How to choose a monitor according to your needs

If we are minimally demanding users, choosing a monitor will not be as easy a task as we can think. There are many features behind them that will be crucial in knowing which to choose, image panel, calibration, size, functions, etc. In this article we will try to explain all the keys to choosing the perfect monitor without taking surprises afterwards.

Asus is one of the manufacturers that is always at the forefront of its products and also offers very high-quality monitors, there is only the latest equipment that we have analyzed, the Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ, a beast of more than 2000 euros with a panel GOES almost perfect. Take it easy, we will not recommend such expensive equipment, but we do recommend the most attractive options for what you need.

Index of contents

Main technical characteristics

We are going to talk first of the basic characteristics that define a monitor, these will be the ones that mainly define the path to follow in our search.

Resolution, size and aspect ratio

The three basic characteristics, we always talk about three basic resolutions, pixel measurements, Full HD (1920x1080p), QHD 2K (2560x1440p) and UHD 4K (3840x2160p). The more pixels, the more elements can be displayed per inch.

Thus we come to the next element, the size, it is measured in inches and the most used in PC are 27 inches or 27 ", 32" and 35 ". In addition to this, we must know the aspect ratio, which indicates the relationship between the width and height of the monitor. In this way we have the panoramic size (16: 9), which are the resolutions described above, and the ultra panoramic (Ultra Wide) of 21: 9, much wider than high and being the natural format of movies. There are even more extreme 32: 9 (3840x1080p) formats.

We could also mention the curvature effect, widely used in ultra panoramic monitors. Basically it's about adding an inward curve to the monitor to increase immersion and simulate our range of vision. This curvature is usually 1800R, or with a radius of 1.8 meters.

Brightness, contrast ratio, frequency and response

These are the other basic features that every user should know about a monitor. The brightness of a screen will mark the luminous power of its panel, measured in nits or cd / m ². There are certain brightness values ​​that can be certified by the VESA standard and that are related to the ability to display content in HDR (High Dynamic Range). Thus we have the certifications DisplayHDR 400, 600 or even 1000. The contrast ratio is simply the ratio of the brightest white that can be displayed to the darkest black.

Then we have the refresh rate, which is the number of times the monitor refreshes the displayed image. The higher the frequency, the smoother the moving images will appear. The human eye can catch the flicker of a maximum of 60 Hz, but it will be able to differentiate well the fluidity of an image between 50Hz and 144 Hz, from there the perception of improvement will be less. AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync technologies allow the monitor to dynamically adapt its refresh, improving image quality and blur.

The response speed is simply the time it takes for the monitor to receive the signal and display the image, the lower it is, the less LAG there will be between the graphics card and the monitor.

Panel type

And the most important of these concepts cited is the panel, which is basically the technology used to generate the image on the monitor. There are numerous imaging technologies on the market, but we will find 3 or 4 main ones that are:

TN:

They are the longest running panels, and are the cheapest to produce. They are mainly used for gaming monitors, since they allow frequencies of up to 240 Hz to be reached with response times of only 0.5 ms in the latest models. In contrast, these panels have poor color rendering and small mink angles. The Asus VG278QR is one of the manufacturer's most iconic monitors with this panel.

IPS (PLS):

These panels represent color fidelity much better by having better contrast reaching 100% sRGB or more than 98% DCI-P3. They are generally slower than TNs, although we currently have 144Hz IPS and 1ms response time. Plus, they have viewing angles of 180o. One of the best monitors built is the ProArt PA32UC-K special for design.

VA (MVA and PVA variants):

It is the mix between IPS and TN, to make a panel with great quality in colors and also excellent frequency and response. Asus often uses this type of panel a lot, for example, in the powerful Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ.

OLED

Very few monitors still have this organic LED technology, and they are left for mobile screens and some televisions. Its consumption is lower than the other panels and also the color representation is broader and more accurate, as long as it is calibrated for it.

How should a gaming monitor be and what should it have?

ASUS Strix gaming monitor

We have already seen the basic characteristics that are presented in a monitor, in its technical sheet, so it is time to put it into practice when buying a monitor.

For a professional player, image quality is not exactly the priority, so an IPS panel is not a preferred option, so we will move between VA and especially TN. The approach is simple, we must prioritize the refresh rate and the response speed, and Asus has panels up to 240 Hz and only 0.5 ms response. In this case, with about 165 Hz we would have more than enough, because we have already said that the human eye hardly appreciates improvements at these high frequency rates.

Perhaps you think that the more size and resolution the better, but the truth is that it is, on the contrary. A gamer wants to see the entire screen without constantly shaking his head, so 27 inches is the perfect size for Full HD resolution, and no curvature. Something very important will be that it has dynamic refresh technology, Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, they offer practically the same, and currently both are compatible. Nvidia's technology is of course more expensive, while AMD FreeSync is free licensed.

