As a gamer myself I’m picky about my computer’s performance, graphics card, and even my mouse. Perhaps what I’m pickiest about is the visuals. I’ve gone to several LAN parties where I’ve used a monitor that was too small or even too big and I just didn’t play as well. Poor response time and screen quality is noticeable to me and seems to reflect upon my gaming especially for FPS-type games.
Over the years I’ve used a lot of monitors and even televisions to game with. While CRT monitors were obviously very responsive when it comes to input lag, I must say I still prefer the liquid crystal displays that we use today. Some gamers go out of their ways to find a nice CRT gaming monitor to use; however, if you find a responsive LCD gaming monitor, then you shouldn’t notice much of a difference and you can avoid all of that extra bulk.
In this post I’ll be reviewing some of my favorite TN panel gaming monitors. In the next week I’ll also be putting together a list of the best IPS and 3D gaming monitors as well for those of you who’d prefer to stay clear of TN panels.
Choosing a Gaming Monitor
There are really two types of monitors that gamers are looking for. Those with a low response time and those with both a low response time and input lag. For the most part gamers looking for gaming monitors with just a low response time as most aren’t even familiar with the term input lag as it isn’t posted by manufacturers.
These are two different terms. Response time is the time it takes for a pixel to go from black to white and then back again. Most advertised response times are gray to gray. This is why many of them seem so exaggerated. A high response time can sometimes cause blurriness in the picture. Input lag, however, is the delay in responsiveness from when the signal is sent to your monitor or TV and when it is actually displayed.
If you play games that are reaction based like fighter or FPS-type, then a specification like input lag can be especially crucial. That being said most of the time that I have purchased a monitor with a low response time I haven’t noticed input lag in excess of a single frame rate (16ms) on standard gaming TN panel monitors. For the monitors I’ve chosen I simply don’t have all of the input lag numbers. For those that I do I’ll be sure to list them in the comparison table.
Top 10 Best TN Panel PC Gaming Monitors 2012
If you’ve read up on productivity, then you know that a larger monitor up to 24 inches can help to make you more productive in the work place. I would say that its similar with gaming up to about 27 inches. Anything larger than 27 inches seems to big and anything much smaller than 24 inches just seems to be too small.
1.) ASUS VH236H EVO Gaming Monitor
If you’re looking for an inexpensive monitor that gives you a great response time and low input lag, then this is one of the best you’ll find. The VH236H has been used in the Evolution fighting-style gaming tournaments and thus has been nicknamed “EVO”.
Pros: Inexpensive, 8.3ms input lag, 2ms response time, and Full HD resolution.
Cons: Internal speakers aren’t the greatest, the picture is good not great when compared to LED monitors released in the last year, and the menu is a little bit tricky. This monitor is also considerably thicker than this year’s models.
Other Thoughts: For the money this is a great budget gaming monitor. Are there better monitors out there? Yes. Will you pay significantly more for them? Absolutely.
*See all ten monitors on our gaming monitor comparison table for an easy way to compare and review!
2.) Viewsonic VX2453MH-LED
The new VX2453MH-LED from Viewsonic has a convenient design which allows you to completely remove the base and lean it back. Without the base it weighs under 9 pounds and is super easy to take to Lan parties or on business trips. It also has integrated speakers which have been hidden within the somewhat large bezel around the frame. While the bezel doesn’t bother me personally it could be a deal breaker for some.
For those who would rather have a larger monitor there is also a 27 inch version of this monitor the VX2753MH-LED.
Pros: 2ms response time, 1920x1080p Full HD resolution, 30,000,000:1 MEGA Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 2xHDMI and VGA inputs, Energy efficient, boostand option,
Cons: Large bezel, integrated speakers have limited volume, no DVI input.
3.) Asus ML238H Ultra-Slim LED Gaming Monitor
Pros: 2 ms Response Time, HDMI 1.3, Ultra-slim 16.5 mm Profile, 1080p, Ergo-Fit II ring stand is sturdier than previous models, 250 nits brightness, and Asus 10M:1 Smart Contrast Ratio.
Cons: While some love the ring stand, it may cause issues for some. No DVI input; however, it does come with an HDMI to DVI cable.
4.) Acer H243H bmid
Pros: 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2ms response time, D-Sub, DVI, HDMI connectors, and VESA compatible for mounting.
Cons: No Height adjustment and the touch sensitive buttons were a little unresponsive.
For a full review of this monitor’s specifications as well as all on this list see our Gaming Monitor Comparison chart.
5.) Samsung S24A350H Gaming Monitor
The S24A350H is a new monitor from Samsung first released in 2011. It has an ultra-slim design and Samsung’s Magic Angle technology which greatly improves clarity from wider angles.Pros: 2ms response time, weighs only 8.6 pounds, 1080p HD, optimal picture with Samsung’s LED backlighting technology, energy efficient, D-Sub, and HDMI connectors.
Cons: Only a 1 year warranty as compared to 3 with most manufacturers. No DVI.
6.) Samsung P2770FH 27-Inch Full HD LCD Monitor
Pros: 1ms response time, 1920×1080 resolution, 70,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, sleek design, 16.7 Million display colors, DVI-I, and HDMI connectors.
Cons: No VESA mount and the stand is not quite as sturdy as I’d like. Factory settings need some adjustment.
7.) ViewSonic VA2702W
8.) Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED
9.) Dell G2410H
10.) ASUS VE278Q Gaming Monitor
Pros: 2 ms (GTG) Response Time, LED 10,000,000:1 (ASCR), D-Sub, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, +20° to -5° tilt adjustment, 2 x 3W stereo RMS integrated speakers, and has VESA 100mm x 100mm mounting holes.
Cons: May need additional callibration and the stand could be sturdier.
About:
Do you have a favorite TN monitor? Be sure to vote below. Also if there’s a monitor that you feel we should feature here, then be sure to leave a comment below. Please do not include IPS or 3D gaming monitors. Also take a look at this year’s top LCD gaming monitors.
