We've talked about sound cards, we've talked about hard drives, and now we'll dive into the latest innovation in monitors to hit the market. 240 Hz monitors offer an opportunity for high end and competitive gamers to eliminating tearing and minimize response times. In this roundup, the VG crew break down the best 240 Hz monitors currently on the market.
Contents
What are the best 240 Hz Monitors?
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1. Best 240 Hz G-Sync Monitor: Dell Alienware 25
- Designed for the enthusiast, the AW2518H delivers a futuristic style and precise...
- See gaming differently with NVIDIA G-SYNC. This breakthrough Display technology...
- Lightning-fast 240Hz Native refresh rate combined with 1ms response time...
- Specific gaming OSD (onscreen Display) design keeps your user experience in the...
There is no denying the Alienware 25 will deliver to you the most seamless gaming experience you've ever had. If you buy this 25 inch monitor you will have the most buttery smooth gaming experience of your life. Without overclocking the monitor lives up to its refresh rate with a 1ms response time. If you have a NVIDIA GPU and hook it up via G-Sync you'll all but guarantee you never experience screen tearing or latency issues again.
That being said...how much are you willing to spend? Two things can be true, the Alienware 25 delivers the best performance of any G-Sync 240 Hz monitor and it is way overpriced. The ordinary price of the monitor is upwards of $700 (though Prime members may be able to get it for $460). That is a whole lot of money to pay for a monitor that can only reach 1080p resolution. Many gamers would argue that resolution (1440p or 4K) is more important than refresh rate, so paying all that money for a monitor that can only get 1080p would seem a bit much. Furthermore, if you are not operating a machine that has a NVIDIA GPU (especially if you are a console gamer), you will be wasting money paying for the G-Sync capabilities.
2. Best Freesync 240 Hz Monitor: ViewSonic XG2530
- BE THE DIFFERENCE: Full HD 1080p resolution, ultra-fast 1ms response time, and...
- SMOOTH GAMING: AMD FreeSync Premium technology enables smooth frame rates to aid...
- IN IT TO WIN IT: A fully adjustable ergonomic stand delivers the comfort you...
- GAME ON: An arsenal of pre-set customizable visual modes keeps you ready for any...
When it comes to refresh rate and providing the seamless gaming experience the ViewSonic XG2530 does it just as well as the Alienware. The main difference here is that the ViewSonic XG2530 supports Freesync from AMD instead of G-Sync from NVIDIA. ViewSonic boasts the monitors tech which optimizes gameplay - namely the "black stabilization" which they claim helps identify game aspects (i.e. enemy players) lurking in the shadows. Like the Alienware 25, the ViewSonic comes complete with ergonomic adjustments like a headphone hook and 2 HDMI ports.
Overall we say the ViewSonic has better value than the Alienware. We see the two monitors as very similar in performance but the Viewsonic is upwards of $100 cheaper than the Alienware. If you have the ability to use Freesync we say the Viewsonic should be your choice.
3. Largest Monitor: Acer Predator XB272 Full HD
- 27" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen with NVIDIA G SYNC Technology
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz Using Display Port
- Response Time: 1ms, Pixel Pitch: 0.3113mm
- 2 x 2W speakers
The Acer Predator XB272 offers an impressive 27" TN display that can provide a response time as low as 1ms, offering the largest screen size in its class and making it a strong alternative to the Alienware 25. This monitor comes with G-Sync support as well as Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) which can drastically reduce motion blur (ghosting) on games where you don't experience frame rate drops. Acer also provides a solid 1000:1 contrast ratio along with 4 USB 3.0 ports for your peripherals.
Overall, this monitor will give you solid performance and looks for the more reasonable price point of $450. A nice touch is the joystick on the back to help navigate the monitor's menus when calibrating your settings which you'll most likely need to do to get the optimal picture quality. The sleek and ergonomic design and screen tilt angles make for a comfortable gaming experience, although you'll want to rely on your own speakers or headset in place the two built-in speakers to get the best sound quality.
4. G-Sync Honorable Mention: Asus ROG Swift PG258Q
- 25 inches Full HD (1920x1080p) panel with a 1ms response time and native 240...
- Viewing angle (cr≧10): 170 degree (h)/160 degree (v).flexible connectivity...
- NVidia G SYNC ensures smooth game play by eliminating screen tearing and...
- ASUS Eye Care technology makes marathons even easier, reducing eyestrain and...
Asus' entrance into the world of 240 Hz monitors brings us the ROG Swift PG258Q, a 25" 1080p monitor that boasts an impressive 1 ms response time and G-Sync support when paired with a Nvidia graphics card. The Asus ROG Swift PG258Q also comes with ULMB which can be enabled up to 144 Hz to help reduce motion blur and a joystick for easy menu navigation, similar to the Acer Predator XB272 Full HD. One downside to the Asus is the limited I/O ports available: 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI Port, and 2 USB 3.0 ports.
What sets this monitor apart is it's sleek design. An extremely thin bezel lines the sides of the monitor and three stylish legs make up the stand, giving it a very modern feel. The monitor also has a plethora of position adjustments including rotating to a portrait display to use outside of gaming. Additionally, the viewing angle is better than expected for a TN monitor in case you can't find the perfect positioning. Overall, the Asus ROG Swift PG258Q offers best-in-class performance for a 240 Hz monitor at a competitive price.
5. Freesync Honorable Mention: AOC Agon AG251FZ
- 25" Class (24.5" viewable) TN Panel, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 16:9 Aspect Ratio
- 400 cd/m2 Brightness, 240hz Refresh Rate, 1ms Response Time, 50M:1 DCR
- Connectivity- VGA, DVI, (2) HDMI, Display Port, (4) USB, Line In/Earphone-out
- AMD FreeSync Technology, Shadow Control, Flicker Free, Speakers, Height and...
The AOC Agon AG251FZ is the equivalent to the Asus ROG Swift PG258Q but for users with an AMD graphics card. This 24.5", 1080p monitor supports Freesync, a 1 ms response time, and AMD's Low Framerate Compensation (LFC). LFC helps smooth out game play when the frame rate drops below the minimum supported by Freesync by inserting additional frames. While this technology should only kick in infrequently during large frame rate drops, it helps maintain a cleaner experience.
Another benefit of this monitor is the wide array of inputs available. In addition to the standard DisplayPort, it has 2 HDMI ports, a DVI port that supports up to 144 Hz, and even a VGA port that supports 60 Hz. There's also 4 USB 3.0 inputs for all your peripherals and a convenient fold-out headset hanger. Last but not least, the AOC Agon AG251FZ comes in at a significantly lower price than most monitors in this category, making it a great deal for all the AMD fans out there.
Conclusion
All of the monitors covered in this roundup represent the latest in monitor innovation and live up to their stated purpose of providing blazing fast refresh rates and response times. So long as you are matching the monitor's active refresh capability (G-Sync or Freesync) with a corresponding Nvidia or AMD graphics card, it's hard to go wrong. Keep in mind that all of the monitors in this category use TN displays at 1080p, so you may be taking a step down in resolution if you're currently running a 1440p or 4K monitor. However, if you're a competitive gamer who wants to push their FPS to the absolute max and is willing to pay a premium for it, than 240 Hz may be for you.
