Clickable Image: FlyWheel Hosting SideBar

Purchasing an HDR Monitor: What to Look For

If you are an avid PC gamer, having the right HDR monitor will improve your immersion into the game by offering richer colors and more distinct depth. While HDR televisions have been around for many years, HDR monitors have only been on the market for a few. With this helpful guide, you will know why you should consider purchasing an HDR monitor and what to look for. 

What Is an HDR Monitor?

HDR stands for high dynamic range, not to be confused with HD. For many, HDR is a somewhat confusing subject. In its most basic design, HDR is meant to increase the richness and color depth of images. While 4K televisions and monitors have been stealing attention over the last couple of years, HDR monitors have the power to dramatically improve the graphic’s resolution of movies, TV shows, and games above what 4K monitors can offer. 

Until a couple of years ago, there was no set standard for HDR monitors. In 2017, VESA unveiled its DisplayHDR standards with three certification levels. You can read about those here. 

• DisplayHDR 400
• DisplayHDR 600
• DisplayHDR 1000

The numbers you see above stand for the brightness level, measured in nits. Manufacturers must meet these, along with bit depth, black levels, and gamut standards and minimums. These are strict standards that have been put in place by VESA. They are so strict, only around nine HDR monitors meet the standards as of now. 

What Is an HDR Monitor

What Should You Look for in an HDR Monitor?

Purchasing a monitor can be a bit confusing, and throwing HDR in the mix makes things even more puzzling for many people. While we cannot offer an exhaustive review of all the monitors on the market, we are here to give you a strong foundation of information to be used in making a purchase. The following offers some insight that should help you better understand what to look for. 

Color Gamut – This is one of the first considerations when choosing an HDR monitor. As we mentioned above, HDR has the capability to offer much richer color schemes and it can do that because it shows more colors than an SDR monitor. 

When you are looking at the specs for an HDR monitor, you will likely see a percentage of the color gamut. The closer the monitor is to 100%, the better the color range which will offer more detail and brilliance to the images being displayed. It is important you at least purchase a P3 standard color gamut monitor or you will find the images displayed are lacking in color vibrancy. 

Bit Depth – Another thing you will want to consider is bit depth. Bit depth is the number of bits of information that will be used by the monitor to display images. When shopping for an HDR monitor, it is important to choose one that is at least 10-bit. If you can find a 12-bit, this will be even better, but there are few on the market at this time. 

Backlighting – HDR will never look as amazing as its potential without the right lighting source to offer plenty of brightness. Many monitors today use edge lighting which includes LED lights running down both sides of the monitor. It is these lights that illuminate the pixels on the monitor to be able to show the full gamut of colors. Television manufacturers have recently begun doing away with edge lighting and are focusing on creating televisions with backlit zones that are often referred to as full-array local dimming. This type of backlighting helps to lower darker areas on the screen and make the colors that are at the forefront come to life and seem to “pop” more. 

While there are few monitors that offer this backlighting scheme, more manufacturers are stepping up to the plate. When choosing a multiple-zone backlit monitor, it is important to choose one that offers as many backlit zones as possible. With more zones in place, the monitor will be able to display images and offer dynamic range and contrast more accurately. 

Brightness – While backlighting is important, it is nothing if the monitor cannot go bright enough. While some televisions and monitors can go as high as 1000 nits, the average low-end monitor is not going to be any brighter than 200-300 nits. 

It can be a bit confusing when you are looking at PC monitor specs. Some monitor manufacturers are touting they are HDR without being able to reach the high level of brightness that is needed for ultra-color definition. 

As we mentioned above, VESA’s standards for HDR monitors will likely become the standard for all PC monitors in the future. Already, we are beginning to see manufacturers comply with VESA’s standards, including Phillips and AOC. 

If you truly want the HDR experience to be fully maximized, you need to choose a monitor that offers around 1000 nits. If the brightness is too low, you really are not going to be able to experience pure HDR in all its glory. 

Recap – 

Just to recap the information above, consider the following when purchasing an HDR monitor.

• Try to choose a monitor with 1000 nit brightness. Do not accept any monitor below 600 nits.
• Choose a 10-bit panel for the best results. You can also choose an 8-bit plus 2-bit.
• Pick a monitor with at least 90% coverage of the P3 color gamut.

