Hz monitor fully. You’ll need a pretty powerful graphics card and processor. If you own a powerful enough setup, there is no point splurging on a powerful monitor that your rig cannot run to the fullest.
• And finally, most games in the market today operate in the 60Hz to 120Hz range, so a 144Hz would cope sufficiently with room to spare.

In conclusion, a 144Hz monitor would serve the average gamer perfectly well, but if you can afford monitors with higher refresh rates, you don’t mind spending the extra cash and having the rig to run them. Then you should definitely go for one of these models. Even the slight edge these provide can make all the difference in the brutal world of competitive gaming.

How Do I Decide Which 144hz Monitor To Buy?

Even amongst monitors running a 144Hz refresh rate, some offer features that make them better suited to your needs. Here are some of the top considerations when choosing a 144Hz monitor.

Screen size and resolution

The size of your screen and the resolution/pixel density it offers is one massively vital factor to consider. Monitors generally range from 22 inches to 50 inches, with the most popular gaming monitors in the 25- to 35-inch range. While the temptation is to assume that the bigger the screen, the better, it is not always the case with 144Hz monitors. When considering the screen size, you should factor in the monitor's resolution. Typically, gaming monitors offer Full HD (1920 x 1080), QHD or 2K (2560 x 1440), and 4K or UHD (3840 x 2160) resolutions. You should aim for the right balance of size and resolution to give you a very sharp image. A large screen with 'low' resolution would result in less clear images, while a 4k resolution would be wasted on a smaller screen. A pixel density of 100 to 120 pixels/inch is ideal.

Response time

Aside from a monitor's refresh rate, its response time is the other factor that determines how responsive and fluid your gaming would be. The response time is expressed in terms of grey to grey (GtG), the ability to change pixel color quickly, and moving picture response time (MPRT), the tendency of a monitor to show blurs. A monitor with a slow response time would result in input lag that may be noticeable, especially in fast-paced games, such as racing games. You want a monitor with an MPRT of 1ms and GtG of less than 4ms.

Panel shape

Monitors can have flat or curved panels. Flat panels are common and commoner styles. Many gamers prefer curved monitors because they offer a more immersive experience, wider field of view, and help protect against eye strain. The degree of a monitor’s curve is given by a number followed by R (radius).

Your gaming rig

Like we already said, your gaming rig is only as powerful as its least powerful component. There is no point in purchasing a top-of-the-line monitor offering features the rest of your setup cannot power. And so, you should ensure your PC or console is powerful enough to run your monitor to capacity or consider upgrading the less than optimal components.

UltraWide or wide-screen

This refers to the aspect ratio of your monitor's display. Ultrawide screens boast an aspect ratio of 21:9 compared to the 16:9 of wide-screen monitors. Thus additional horizontal space grants you a more comprehensive range of view, giving you a performance advantage. Some games don't run in a 21:9 aspect ratio, negating this advantage.

Panel Technology

The main panel technologies for monitors are Twisted Nematic (TN), Vertical Alignment (VA), and In-Plane Switching (IPS). The TN monitors offer the lowest response times, best refresh rates, most negligible motion blur, and low input lag and, as such, are best suited to gaming.

Additional Features

You should consider additional features like adaptive sync (variable refresh rates) like AMD FreeSyn, NVIDIA G-SYNC, or both, HDR, shadow boost technology, and anti-flicker technology. You should also consider the methods of connecting the monitor offers.