How to Choose the Right Gaming Monitor and Common Mistakes | What are the 3 Perspectives of Hz, Panel, and Size that Pro Players Prioritize?
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We compile and share easy-to-understand information on devices actually used by pro players and top pros, the latest trends, and model explanations.
💡 Introduction | Is "Choosing a Gaming Monitor" Surprisingly a Blind Spot?
"Aren't all gaming monitors the same?"
Don't you think so?????
Actually, this is one of the biggest misconceptions that hinders your game improvement.....!!
Even if your PC specs are high, if your monitor has low performance, the display will hit a ceiling there.
If you are using a 144Hz monitor, frames higher than that will not be displayed in the first place...... In other words, cases where
your investment in a PC is completely wasted due to the monitor's performanceare actually happening.
On the other hand, pro gamers place great importance on choosing a monitor! The quality of the monitor is recognized as a factor that influences results in the competitive scene to the extent that
the official monitor for world tournaments is specified!!
This article summarizes the following two points!!
Common mistakes beginners make
3 selection criteria that pro players also prioritize
✅ "Selection methods prone to failure" you should know first
❌ Common mistake ① | Choosing only because "it's cheap"
"Anything is fine as long as it says gaming, right?"
I totally understand that feeling.... *sob* But in reality, the difference in specs completely changes the gaming experience!!
Continuing to use a 60Hz monitor and feeling "for some reason the controls feel heavy"
Afterimages appearing on models with slow response times, making it impossible to track enemy movements
Claiming to be for gaming but actually using a TN panel with distorted colors
Choosing a 27-inch monitor that is too big for FPS, making it impossible to track the field of view
The monitor is the "gateway to your game."
If you compromise here, your rate of improvement will change!
❌ Common Mistake #2 | Choosing without knowing the panel type
There are three main types of gaming monitor panels!
Choosing without knowing this is the most common mistake pattern.
🔹 TN Panel
Features: Fastest class response time / Lower color reproduction
Recommended for: Those focused on FPS competition and cost-performance
🔹 IPS Panel (including Fast IPS)
Features: Vivid colors, wide viewing angles, and 1ms response time with Fast IPS
Recommended for: Those who want to play both FPS and RPGs and don't want to compromise on visual beauty
🔹 VA Panel
Features: High contrast with deep blacks, slightly slower response time
Recommended for: Gamers who enjoy immersive titles like movies and RPGs
For competitive games like FPS and VALORANT, IPS or TN are the only choices.
If you choose a VA panel, you may be at a disadvantage due to motion blur in fast-paced scenes...
✅ 3 Perspectives (How to Choose) That Pro Players Prioritize
① Refresh Rate (Hz) | "Visual Speed" Determines Victory or Defeat
The refresh rate is a value that indicates how many times the screen is updated per second!
The unit is Hz (Hertz), and the higher the number, the smoother the video is displayed.
60Hz: Standard monitor. Completely disadvantageous in competition
144Hz: Entry-level for gaming. The "enjoy normally" level
240Hz–270Hz: The standard for professional environments. Motion blur is drastically reduced, allowing for effective dynamic visual acuity.
360Hz–400Hz: The current pinnacle. The level adopted by top professionals.
Pro gamers generally choose 240Hz or higher.
Monitors of 240Hz or higher are also used at the VALORANT world championships.
② Panel Type | The Optimal Choice Changes Depending on the Game Genre
For FPS, it is common knowledge among pros to choose Fast IPS or TN.
The combination of a Fast IPS panel and a 1ms response time delivers clear images even during intense movement, providing optimal performance for pro gamers.
If you choose an IPS-based panel, which has beautiful colors and a wide viewing angle, you can use it for RPGs and watching videos as well as FPS without sacrificing image quality, so if you are choosing 'your first one,' Fast IPS is the only choice.
③ Screen Size | 'Bigger is Better' is a Huge Mistake
When used at a PC desk, 22–27 inches is commonly used.
At this size, a distance of around 50cm from the monitor is just right for viewing, making it the optimal size for playing FPS and fighting games.
What is important for FPS is whether you can quickly cover the entire field of view.
23.8–24.5 inches: The optimal choice for competitive FPS. The entire screen fits within your field of view.
27 inches: Balanced type. A versatile size for enjoying both FPS and RPGs.
32 inches or larger: Focused on impact; for RPGs and watching videos. May be too large for FPS.
The reason many pros choose 24–25 inches is because there is a clear reason: "it is the size that maximizes the use of your field of view."
It is fine to recognize that good monitors are somewhat predetermined.
If you are unsure, you cannot go wrong by choosing from the following two!
🏆 2 Recommended Gaming Monitors That Won't Let You Down!
I have narrowed it down to two classic and proven models!!!!!!
Both are available for purchase on Amazon and have plenty of Amazon reviews.
🔹 BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K
"The definitive model for competition chosen by pros"
Specs: 24.5-inch / FHD (1920×1080) / 240Hz / TN / 0.5ms
Pro Adoption Record: Permanently installed in the gaming office of the Japanese pro e-sports team "ZETA DIVISION," and adopted as the official monitor for VALORANT tournaments.
Proprietary DyAc+ Technology: Eliminates motion blur during intense action to the extreme. Elevates visibility in competitive scenes to a whole new level.
It is truly a "monitor for winning" that consistently ranks at the top in VALORANT pro usage data!!!
🔹 ASUS TUF Gaming VG249QM1A
"270Hz Fast IPS for about 20,000 yen. One of the best value-for-money FPS monitors"
Specs: 23.8-inch / FHD (1920×1080) / 270Hz (OC) / Fast IPS / 1ms (GTG)
Adaptive-Sync Support: G-SYNC Compatible + FreeSync Premium to completely suppress screen stuttering and tearing
A savior for gamers, the Fast IPS panel provides both vivid color reproduction and wide viewing angles, while the 270Hz high-speed refresh rate handles intense movement.
"I want competitive performance, but I don't want to compromise on image beauty" - the ultimate destination for that crowd!!!
🎯 Summary | How to Choose Without Mistakes Can Change Your "Game Win Rate"
If you choose the wrong monitor for your first one, all your subsequent device investments could end up being a waste...
Three questions you should check when choosing:
Do you mainly play FPS or RPG games? → The priority for Hz and panel type changes depending on the genre
What is the distance between your desk and the monitor? → This becomes the standard for choosing the size
Is your budget in the 20,000 yen range or higher? → The selection method changes depending on whether you prioritize cost-performance or pro-spec
From the moment you choose the "best monitor for you right now," the world you see will change.
I hope this article is even a little bit helpful for your [monitor selection]!!!!
🛍 Purchase products here
🔹 BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K ▶Check on Amazon
🔹 ASUS TUF Gaming VG249QM1A ▶Check on Amazon
📌 About the reliability of this article
The products introduced in this article are selected based on Amazon best-seller rankings, pro-gamer usage data (prosettings.net), and evaluations from various gaming device specialty media.
📌 References:
Amazon best-seller rankings / Individual product reviews / VCT (VALORANT Champions Tour) usage data / Gaming monitor specialty media (2026 latest edition)
※This article contains Amazon Associate links.
Since listed prices and rankings fluctuate, please check the latest information on each sales page.
📚 Sources and References
BenQ ZOWIE Official Website: https://www.zowie.com/jp/
ASUS TUF Gaming Official Website: https://www.asus.com/jp/
prosettings.net (Database of devices used by pro gamers)
VALORANT Champions Tour Official Website: https://valorantesports.com/