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Dave Shackleford, Head of UK Product – Consumer at BenQ explores the latest advanced capabilities in monitors and projectors for enhanced game play.
There doesn’t seem to be any slowing the rapid trajectory of popularity for gaming influencers in 2022. Gaining even more traction during the pandemic, 10% of the world’s population now follow a gaming influencer online (YouGov,2021). Therefore it is of absolutely no surprise that we have also seen a rise in the demand for tech that gives everyone from professional players, twitch streamers and casual gamers the most accessible, immersive and high performance gaming experience.
But what is it that gamers really want and how has the tech industry responded?
Refresh Rates
Measured in hertz (Hz), refresh rates are all about enabling a more responsive and immersive user experience. The refresh rate correlates to the amount of times the monitor will refresh the screen each second. For optimal gameplay, high refresh rates are a must! Most competitive monitors max out between 240Hz and 360Hz, and if your system can cater for frame rates higher than 240 with your chosen game, then a monitor in this range will be the best choice for you.
In terms of variety gaming, 165Hz is the middle ground giving improved panels, better colour accuracy, better HDR and faster response, while also being more accessible than 240Hz to 360Hz monitors in terms of price. However, if you already have a good 144Hz gaming monitor, then the 13% increase in max framerate isn’t necessarily worth an upgrade. The 144Hz monitor is practically the gold standard for everyday competitive gaming. You’ll notice much faster, smoother performance for casual gamers, not just pro gamers.
Response Time
The other vital time-related spec is response time – referring to how long it takes each pixel to change from one setting to the next. Working in tandem with human eyesights, response time determines primarily how coherent an image will appear to viewers, whether it will have artefacts like blur, ghosting or trailing.
Manufacturers like BenQ measure monitor response times using two primary methods. The more popular and objective approach is GtG. The more nuanced method is known as MPRT. Ideally you should be looking for a monitor with under 4ms in both tests. The closer you get to 1ms, the better. A 0ms monitor is something that keeps getting mentioned, but with current understanding of physics is effectively impossible. Unless we learn how to exceed light speed, there has to be some lag!
If a manufacturer only provides GtG, that’s good enough. You should be at under 4ms for a good gaming experience. Ideally, look at monitors that offer MPRT measurements as well. A 1ms MPRT monitor from a good brand tells you that a lot of engineering has gone into motion control and image regulation on that model, so somebody there really cares about optimising panels for gaming. It’s rare for non-gaming monitors to advertise MPRT. Its very presence in the specs says you’re dealing with gaming-minded designers, so that’s most assuredly a good sign.
HDRI
As more HDR content becomes available, having an HDR monitor has become increasingly popular. However, not every display can offer satisfactory HDR performance. HDRi, a BenQ proprietary HDR technology, enhances HDR output by fine-tuning settings so that viewers get the best results. HDR elevates brightness and refines details. But this may cause overexposure, making images lose the atmosphere intended for immersion.
Game HDRi mode strikes a balance between contrast and detail. Gamers can thus maintain gaming visual effects and get more detailed darkened screen areas for deeper immersion. Besides better contrast and more detail, BenQ HDRi technology also offers more natural colours. This is because the BenQ Colour Engine allows each colour to be enhanced in saturation and hue. For example, by adjusting colours in a three dimensional fashion, green will become more vivid with enhanced colour saturation. With fresher and more brilliant colour performance, viewers can have a more impressive viewing experience.
Complete Immersion
From 4K gaming capabilities at 120Hz to refresh rates, HDR support, BenQ’s superior true sound by treVolo and action-ready monitors with 1ms MPRT, next-generation console ready displays offer many game-changing upgrades. We’re seeing that PS5 or Xbox Series X gamers are looking for HDMI 2.1. However, even though HDMI 2.1 specifications are greatly upgraded, it does not mean that you automatically enjoy them all.
To fully take advantage of HDMI 2.1, you need an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, plus a monitor and source device that support HDMI 2.1 specifications. Still, it’s never too early to get ready for HDMI 2.1. Upgrade to a MOBIUZ gaming monitor like the EX2710U or EX3210U. They are equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports and get you ready for more fluid and exquisite visuals and more immersive colours. With these capabilities, you will surely see the difference: higher image quality and more detail. Besides, gamers also experience faster refresh rates as well as VRR (variable refresh rate). Both make it possible to reduce or eliminate lag and frame tearing for more fluid and detailed gameplay.
VRR allows the source device to deliver video frames as fast as it can, achieving the full effect of high refresh rates. So far, Xbox Series X and S are verified as compatible with VRR, while PS5 has yet to add support for adaptive sync.
Projectors
For console gamers looking to take their gaming experience to the next level, one of the first options available to them is switching their gaming display to a projector. This allows them a chance to intensify their gameplay with images significantly larger than those offered by monitors at the same price point.
However, gamers looking to transition to the use of a projector most likely won’t be satisfied with a projector broadcasting just basic visuals. They want to take full advantage of their console’s high-powered specs to create a truly immersive gaming experience.
In order to do so, they will need to check a projector’s level of support in a few key areas, with refresh rate, standing head and shoulder above all others. BenQ gaming projectors are fitted with a suite of features that includes refinements in the area of colour gamut, image quality/rendering, as well as a selection of high-performance modes ideal for gaming.
These features coupled with the enhanced specs BenQ infuses all its projectors with, helps these gaming projectors further stand out from the crowd.
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