Best Gaming Monitors

Asus makes the fastest gaming monitor

Serious gamers know the importance of having fast response times -- the amount of time it takes for a pixel to update -- in an LCD monitor to minimize ghosting, typically during fast-action games like first-person shooters and racing titles. Twisted nematic (TN) panels are the better choice for gamers, as they typically offer faster response times and are less expensive than their IPS and MVA counterparts. A drawback is that TN monitors have inferior viewing angles, contrast and shadow detail; gamers, however, often will ignore these faults to get response times between 2 and 5ms.

Reviewers say the 23-inch Asus VH236H (*Est. $175) is a great gaming option, thanks in part to its very low price. It boasts 2ms response times, and reviewers report little to no ghosting. Performance is quite good overall, though far from perfect; viewing angles are poor and shadow detail is barely average. Movies and games look great, however, and blacks are deep during movie playback, giving it a cinematic touch, CNET says.

Back-tilt is the only ergonomic option, and we noted some comments that the display is prone to wobble when bumped from the sides. Connectivity is otherwise solid, including an HDMI port, a VGA input and a DVI input. Features include basic adjustment and color controls, along with a number of preset modes. Built-in-speakers are included, though some say that audio from them sounds muffled. The user-interface is a bit muddled compared to the onscreen displays of other monitors.

Value is the Asus VH236H's strongest suit. There are better performing and more feature-rich options out there, but reviewers find it to be a great buy for the hardcore gamer who doesn't want to spend more than $200 on an LCD monitor. Newegg.com users favor the VH236H; it receives the site's LCD Monitors Customer Choice Award multiple times and an overwhelming majority of listed reviews are positive. No other gaming-suitable monitor in or near its price class is as well liked in the reviews that we saw.