Asus implements its own technologies, such as different image modes with GameVisual, tactical options such as crosshairs, timers or customizable alignment through GamePlus, or GameFast, which reduces the response time between GPU and monitor to the minimum possible. And for long hours of play, a good TÜV Rheinland certified blue light filter will be a good choice.

Image quality and calibration on professional monitors

The other main utility is professional design, where calibration and high color fidelity is mandatory. Here the panel is almost clear, it must be a very good quality IPS or VA. While the resolution should be at least 2K and better 4K, depending on whether we are going to focus on creating video or photo content.

Monitors that are not curved are often preferred, to obtain less distortion of the image in our vision, but they are Ultra Wide design, since the current video content is almost all in 21: 9 format and the screen is better used. And it must surely be HDR10 and at least a brightness of 400 nits or higher.

But the most important thing will be to look at the color space, this is the ability to accurately represent the colors of the pixels on the screen. There are several spaces, the most used are: sRGB and Adobe RGB for photography, DCI-P3 for video editing in UHD and Rec. 709 and 2020 also for video editing. Related to this is color depth, which is the number of colors that a pixel can represent, and on a design monitor it will presumably be 10 bits (1.07 billion colors) or greater.

After being clear about its percentage of represented color space, we must see its calibration quality, which is used to measure the degree of fidelity between real colors (those seen by the human eye) and those displayed by the monitor. This difference is represented by a Delta E or ΔE, and for the human eye not to distinguish between real and digital color, it must be delta E <3 and less than 2 for grays. The less the better, and here there are certification bodies such as Pantone and X-Rite that validate the quality of the monitor in question.

What will be the main use of the monitor?

If you are looking at this article, it is because you are not satisfied with simply buying the most "beautiful" monitor that you see at the best price, you are looking for something that really adapts to what you need. We can classify monitors more or less into three categories, monitors for general use, gaming and design.

The first category of general use is not too special either, we are users who use the computer to do practically anything, play games, watch movies, surf, work, etc. And it is here where the possibilities are many, and it will depend on the tastes of each one, the money and the size and resolution that they are looking for. For example, we might like a curved monitor at all costs, an Ultra Wide one or simply a large screen with 4K resolution to experience image quality.

In professional gaming the possibilities are reduced, of course, we are talking about e-sports, competitive gaming in which beating rivals involves more than just fun, being a way of earning a living from it. In this case, high resolution will be a natural enemy and Full HD (1920x1080p) will be the key. Why? Easy, the less resolution the more FPS the graphics card will achieve, the greater fluidity, the better response and the better reactions we will have. The 16: 9 format will be the most used, since the character and HUD will be in front of us, and we will not have the need to constantly turn our heads wasting time.

And finally we have the monitors for design, again we are not talking about someone who will eventually edit an image in Photoshop, but rather a professional and content creator who needs color fidelity, adequate depth and color space and great panel calibration, presumably IPS. The high 4K resolution and even the Ultra Wide, here it will be an ally, more space to work and more things will fit on the screen.

Most Recommended Asus Monitors

After seeing a brief description of the main characteristics and concepts related to the monitors, let's see what are the star models that we recommend. We will start with the ones that we consider TOP in each area, focusing especially on gaming monitors as they are the most influential in the market.

Asus VG278QR

Asus VG278QR BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PC COMPONENTS

First of all, let's look at the monitor that offers the best features regarding its price oriented to e-Sports, specifically for FPS and MOBA games. In this case, the refresh rate of 165 in overclocking, the 16: 9 aspect ratio and the response speed of just 0.5ms are the most important thing for competition.

Of course this monitor has a TN panel and Full HD resolution, in competition a higher one does not make any sense. And something that does make sense is dynamic refreshment, so implement AMD FreeSync alongside ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) to eliminate blur as much as possible. In addition to having GamePlus, it also includes GameFast, to improve the LAG input of the connection as much as possible.

Asus MG278Q

Asus MG278Q BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PC COMPONENTS ASUS MG278Q - 27 '' 2K WQHD gaming monitor (2560 x 1440, 1ms, up to 144Hz, FreeSync) 144Hz refresh and AMD FreeSync technology for smooth action; ASUS Technologies: Ultra-Low Blue Light, Flicker-Free, GamePlus and GameVisual 532.37 EUR

And the second 27-inch Asus monitor that offers us better features for all games in general, both competitive and RPG. In this case, a refresh rate of 144 Hz will be the most indicated, since offering a 2K resolution, it is difficult for a GPU to exceed these figures.

It features a gaming-exclusive TN panel with a 1ms response, and Nvidia G-Sync dynamic refresh technology. The Ultra-Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free technology that it implements will prevent our eyesight from tiring after hours of gameplay, and GamePlus and GameVisual cannot be absent as tactical support for the player.

