Choosing the best monitor for your GPU and PC can be confusing if you aren’t familiar with the capabilities presented by your hardware. We get several queries regarding these products, asking if a particular monitor suits the reader’s specs. This guide is intended to provide tips and knowledge on what to look for to get the best possible gaming experience out of your cash.
Note: Updated January 2023
Monitor Specifications to Consider
These are a few parts and features of your monitor you should consider before choosing the best monitor for your GPU:
Connection Type – Most modern monitors and GPUs have at least a single DisplayPort slot along with some HDMI connectors. Older standards such as DVI and VGA are now being phased out, but a few select models still support them. Out of all of these, DisplayPort 1.2 or higher is the best option since it has enough bandwidth to handle higher resolutions and refresh rates.
Resolution – The resolution you choose is directly affected by your own GPU and its processing power. 1080p is the most common, followed by 1440p and 4K. It’s safe to assume that the required GPU power goes up by 70% and higher between the resolution types.
Refresh Rate – If you want to consistently play at frames above 60 FPS on any title, you need to have a meaty GPU. Some GPU models and generations can get away with a higher resolution with tweaked graphics settings. But, it’s always safe to have a higher ceiling or follow the recommendations below to get optimal performance out of your PC.
G-Sync or FreeSync – This aspect of a monitor is tied to the brand of GPU you are using. G-Sync only functions with Nvidia GPUs while FreeSync is to AMD cards, limiting your options to your brand preference. Of course, all monitors will perform with both cards, but you don’t get to enjoy the smooth and tear-free visuals promised by these technologies.
Best Monitor for GPU Tiers and Models
Each tier will represent best-selling GPUs matched with monitors that we think will work best with them. Note that you are not limited to the specified variants but should select something identical for optimal performance.
I. Entry Level
Budget-friendly builds are common because almost anyone can afford to assemble a gaming unit. Due to their minimal system requirements, Entry-level PCs are also famous for E-Sports titles such as Dota 2 and League of Legends.
Nvidia RTX 3050 and Gigabyte G27F2
The RTX 3050 is a great budget gaming card since it’s the cheapest option that offers DLSS. This technology makes it great for 1080p 144Hz and beyond, depending on your games. The Gigabyte G27F2 is a fantastic value monitor with a large screen and excellent image quality.
AMD RX 6500 XT and AOC 24G2SP
The AMD RX 6500 XT is the most affordable card we’d pick for 1080p 144Hz gaming with popular E-Sports titles. The AOC 24G2SP is an equally inexpensive option if you want something with great colors and just the right amount of features. These two will barely breach $400 if bought at the right time, providing you with a solid base for a budget gaming setup.
AMD RX 6600XT and Samsung Odyssey G4
The AMD RX 6600XT and the Samsung Odyssey G4 are your best-priced bets for serious E-Sports gaming. You have to turn down settings if you want to reach the Samsung Odyssey G4’s maximum refresh, or you can push further with the 6700 XT if the budget permits. Either way, you get fantastic performance from a sub-$600 combo.
II. Midrange to Hi-End
The Midrange market, the first few steps of the high-end GPU category, is the most popular out of the three groups. This bracket offers the best cost-to-performance ratio since the cards aren’t too expensive yet provide sufficient power for 144Hz gaming. Some models listed will even allow you to test the waters in higher resolution brackets if you are willing to drop some in-game settings.
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti – Asus PG259QN
The Asus PG259QN might be overkill for the RTX 3060 Ti, but not if you are playing E-Sports titles like Valorant or CSGO. Combining the epitome of 1080p E-Sports monitors with the midrange best-seller will give you a great deal, especially now that the monitor is heavily discounted. You can push up to the RTX 3070 or 3070 Ti, but that’s a sizable jump in cost.
AMD RX 6750 XT – Gigabyte M27Q
The AMD RX 6750 XT can be considered the entry-level pick for 1440p gaming, which is the industry’s sweet spot. Most games will run at 80 FPS at 1440p with ultra settings, but you can tone that down to get more frames. The Gigabyte M27Q doesn’t cost much, so choosing it might free up some cash if you want to upgrade to the 6800 XT for more juice.
Nvidia RTX 4070Ti – Alienware AW3423DW
The Alienware AW3423DW is very popular because of its unique ultrawide QD-OLED panel. The RTX 4070 Ti is an excellent card for it since it can consistently push 144Hz 1440p with modest tweaks to graphics settings. Both are pricey, but the card isn’t as expensive as the 4080 or 4090, so you can squeeze in that sweet QD-OLED upgrade.
AMD RX 7900XT – LG 27GR95QE-B
We’d pick the Radeon RX 7900 XT as a more affordable alternative if you want to maximize your budget and get an OLED monitor like the LG 27GR95QE-B. You need to turn down some settings to push this card and produce higher framerates, but that OLED’s beauty will compensate for the loss. We’d pick a more powerful GPU for this monitor, but the 7900 XT can get the job done for less money.
III. High-End to Enthusiast
The upmarket segment of gaming GPUs will pretty much open your options to every type of monitor available. The cards in this category are potent but costly at almost double the price of some of the midrange options. Hardware like this deserves the best gaming monitors available.
AMD RX 7900 XTX – Cooler Master Tempest GP27U
The Radeon RX 7900 XTX isn’t the most powerful 4K card, but it sits at a more amicable price point than the options below. It can push newer games like Warzone 2 to 120 FPS or more, especially if you turn down some settings. As such, the Cooler Master GP27U and its excellent HDR performance is a brilliant choice that is reasonably priced for this setup.
Nvidia RTX 4080 – Asus PG27AQN
The RTX 4080 is a very efficient and powerful card, so it’s a great top-end pick for 1440p gaming. The Asus PG27AQN, on the other hand, is a 1440p monster that requires an equally opulent card to run it. This GPU is good for 144Hz 1440p with Ray Tracing but turning that, and the graphics settings down make it a viable choice if you want to switch to E-Sports titles.
Nvidia RTX 4090 – Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
Dual GPU or SLI is officially dead, so your only option for top-end gaming is The RTX 4090. 4K Is where it truly shines since that’s where its performance gap with the 4080 will show. Any 4K 144Hz monitor with work great with it, but we picked the equally crazy Odyssey Neo G8 for it since its 4K 240Hz screen will drive the pricey card to its limits.
Editor’s Note: We recommended these monitors to the respective GPUs and their tiers as a baseline to help you determine the best possible option when purchasing. Buying a powerful GPU for a lower-level monitor will always work and enable you to max out graphics settings, but it isn’t practical for most users. On the other hand, buying a gaming display your GPU can’t handle will lead to disappointment and, in some cases, more spending to upgrade the GPU.