Best Gaming Monitors for Your PC in 2024

Your powerful gaming rig is only half the story; the right monitor brings all that performance to life. As we're well into 2025, the technology from 2024 has become more affordable than ever, offering incredible value for South African gamers. Whether you’re a competitive esports player or love soaking in cinematic visuals, choosing the right screen is crucial. This Q&A breaks down the key specs to help you find the perfect monitor for your setup and budget. 🖥️

Your Top Gaming Monitor Questions Answered

RYZEN 7 9700X 5.5GHz RTX 5070 12GB DDR5 Gaming PC

R30029.00In Stock

Dahua LM25-E231BN 24.5" Monitor / FHD 1920 x 1080 / 200Hz Refresh Rate / 0.5ms Response Time / DHI-LM25-E231BN

R2799.00In Stock

[Pre Built] AMD RYZEN 9 9900X RX 9070 XT Gaming PC

R39479.00In Stock

AMD RYZEN 7 9800X3D 5.2GHz Quadro RTX 4500 Ada 24GB DDR5 Workstation PC

R81584.00In Stock

[Pre Built] Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF RTX 5070 Gaming PC

R34649.00In Stock

ViewSonic VA240A-H 24" Monitor / FHD (1920 x 1080) Display resolution / 1ms Response Time / HDMI and VGA inputs / 120Hz Variable refresh rate / VA220-H

R1899.00In Stock

Q: What are the three most important specs for a gaming monitor? A: It boils down to three key things: Resolution (how sharp the picture is), Refresh Rate (how smooth it looks), and Response Time (how quickly it reacts). Getting the right balance of these three for your budget and the games you play is the secret to a great visual experience.

Q: What's the best resolution for most PC gamers right now? A: For most South African gamers, 1440p (QHD or 2560x1440) is the current sweet spot. It offers a significant jump in sharpness and detail over 1080p without demanding the ridiculously powerful GPU that 4K gaming does. Of course, your monitor choice should match your rig's capabilities. If you're building a new system, you can find many powerful gaming PCs on special that are perfectly specced for 1440p gaming.

Q: How high of a refresh rate do I really need? A: Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is how many times your screen updates per second. A standard office monitor is 60Hz. For gaming, you want at least 144Hz. The difference is night and day; motion is incredibly smooth. For competitive players in games like Valorant or Apex Legends, pushing even higher is an advantage. You can find a huge range of high refresh rate monitors between 170Hz and 240Hz that deliver that pro-level fluidity.

Q: Does a 1ms response time actually make a difference? A: Yes, especially in fast-paced games. Response time is how quickly a pixel can change colour. A slow response time leads to "ghosting" or motion blur, where you see a faint trail behind moving objects. This can make it harder to track targets. That's why most serious gamers look for monitors with ultra-fast response times of 1ms or less to ensure the image is as crisp and clear as possible.

Lenovo G25-20 Gaming Monitor - 24.5" FHD (1920x1080) TN display, Anti-glare 16:9 - Up to 0.8 ms response time - 165Hz refresh rate - 1000:1, 72% NTSC, 8-bit / 66D6GAC2SA

R4499.00In Stock

AOC CQ27G3S 27" QHD (2560x1440) 165Hz 1ms VA Curved FreeSync HDR Gaming Monitor / Superior High Quality Viewing / Ultra-smooth Tear-free Gaming / Enjoy top-tier Gaming Performance / Instant Response Times / Illuminate Your Visuals / Reducing Shortwave Blue Light / CQ27G3S

R6399.00In Stock

ViewSonic VX2476 23.8" IPS Monitor / Frameless bezel and stylish stand / 75Hz Refresh Rate / Blue Light Filter & Flicker-Free / VX2476-SH

R2799.00In Stock

AMD RYZEN 9 9900X 5.6GHz Quadro RTX 4000 Ada 20GB DDR5 Workstation PC

R49559.00In Stock

AMD RYZEN 5 5500 4.2GHz ARC B580 12GB Budget Gaming PC

R12179.00In Stock

AOC C27G4ZE 27" 280Hz Curved Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor, 1920 × 1080 (FHD), 0.3ms, Fast VA, 1500R, Adaptive Sync, Three-sided frameless design, Black / C27G4ZE

R4999.00In Stock

Q: What's the deal with panel types: IPS vs. VA? A: IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels are the best all-rounders. They offer the most vibrant colours and the best viewing angles. VA (Vertical Alignment) panels have a key advantage in contrast, meaning they produce deeper, inkier blacks, which is great for cinematic games or watching movies in a dark room. Modern IPS panels have improved their contrast, making them the top choice for most gaming scenarios.

Q: Should I make sure my monitor has G-Sync or FreeSync? A: Absolutely. This is a must-have feature. Both are "adaptive sync" technologies that match your monitor's refresh rate to the number of frames your graphics card is producing in real-time. This completely eliminates screen tearing—that ugly horizontal line that appears when the two are out of sync. It results in a much smoother and more immersive experience.

AMD RYZEN 5 8400F 4.7GHz RTX 5060 8GB DDR5 Budget Gaming PC

R15434.00In Stock

AOC AGON AG493UCX2 49" UltraWide Dual QHD (5120 x 1440) Curved Immersive Gaming Monitor / 165Hz Refresh Rate / Rapid 1ms response Time / FreeSync Technology / Height Adjustable Stand / Display Port / AG493UCX2

R26999.00In Stock

Alienware AW3225qf - 32" Curved Gaming Monitor / 4K UHD 3840x2160 at 240Hz / NVIDIA G-Sync Technology / VESA AdaptiveSync / 0.03ms Response Time / AlienFX Lighting / AW3225qf

R21999.00In Stock

Acer Predator XB3 XB253QGP 24.5" FHD 1920x1080 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor / NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible / Rapid 144Hz Refresh Rate / 2ms Response Time / VESA DisplayHDR 400 / UM.KX3EE.P10

R3999.00In Stock

HP 524SH G5 FHD Gaming Monitor - Black/Silver / 24" FHD (1920 x 1080) / IPS Panel / 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA / Eye Ease with Eyesafe Certification / 94C19AS

R4299.00In Stock

AOC 20E1H 19.5" HD (1600 x 900) 60Hz Desktop Monitor - 5ms response time - WLED-Backlit - HDMI, VGA Inputs - Cable Management - Stand Offers Tilting / 20E1H

R1499.00In Stock

Key Takeaways

• 1440p is the Sweet Spot: It offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance requirements for most modern gaming PCs.
• Aim for 144Hz or Higher: A high refresh rate is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make for smoother gameplay.
• 1ms Response Time is Key: For fast-paced genres, a low response time reduces motion blur and keeps the action sharp.
• IPS Panels for the Win: They provide the best colour accuracy and viewing angles, making them the ideal choice for most gamers.
• Adaptive Sync is Non-Negotiable: G-Sync or FreeSync is essential for eliminating screen tearing and ensuring a smooth picture.