Asus ROG Swift PG27VQ

Asus ROG Swift PG27VQ BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PCS ASUS PG27VQ 27 "Wide Quad HD TN Black PC Display - Monitor (68.6 cm (27"), 2560 x 1440 Pixels, LED, 1 ms, 400 CD / m, Black) The ergonomic base allows you to adjust the inclination, height and angle of the screen 749.00 EUR

And this third emblematic model also 27 inches, we can classify it as the monitor that unites everything else, suitable for the most demanding users, although behind they will need a graphics card to match. And it is that we have a 2K WQHD resolution (2560x1440p) in a curved configuration at 1800R and with a refresh rate of 165 Hz at 1 ms response.

It features Nvidia G-Sync dynamic refresh technology on a gaming- optimized TN panel. Its ultra-thin frames are intended for use in a matrix configuration with up to three monitors for simulators. We have GamePlus, GameVisual and Nvidia 3D Vision technology together with a spectacular RGB AURA lighting section on the back and projector of the base.

ASUS ProArt PA329Q

Asus ROG Swift PG27VQ BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PCS ASUS PA329Q COMPONENTS - 32 '' ProArt Professional Monitor (81.28 cm, 4K UHD, 3840 x 2160, IPS, Quantum Dot, 99.5% Adobe RGB, Hardware Calibration) 100% Playback Rec. 709 color space and 99.5% Adobe RGB; Factory Calibrated Color - Compatible with DIC-P3 and Rec color standards. 2020 EUR 1, 017.00

With permission from the impressive and expensive PA32UC-K, we believe that this model is the one that offers excellent performance based on its price. It has everything a designer could ask for, a 32-inch 4K resolution IPS panel with Quantum Dot Enhancement Film technology that enhances the color spectrum to deliver the highest image quality for multimedia and photography.

It has a 90% color space in DCI-P3, 99.5% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB and 100% in Rec.709, one of the best in the segment. Additionally, we have Delta E <2 calibration and an internal color palette of no less than 14 bits deep with uniformity compensation. Finally it offers 4 USB 3.0 connectivity and two 3W speakers.

Other recommended models

In addition to this top of monitors for gamers and other needs, we are going to see other very relevant models that are 100% recommended from our point of view, for their success in sales and excellent quality / price.

Asus Rog Strix XG27VQ

Asus ROG Strix XG27VQ - 27 "Curved Gaming Monitor (Full HD, 1920x1080p resolution, 144Hz, Extreme Low Motion Blur, Adaptive-Sync, FreeSync)

• 27-inch curved monitor with 144Hz refresh rate for professional gamers and gaming fans MOBAExtreme Low Motion Blur eliminates blurring and Adaptive Sync (FreeSync) prevents clipping The ROG Strix XG series of monitors include ASUS Aura RGB backlighting and a light projection that users can customize The ergonomic base allows to regulate the inclination, height and angle of the screen The XG27VQ is the monitor chosen by the e-sports team ASUS ROG ARMY as its official product to reach the highest in the gaming world

405.00 EUR Buy on Amazon BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PC COMPONENTS

Asus ROG Swift PG278QR

ASUS PG278QR ROG Swift - 27 "WQHD Gaming Monitor (2560x1440, 1ms, 165Hz, NVIDIA G-Sync, Ultra-Low Blue Light, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI, USB 3.0x2, Height-adjustable base, rotation and rotation), black

• 27-inch display with 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution and 170-degree viewing angle Monitor with 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology for smooth action Ultra-Blue Light, Anti-flicker, GamePlus, and GameVisual technologies for A more comfortable gaming experience Ergonomic base that allows you to regulate the inclination, height, rotation and rotation

718.19 EUR Buy on Amazon BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PC COMPONENTS

ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q

ASUS PG279Q ROG Swift - 27 "Desktop PC Monitor (165 Hz, WLED IPS, WQHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, 16: 9, 350 cd / m2 brightness, 1, 000: 1 contrast

• 27-inch IPS, 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution and 178-degree viewing angle Monitor with 165Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology for smooth action, ultra-light blue light, anti-flicker, GamePlus and GameVisual technologies for a gaming experience Comfortable base with ergonomic tilt, height, rotation and swivel adjustment The product is manufactured in 2019

362.44 EUR Buy on Amazon BUY GX502GW-ES006T ON PC COMPONENTS

Conclusion on choosing monitor

This is our informative article on how to choose the best monitor for our needs. We have given you a good sample of the manufacturer Asus of model that really are a success for their benefits, so your purchase is in good hands.

We also leave you with our guide to the best monitors on the market

In it we substantially expand the recommended models for all types of public. What monitor would you buy yourself?