15 best 1440p 144Hz + monitors for games [Updated July 2020]

Best 1440p monitor buying guide

So let’s be honest. With a few very special exceptions, a 1440p 144Hz monitor is mainly tailored to the gaming community. That means you can expect our list of the best monitors to be flooded with gaming monitors, even if we continue to swap the old best for the new best. Just because you’re playing doesn’t mean you need a 1440p 144Hz monitor. However, if you are not playing, the 1440p resolution can still be useful.

So we’ll break it down for you. We evaluate what distinguishes a 1440p gaming monitor from other resolutions and monitors, and guide you through the most common specifications and features you need to understand to get the best deal on 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors.

resolution

If you are in this best of guide, we can assume that you are looking for a 1440p monitor. However, we should get a good overview of 1440p before deciding to make extra money on a 1440p gaming monitor. In short, 1440p is like the forgotten middle sibling between Full HD and 4K.

All resolutions are measured in pixels. For example, the 1440p format is often translated as 2560 x 1440, which corresponds to 1920 vertical megapixels and 1440 horizontal megapixels. If you take it apart, it adds up to about four megapixels. All in all, that’s almost twice the megapixel number of Full HD and almost half the megapixel number of 4K.

There is a noticeable difference between these resolutions, but it varies depending on the size of your screen. And while 4K can really change your viewing experience, it may not even be noticeable compared to 1440p on a more modest monitor. Given the small price differences between 1080p and 1440p monitors compared to the very dramatic price jump between 1440p and 4K displays, it only makes sense to invest in 1440p monitors if you want to get the best performance for budgetary reasons. If the budget matters, we recommend you check out our top $ 200 gaming monitors.

Update rate

When buying new gaming monitors, refresh rate and resolution should be your two north stars. The former helps you get the best possible game graphics from your graphics card, while the refresh rate helps you get the best game performance. A 1440p, 144Hz refresh rate monitor is of course the best option, but you can’t reach 1440p, 144Hz at the same time unless you have a graphics card that can keep up. When you buy the best 1440p monitor, you don’t want to scale your expectations beyond the hardware specifications of your PC.

A 144 Hz gaming monitor should be enough to satisfy most players. We generally consider an update rate of 60 Hz for most off-game activities. However, once you start competing, a high refresh rate is crucial. A higher refresh rate means that you can react quickly to the on-screen displays. Increasing the refresh rate from 60 Hz to 144 Hz is quite dramatic for games.

You may have noticed that some of the best gaming monitor models we evaluated promise high refresh rates that exceed 144 Hz. In many cases, this high refresh rate is a symptom of overclocking: a process that allows you to go beyond the standards set by the manufacturer. This way, you get the best gaming experience by getting a boost of around 10 to 20%. A recent development is the high-resolution rate of 240 Hz. We recommend sticking to the best 1440p 144Hz monitor you can currently afford, as you will rarely find a gaming monitor that supports 1440p and 240Hz simultaneously without to pay excessively.

Screen size

We’ve already talked about how much screen size can affect the quality of your gaming experience and how you can benefit when you get 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors. However, if your screen isn’t big enough, the 1440p 144Hz gaming performance won’t even notice. The best gaming experience on a TV is inevitably different from the best gaming experience on a monitor, as players sit in front of each display while playing.

A monitor that is too large can actually be a liability. Features like 1440p, 144 Hz, and 1 ms response time don’t matter if you can’t see the entire monitor, and there are many genres that require full frame recognition. Much of the best gaming monitors will be 27 inches tall – this is the ideal size for both gaming and 1440p resolution.

That doesn’t mean you can’t grow taller. There are also a lot of great curved gaming monitors out there, and they’re one of the best options for gaming as they give you more space without compromising the use of your peripherals or forcing you to sit halfway in the room.

Panel type

There are three different types of display panels to choose from when choosing the best 1440p 144Hz game monitor. However, this does not mean that there is a single type of display that works best. Instead, each display field has some advantages and disadvantages that make it suitable for different types of games.

• A Vertical orientation The (VA) panel prevents light from getting through the filter. In practice, this means that the darkest darkness is darker and the light is brighter. The contrast ratio is exceptional here, but the graphics and performance cannot reach the size of an IPS or TN panel. A VA panel is the center of choice for games in terms of key game features and pricing.
• A In-plane switchover The IPS panel is all about excellent color rendering and graphic performance. Games just look better on an IPS panel, and that makes them one of the obvious options for single player games. And because they look great from a wide angle, they’re the best gaming monitor for local multiplayer.
• If you are looking for the best gaming monitor for online multiplayer, the best case is for TN panels. A TN panel emphasizes responsiveness, and the best models have no problem achieving 1440p and 144Hz performance at the same time. Despite these immediate advantages of a TN panel, it is also the cheapest type of panel. The only downside is that a TN panel is bad in practically everything else. Color rendering, maximum brightness and viewing angle are weaker than with an IPS or VA panel.

answer

The response time is the second important factor for the performance of a monitor. While an update rate of 1440p indicates how often a screen is reloaded, this metric indicates the time it takes the monitor to switch from gray to white and back again. In faster times, you can see your opponent faster. It is important for online games, but it will be less important if you prefer slow games or single player games.

Times of 5 milliseconds are more than sufficient for single players. But smaller numbers are always better for competitive players. 1 to 2 milliseconds should meet the needs of most players, but the best models can actually respond in half a millisecond.

Entry delay

The entry delay is not always listed as clearly as other factors such as response time or resolution. Learn how long it takes the monitor to recognize the signal when you press a key on a keyboard, mouse, or controller. The most committed players may want to rate the entry delay, but this won’t be a serious problem for most players. And in general, the input delay is anyway proportional to the refresh rate and response time.

links

As a rule of thumb, HDMI cables are best suited for console games, while DisplayPort cables are more suitable for PC games. The former is simply a matter of convenience. Modern generation consoles only have an HDMI connection. However, if you can manage it, comparable generations of DisplayPort technology will actually do better on all major metrics.

Adaptive Sync

A refresh rate of 144 Hz is often more than a game needed, and that’s what makes adaptive synchronization such a cool technology. This creates a variable refresh rate that changes with the requirements of the game you are playing. This results in smoother graphics and a more seamless experience.

There are two main forms of adaptive synchronization: NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Note that using G-Sync typically requires a computer with an NVIDIA processor and monitor that is expressly compatible with G-Sync. A compatible monitor and AMD processor is also required to run FreeSync.

Wrap up

1440p, 144Hz games aren’t the top of refresh rates or resolution, but they are a benchmark that easily fits most players’ needs. 4K is largely irrelevant and 240 Hz outperform most games currently on the market. If you want first-class gaming performance without paying a fortune for both a new rig and a monitor, these models are probably the way to go.