What’s the right gaming monitor choice: 240Hz 1440p or 4K VRR?

[Jacob_M]

I'm finally upgrading my PC gaming setup and I'm stuck trying to choose the best gaming monitor within a reasonable budget, as the options between high refresh rate 1440p panels and newer 4K displays with variable refresh rate are overwhelming. My primary focus is competitive first-person shooters where smooth motion is key, but I also want a good experience for immersive single-player games, so I'm unsure whether to prioritize sheer speed like 240Hz or go for better resolution and color accuracy. For serious gamers who have recently made a purchase, what specific models and panel technologies did you settle on, and how do you weigh the trade-offs between IPS, VA, and OLED for a mixed-use scenario? Are there any particular features or specs that turned out to be marketing hype versus genuinely transformative for your gameplay?

[MilaJ]

For shooters, speed tends to win. Target a 1440p monitor with at least 165 Hz, ideally up to 240 Hz, plus VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync). If color accuracy matters more to you, an IPS panel is a solid choice; if you want deeper blacks and a bit more contrast on a budget, a VA panel can work. OLED looks amazing but burn-in risk and price still push it out of the daily-driver category for many.

Panel choices come with real trade-offs. IPS gives the best color and viewing angles but can be a touch less contrast and occasionally slightly slower on very fast motion. VA panels typically offer higher contrast and strong viewing angles, but some models have higher response times and ghosting on edge-of-refresh. OLED delivers perfect blacks and superb response, but the risk of burn-in and the premium price makes it less practical as a multi-use monitor—especially if you game many hours on rotating content.

Important features to hunt for: VRR support and a low input lag figure, a fast response time (look at 1–2 ms GTG or MPRT claims—though beware marketing), and a true flicker-free backlight if you’re sensitive to PWM. Don’t take HDR claims at face value; many monitors exaggerate brightness. Prefer displays with DisplayHDR400/600 rating and real color accuracy, not just a big number.

Personal note: I swapped to a 27-inch 1440p IPS 165 Hz with FreeSync/G-Sync compatibility and immediate improvement in both precision and clarity for competitive play. A more premium VA option can feel crisper in motion too, but I wouldn’t go chasing 4K here unless you’re prioritizing single-player immersion and have a top-tier GPU. In short, 1440p, 165–240 Hz, and a panel you actually like color-wise is where I’d start.

If you share your budget and GPU, I can suggest two or three concrete models or lines in that sweet spot and tell you which features are worth paying for in practice.

What’s your target budget and what GPU will you pair it with? Are you leaning toward absolute speed, better color, or a balanced mix for both competitive and story-driven games?