Look out for imposters. What we mean by this, is manufacturers are stating they are HDR when they are only boasting of an increased color gamut over SDR monitors. While color is important, if you truly want to be able to tell you have an HDR monitor, then it is all about the brightness level. 

Best HDR Monitors for Multi Forms of Entertainment

The Best HDR Monitors

As with any gaming gear purchase, it is crucial you carefully research the options that are available. There are now more HDR monitors available than ever before, and we would like to provide you with a rundown on some of the top choices. Before you even start the process of purchasing an HDR monitor, make sure you have a graphics card that supports HDR. The following are some of the best monitors on the market.

Samsung 32-Inch CHG70

This monitor is one of the very best on the market at present. This 32-inch curved monitor brings the screen a few inches closer to you than other models, putting you right in the midst of the action. Samsung is using the same CHG70 monitor they use in their 4K televisions. 

Specs:

• DisplayHDR 600
• 10-bit color
• Supports AMD Radeon FreeSync 2
• 3,000:1 color ratio
• 144Hz refresh rate

Price: $650

HP Pavilion Gaming 32 HDR

This is one of the best bargains available in HDR displays right now. This 2,560 x 1,440 monitor has a decent refresh rate and can offer some of the benefits of a higher-end monitor without the price. This monitor does not use IPS technology, so it is able to meet the DisplayHDR 600 standard. 

Specs:

• DisplayHDR 600
• 3,000:1 contrast ratio
• 95 percent DCI-P3 gamut
• 75Hz refresh rate

Price: $449

AOC 32-Inch AGON AG322QC4

The AGON AG322QC4 is one of the few monitors that comply with the VESA DisplayHDR 400 standard. Like the HP Pavilion Gaming 32 HDR, this monitor uses VA instead of IPS technology. While it is not one of the best HDR monitors, it is certainly worth the lower price, if you are on a budget. 

Specs:

• DisplayHDR 400
• 8-bit color
• 144Hz refresh rate
• AMD’s FreeSync 2 support

If you are focused on high color demands, this monitor may disappoint, but it is aimed towards gaming performance and that is what most gamers focus on when choosing a monitor. 

Price: $499

Samsung 49-Inch Ultrawide CHG90 QLED Monitor

When we first saw this monitor, we named it the beast. It is quite funny to look at because it is so incredibly wide. We are talking about the fusion of two 1080p monitors. This monitor is fast and offers a beautiful and realistic color scheme. The specs will most likely surprise you. 

Specs:

• DisplayHDR 600
• 144Hz refresh rate
• 3,000:1 contrast ratio
• 3,840 x 1,080 resolution
• 32:9 aspect ratio

Price: $1000

The Best HDR Monitors

Best HDR Monitors for Multi Forms of Entertainment

If you have cut the cable ties and are a Netflix or Hulu watcher, you may use your PC monitor for multiple forms of entertainment. If you are one who uses your monitor for more than gaming and computing, you will need a bigger monitor. Thankfully, there is a monitor that is ideal for multi types of entertainment.

Philips Momentum 43-Inch 4K HDR Monitor

Let us introduce the first DisplayHDR 1000 monitor on the market. This monitor is massive, so it is perfect for those who game, watch movies and use their monitor for all types of entertainment. This monitor even has MultiView technology which means you can watch television on one part of the screen while you play a game or work on your computer on the other. (We really like this feature!)

Specs:

• DisplayHDR 1000
• 10-bit processing
• 97.6 percent DCI-P3
• 80Hz refresh rate

Price: $1000

HDR Device Support

Before you go out and spend your hard-earned money on a new HDR monitor, it is wise to check and make sure your devices support HDR. The good news is that most devices are now introducing HDR support. The following are known devices that support this technology, though this list is sure to grow longer in a short amount of time. 

• Windows 10
• Android
• iOS
• Certain Roku models
• Apple TV
• Certain FireTV models

If you like watching movies and television in HDR, you will find subscription services like Netflix and Hulu already have quite a lot of HDR titles to choose from. You can also sporadically find videos on YouTube and other streaming sites that have some HDR options. 

Right now, you will not find a lot of titles or options available, but this is sure to only be a temporary problem since HDR is expanding in scope and will soon be plentiful. Even the gaming world is getting on board and the many titles that are on the horizon should excite every PC gamer.

