7 Top Picks
4 Reviewers
30 Hours of Research
30 Options Considered
Gaming is an expensive hobby which means gamers are always looking for ways to save an extra buck or two on their equipment. That is why I put together this list and reviewed the best gaming monitors, to tell you what the best gaming monitor under 400 bucks is. One of the specifications that is most important when considering the best gaming monitor under 400 dollars is compatibility with syncing technology.
3 Best Gaming Monitors Under 400
1. [Best Overall] Dell Gaming Monitor S2417DG YNY1D 24-Inch
4.9/5
The S2417DG YNY1D from Dell is one of the best gaming monitors under 400. It has a screen size of 24 inches and can use resolutions that max out at 2560 by 1440 with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
2. [Best 144Hz Monitor for the Money] ViewSonic VX2757-MHD 27 Inch 75Hz 2ms 1080p Gaming Monitor
4.8/5
The VX2757-MHD is a cheap monitor for competitive gaming manufactured by ViewSonic. It has a screen size of 27 inches and supports resolutions up to 1920 by 1080 with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
3. [Best 3D Gaming Monitor] Sceptre C325B-144R 32” 144Hz 1800R Curved AMD FreeSync Gaming Monitor
4.7/5
Sceptre has manufactured the C325B-144R. It has a gargantuan 32-inch display size and supports resolutions up to 1920 by 1080 and the ratio is 16:9. 8 inches shy of 40 inch is not too shabby. It has an LED screen with a VA panel type.
Specs and Features to Expect at this Price
There are plenty of cheap gaming monitors under 400 bucks that should have all the features you need. Getting the the replacement monitor with the right refresh rate and response time shouldn't be a problem. The primary sacrifice you will have to make for the best gaming monitor under 400 bucks is going to be the resolution. In addition, it is equipped with AMD FreeSync technology, which is designed to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering that is common when playing fast paced games at high frame rates.
You might be able to find the best gaming monitor under 400 bucks that supports 4k resolutions, but you will have to sift through a lot of other monitors to do it. So much so, that you might want to consider settling for a lower resolution. 1920 by 1080 is a perfectly satisfactory resolution for gaming PC monitor for gaming and should serve you well for a much cheaper price.
For gaming consoles check out our best gaming monitor for XBox One X reviews.
Best Gaming Monitors Under 400 Reviews
1. [Best Overall] Dell Gaming Monitor S2417DG YNY1D 24-Inch
4.9/5
The S2417DG YNY1D from Dell is easily one of the best gaming monitors for those on a budget. It has a screen size of 24 inches and can use resolutions that max out at 2560 by 1440 with an ratio of 16:9. It is an LCD screen with a TN panel type.
This particular monitor option comes with a fantastic maximum refresh rate of 165 Hz. Not exactly 240Hz refresh rate but still solid. No matter how powerful your machine and graphics card is is it is very likely that this computer monitor will be able to keep up and even surpass the frame rate of the game you are playing. In fact, it is more likely that for the average gamer they won’t be able to make full use of the maximum refresh rate of this monitor which means this should last you for a long time without needing an upgrade.
A 1 millisecond response time is more than anyone could ask for in their monitor under 400 bucks. You should be able to play any kind of game at any skill level without having to worry about low input lag or your monitor holding you back. It's great for a gaming PC and console gaming with its high resolution and high refresh rate.
Overall, another quality and affordable G Sync monitor!
Dell S2417DG YNY1D 24-Inch Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 24 inches |
Display Panel | Twisted Nematic (TN), LCD |
Max. Resolution | 2560 x 1440 (1440p) |
Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
Response Time | 1 millisecond |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | No |
G-Sync / FreeSync | G-Sync |
Features | Flicker-Free, Pivot Capability, VESA Compatible |
Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort & HDMI Inputs |
I am always extremely pleased to see G-Sync compatibility in a monitor as I am very much a fan of NVIDIA GPUs and you often see compatibility for FreeSync, the AMD alternative, but not for G-Sync. If you are a fan of NVIDIA GPUs then this monitor is going to make you very happy, as it did for me.
Outside of the technical specifications, this monitor comes loaded with great gaming features. It uses flicker-free technology to protect your eyes from fatigue and strain during extended play sessions which will be appreciated by weekend warriors marathoning in their off-hours or professional players having extended practice sessions alike.
