For many people, consoles are synonymous with living room gaming, and they connect their PlayStation or Xbox by default to a television. Yet for those who are setting up a console gaming station on a desk rather than an entertainment center, hunting for a competitive edge in online games, or looking to connect a PC and a console to a single display, a PC gaming monitor might make more sense than a standard television.
But when you’re choosing a PC monitor for console gaming, you might need to think a little differently than you would for PC gaming. Consoles have their own performance ceilings and quirks. Here, we’ll take a look at what you can get from shopping in the PC monitor aisle, and we’ll offer some concrete suggestions for selecting the best PC monitor for your console gaming setup.
This article is part of our “Back to Basics” series designed to help PC building newcomers make informed decisions about component purchases and assemble their new PC with confidence. Click here to browse the entire collection of posts.
What do PC monitors offer over televisions for console gaming?
While there’s a lot of overlap between the technology used for PC monitors and televisions, they’re typically optimized for different scenarios and bring a different set of advantages to the table.
Here’s what you can get with a gaming monitor:
- Lower input lag. Monitors are built for interactivity, while TVs are designed with picturing processing in mind (motion smoothing, upscaling, etc.). For that reason, even gaming TVs tend to have 10-15ms of input lag, whereas gaming monitors can get as low as 1-5ms. The faster response leads to snappier controls, which you’ll feel right away in competitive games.
- Higher refresh rates and VRR. Most TVs are capped at 60Hz or 120Hz. High-refresh-rate monitors these days start at 144Hz and can exceed 500Hz. Monitors also tend to have more consistent VRR (variable refresh rate) support, which smooths out gameplay when framerates dip.
- Sharper image at desk distance. TV screens are usually designed to be viewed from across the room. If you’re going to sit up close to a display, it’s better to select a gaming monitor thanks to their higher pixel density. Text, HUDs, and fine details will look crisper and easier to read.
- Price to performance: A high-end gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 often (but not always) costs less than an equivalently specced gaming TV with full 4K/120Hz/VRR/HDR performance. If you don’t need a huge screen, you can save money with a monitor while still getting advanced features.
- Desk-friendly size: If you’re gaming a desk, perhaps switching between your console and PC, a 27 to 32-inch monitor is far more practical than a 48 to 65-inch TV.
- Better multitasking / PC compatibility: If you’re looking to connect a console and a PC to a display, a monitor offers many advantages over a television. A PC gaming monitor will typically offer DisplayPort inputs, USB hub functionality, better ergonomic adjustments, and more robust support for variable resolutions.
What resolution is best for console gaming with a PC monitor?
The first thing to keep in mind as you’re looking for the best PC monitor for a console gaming setup is resolution. For the most part, both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X support 4K, 1440, and 1080p resolutions, giving you plenty of flexibility for selecting a gaming monitor.
That said, there are a few quirks to keep in mind with the PlayStation 5. In quality mode, you get native 4K output. Connect it to a 1440p monitor in this mode, and it’ll downsample the image to fit your monitor. That is one of the finest antialiasing techniques out there, but the frame rate will be relatively lower, making this combination more suitable for role-playing games than competitive shooters. In performance mode, your PlayStation 5 will target 60 or 120 FPS by dynamically adjusting resolution somewhere between 1440p and 1080p.
All told, we’ll recommend a 4K gaming monitor for most users. It’s a perfect fit for quality mode while also providing seamless support for games in which you prefer performance mode. 1440p monitors do tend to be cheaper, though, making them a good fit for gamers on a budget. Also, if you tend to keep performance mode enabled nearly all the time, perhaps because you play competitive games like Call of Duty almost exclusively, you might never see the benefits of a 4K monitor, making a 1440p monitor a smarter play.
What other specifications are important for console gaming on a PC monitor?
Pay close attention to the port selection provided by your PC monitor. To take full advantage of 120Hz modes on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, you need a monitor with an HDMI 2.1 port and an HDMI 2.1 cable. Older HDMI 2.0 ports will work, with some limitations, but if you’re shopping for a monitor today, you’re better off targeting HDMI 2.1. So many PC monitors offer the latest standard that it doesn’t make sense to settle for less.
Second, look for robust variable refresh rate (VRR) support, which prevents screen tearing and stutter when frame rates fluctuate. For the best experience, we recommend that you use a reputable review site to help you confirm that your monitor will support VRR with your console. Not every monitor with HDMI 2.1 supports HDMI VRR. Don’t assume that just because a monitor supports G-SYNC that you’ll get have access to VRR with your consoles.
A few other specs and niceties to keep in mind as you’re picking a gaming monitor. Low input lag is one of the key benefits of grabbing a monitor over a television, so don’t miss out: for a premium experience, aim for less than 2ms of input lag. You’ll get plenty responsive gameplay with less than 5ms, if that’s a better fit for your budget. For the most immersive visuals in story-driven AAA adventures, you might prefer an HDR-capable monitor. Look for a VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification at minimum, or a VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 or 500 certification if you’re looking at an OLED gaming monitor. A rich set of ergonomic adjustments will ensure that you can position your monitor for long-term comfort, and you might get more use than you expect out of extras like a tripod socket, smartphone holder, and USB hub.
Is an OLED or LCD monitor better for console gaming?
In both the television and PC monitor markets, OLED panels are your premium picks. Put an OLED monitor next to an LCD monitor, and you’ll see the difference right away. With their high-end contrast, vibrant colors, and ultra-low response times, OLED displays give you colorful, clear images that pop off the screen. Some users expressed concern about burn-in with early-gen OLED panels, but this issue has almost entirely been mitigated by newer OLED panel types and display cooling techniques.
If an OLED monitor doesn’t fit your budget, you should know that you can still get a lot of value out of an LCD monitor. We tend to recommend monitors with a Fast IPS panel these days, as they offer a better blend of color performance, contrast, and speed than TN or VA panels, but options with an ultra-fast Esports-TN panel offer incredible speed for competitive gaming.
What are the best PC monitors for console gaming?
The best PC monitor for your console gaming setup depends on a variety of factors, but we can certainly make a few specific recommendations.
Let’s say that you focus primarily on online competitive shooters like Call of Duty or Battlefield. For you, we’ll recommend a 27-inch monitor, which will keep all the action closer to the center of your field of view. The ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM is your premium pick, giving you the exquisite visuals of OLED technology alongside HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support for any console. A more wallet-friendly alternative is the TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A, which is equipped with a Fast IPS panel and HDMI 2.1 ports ready to support 4K 120Hz gaming on either the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
Depending on the time of day when you tend to bust out the controller, you might need to think about how your monitor is equipped to handle high ambient light conditions and reflections. One of the latest ROG OLED gaming monitors equipped with the TrueBlack Glossy coating might be the best pick for you. Check out the ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG, a 32-inch gaming monitor with a 4K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and an extra-bright WOLED panel.
One last recommendation: the ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG. This monitor makes cutting-edge OLED tech available for wider audiences through its $699.00 (USD) price point. As a 1440p 240Hz display, it’s well-suited for competitive gaming, and it gives you supremely responsive gameplay through its fast response times and low input lag. If you’re able to wait just a bit, a new version of this display is on the way, and it’s equipped with the TrueBlack Glossy coating and a redesigned stand that reduces its footprint on your desk.