HDR Game Support

While it is easier to find HDR supported games on consoles, there is a growing list of game titles that support HDR. This list is increasing each month, as HDR is growing in popularity in the gaming community. Right now, the list includes some of the following titles. 

• Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII
• Destiny 2
• Devil May Cry 5
• Far Cry 5
• Halo Wars 2
• Madden NFL 19
• Resident Evil 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Assassin’s Creed Origins
• Resident Evil 7:

TV or Monitor: Which Is the Best for Competitive PC Gaming?

Competitive gaming requires the right equipment and skill to get the job done. You never want to come face to face with an opponent without being prepared. There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to gaming gear. Because competitive games are so action-packed, it is imperative your screen has a high refresh rate or you could be ghosting and find yourself killed. With this guide, we will get into some of the specifics of TVs vs. monitors so you can make an informed choice. 

What Should You Know About Refresh Rate?

As with many aspects of purchasing gaming gear, there is often a lot of confusion revolving around refresh rate and its importance. This is a feature that doesn’t do anything to the picture quality or color and goes unnoticed if it is working as it should.

So, what is the importance of the refresh rate? Before we delve much deeper into the subject, it is important to understand exactly what the refresh rate is and then we can get into more details on why it matters. 

Refresh Rate – The refresh rate is the number of times the screen updates its buffer in any given second. The refresh rate is measured in hertz. What this means is the more times the screen refreshes each second, the smoother the image. If you are into fast action games, you will notice if the refresh rate is too low. 

Low Refresh Rates = Problems

Low refresh rates generally equal problems when it comes to graphically demanding games. Being aware of the common problems associated with lower refresh rates will help you to better understand why this is an important consideration when choosing between a TV or monitor. 

Motion Resolution is easily one of the most noticeable problems when it comes to low refresh rates. Motion resolution is the ability of the screen to properly display moving images. The lower the refresh rate, the more blurring will occur and this can be detrimental, especially in a live competitive match. 

Screen Tearing can be extremely frustrating for gamers. This happens when the refresh rate and frame rate are not compatible. If your graphics card is putting out frames at a rate your monitor or TV cannot handle, it will often split the frames, leading to screen tearing. This issue is very distracting in a match and can have you pulling your hair out with each kill suffered as a result. 

Input Response can also be affected by lower refresh rates. While some gamers may not even notice a minor problem with input lag, it can be extremely frustrating in a highly competitive match. In its basic terms, an input response lag is a delay that occurs between the monitor or television receiving the signal and it being displayed. While a few milliseconds of lag might not seem like much, it could mean the difference between you obliterating your opponent or being taken out. 

Is a Higher Refresh Rate Always Better?

It would seem the higher the numbers, the better the results, right? While this is most often the case, as we discussed above, there are sometimes problems with the compatibility of the frame rate and refresh rate. 

Even with games that are not graphically demanding, the frame rate can rise over 100 FPS. Let’s say you have a monitor or television that is only refreshing at 60Hz. This means there is no way your monitor can keep up with the FPS and you are going to experience frame tearing. 

Now, if your monitor refreshes at 120Hz, this means it will refresh twice as fast as a 60Hz monitor and will be able to properly display a game that has a frame rate of 100 or slightly above. A 240Hz refresh rate is going to be able to handle highly taxing games without motion blurs, frame tearing, and input lags. 

To get the best results, it would be wise for you to purchase a monitor that has a refresh rate of 120Hz or 144Hz. These displays will be able to handle most games and competitive play should not be interrupted with major lags and annoying frame tears. 

Why Not Replace Your Gaming Monitor with a TV?

If you find a TV that has around the same refresh rate as some of the best gaming monitors, it would seem that would be a fair trade, but there is more to consider. Yes, there are gamers who use televisions as their display for PC gaming, but we are here to tell you this likely is not the best idea. 

Yes, HD and 4K televisions are now going for insanely good prices. You can sometimes get a huge television for less than the price of a high-end gaming monitor. Unfortunately, there is a problem. 

No matter how big the TV, how awesome the refresh rate, or how good the price, the vast majority of televisions only have inputs of around 60Hz. With the input at 60Hz, the TV then goes to work to try to achieve a double refresh rate from the input, going up to 120Hz or trying for even higher. 

The way a television achieves a higher refresh rate is through a process called motion interpolation. What happens during motion interpolation, is the display attempts to speed up the frame rate to the TV’s maximum rate. 

