When the old purse-strings are a bit tighter than they might usually be, but you find yourself on the lookout for a new PC monitor, it doesn’t have to be a brain-bender. You don’t have to settle for the monitor equivalent of a cheap plastic kids’ toy. You’re not going to lose out. There are plenty of really good monitors available to suit a smaller budget, however limited it might be. For just £200, or even less, you can get yourself something extremely good quality – and in this article we’ll tip you off a couple of things you should think about, plus a few of our favourite monitors…
AOC C27G2ZE/BK 27″ Full HD 240Hz Curved Monitor
A great one for gamers. This Full HD monitor’s 240Hz refresh rate completely unleashes your PC’s GPU, bringing unprecedented fluidity to what you see on screen. Every detail is brought sharply into focus and every movement is shown with crystal clarity. Feel your reactions become one with the action and elevate your play. Now that’s how to game!
Acer SA270Bbmipux 27″ Full HD 1ms ZeroFrame FreeSync Monitor
A stylish model, this one. No nonsense capability. Full HD means you’ll see clearer, sharper images. Plus, with wide viewing angles and IPS technology you’ll be able to keep everything in sight, almost wherever you are!
MSI Optix G241V E2 23.8″ Full HD 75Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor
A decent size for a smaller gaming space or for using in combination in a multiple monitor set-up, this monitor has a couple of really great features to set it apart. The world’s first smart black tuner will brighten your day by bringing out the fine details in dark areas, whether your entire screen is dark, or just a few portions have heavy shadows. Plus, a super narrow bezel means you’ll enjoy the best immersion possible in the latest games and better continuity between screens in a multi-monitor set-up.
Iiyama G2470HSU-B1 G-Master Red Eagle 24″ Full HD 165Hz 0.8ms IPS Gaming Monitor
There are two main reasons why 165 Hz combined with an FLC-IPS Panel is a must for any gamer. Firstly, you can achieve 165 fps for the smoothest gaming experience, and secondly you can remove motion blur and artefacts which affect your gaming performance. Once again Iiyama comes up with a monitor which will enhance your experience without bursting your budget!
AOC 24Inch Full HD MVA monitor with speakers
This monitor‘s MVA panel means brilliant colours and wide viewing angles. Full HD ensures a quality viewing experience, and the built-in speakers mean you’ll enjoy quality audio without the hassle of connecting external speakers. Make it easy to catch up with family, friends and colleagues, or enjoy movies, music, games and more.
Monitors
It should be fairly obvious to anyone who’s thinking about investing in a new set-up, or improving an existing one, that the ‘peripherals’ are essential parts of a desktop or gaming PC kit. The PC itself – the ‘box’ which contains all of those magical components – is obviously the most important, and it is certainly the one which will cost you the most should you need to replace or want to improve. But the other things you need, those peripherals, are very important too: Keyboard, mouse, monitor.
Ah, the monitor! How else are you going to be able to see that important spreadsheet, take that video call from your parents, watch what you’re streaming on BBC iPlayer, or check out who to cross to in Fifa?!
So, it’s always worth making sure you get the best possible monitor you can from the budget you have. Obviously, as with all tech, you will get what you pay for – and the more you can spend the better is good as a general guide. But, luckily, the technology is so capable these days that even a very modest budget is no barrier to getting something brilliant, something that will serve you well and do the job you need it to. So, in this case ‘cheap’ doesn’t translate to ‘chuck it in the bin after a week’.
There are different things you should consider when you are looking out for a new monitor, but we think there are a couple of basics in particular that should probably drive your decision to buy.
Screen Size
Obviously the more screen ‘real estate’ the better, right? Well, in most cases we’d answer with a resounding “yes” – but common sense has to apply. It really does depend on the area you have available for your PC. There’s no point in having an absolutely massive monitor dominating a small desk. It would make any work or play extremely uncomfortable.
Similarly, there’s no point in having a massive desk or work area and a tiny monitor. Picking something appropriate to the environment it will be in, and to the distance away that you will be sitting. Basically, something that feels a good balance is key.
There are other ‘tweaks’ to screen size available these days. There are curved monitors, there are ultra-wide monitors. These types of monitor are fantastic for immersion in content – such as when you are gaming or watching a film.
It’s also possible, if you are more about work than play, to create a multiple-monitor set-up if space allows (and if this is something you’re intending to do then we suggest monitors which have thin or virtually invisible bezels). One of the main benefits of a multi-monitor set-up is that you can have several things on the go and open at once, without the need to continually switch between windows.
Resolution
Monitors are available in different resolutions and therefore different picture qualities – but it’s very important to get one which aligns to the capability of your PC’s graphics card. There’s absolutely no point in spending your money on a 4K monitor if your PC’s graphics card is only capable of handling a lower resolution than that.
The resolutions most commonly available are: 1080p, 1440p and 4K. In a little more detail, 1080p monitors have a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels (otherwise known as Full HD). This is really good quality, enough for most people – but it gets even better! Monitors at 1440p are generally regarded as PC gaming’s sweet spot, while the current ‘Daddy’ is 4K. Otherwise known as UHD (Ultra-High Definition), this has a resolution of 3860×2160 pixels, which means four times the number of pixels of a 1080p screen.
So, there’s a couple of key things to think about when you’re intending to buy a monitor. Obviously, check out the specifications and special features of the individual monitor you might be considering, though. There will definitely be things about each model that are worth considering too. And, of course, we’ve given you five examples of monitors which we think are great value, all coming in at around or under the £200 mark. Don’t forget that Ebuyer stocks a wide variety of tech at great value. Browse the website here!
