Gaming Monitor | The best under 500 euros
In fact, for to enjoy an experience free of interruptions and visual artifacts, it is essential to buy a monitor with some functions, in particular AMD's FreeSync or Nvidia's GSync, in order to avoid tearing problems and benefit from a smoother experience. Furthermore, given the insistence of standards such as HDR, which is increasingly present in the gaming world, buying a panel with a 10bit display and HDR certified is now a must. Pity, don't view the games to the best of their ability.
That said, it's time to tell you about our selection and show you which are the best gaming monitors under 500 euros. The products chosen are also divided into categories in order to offer you a list that includes all the standards we have talked about so far. Before starting, however, we suggest you also take a look at the best desks and chairs, in both cases suitable for gaming, so as not to miss anything at your workstation!
Best monitors gaming under 500 euros
LG 32GN650 UltraGear, the best in QHD ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q, the best in 4K LG 34GN73A UltraGear, the best with Itek GGF curved screen, the best high refresh rate BenQ EW3270U, the best for mixed use Generic photosLG 32GN650 UltraGear, the best in QHD
Generic photosIf you usually find out about the best monitors currently on the market, obviously in reference to gaming, you will surely come across LG's UltraGear line. Models specifically designed to meet the needs of the most hardened and passionate players.
The monitor in question, the 32GN650 model, features a VA type display with support for HDR technology. The version we selected is the 32 "version, but you are free to select another one within the link we leave you below. In our opinion, it is the one with the best value for money, especially considering the frequent discounts. That said, the screen is very suitable for video games, given the presence of a very low input lag (1ms), AMD FreeSync Premium technology, 165Hz, HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. All this at a very high QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), the most recommended in the PC environment. So, if you love gaming at 1440p resolution and are looking for great gaming specs, this is the monitor for you.
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ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q, the best in 4K
Generic photosThis monitor in particular we have selected it for lovers of 4K resolution. To keep costs low and not exceed the € 500 ceiling we set for ourselves, we have necessarily opted for a 60Hz model. However, do not think it is not very suitable for gaming: the monitor is in fact characterized by a good general quality of the panel, with support also for HDR and IPS technologies for a more precise color rendering and does not give up gaming characteristics at all.
As shown in the first place by the appearance and secondly by the fact that it is part of the TUF Gaming line from Asus, VG289Q is absolutely a gaming screen. The icing on the cake is AMD's FreeSync support, which can also be used on Nvidia configurations, as possible for some years now, and, of course, also the HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 inputs. That said, if you have hardware capable of pushing games up to 4K resolution, this monitor is for you: you will enjoy extremely smooth ultra-high resolution images.
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LG 34GN73A UltraGear, the best with curved screen
Generic photosWhat we are going to tell you is a monstrous monitor, complete with all the necessary specifications to enjoy gaming in a fluid way and perfect for those looking for a screen, let's say… particular. Yes, unlike the models mentioned above, LG 34GN73A is characterized by a curvature of the display, which further amplifies the sense of immersion given by some video games. Of course, in order for everything to work properly, it is necessary to maintain a position in front of the screen, which we imagine, however, is the most popular in the PC field, considering the usual desktop setup.
Having said that, exactly as for the other screens, the monitor is a QHD, the aspect ratio of the image changes, considering the curvature and the fact that it is capable of going up to 21: 9 of a d aspect ratio. 'appearance. For the rest, as mentioned, at your disposal 1ms as a response time, certified HDR, AMD FreeSync, GSync, 144Hz and the common HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. If what you are looking for is a screen you can immerse yourself in completely, without distractions, this is the monitor for you.
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Itek GGF, the best high refresh rate
Generic photosWe know, we know, there are monitors that go well beyond 300Hz, but we want to remind you that our intent is also to do not make yourself spend too much; moreover, as the title says, we are talking about the best gaming monitors under 500 euros. Having said that, let's go into detail!
So, this Itek GGF monitor stands out for its high refresh rate, anchored to 288Hz combined with TN technology (always very responsive) and 1080p resolution, the classic Full HD . A screen particularly suitable for lovers of high frame rates, colors who love to play at extreme fluidity, in this case also with the support of Adaptive Sync and HDR technologies, and the usual HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. If your goal is to perfect the frame rate of your games, this screen is unrivaled.
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BenQ EW3270U, the best for mixed use
Generic photosGamers also consume on-demand content on the most popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney + or Prime Video, and often do it directly through their console, not having a smart monitor. And they do well, because smart monitors give up important and indispensable features for gamers, from minimal input lag to more popular technologies such as FreeSync. This is why, although we offer you a monitor designed by BenQ itself for the use of multimedia content, we prefer to discard the idea of smart monitors, in our opinion recommended only for productivity, therefore to work.