What Is Motion Interpolation?

To make it easier to understand, let’s break motion interpolation into its simplest of terms. This means the TV will add what is called a predictive frame. It takes the frame before and after and creates a predictive frame to make the motions more fluid and lifelike. While this may seem like a good thing on the surface, it may not be the best for competitive gaming.

So, you are playing a highly competitive online game, using a TV display. The picture looks great and it’s huge, so you are able to see all the competition. As the frame rate begins to rise, you start seeing strange frames in the mix. What you think is a tree turns out to be an opponent. It is easy to see this is not what gamers want!

Even with highly intuitive motion interpolation, your TV can miss and create a frame that is slightly confusing to the eye. While this may not be such a big deal when watching a movie or television show, it is not something you want during a competitive match. 

Before you totally rule out using a television to play, you will likely find slow-paced games with immersive storylines are beautifully displayed on a large television. Games like Witcher 3 and Mass Effect are going to be more enjoyable spread out across an HDR or 4K television display. 

If you are not a competitive gamer, you likely will not notice the minor frame interruptions that can occur with a high level of motion interpolation. If you mostly play games like God of War, then using a TV as a gaming display will make these games come to life. 

Bottom Line – A TV is not going to give you the frame and refresh rates that are needed for highly competitive gaming. No matter how good it looks, don’t try it or you will end up discovering your losses greatly increase. 

How to Choose the Right Gaming Monitor for Competitive Gaming

Now that you know competitive gaming just cannot happen on a widescreen television, you are likely wondering how to choose the right gaming display. The right monitor can mean the difference between you getting annihilated every time your character revives and being able to dominate them at every turn.

As we have discussed, there are a few different areas you will need to focus on when choosing a gaming monitor. So, let’s dive right in and discover some key areas that can make a huge difference in competitive gaming. 

Refresh Rate 

If you love playing competitive games like PUBG, Call of Duty, or Counter Strike: Global Offensive, you know just how important every second is during the battle. One slight blur or shadowing can spell disaster for your character. 

There are a few refresh rates for gaming monitors.

• 120Hz
• 144Hz
• 240Hz

Before you go out and purchase a 240Hz monitor, take a look at the graphics card you are using. Nvidia and AMD make graphics cards that can handle higher refresh rates. As we briefly mentioned above, your graphics card and refresh rate need to be matched as much as possible, or you will be wasting the capability of both. 

Response Time

Another factor to consider when purchasing a gaming monitor is response time. The simple definition of response time is the rate at which each pixel on the screen can change colors. When it comes to response time, lower is always better. Most gaming monitors come with really low response time rates, but it never hurts to check out this spec before you buy. It is important to choose a monitor with no greater than a 6ms response rate. There are even some monitors on the market that offer a 1ms response rate. 

Video Inputs

Another thing you will need to consider when choosing a gaming monitor is the video inputs. Many gamers overlook this important aspect because they do not realize its sheer importance. There are two main types of video inputs you will see on gaming monitors. 

HDMI Connectors

When searching for gaming monitors, you are likely going to find a lot of them offer HDMI connectors. This seems to be the new standard in gaming monitors because they can be hooked up to computers and consoles, depending on the type of gaming you prefer. Unfortunately, HDMI connectors cannot handle a high refresh rate so they can be limiting, especially if you like competitive gaming and want to stay ahead of your opponents. 

DisplayPort Connectors

DisplayPort connectors are the best video inputs for gaming monitors, especially those used for competitive gaming. They can handle fast refresh rates which is what you want in an online competitive match. If your video input cannot handle such high refresh rates, you are going to notice many problems that we have discussed above. The most common version you will see in today’s gaming monitors is DisplayPort 1.2. These can support refresh rates up to 60Hz and resolutions of up to 3840 x 2160 pixels.

Panels

Many people are surprised to learn the panel can have a lot to do with their refresh rate. There are three main panel types and they include the following. 

TN Panels – These panels are the least expensive, and they also offer the lowest refresh rates. If you are a competitive gamer, you do not want a TN panel.

VA Panels – While these offer great views, they tend to have ghosting issues that can be problematic for competitive gamers. 

IPS Panels – These panels offer the best picture quality, with the highest refresh rates. While IPS panels are the best for competitive gaming, they are also the most expensive. Even when choosing an IPS panel, it is wise to still check the specs to ensure the panel offers the lowest response time. 

