Buying the right monitor can be a stressful shopping experience. From monitor size to panel type and refresh rate, there are so many crucial factors you need to consider.
In this blog post, we’re taking a deep dive into different monitor sizes, covering what they mean, how they are measured, along with what size is good for gaming and live streaming.
How Are Computer Monitors Measured?
There are three main factors that determine the size of a monitor – screen size, screen width, and vertical measurements.
Screen size is measured by the distance between one corner of the viewable area to the diagonally opposite corner. This is typically measured in inches, such as 27’’ or 32’’. Alternatively, screen width stands for the aspect ratio of your display. A typical gaming monitor will be around 16:9, however, this does vary between models with some ultrawide displays offering a hefty 21:9 ratio!
Lastly, vertical measurement is the height of your monitor.
How Does the Size of Your Monitor Affect You
The general rule of thumb is, the larger your screen, the less strain will be put on your eyes. Larger monitors like 32’’ or above are perfect for those who require lots of screen real estate for your everyday tasks. You can easily swap between applications or even have multiple open simultaneously.
What Size Monitor is Good For…
Don’t know what monitor size is right for your set-up? We’ve broken down our top monitor recommendations based on your individual requirements such as gaming or live streaming.
Gaming
For gaming, we recommend a 27’’ monitor. This is the perfect middle ground between screen real estate and desk space. You’ll have plenty of viewable area to display your favourite gaming worlds, whilst also ensuring there is still plenty of room on your desk for all those must-have peripherals. What’s more, with a 27’’ monitor you can achieve smooth resolutions between 1440p and even 4K! Perfect for immersing you fully in all the fast-paced or cosy gaming action.
MSI MAG 271QPX 27” Gaming Monitor
- 27” gaming monitor
- 2560 x 1440 display resolution
- 240Hz refresh rate
- 0.03ms response time
LG UltraGear 27GR95QE-B 27” Gaming Monitor
- 27” gaming monitor
- 2560 x 1440 display resolution
- Up to 240Hz refresh rate
- 0.03ms response time
Streaming
Alternatively, for streaming, a 32’’ monitor is the ultimate choice. Live streaming requires plenty of screen real estate for your game, capture software, streaming platform, and more. You’ll also need to ensure you have a resolution that can handle multiple applications at once with minimal screen tearing or latency. A 32’’ monitor delivers all of this.
What’s more, boasting higher than average refresh rates, a 32’’ monitor will give you that in-game edge you need to dominate your enemies and wow your audience.
MSI MAG 321CUP 32” Curved Gaming Monitor
- 32” gaming monitor
- 3840 x 2160 display resolution
- VA panel
- 160Hz refresh rates
- Curved
ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQ 32” Gaming Monitor
- 32” gaming monitor
- 3840 x 2160 resolution
- IPS panel
- 160Hz refresh rates
- Compatible with HDMI 2.1
Looking for Your Next Upgrade?
Do none of our monitor recs quite meet the demands of your battle station? If so, you can browse the full range of monitors available at Overclockers UK, filtered by size because we just love spoiling you.
Expand Your Monitor Know-How
Alternatively, if you don’t know what monitor is right for you, we’ve designed plenty of helpful dedicated guides showcasing all the key factors from a one-stop hub, everything about curved displays, and why refresh rates are important.
What Size Monitor Do You Have?
What size gaming monitor do you have? How has it helped your performance or productivity? Tell us in the comments.
- 4 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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