Article Updated January 2021
A hardcore gamer describes players who have invested a lot of time and energy into honing their skills and learning about their chosen game titles, with a PC specification that enables them to get the very best out of their gaming sessions. However, with the rapid advancements and changes in monitor technology, their display may not be providing the best visuals as newer models. This article will help guide you to the best type of monitor to purchase for hardcore gaming, depending on the type of games you play, and the experience you want.
In This Guide:
Required Core Features
When choosing a monitor, it is important to know what kind of games will be played on it, as there are a few different types of display to choose from, and each one has strengths and weaknesses in certain games. We're going to cover this later, so you can choose a monitor that is perfect for the types of games you're going to play on it.
Of course, the specification of the PC itself plays a part, and this can be a difficult aspect of choosing a display if you have no clue what's inside a PC! Luckily, there are certain "core" features that virtually all gamers need in a monitor - and by choosing a monitor that ticks every box, you cannot really go wrong.
These features are easily found in all monitor specifications, no matter where you're buying from. Here's an example of how CCL displays these core features:
The core features all hardcore gamers need: -
- Refresh Rate – The refresh rate should be 120Hz minimum, so that 1080p and 1440p (and higher) resolution gaming has smooth visuals.
- G-Sync or FreeSync* – These two technologies enable a monitor to sync with the framerate of a graphics card resulting in smoother visuals. It is important to know whether the PC they'll be using has an Nvidia (G-Sync) or AMD (FreeSync) graphics card for maximum compatibility.
*NOTE: This feature is fairly optional, as most modern games have sync and framerate options that enable the player to adjust their settings so there are no sync issues. FreeSync & G-Sync certainly make life easier, however. - Response Time – The lowest response time (how fast a monitor switches from one colour to another) should be 3ms (3 milliseconds) to reduce ghosting and blurry visuals, though most gaming monitor manufacturers strive for 1ms.
- IPS or TN panel – IPS panels offer high colour accuracy and the best refresh rates, usually with a viewing angle of around 178 degrees (to reduce the darkness on the screen when viewed at an angle other than straight on). TN panels do have high response times (which make them ideal for fast-paced and competitive gaming), but have limited colour accuracy and viewing angle.
A quick word about screen size: The size of the screen can also be quite important, but really only for multiplayer online games such as RTS (Real-time strategy) games and MMORPG (massively multiplayer online roleplaying games), which require a 24" monitor for the best experience. The less screen space the player needs to watch, the better. They can focus on a small area of the screen where the action happens. Also, whilst 24" is fine for gaming, some gamers who play FPS or pretty open-world games will prefer 27" and even bigger.
Recommended Hardcore Gamer Monitors
Our customers tell us everything we need to know about our products, and we always know which of our monitors make a difference for hardcore gamers, Pro gamers and E-Sports clients. Below are some of the most popular gaming monitors as chosen by our expert team and valued customers.
Note: We've also added a section to each monitor overview so you know which types of games they are great for.
Open-world/RPG/Adventure - E.g. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, GTA V
MOBA/RTS/MMORPG - E.g. League of Legends, The Elder Scrolls Online, New World, Age of Empires, World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2
Competitive play/E-Sports/Driving - E.g. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, Halo Infinite, Project Cars 2
Top Pick For Hardcore Gaming
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- G-Sync / FreeSync: FreeSync
- Response Time: 1ms
- IPS/TN: IPS
With a huge 2560x1440 resolution, the ViewSonic XG2705-2K offers 1440p gaming and an extremely fast 1ms response time for excellent clarity even at high resolutions. ViewSonic's SuperClear® IPS panel ensures a stunning gaming experience, whether you are looking at the monitor from above, below or from the sides. The mega dynamic contrast ratio of 80M:1 creates depth in images on the screen by increasing definition in the darkest and brightest colours, and a colour gamut to reproduce those colours accurately.
ViewSonic make choosing the monitor that bit easier with their ViewMode™ Game Mode feature, which integrates pre-calibrated FPS (first-person shooter), RTS (real-time strategy) and MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game settings, along with a very handy in-game testing feature to adjust and fine tune. With Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter, long gaming sessions won't cause as much eye strain and fatigue, so makes it ideal for the hardcore gamer who racks up lots of gaming time.