Bottom Line

While it may seem reasonable to switch out a gaming monitor with a TV, this can be problematic. With televisions only offering video inputs of 60Hz, it really is a waste of time for competitive gamers to use a television display. 

If you love competitive gaming and want to get all the kills and win the game, you need a good gaming monitor. If you take time researching and look for monitors with the above specs, you will find your competitive gaming experience will be more immersive. With the right refresh rates and response times, along with the best video input, competitive gaming will be free of the problems that take away the fun. 

While televisions are ideal for slow-paced story games, they can spell disaster for an online competitive match. No one wants to be deep in a game, only to find their monitor just is not up to speed. Looking for the specs above will help you to make a perfect choice.

The 10 Best Gaming Keyboards of 2019

Taking a Look at the Top 5 Gaming Earbuds with Mics for 2019

Dolby Atmos vs DTS Headphone X – What is Best for Gaming?

Freesync 2 Monitor Vs G Sync Monitor: Information on Similarities

Guide to Choosing the Right Wired or Wireless Gaming Headset

What’s the Best 4K Monitors for 2019

Curved Gaming Monitor – Is the Curve Necessary?

How much does it Cost to Build A Gaming PC

What to Look for in a Gaming Monitor

What is a Good Internet Speed for Gaming

New Xbox Games For May and June 2019

Thanks for visiting Gaming Helix! We cover all of the new games that are on their way to Xbox One. Each week our team provides you with quality gaming content for you to play on gaming console of choice. To learn more about what is coming very soon to the Xbox One, keep reading and then click on the game profiles to get the pre-order details (the dates are subject to change).

A Plague Tale: Innocence

Xbox One X Enhanced

With this game, you will be following the dire tale of Amicia and her younger brother Hugo. This heartwrenching journey takes you through some of history’s darkest hours. Surrounded by swarms of rats and hunted down by the Inquisition, Amicia and Hugo struggle to find purpose and survive in this unforgiving and brutal world.

Rage 2

Xbox One X Enhanced – 

Plug headfirst into this dystopian world that is completely devoid of law and order or society. Rage 2 combines two powerful studios – id Software which created the first-person shooter and Avalanche Studios, open world insanity masters – to offer a world of carnage no matter where you go, where you can explode everything and shoot anything.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered

Xbox Play Anywhere / Xbox One X Enhanced 

You are Karl Fairburn, an elite sniper, who parachuted into Berlin during the final stand made by Germany. Your mission is to prevent the V2 rocket technology of the Nazis from falling into the Red Army’s hands. Included are all of the DLC missions, that allow you to hunt down the Fuhrer and take the war’s fate directly into your hands.

Lost Orbit

Our hero Harrison, a humble maintenance worker, is stranded after his ship becomes destroyed out in deep space. His mission is to somehow find his way home. With his relentless spirit and improvised equipment, Harrison must use the planets’ gravitational forces to propel and navigate his way through space to get home.

Devious Dungeon 2

This platformer title is a medieval-focused action game. The castle features constantly shifting halls that are full of treacherous traps, deadly monsters, and treasure. It is The Summoner’s domain and he does not treat uninvited guests kindly. Kill monsters, get loot, level and then upgrade your gear and choose one of three playable heroes that are available.

Feudal Alloy

Use Attu, a fish-controlled robot, to explore a strange medieval world. Improve your combat skills and techniques by smashing through many different types of mechanical creatures that inhabit this gorgeous hand-drawn universe. Discover a massive interconnected world, full of a broad range of equipment, skills, bosses, and enemies. Choose the enemies that you face and that paths that you take. Conquer evil and find a way to get back home at long last.

Undead Horde

Xbox One X Enhanced

Raise the dead by becoming a necromancer in this action RTS/RPG package. Fight, loot, raze, lead and command your way through the land of the living along with your horde and take the Undead Horde kingdom for yourself.

Castlevania Anniversary Collection

This collection from Konami has been designed as a compilation of the origins of this historic franchise. It includes a unique eBook that comes with detailers provided by the artists, developers and others who have been inspired by the legacy of Castlevania. It has been released as part of Konami’s 50th Anniversary celebration, it is the best for reliving those timeless classics that have helped to find this platformer genre for us all.

