If you don’t know how to choose the best resolution for PC gaming, our buying guide will help you to make a wise decision.
Buying the latest-gen GPUs and processors won’t be good if you don’t have the right display. Especially for PC gaming, players are always concerned about the graphics quality and smoothness of the gameplay they’re experiencing. So which resolution is best for PC gaming?
1920×1080 display is the best resolution for PC gaming as you can easily max out the graphics settings at 1080p without compromising the frame rates on a decent mid-range gaming setup. Moreover, the HDR imaging feature makes the graphics quality a lot better.
So, what other options are available for screen resolution, and which should you choose for your gaming setup? In this article, we will guide you on how to choose the best resolution for PC gaming by discussing the most popular display resolutions for gaming with some recommendations on monitors.
What is a Monitor/Screen Resolution?
Understanding the monitor or screen resolution is important before choosing the right numbers for your gaming setup. The monitor or screen resolution refers to the number of pixels featured. For example, 1920×1080 resolution implies that 1920 pixels display a horizontal arrangement while 1080 pixels display a vertical arrangement.
Each pixel is a tiny square of RGB colors that collectively display images on a monitor. A greater number of pixels means higher resolution, resulting in sharper and clearer image quality.
Do More Pixels Mean Better Gaming Experience?
Yes, more pixels would indeed enhance the gaming experience, but it will affect the performance of your PC’s hardware, making things more GPU and CPU-intensive. Moreover, various games and applications lack optimization for more pixels or higher resolution.
Therefore, we’d recommend you consider the hardware requirements for your favorite games with the help of tools like the online PC Builder, which provides you with various options for building the proper gaming rig.
If your PC hardware can run a game on recommended settings, there is nothing wrong with amping up the screen resolution. You’re all set as long as your frame rates are steady, and you’re getting smooth gameplay.
However, that’s not the case for most gamers out there. So, let’s dive in and discuss what type of screen resolutions are out there and which one you should choose for your gaming.
Most Popular Monitor Resolutions for Gaming
Here we have enlisted the most popular monitor resolutions for gaming that are valid for all upcoming releases and support many new-gen consoles.
FHD/Full HD 1080p (1920×1080)
Full HD display is the most common in gaming, offering 1920×1080 screen resolution for the monitor. This display is visually clear, and you would never feel like anything is blurry or if the image is not sharp enough, etc. FHD or 1080p has become an industry standard resolution for TV screens, and you rarely find a monitor with a resolution lower than 1920×1080.
Benefits of 1080p Monitors in Gaming
- Requires less energy and computing power which helps to achieve faster FPS and response time.
- Suitable for multiplayer game like Call of Duty and Rainbow Six Siege, where FPS matter more.
- A budget-friendly option for a mid-range gaming setup.
QHD/Quad HD 2K 1440p (2560×1440)
2K display gives a significantly enhanced display compared to the FHD, and it will possibly become the next standard resolution for all monitor screens. It’s a decent gaming screen resolution option for a budget-friendly mid-range gaming setup.
Benefits of 1440p Monitors in Gaming
- A more comprehensive range of color gamuts with a more vivid display than 1080p.
- Better image sharpness and refresh rates work for games like Mafia Definitive Edition.
- Offers high frame rates and better efficiency for gaming with a crisper display.
UHD/Ultra HD 4K 2160p (3840×2160)
4K gaming is the new high-in-demand screen resolution for which the latest games aim. The 3840×2160 screen resolution is becoming popular very quickly. Many new-gen GPUs support 4K display with the latest games but with a compromise of frame rates and ray tracing support. Though keep in mind that 4K displays are expensive.
Benefits of 2160p Monitors in Gaming
- You can catch the smallest details with the razor-sharp image quality and wide range of color pallets.
- Best for games that focus on every detail of the environment and gameplay, like Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Supports higher refresh rates from 120 Hz to 240 Hz, which is preferred for gaming.
FUHD/Full Ultra HD 8K 4320p (7680×4320)
The grade-A top-of-the-line resolution in our list is the Full Ultra HD 8K display with 7680×4320 resolution. This resolution would break your GPU unless you have a high-end CPU and sufficient VRAM to share the load. With this screen resolution, options are mostly limited to TV screens, making them a big size and price tag.
Benefits of 4320p Monitors in Gaming
- The best resolution you can find for gaming is with an immersive and realistic display.
- 8K is the best resolution for simulation games like Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- 8K resolution only supports a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which is ideal for offline gaming only.
Which Screen Resolution is Best for Gaming and Why?
The FHD 1920×1080 screen display monitor is the best resolution for gaming. With this screen resolution, you get a sharp image with no blur. With a 1080p display, you can run your favorite games on high graphics settings without overheating your PC. It means that you can fully utilize features like ray tracing, Nvidia DLSS, Nvidia G-sync, and AMD FSR to get the most out of your gaming experience.
The 1080p resolution is a perfect option for pretty much everything. It works for watching movies, gaming-related professions, designing graphics, or general office purposes. 1920×1080 is a sweet spot for every mid-range gaming setup and works vividly for every latest game.
FAQs
What is Pixel Density in a Gaming Monitor?
Pixel Density denotes the number of pixels per inch in a resolution. For the current gaming industry standards, it’s ideal to have 300 pixels per inch for a sharp textured image. However, with the improvement of display screens in the gaming industry, this number is expected to rise in the near future.
Does the Screen Size Matter for Gaming Resolution?
Yes, screen size does matter. The 27-inch or 32-inch gaming monitor is the best option for a 1080p or 1440p display.
What does Max Hz mean for Monitor Screens?
Max Hz refers to the maximum refresh rate of a monitor display, which implies the number of times an image is being refreshed per second. For example, if a monitor supports a maximum of 144 Hz means an image can refresh up to 144 times per second on a monitor.
Why is Refresh Rate so Important in Gaming?
A higher refresh rate means the monitor will support higher frame rates per second to refresh on display. For example, if you’re getting 120 fps on a 60Hz monitor, you may feel like everything is running fast forward, while a higher refresh rate will display 120 frame rates smoothly.
