Gaming Monitors for Editing: Can They Handle Creative Work?

You’ve just dropped some serious ZAR on a beast of a gaming PC. Your new monitor boasts a lightning-fast refresh rate, and your K/D ratio has never been better. But now you need to edit that winning clutch for YouTube or tweak some photos for a client. Can your prized gaming screen handle it? The question on many a South African gamer's mind is simple: are gaming monitors for editing a viable option, or a compromise you'll regret?

Dahua LM27-E241B 27" Gaming Monitor / FHD 1920 x 1080 / 240Hz Refresh Rate / 0.5ms Response Time / DHI-LM27-E241B

R2499.00In Stock

VIEWSONIC XG2709A 27" LCD Gaming Monitor / 240Hz Refresh Rate / SuperClear® IPS Panel / 1ms MPRT Response Time / AMD FreeSync™ & G-Sync Compatible / HDR10 Support / HDMI & DisplayPort Inputs / XG2709A

R3499.00In Stock

LG 32" UltraGear™ Dual-Mode OLED gaming monitor / 4K UHD / 0.03ms (GtG) / HDR Display True Black 400 / 32GS95UV-B.AFB

R27499.00In Stock

MSI MAG 274F 27" FHD (1920 x 1080) Monitor / 200Hz Refresh Rate / Rapid IPS Panel / 0.5ms Response Time / AI Vision Enhances Brightness, Colors / 9S6-3CE41H-062

R3699.00In Stock

MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV 27" 2560 x 1440 (WQHD) Gaming Monitor / 300Hz Refresh Rate / 0.5ms Response Time / Rapid VA with Mini-LED / 9S6-3CF09H-042

R8799.00In Stock

DAHUA DHI-LM32-A200X 32" LED MONITOR / Bezel-less Design / IPS Level-Display / 8ms Response Time / FHD 1920x1080 / 75Hz Refresh Rate / Low Blue Light / DHI-LM32-A200X

R3399.00In Stock

Understanding the Core Differences

At first glance, a monitor is just a monitor, right? Not quite. The technology prioritised for gaming versus professional creative work often sits at opposite ends of the spectrum. Think of it as the difference between a bakkie and a sports car... both are vehicles, but built for very different jobs.

A professional editing monitor's primary goal is colour accuracy. It needs to reproduce colours exactly as they will appear in print or on other calibrated screens. This is measured in colour gamut coverage, like sRGB (for web), Adobe RGB (for print), and DCI-P3 (for video).

A gaming monitor, on the other hand, prioritises speed. High refresh rates (144Hz and above) and low response times (1ms) are king, ensuring buttery-smooth visuals and no distracting motion blur. While these specs are fantastic for landing headshots, they don't say much about a monitor's ability to show a true-to-life red or a subtle gradient in a photo.

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

R2199.00In Stock

AOC AGON AG275QXR 27" QHD 2K 170Hz Gaming Monitor - Pink - 2022 Edition ,IPS, Flicker-free technology, AMD FreeSync Premium, G-SYNC Compatible / AOC-AG275QXR

R6999.00In Stock

Dell G2725D 27" Gaming Monitor / QHD 2560 x 1440 / 180Hz Refresh Rate / AMD Freesync / 1ms Response Time / G2725D

R4299.00In Stock

HP OMEN 27k UHD 144Hz Gaming Monitor - Black / 1ms / 27" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Anti-glare Display / AMD Freesync™ Premium / Integrated Speakers / Pivot Rotation and Height Adjustable / 780G8AS

R16499.00In Stock

HP OMEN 34c Curved Monitor — 34' WQHD VA 165hz — Gaming Console Compatible — 2x HDMI 2.0 — 1x DisplayPort 1.4 — AMD FreeSync Premium — Dual Speakers — Tilt & height adjustments — VESA Mountable - Black / 780K8AS

R12999.00In Stock

SAMSUNG 24" Odyssey G32A FHD 1ms 165Hz Gaming Monitor with Eye Saver Mode, Free-Sync Premium, Height Adjustable Screen for Gamer Comfort, VESA Mount Capability / LS24AG320NAXXA

R3199.00In Stock

Can Your Gaming Monitor Handle Creative Work?