Dragon’s Lair Trilogy

As Dirk the Daring, you will be playing a valiant and heroic knight who is on a quest to find a fair princess and rescue her from an evil dragon. Then as Ace, the defender of truth and justice, explore outer space and planet Earth with this outer space classic of Dragon’s Liar, Dragon’s Liar 2: Time Warp and Space Ace.

Darkwood

This challenge horror survival game doesn’t simply rely on having jump scares. Fortify hideouts, prepare traps, make weapons, and explore the eerie and creepy SovietBloc forest by day, and then hunker down at night in your hideout while the woods are corrupted by nightmarish forces and pray that the sun comes up the following morning.

Steel Rats

Ride and wreck in this game that combines death-defying stunt gameplay with destructive motorbike combat set in a retro-future visually stylized world. Switch in between four different characters, each having their own unique abilities, while you are fighting deadly Junkbots and wreaking havoc.

Molecats

An indirect-control, challenging puzzler. Play Molecats as you explore the caves nearby to discover shiny relics and delicious mushrooms. Your job is to keep them all on the most direct and safest path to the goodies and avoid all of the monsters and traps along the way.

Update On The GTA 6 Release Date: Is Te New Grand Theft Auto Being Released Soon?

Today’s news on the GTA 6 release date offers a potentially large boost to fans who are eagerly awaiting the latest Grand Theft Auto game to be released by Rockstar Games.

Although Rockstar Games has not officially announced the release date for GTA 6 yet, there are lots of rumors that are surrounding what is in store for the next series of Grand Theft Auto. Recently it slipped out that work has started on GTA 6. For Xbox and PlayStation fans, that has to be music to their ears.

More information has recently emerged regarding the shocking rumor that claimed that GTA 6 could potentially be out in 2020 and also would be a PS5 exclusive for one month. The rumor came from a post that was published on Pastebin that was supposedly written by a third-party developer who has personal knowledge of the plans for Sony’s PS5. Allegedly the makers of the PlayStation paid a large sum of money to get GTA 6 as a timed exclusive for the Sony PS5.

The PS5 being able to get GTA before the next Xbox would definitely give it a huge advantage in the battle of the consoles. It is also expected that the Xbox Two and PS5 might release in 2020 so this rumor does tie in nicely with claims on the launch windows of the next-gen consoles. However, fans are still surprised by these claims that GTA 6 may be out in 2020 given the fact that it wasn’t that long ago when Red Dead Redemption was released.

It would be quite surprising for another AAA title to be released by Rockstar Games so soon after it just released one. However, there are reasons to think this could be a credible source. A Dexerto post revealed that the source claiming that GTA 6 will be released in 2020 as an exclusive for PS5, predicted the new specs for the Playstation correctly. It could be a good sign that it is a credible source. However, until official confirmation, it is always best to be skeptical about these types of rumors.

It was also claimed by the alleged insider that GTA 6 was going to be set in the two cities of Vice City and Liberty City. That information ties in as well with an earlier rumor from 2018 that claimed that the setting for GTA 6 would be Miami. There is other GTA 6 news that a gaming industry member might have potentially leaked that work is currently underway on GTA 6. A 3D artist who briefly worked at the India studio for Rockstar Games had GTA 6 briefly included on his online CV.

Bibin Michael claimed he created concept vehicles for both GTA 6 (which has yet to be announced) and GTA 5. He is credited on the Red Dead Redemption 2 thank you page so he did actually work at Rockstar Games. Shortly after the GTA 6 reference was discovered by GTA forum members, it was taken out of Michael’s CV. Time will tell if that leak turns out to be a legitimate one, or if the previous ones turn out to be pranks.

Best 4K Televisions For Gamers

The time for the HD is long gone. The 4K has taken over. Every manufacturer is offering tons of premium TVs, including famous names like Samsung and LG along with ambitious up-and-coming companies such as TCL. There are screens for every use. However, gamers have their own requirements to keep in mind when choosing their screen.

In this article, we will be taking you through some of the top choices that are available in the marketplace in 2019, and discussing some of the features you should watch out for.

Product availability and prices can vary after publication, so the ones we provide are to simply give you a general idea. Input lag refers to the amount of time in between pressing a button and seeing the response on your screen. Very bad input lag is often experienced on cheaper TVs, which means they are useless for gamers. This issue can even be experienced by higher-end TVs if they have the wrong options.

