Building a PC: Choosing the Right Monitor

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When it comes to gaming, you need a good monitor. Without a monitor, you can't see what you're doing. The first step in choosing your monitor is to figure out the type. There are three main types: twisted nematic (TN), in-plane switching (IPS), and vertical alignment (VA). The names relate to the alignment of molecules within the LCD (liquid crystal display), and how they change when voltage is applied. All LCD monitors change the alignment of these molecules to work, but how they do so can drastically affect the image and response time. Each panel type has advantages and disadvantages. The easiest way to choose between them is to decide which attributes are most important to you. This largely depends on what you use your computer for, and how much you have to spend.

TN Panels:
While newer panels are always better than their predecessors, TN display technology still suffers from some notable drawbacks. One is its limited viewing angles, particularly on the vertical axis. It’s not unusual for a TN panel’s colors to invert completely when you view it from an extreme angle. Its color reproduction also isn’t that strong either. Most TN panels are incapable of displaying 24-bit true color and, instead, rely on interpolation to simulate the correct shades. This can result in visible color banding, and inferior contrast ratios when compared with IPS or VA panels. There are better options than TN displays.

IPS Panels:
IPS technology was developed to improve upon the limitations of TN panels—most notably, the poor color reproduction and limited viewing angles. IPS panels have vastly superior viewing angles than TN. Additionally, IPS panels are also known for their relatively good black reproduction, which helps eliminate the “washed out” look you get with TN panels. However, IPS panels fall short of the excellent contrast ratios you’ll find on VAs.

VA Panels:
Last but not least, we have the VA panels, which are something of a compromise between TN and IPS. They offer the best contrast ratios, which is why TV manufacturers use them extensively. VAs have slower response times than TNs and the newer Nano IPS panels with their one-millisecond response rates. VA monitors can come with high refresh rates (240 Hz), but this latency can result in more ghosting and motion blur. If you're looking for competitive gaming, try to avoid VA panels.

Now that you've decided which type of monitor to buy, you will need to figure out if that model will be compatible with your graphics card. With the GeForce RTX 2070, you will play at 144 FPS at high settings, and the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti will put you up at 200 FPS. The RTX 2070 can do 1440p at 144 Hz right now. However, at 1080p, you should consistently get 100+ FPS in any well-optimized game. If your monitor's refresh rate is lower than that of your graphics card, you will not get the full power of the graphics card.


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