It is fully VESA compatible so it should be simple and convenient to implement this monitor in your multiple monitor configuration or use a few of them to create a new one. It is fully pivot capable so you could use it in either the traditional landscape mode or switch to a portrait display for working with text and code or just browsing the web.
The one downside of this monitor is the lack of connectivity options, but HDMI is very common and DisplayPort becomes more common by the day so if you had to have any two connection options you would want these two.
Altogether, I am confident that this is a fantastic option to contend for the best gaming monitor under 400 bucks.
Dell Gaming Monitor S2417DG YNY1D 24-Inch Pros
Dell Gaming Monitor S2417DG YNY1D 24-Inch Cons
2. [Best 144Hz Monitor for the Money] ViewSonic VX2757-MHD 27 Inch 75Hz 2ms 1080p Gaming Monitor
4.8/5
The VX2757-MHD is a cheap monitor for competitive gaming under 400 dollars manufactured by ViewSonic. It has a screen size of 27 inches and supports resolutions up to 1920 by 1080 with an ratio of 16:9. The screen type is LCD with a TN panel type.
The refresh rate of this monitor is 75 Hz, which isn't bad but it could be better. A casual gamer, or one with a less powerful machine, will be pleased with this variable refresh rate and shouldn't have any problems with fast paced games like Call of Duty on this monitor, but for competitive professional play, you'll want something closer to 144 Hz.
The response time is quite good at 2 milliseconds, very respectable. This should be more than fast enough for most gamers. Even rhythm gamers shouldn’t have a problem with this level of response time as long as they have configured their fast paced games properly - see also Warzone monitors.
ViewSonic VX2757-MHD 27 Inch Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 27 inches |
Display Panel | Twisted Nematic (TN), LCD |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
Response Time | 2 milliseconds |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | Flicker-Free, Blue Light Filtering, VESA Compatible |
Ports / Connectivity | HDMI, DisplayPort |
The monitor does come with speakers and I felt that they worked pretty well for monitor speakers. I still wouldn’t want these as my only audio option, but if I didn’t have any external speakers and wanted to take my headset off then I wouldn’t mind using these.
It is fully FreeSync compatible which should please AMD GPU users. Unfortunately, there is no G-Sync compatibility here so that might be a deal-breaker for some NVIDIA users, but syncing isn't necessarily required for the best gaming monitor as long as you cap your framerate at the right level.
Your eye care has been considered by ViewSonic with this model. They have implemented flicker-free technology and a blue light filtering to protect your eyes while using this replacementmonitor so you should be able to game longer and harder before experiencing fatigue.
This model is compatible with VESA mounting which should make it a great choice for use with a multi-monitor configuration and it has compatibility with HDMI and DisplayPort for connecting to your machine of choice.
All-in-all, a good choice for casual gamers or those that are on a tight budget, but the pros should look elsewhere.
ViewSonic VX2757-MHD 27 Inch 75Hz 2ms 1080p Gaming Monitor Pros
ViewSonic VX2757-MHD 27 Inch 75Hz 2ms 1080p Gaming Monitor Cons
3. [Best 3D Gaming Monitor] Sceptre C325B-144R 32” 144Hz 1800R Curved AMD FreeSync Gaming Monitor
4.7/5
Sceptre has manufactured the C325B-144R. It is a gargantuan 32-inch monitor and supports resolutions up to 1920 by 1080 and the ratio is 16:9. 8 inches shy of 40 inch is not too shabby. It has an LED screen with a VA panel type.
All of the options before this one were TN panels, this is the first that isn’t which is in its favor. TN panels are very responsive, true, but they have problems with color accuracy and peak brightness that detract from the visual gaming experience. Seeing a monitor of another panel type is always encouraging.
The refresh rate of the C325B-144R is an ideal 144 Hz which is surprising on such a large display but in a good way. This, combined with the average response time of 3 milliseconds, should make for a very pleasing visual gaming experience on a very large monitor. It even implements FreeSync to sync your variable refresh rate and framerate which should keep things running smooth and clean.
Another unique aspect of this monitor is that it is curved. I am a bit skeptical of how much that adds to the smooth gaming experience, but I can confirm that it certainly didn't detract from it in any way. I was very pleased, using this monitor.
