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Many ofour favorite monitorscome in all shapes, forms, sizes and specs.
To help you get started with your new monitor, here are some things you should be aware of.
Connection
Most monitors today usually connect through two types of inputs; HDMI and DisplayPort.
PC gamers, esports enthusiasts and content creators usually lean more to DisplayPort for multiple reasons.
The most obvious is that it can maintain faster refresh rates at higher resolutions than HDMI.
DisplayPort is also more efficient for multi-monitor usage through daisy-chaining support.
One trick that newer HDMIs can do is support higher-quality audio signals for multi-channel set-ups through features like ARC.
Thats especially crucial for photo editors, video editors and colorists.
The most basic on the software side is Windows Color Calibration or Pro Display Calibrator for Mac.
This is a respectable way to immediately get good color balancing without having to think too much.
There are also professional calibration tools on the hardware side of things to take things even further.
This goes for devices like the SpyderX and X-Rite i1Display Pro for fantastic visual results.
Devices like these are connected through USB and use manufacture-provided software alongside built-in sensors on the hardware.
Gaming Performance
For gamers, the most ideal monitors balance image quality as well as performance.
To most gamers, performance is the benchmark for how well a game looks and plays while in motion.
Several aspects equate to quality performance in gaming.
The most obvious is the refresh rate.
This usually works alongside an output devices frame rate which is the frequency an image is displayed out.
This can lead to screen tearing which can ruin the experience of gaming at times.
Its important to verify these configs are toggled on through the actual display itself and software.
The final key to optimizing gaming performance is response time.
This refers to how quickly a monitor can change the color of its pixels in response to input.
High-quality gaming monitors minimize input lagthe delay between the GPU sending a frame and the monitor displaying it.
Lower input lag ensures games feel more responsive and smooth.
This not only saves space and reduces the cost of additional input devices but also streamlines setups for efficiency.