This is especially problematic when playing competitive games where each millisecond and frame really matters, such as first-person shooters, racing games, and fighting games. It used to be very difficult to locate reliable input lag data, however, this information is included by many ratings websites. We only will be recommending 4K TVs with low-input lag.

To achieve the best possible input lag performance, make sure your television is set to game mode. Just keep in mind that it could degrade the quality of your image since it deactivates all of the image processing of your TV.

We pulled our input lag information from various sources, however, you can do research of your own at the same websites that we used: rtings.com and displaylag.com.

HDR is short for high dynamic range. There are some who claim the feature offers an even higher visual improvement than upgrading from 1080p up to 4K. Having a quality dynamic range television offers richer color, deeper blacks, and brighter whites compared to an SDR (standard dynamic range) television. It is an outstanding feature to have, particularly for gamers who love prestige TV and movies.

What About Sound?

Modern ultra-thin panels these days do not have the necessary physical depth for high-quality sound reproduction. In general, we do not recommend that you make TV purchasing decisions based on sound quality.

Gamers also need to have high-quality environmental sound to achieve the best gaming experience possible. That is we strongly recommend that you invest in a 5.1 sound system, headset, or soundbar. Don’t depend on small TV speakers for essential audio information such as the sound an enemy sneaking up behind you.

65-inch LG B8 HDR OLED – The OLED King – $1847 to $2500

At approximately $1847 to $2500, the LG B8 is a great deal. For very good reason it has dominated the reviews on rtings.com and displaylag.com.

Why you want this model:

It is an OLED screen and offers the deepest, truest blacks available. How does it do that? If a pixel is intended to display pure black, it turns off. Old school LCD and traditional LED screens just locally dim the pixel that is still backlit. The HDR is gorgeous, as you may expect. Also, OLED offers excellent view angles, so this is a great choice if you are into couch multiplayer.

It is enormous. The 65-inch screen of the LG B8 should be plenty sufficient or a majority of individuals, whether they are gamers or not. Avengers? Yes. Superbowl? Yes? Fortnight? Triple yes. It features 21 ms of input lag. That is fairly low, and most gamers won’t feel any lag whatsoever. However, if 21 ms of lag is too much for you still, keep reading. We have other recommendations that you can consider.

It has a color space of chroma 4:4:4. I won’t go into all of the technical details of this number, but in short, it means if you decide to use it this way it will give you a great computer monitor.

Just remember:

Measure your wall, TV stand and your spouse’s tolerance for having a TV that large. OLED screens offer the potential for the retention of images and burn. If one static image is kept on the screen for a very long time that could cause issues for you. The HUD of a game can cause problems as well if you play for many hours at once. CNet offers an excellent guide on how burn-in can be avoided.

Other Alternatives

The 65-inch Vizio P-Series Quantum is priced at around $1450 with excellent HDR and just 15 ms of input. However, it doesn’t have great viewing angles. It is also LED and not OLED. Therefore, burn-in is something you don’t need to worry about.

If you would like to go large, the 75-inch LG UK6570 4K has just 11 ms of input lag which helps to make up for the TV’s mediocre HDR performance. It is lightning fast and it’s price tag matches it.

55-inch TCL 6 Series – The Budge Contender – $530

TCL is a Chinese-owned company that is fairly new to the TV market. However, they have made quite the impressions, especially with their 4K low-input lag sets. It offers a fairly impressive value at $530.

Why you want this model:

This TV has around 19 ms of lag, which is about the same as the LG above that costs three times as much.

Its 55-inch screen can fit in well in a majority of homes. It isn’t so big that you will have to rearrange your entire living room, and that’s a positive thing.

The HDR is not bad, especially when you take its price into consideration.

Just remember:

At this price, you will be making some sacrifices (which are surprisingly minor) image quality versus an OLED panel. However, you are paying just a fraction of the cost. You also don’t need to worry about image retention or burn-in.

LG 49-inch UK6300 – $330 – Fast And Cheap

This is small and isn’t going to win any contests for image quality. It doesn’t have the best HDR and its blacks might look a little gray. However, it costs under $400 and has only 12 ms of input lag. If you were planning to participate in a Street Fighter tournament over the weekend and your TV broke suddenly and you need a quick replacement, this screen is for you.