Sceptre C325B-144R 32” Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 32 inches |
Display Panel | Vertical Alignment (VA), LED |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 3 milliseconds |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | Anti-Flicker, Curved, VESA Compatible |
Ports / Connectivity | DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort |
The one downside of this monitor is that it doesn’t always arrive completely intact. You might notice some dead pixels on arrival and you might have to send it back to be repaired or replaced which is a pain. That said, when everything is working this monitor is very pleasing and you shouldn’t have any problems with it.
Sceptre C325B-144R 32” 144Hz 1800R Curved AMD FreeSync Gaming Monitor Pros
Sceptre C325B-144R 32” 144Hz 1800R Curved AMD FreeSync Gaming Monitor Cons
The VG248QG is another great budget option from ASUS. It is a 24-inch monitor that supports resolutions up to 1920 by 1080 that have a 16:9 ratio. It has an LED screen with a TN panel type.
This budget gaming monitor under 400 dollars claims to have a response time of 0.5 milliseconds. I'm not sure how much stock I would put in that claim, I've never seen a response time faster than 1 millisecond, but I can say that this monitor is very responsive with no noticeable low input lag whatsoever and I was pleased with its performance.
Asus VG248QG 24” Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 24 inches |
Display Panel | Twisted Nematic (TN), LED |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 0.5 milliseconds |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | G-Sync |
Features | Flicker-Free, Blue Light Filtering, VESA Compatible, Tilt, Swivel, Pivot, Height Adjustment |
Ports / Connectivity | HDMI, DVI-D, DisplayPort |
The refresh rate meets the high-quality standard of 144 Hz which is another point in its favor and it has Nvidia G-Sync technology! If you are an NVIDIA user then prepare to have a very smooth and stutter-free visual gaming experience.
It implements both blue light filtering and anti-flicker technology for eye care purposes. The height adjustable stand is extremely flexible with the ability to tilt forward and backward, swivel left to right, adjust the height up and down, as well as pivot into portrait mode for web browsing and text work.
If you prefer not to use a stand, have no fear, the VG248QG is compatible with VESA mounting so you can mount it to the wall or a multiple display stand with no issue.
It supports HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI-D for connectivity options.
Asus VG248QG 24” G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor 165Hz Pros
Asus VG248QG 24” G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor 165Hz Cons
The VG271 is manufactured by Acer. This ultrawide gaming monitor has a 27-inch display and supports resolutions up to 1920 by 1080 that have an ratio of 16:9. The VG271 uses an LED screen with IPS panel.
At first glance, this option has phenomenal gaming specs with a high refresh rate of 144 Hz and a very rapid response time of 1 millisecond, but it fails to mention a few things about that. In truth, it does not have a 1 millisecond response time, it is closer to 3 milliseconds. That isn't too bad by itself, just irritating because it isn't what was advertised. Unfortunately, it gets worse. To get that response time of 3 milliseconds you have to activate the “fast response time” option which causes the visual quality of the monitor to take a nose-dive.
Acer Nitro VG271 Pbmiipx 27 Inches Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 27 inches |
Display Panel | In-Plane Switching (IPS panel), LED |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 1 millisecond |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | VESA Compatible, Acer VisionCare, Wide View Angles |
Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort, HDMI |
This is quite typical of a cheap IPS panel monitor that is marketed as a new gaming monitor under 400 bucks. As a general rule, you should stay away from IPS panel monitors if you are on a tight budget and looking for a budget gaming monitor under 400 because you are very likely to encounter problems like these.
While IPS panel styling does provide the highest picture quality of visual gaming experience it is not intended to provide the specifications for gaming which makes it very expensive to have both the immersive picture quality of IPS panel and the very demanding specs that gamers want.
Acer Nitro VG271 Pbmiipx 27 Inches Full HD Pros
Acer Nitro VG271 Pbmiipx 27 Inches Full HD Cons
The VX2458-C-MHD is another option manufactured by ViewSonic. It has a screen size of 24 inches and supports a resolution of 1920 by 1080 with an ratio of 16:9. It is an LCD monitor with a VA panel technology.
This is another curved monitor option if you are attached to the idea with excellent specs. It has a refresh rate that is more than good at 144 Hz and the response time of 1 millisecond is nothing to be scoffed at either. It supports FreeSync which is another plus for gaming.