That said, the BenQ EW3270U features an outstanding VA panel with HDR and 10bit per color support. A perfect profile for enjoying multimedia content, but also for gaming, considering the input lag of less than 5ms and support for FreeSync technology, HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4 ports. What to say? For less than 500 euros you will take home a monitor suitable for gaming and that does not give up at all to a good reproduction of multimedia content. In short, a complete package.
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How to choose a gaming monitor
If you've come this far, it means that you have taken a look at our selection of the best gaming monitors under 500 euros, divided into curved screens, at QHD and 4K resolution, and with specific support such as HDR and variable refresh rate. Well, in the following paragraphs we will try to provide you with all the necessary information so that you are able to make an informed purchase and know what are the basic notions for every inveterate gamer. So, pay attention because we are about to tell you everything!Resolution
It seems trivial, the resolution remains one of the most important features to look at when buying gaming monitors under 500 euros since alone can significantly increase the cost of the monitor. Therefore, you will need to have the usage scenario in mind and decide whether or not 4K is necessary within your routine. For our part, we can tell you that the choice also depends on the hardware you mount under the body of your computer: to play in 4K, perhaps with the graphic details shot to the maximum, you will necessarily need a latest generation card, complete with DLSS. to lighten the load; a Full HD or 1440p monitor, on the other hand, maybe allows you to achieve more satisfactory results for your setup, with higher refresh rates and the ability to play at an unlocked frame rate that travels over 100 fps (also in this case it depends on the hardware, but we understood each other). So, evaluate well.High refresh rate, why is it important?
If you've experienced a very high frame rate gaming experience even once, well, you won't want to do without it again. . The feeling of control that such a scenario is capable of returning is incredible, and the response to commands benefits from it, whether you are playing with a mouse and keyboard, or playing with a compatible controller. In addition, high frame rates aside, most monitors when set to the maximum refresh rate available significantly reduce the response time of the screen, the so-called input lag, improving your experience even more. So, even in this case your purchase must take into consideration several elements, on all the conditions of your PC, whether it is more or less suitable for playing at such high frequencies.Dimensions and shapes screen size
Screen size matters a lot and should often be compared to your desk size. In fact, before even glancing at 27 or 32 inch screens, take the measurements of your desk and keep them in mind. This procedure is important because each monitor, depending on the size of the screen, has a different viewing distance, to be respected not only to view it at its best, but also to avoid excessively straining your eyes (on this front, take a look at our guide to best anti-blue light glasses).Having said that, besides the size there are also monitors characterized by a different shape, curved displays, for example. We recommend these screens to all colors who are used to playing video games sitting perfectly in front of the screen. Once this condition is met, you will certainly enjoy a greater immersion than traditional monitors, so keep an eye on these screens because they could give you many satisfactions.
HDR, VRR, FreeSync and GSync, let's be clear
The ones we selected would certainly not be the best gaming monitors under 500 euros if they lacked features such as HDR and VRR. We will try to make you understand in a simple way the usefulness of these technologies. Starting from the first, the HDR, it is enough to know that it is a rendering technique that has made space in the last few years in the gaming field to significantly increase the color rendering of video games by rendering images at 10 bit per color (as long as the screen supports the specifications adequately, of course). In short, you will get much deeper and more nuanced images, with super defined blacks to enjoy your favorite video games like never before.About VRR (an HDMI specification found on most modern TVs), known in monitors like Nvidia GSync or AMD FreeSync, it is a technique that allows the refresh rate of your display to synchronize perfectly with the frame rate of games. In this way, video artifacts such as stuttering and tearing are completely eliminated, and you will enjoy a responsive and always fluid experience. Be warned, though, that this frame and refresh rate synchronization process may also slightly increase latencies due to the work your graphics card has to do in order for you to benefit from a seamless experience.
In the past, this whole process was handled by the V-Sync option alone, which simply synchronizes the screen refresh rate with the game's maximum frame rate (it doesn't follow any fluctuations). With specifications such as VRR, AMD FreeSync or GSync, however, this process becomes more complete and variable, since the synchronization is constant and does not concern only the maximum output peak (60Hz = 60 FPS, just to give an example).
HDMI and DP, what's the difference?
As obvious as it may be for many of you, we want to underline the differences between these two video inputs, namely HDMI and Display Port. First of all we specify that, although there are differences between the two inputs, the basic operation remains the same, that is to allow the video connection to devices such as a computer or a console. The main difference lies in the bandwidth of the two inputs and in the fact that, in the vast majority of cases, it is the DP inputs that unlock all the functions of the monitor. This happens due to an increase in bandwidth.But what is bandwidth? Imagine it as a giant number that, little by little, is subtracted as we increase the load. In the traditional HDMI ports found in monitors, there are not enough resources for a high resolution or a refresh rate above 60Hz and so on. And in these cases, the DP entrance comes to our aid, overcoming these obstacles and allowing us to play to the best of our ability.