Perfect for most types of gaming, but a little too big for MOBA/RTS/MMORPG gamers (they require a 24" screen, ideally). This type of gamer will also not benefit from FreeSync/G-Sync as most settings can be adjusted in-game. This monitor will work best if you want rich, colourful visuals and/or enjoy fast-paced and competitive gaming at high resolutions.
| | PANEL | RESPONSE | REFRESH | SIZE | FREESYNC | G-SYNC |
Open-world
RPG
Adventure | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
MOBA
RTS
MMORPG | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | N/A |
Competitive
E-Sports
Driving | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
January 2022 Price: £326.32 £229.99
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- G-Sync / FreeSync: FreeSync
- Response Time: 0.8ms
- IPS/TN: IPS
Iiyama's commitment to providing the very best gaming monitors shows in the vast feature-set of the Red Eagle G-Master, which has a lightning fast 0.8ms response time and 165Hz refresh rate for high framerates. The 24" screen makes it ideal for almost every type of player, though a 27" - 32" screen may be more suitable for open-world & competitive gamers. The monitor comes with AMD's FreeSync technology, though does not have Nvidia G-Sync support for Nvidia graphics cards.
| | PANEL | RESPONSE | REFRESH | SIZE | FREESYNC | G-SYNC |
Open-world
RPG
Adventure | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
MOBA
RTS
MMORPG | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | N/A |
Competitive
E-Sports
Driving | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
January 2022 Price: £169.49
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- G-Sync / FreeSync: Both
- Response Time: 1ms
- IPS/TN: IPS
If the above monitor is not enough screen size, or you're buying for someone with an Nvidia graphics card who plays large-scale or competitive games, then the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ with WQHD resolution is a great fit. The WQHD (2560 x 1440) panel delivers up to 77% more onscreen desktop space than standard Full HD (1920 x 1080) displays, and specification that provides high contrast ratio, deep & rich colours and amazing image clarity.
With high response times & refresh rates and HDR-10 for incredible visuals, this monitor delivers excellent performance at a very affordable price, considering the proprietary technology ASUS have managed to cram in: -
NEXT−GEN ADAPTIVE SYNC - "For the first time in any gaming monitor, Motion Blur Reduction and Adaptive-sync can be enabled at the same time. This new technology is called ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB SYNC). ELMB SYNC works with G-SYNC Compatible, allowing gamers to enjoy sharp, high speed frames." - ASUS
ASUS SHADOW BOOST - This technology clarifies the darker areas of a game without overexposing the brighter areas, thereby making it much easier to see those enemies hidden in dark areas of the map!
| | PANEL | RESPONSE | REFRESH | SIZE | FREESYNC | G-SYNC |
Open-world
RPG
Adventure | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
MOBA
RTS
MMORPG | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | N/A |
Competitive
E-Sports
Driving | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
January 2022 Price: £279.00
High-End Monitors For Hardcore Gamers
- Refresh Rate: 170Hz
- G-Sync / FreeSync: Both
- Response Time: 1ms
- IPS/TN: IPS
ASUS ROG screams quality with this WQHD (2560x1440) monitor, which takes advantage of ASUS FastIPS Display which can switch up to 4X faster than other conventional IPS panels for improved response, and eliminating blurry or smeared visuals.
The 170Hz refresh rates and FreeSync/G-Sync ensures high framerates for pro-level gaming, while ASUS DISPLAYHDR™ 400 brings out the crispest and most vivid details. Compatible with the next-gen consoles, this monitor is a hardcore gamer's go-to display on multiple formats; features full HD(1920 X 1080)@120Hz & 1440P (2560 x 1440)@60Hz output on PS5, 1440P(2560 x 1440)@120Hz VRR output on Xbox Series X/S.
| | PANEL | RESPONSE | REFRESH | SIZE | FREESYNC | G-SYNC |
Open-world
RPG
Adventure | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
MOBA
RTS
MMORPG | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | N/A |
Competitive
E-Sports
Driving | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
January 2022 Price: £644.57 £439.99 (SAVE £205)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz (4K 3840x2160 Resolution)
- G-Sync / FreeSync: Both
- Response Time: 1ms
- IPS/TN: IPS
This CCL exclusive monitor packs a serious punch for hardcore gaming, with the reliability and high performance we've come to expect from the ASUS ROG product range. The 4K resolution is just the start of the high-end features, with 144Hz refresh rates that will make 4K gaming butter-smooth, working with FreeSync/G-Sync for the best possible framerates. Naturally you can expect Shadow Boost technology and ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur, but the ROG Strix XG27UQR also comes with Display Stream Compression Technology for delivering high-speed, ultra-high definition video streams across a single interface with no loss of visual/video quality.
Taking into consideration that hardcore gamers spend inordinate amounts of time playing their games, ASUS have ensured eye care is a priority, with Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light filters.
| | PANEL | RESPONSE | REFRESH | SIZE | FREESYNC | G-SYNC |
Open-world
RPG
Adventure | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
MOBA
RTS
MMORPG | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | N/A |
Competitive
E-Sports
Driving | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
January 2022 Price: £699.99
Last Word
By using our simple core features list, you'll now be able to choose a gaming monitor with confidence and achieve the perfect visual experience! Whilst these monitors are some of the best hardcore gaming displays available, we have a huge range of monitors from the foremost manufacturers, and we currently have deals that you do not want to miss - Check out our monitor deals here.