Unfortunately, this ultrawide gaming monitor doesn't come packed with eye care features and isn't compatible with VESA which means you will have to get creative if you are using multiple displays but it does have good specs and is cheaply priced which makes it a good option if you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a more expensive option.
ViewSonic VX2458-C-MHD 24 Inch Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 24 inches |
Display Panel | Vertical Alignment (VA), LCD |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 1 millisecond |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | Curved |
Ports / Connectivity | HDMI, DisplayPort |
ViewSonic VX2458-C-MHD 24 Inch 1080p Curve Pros
ViewSonic VX2458-C-MHD 24 Inch 1080p Curve Cons
The MG248Q is an excellent option from ASUS. It has a 24-inch display and a resolution of 1920 by 1080 with a 16:9 ratio. It is an LCD screen with a TN panel type.
The refresh rate of this monitor caps out at 144 Hz which is exactly what you are looking for in a gaming monitor’s refresh rate. This should provide an ideal and smooth gaming experience no matter what style of games you prefer.
For response time you’re looking at about 1 millisecond which is fantastic. Control should be fluid and precise without any delay.
Compatibility for FreeSync is supported by this model. Chalk another one up for AMD, I see a lot of FreeSync compatibility so AMD GPU users should have a much easier time finding a monitor with syncing capabilities.
ASUS MG248Q 24-inch Technical Specifications | |
Screen Size | 24 inches |
Display Panel | Twisted Nematic (TN), LCD |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 1 millisecond |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | ASUS Eye Care, VESA Compatibility |
Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI |
ASUS has implemented its own eye care technology with this monitor which should apply a blue light filter and prevent flickering, all the good stuff. It also has VESA compatibility for convenient use with your existing setup or if it is a standalone monitor then it should be easy to mount it to a wall if that's your thing.
It comes with several connectivity options. The usual HDMI and DisplayPort are here with the addition of DVI compatibility which should give another high-speed option to use in place of HDMI for those high-speed refresh rates.
ASUS 24-inch 144Hz Full HD FreeSync Gaming 3d Monitor Pros
ASUS 24-inch 144Hz Full HD FreeSync Gaming 3d Monitor Cons
Image Quality and Resolution
The quality of the images displayed on your screen is mostly determined by the resolution that you are operating at. The higher the resolution your gaming monitor under 400 dollars can display, the clearer and cleaner the images you will see on it. But what is resolution?
Resolution, when speaking about gaming monitors, is usually used as a measure of how many picture elements (pixels) can be displayed on your screen at once. It is read like a graph you would have seen in your middle-school mathematics class. First the horizontal value, then the vertical.
So, a Full HD resolution would display 1,920 pixels horizontally across the screen and 1,080 pixels vertically and would be written as 1920 x 1080. This resolution is also sometimes referred to by only its vertical value or 1080p.
A 4k resolution gets kind of slippery. You would think with a name like 4k it would display exactly 4,000 pixels, but actually, it is less than that. 4k monitors aren't actually 4k, they are usually 3840 x 2160. This is because most gaming monitors operate at a 16:9 ratio which means the actual standard for 4k would be 4096 x 2304. The problem with this is that a resolution of that size would require an impractically large screen size. So, 3840 x 2160 is considered 4k.
Size and Panel Type
Generally speaking, the larger the monitor size, the higher the price will be. The good news here is that a larger screen monitor is not necessarily always better. When considering the size of your monitor you also need to take into consideration the weight of it. A bigger monitor will naturally be heavier and that can make it difficult or impossible to use depending on your setup. As for the price, there is a also a strong competition for the best monitor under $200.
Another consideration when it comes to gaming monitor weight is how that weight is distributed. If it is naturally top-heavy then you run the risk of it tipping over at the slightest provocation and damaging itself or other things.
Another area of consideration when speaking about getting the best gaming monitor is panel type. Panel type refers to how the monitor is lit. Different panel types are good at different things. Most gaming monitors are Twisted Nematic (TN) display types which is the oldest and most responsive type.
TN panel typing is good for gaming because it usually leads to fast response times. That said, the color accuracy is bad and image clarity isn’t as good as other types either, so if you can find the right specs on a different panel type then you should go with that one.
Response Time
The response time of your gaming monitor refers to the speed with which your monitor will display the results of your inputs on screen. If the cursor on-screen moves 5 milliseconds after you move the mouse on your desk then the gaming monitor has a 5 millisecond response time.