65-inch Samsung NU8000 – $918 – For PC Gamers with AMD GPUs and XBOX One X

Although this is a really nice looking TV with just 17 ms of input lag and a good HDR, the major attraction is its FreeSync Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). If screen tearing is something you have ever experienced, then you already know how ugly and annoying it is. What VRR does is lock-in the refresh rate of the Samsung NU8000 to your AMD GPU-equipped PC or console to eliminate screen tearing. Be sure that the firmware on your TV is updated properly if you want to use the feature.

Please note that VRR is not supported by PCs with NVIDIA GPUs or PS4. NVIDIA GPU users are going to need to wait for the BFGD televisions, which are scheduled to out sometime later this year.

Another thing to be aware of is this TV has a really particular stand that may not work well with all sound bars.

If you need something cheaper and smaller that has a faster input lag (15 ms) then consider the 55-inch Samsung Q6FN. Also, it supports the FreeSync VRR for XBOX One X gamers and PC games with AMD GPUs.

If you like curved screens, then the 55-inch Samsung UN55NU8500FXZA is a little expensive with just 16 ms of input lag. It has very good HDR, and similar to its flatter, larger brother, it also supports VRR.

How to Become a Pro Gamer – 8 Tips from the Pros

Gaming has come a long way since the days of Pong, Duck Hunt, and Pac-Man, when competing meant getting the top score at the local arcade. Electronic sports, or esports, describes the organized video game competitions (with cash prizes) that are quickly rising in popularity as more gamers become fierce pro competitors.

Now pro gamers are competing around the world — some for winnings in the millions — at events such as the Major League Gaming (MLG) circuit, the International Dota 2 championship and Intel® Extreme Masters.

MLG built dedicated arenas across the country to host and stream professional gaming events, and has scouts and communities to find the best untapped players.

Gaming is serious business.

So if you want to be a pro gamer, to make a career out of it, what does it actually take? A lot of dedication, according to pro gamer Ryan “Big Apple Pie” Gresty.

“It takes a lot of your life up, but when you’re in a one-versus-one situation and you know what play to make, you realize all the practice has paid off,” Gresty said. He added that many gamers — or at least himself and the gamers he knows — suffer from “a lack of sleep.”

Rumay “Hafu” Wang began competitive gaming at age 14. Now 23, she evolved her gaming career from team competition, traveling around the world with Fanatic, to becoming a full-time streamer on Twitch.

“Streaming is a lot more relaxing,” she said, adding that she plays up to 12 hours a day from the comfort of her home. “You can do it at your own pace, listen to your own music and be your own boss.”

Whether you’re looking to get into team competition or streaming, the following tips can help get you started.

Become a Pro Gamer in 8 Easy Steps

Easy to understand, that is. Playing for a living isn’t all fun and games. It takes time, skill, and determination to win in today’s competitive circuits. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s what you need to do:

Pick your game. With a service like Xbox Live, you can practice and compete around the clock both with and against very skilled players. It’s not about randomly finding people to play against. You have to find a game you’re good at and become exceptional at it.

Once you find that game, build your reputation as both a skilled single player and a team player.

Stay motivated. Winning and money are big motivators for pro gamers; so are family and passion. Pro gamer Marcus “ShoNuff2025” Davis has been practicing the latest Call of Duty game, Advanced Warfare.

When asked why he wanted to go pro, Davis said, “First, I want to be the best so my Dad doesn’t think I’m asking for all these games and PC upgrades for nothing. Then I want to have fun doing what I already love doing.”

Practice. Study the best tactics, watch a ton of gameplay, and learn how to lose. Even when you lose, you’re practicing, and practice really makes perfect. Tyler “Teepee” Polchow, who was part of the team compLexity (now Evil Geniuses), which won the Call of Duty World Championship in 2014.

“Winning the championship was the pinnacle of my professional gaming career,” Polchow said. To get there, Polchow practiced with his team eight-plus hours a day, live-streamed the games and created other content.

“We were up against the best and had to prove we were better. The grand finals against Team EnvyUs was a quick 3-0 sweep for us, and it was in the last minutes of the third map where we secured the victory,” he said.

“A $100,000 check and the prestige of being a world champion is what all pro gamers strive for, and having that become a reality was one of the most gratifying and relieving feelings.”

Read Full Article Here: How to Become a Pro Gamer – 8 Tips from the Pros