The short answer is: maybe. The golden era of display technology means the lines are blurring. Many modern gaming monitors for editing and creative work are surprisingly capable, especially if you know what to look for. The key lies in the panel type.

Panel Types: The Big Three

• IPS (In-Plane Switching): This is the champion for colour accuracy and wide viewing angles. Historically, IPS panels were slower, but modern versions offer fantastic response times, making them the best all-rounders. If you're serious about using a single monitor for both gaming and editing, an IPS panel is your best bet. The detail available on modern 4K monitors with IPS technology is simply stunning for creative tasks.
• VA (Vertical Alignment): Known for their excellent contrast ratios, VA panels deliver deep, inky blacks. They offer a good middle ground between IPS and TN panels in terms of colour and speed, making them a popular choice. Many creators also swear by the immersion of curved monitors, which frequently use VA panels.
• TN (Twisted Nematic): These are the speed demons. TN panels are often the cheapest and offer the fastest response times, but they typically have the worst colour reproduction and poor viewing angles. If you're a competitive esports player, a TN panel is great... but for any serious creative work, it's a hard pass.

So, if you own an IPS or a high-quality VA gaming monitor, you're likely in a good position. Your screen can probably pull double duty without major issues. You can browse our full range of all gaming monitors to see the huge variety of panel types available today.

ViewSonic VX3219 32" Curved Gaming Monitor / Full HD (1920 x 1080) / 240Hz Refresh Rate / 1ms MPRT Response Time / Adaptive Sync Prevents Screen Tearing / 1500R Curve Ultimate Immersion / VX3219-PC-MHD-SN

R4899.00In Stock

AOC Q27G4XM 27" Mini-LED Gaming Monitor / QHD (2560 × 1440) Resolution / 180Hz Refresh Rate / 1ms Response Time / Fast IPS Panel / Display HDR 1000 / Q27G4XM

R10299.00In Stock

AOC AGON AG275QXR 27" QHD 2K 170Hz Gaming Monitor - Pink - 2022 Edition ,IPS, Flicker-free technology, AMD FreeSync Premium, G-SYNC Compatible / AOC-AG275QXR

R6999.00In Stock

AOC CQ32G4E 32" Curved Gaming Monitor / QHD (2560x1440) / 180Hz Refresh Rate / 0.5ms Response Time (MPRT) / HDR10 / Adaptive Sync / CQ32G4E

R5999.00In Stock

DELL 27 MONITOR SE2725HM VGA HDMI 210-BQZW / (1920 x 1080) Display resolution / IPS level Display / 5ms Response Time / 178° Verticaland Horizontal Viewing Angle / SE2725HM

R2299.00In Stock

HP OMEN 27k UHD 144Hz Gaming Monitor - Black / 1ms / 27" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Anti-glare Display / AMD Freesync™ Premium / Integrated Speakers / Pivot Rotation and Height Adjustable / 780G8AS

R16499.00In Stock

Optimising a Gaming Monitor for Editing 🔧

Even the best gaming monitor can benefit from a few tweaks to get it ready for creative workloads. You don't just have to live with the factory settings. Taking a few minutes to optimise your display can make a world of difference.

First, dive into your monitor's on-screen display (OSD) menu. Look for picture modes like "sRGB," "Cinema," or "Standard." These modes often disable the aggressive colour saturation and sharpening found in "Gaming" or "FPS" modes, giving you a more neutral and accurate picture.

Second, consider your workspace. Proper lighting is crucial for colour-critical work. Avoid direct sunlight on your screen and try to use neutral, ambient lighting in your room. This ensures the colours you see are from the monitor, not a reflection. For creators on the go, even adding one of today's versatile portable monitors as a second screen for your tools and palettes can dramatically improve your workflow.

Ultimately, using gaming monitors for editing is no longer the massive compromise it once was. With the rise of high-quality IPS panels, you can absolutely have a screen that delivers thrilling gaming performance and accurate colours for your creative projects. It’s about choosing wisely and spending a little time on setup. ✨