Most monitors operate at a speed that is many times faster than the fastest human reaction time, so it is very unlikely that you would be able to notice a delay just from looking at it. That said, anyone that has spent enough time gaming will be able to tell you that they can feel the difference.
It is a difficult thing to describe for the uninitiated but essentially this feeling is caused by the interaction between reaction time and muscle memory. If you get used to using a gaming monitor that has a fast response time and then move to one with a slow response time it will throw your timing off which will lead to a worse competitive gaming performance and an unsatisfying feeling when playing casually.
The response times you are looking for in your gaming monitor are anywhere from 1 to 5 milliseconds with a lower number being better.
Refresh Rate
The rate at which your gaming monitor displays images is called the refresh rate. This specification is usually measured in Hertz with the abbreviation Hz. Most monitors show fast moving objects by displaying a series of static images over and over again with varying differences so quickly that your eye sees it as a single moving image.
The refresh rate of your gaming monitor is measured by how many of those different images it can display in 1 second. The most common refresh rate is 60 Hz. When looking for the best gaming monitor you want the highest refresh rate you can get, preferably as close to 144 Hz as you can get, but anything between 60 Hz and 144 Hz will function well enough for casual gaming.
Refresh rate is also linked to framerate. If your gaming monitor has a higher or lower refresh rate than the framerate your machine displays your fast rate games at then the disparity will cause visual artifacts in the graphics it displays. This is a problem that can be solved by linking your framerate to your refresh rate using software like FreeSync or G-Sync, depending on what kind of Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) you are using.
Design & Connectivity
If you have all of the right specs then the only other things that decide which gaming monitor is better will be design and connectivity. The design of your gaming monitors refers to how comfortable it is to use. Can it tilt, adjust the height, or swivel in different directions to give you an optimal viewing angle from anywhere? Is it compatible with VESA mounting for multiple display configurations or wall mounting? These are things to consider for your comfort and convenience.
The final thing you have to look for is the connectivity options of the gaming monitor. There isn’t much point in getting a gaming monitor with only a VGA port if you don’t have a VGA port on your computer monitors, so you should always check the devices you are planning to use with the gaming monitor you are considering and find out which connectivity ports are available. Also worthy of note, the most common connectivity option is HDMI, everything has it, but HDMI has trouble supporting higher refresh rates so you should consider using something else like DVI or DisplayPort.
Are Gaming Monitors Under 400 Dollars Good?
In short, yes! In today's market, there is a tonne of gaming monitors under 400, many of which offer great specifications and gaming performance. Simply put, new technology has arrived that has naturally knocked the price down, leaving budget-restricted individuals in a sea of great gaming monitors. Whether you're looking for a 1440p 144Hz gaming monitor under 400 bucks, or something more immersive-based, this price category should have something for everyone.
FAQs:
1. What should I look for in a gaming monitor?
Ideally, you want the best gaming monitor under 400 bucks with a refresh rate of at least 75 Hz and the slower response time possible. Because refresh rate is critical for best gaming monitors, the majority of best gaming monitors have a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz (the fastest available is 360 Hz), and a response time of no more than 5ms.
2. Is a curved monitor good for gaming?
Curved gaming monitors are more comfortable on the eyes and offer a more viewing and immersive gaming experience, as well as certain gaming advantages for those who prefer simulation titles. However, they are identical to flat screen in terms of gaming performance and fundamental specifications such as refresh rate, response time, color depth, and panel technology.
3. What is HDR (High Dynamic Range) gaming?
High Dynamic Range is one of the most recent graphics enhancements (HDR). A good High Dynamic Range gaming monitor feature has a number of effects to give you the best gaming experience, including enhanced color performance, increased saturation, increased contrast, brighter highlights, and darker shadows.
4. Is 5ms OK for gaming?
As a casual gamer, a 5ms response time is more than enough for simple gameplay in shooter and fast paces games, racing games, open world games, or role-playing games. You will obtain a response time that is faster than your reflexes, which eliminates the need for concern about response time.
5. Are gaming monitors under 400 bucks worth it?
The short answer is YES, gamers who can afford gaming monitors under 400 bucks should prioritize high refresh rate displays. Every specification sheet places a premium on refresh rate and response time. The first digit indicates the number of frames per second displayed by a monitor in Hertz (Hz).
