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- 2026, gigabyte, aorus, oled, monitors, qd-oled, gaming monitor
How to choose a monitor in 2026? A complete beginner's guide
A monitor is a device you look at every day, so choosing it has a big impact on both work and gaming. Screen size, resolution, panel type, refresh rate (Hz) – all of this determines whether the picture is sharp, smooth and easy on the eyes.
In this Gigabyteshop.lt guide we explain in simple terms: what screen size you need, how IPS, VA and OLED panels differ, what QD-OLED is, how many hertz is enough, how to match a monitor with a graphics card, what G-SYNC and FreeSync are, how to set up a multi-monitor workspace and how to get the most out of your equipment.
🎯 Quick answer: what monitor do I need?
| Your need | Recommendation | Gigabyte example |
|---|---|---|
| Office, studies, first gaming monitor | 24.5" Full HD, 144–200 Hz, IPS | GS25F14 24.5" FHD 144Hz or GS25F2 200Hz |
| Versatile for gaming and work | 27" QHD, 180–200 Hz, IPS | G27Q20 EK 27" QHD 200Hz or G27Q2 |
| Fast, competitive games | 27" QHD, 240–360 Hz | M27Q3 QHD 300Hz IPS or MO27Q3 QD-OLED 360Hz |
| Best picture quality, films, creative work | 27–32" OLED | MO27Q2A QD-OLED 280Hz, MO32U24 4K 240Hz |
| Sharp 4K for work and gaming | 27" 4K UHD, 160 Hz | GS27U 4K 160Hz or G27UP |
| More space for work and a panoramic view | 34" ultrawide or 49" | GS34WQCA 34" WQHD, AORUS CO49DQ 49" |
📐 What screen size do you need?
The diagonal is measured in inches (1" = 2.54 cm) – it is the screen size measured diagonally. Bigger isn't always better: what matters is how far from the screen you sit and the resolution.
| Diagonal | Optimal resolution | Suitable for | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–25" | Full HD (1920 × 1080) | Smaller desks, competitive gaming – the whole screen is visible at a glance | GS25F14, GS25F2 |
| 27" | QHD (2560 × 1440) or 4K | The most popular size – versatile for gaming and work | G27Q20 EK, GS27U |
| 31.5–32" | QHD or 4K | More space for work, an immersive picture in games and films | GS32QA, MO32U24 |
| 34" ultrawide | WQHD (3440 × 1440) | Wide 21:9 view: several windows side by side, racing and strategy games | GS34WQCA |
| 49" super ultrawide | DQHD (5120 × 1440) | One screen instead of two 27" QHD monitors | AORUS CO49DQ |
⚠ A common mistake
Buying a 27" monitor with Full HD resolution. At this size the dots (pixels) become visible and text is less sharp. For a 27" screen we recommend at least QHD resolution, while Full HD is best suited to 24–25" monitors.
🔍 Resolution: Full HD, QHD or 4K?
| Resolution | Number of pixels | Advantages | Graphics card needed for gaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full HD | 1920 × 1080 | Easiest on the graphics card – lots of FPS | RTX 5050, RTX 5060, RX 9060 XT |
| QHD | 2560 × 1440 | Sharper than Full HD, the best balance | RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RX 9070 |
| 4K UHD | 3840 × 2160 | Extremely sharp picture, lots of space for work | RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT, RTX 5080, RTX 5090 |
For work (documents, browsing, programming) a higher resolution is always useful – more information fits on screen. For gaming, it is important that the graphics card can "handle" the chosen resolution at the desired frame rate. More in the graphics card guide.
🖥️ Panel technologies: IPS, VA or OLED?
The panel is the display technology that determines colours, contrast, viewing angles and response speed.
| Panel | Advantages | Disadvantages | Suitable for | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPS | Accurate colours, wide viewing angles, fast response | Black looks greyish in the dark | Versatile: work, gaming, photos | G27Q20 EK, M27Q3 |
| VA | High contrast, deeper black than IPS, often a curved screen | Narrower viewing angles, slower response in dark scenes | Films, single-player games | GS27FC, GS32QCA |
| OLED (QD-OLED, WOLED) | True black, infinite contrast, lightning-fast response | More expensive; a static image may leave a trace over time | The best picture quality for gaming, films, creative work | MO27Q2A, GO27Q24G |
What are QD-OLED and WOLED?
These are two types of OLED screens. QD-OLED uses a quantum dot layer for brighter, richer colours – you will find these in Gigabyte MO and GO series monitors, e.g. GO27Q24A, MO27Q3, MO27U2. WOLED – another OLED technology, used e.g. in the GO27Q24G monitor. In both cases you get true black and high contrast.
💡 How to care for an OLED monitor?
- Don't leave the same static image on screen for long at maximum brightness.
- Use a screensaver or automatic display turn-off.
- Let the monitor run the screen maintenance (refresh) procedures provided by the manufacturer.
⚡ Refresh rate (Hz): why do you need it and how much is optimal?
The refresh rate shows how many times per second the monitor updates the image. A typical office monitor is 60 Hz, while gaming monitors run at 144, 180, 200, 240 or even 360 Hz. The more hertz, the smoother the motion: it's easier to aim in games, and even scrolling a page or moving the mouse looks "smoother".
| Refresh rate | Suitable for | Gigabyte examples |
|---|---|---|
| 60–120 Hz | Office, films, slow-paced games | GS34WQCA 120Hz |
| 144–180 Hz | Optimal for most gamers | GS25F14 144Hz, GS27QA 180Hz |
| 200–240 Hz | Active gamers, fast-paced games | G27Q2 200Hz, GS27FC2 240Hz, GO27Q24A 240Hz |
| 280–360 Hz | Competitive shooters (CS2, Valorant) | M27Q3 300Hz, MO27Q3 360Hz |
⚠ Important
A high Hz is only useful when the graphics card produces a similar frame rate (FPS). If your computer only reaches 60 FPS in a game, a 240 Hz monitor won't bring much benefit. That's why it's worth choosing the monitor and graphics card together.
⏱️ Response time, HDR and curved screens
- Response time (ms) – how quickly a pixel changes colour. The lower it is, the less blur in fast-moving images. Gaming monitors are often rated at 1 ms; OLED monitors respond even faster.
- HDR – a wider brightness and darkness range, a more lifelike picture in films and games. What matters is the brightness the screen actually reaches – look at the DisplayHDR certification level.
- Curved screen (the name often contains the letter C, e.g. GS27FC, GS32QCA, CO49DQ) – "wraps" your field of view, making the picture more immersive. Especially useful for large and ultrawide screens.
🔄 G-SYNC and FreeSync: how to match a monitor with a graphics card?
When the graphics card produces a different frame rate than the monitor's refresh rate, "tearing" (screen tearing) or stuttering may appear on screen. Adaptive sync makes the monitor adapt to the graphics card's pace – the picture becomes smooth.
| Technology | What it is | Works with which graphics card |
|---|---|---|
| AMD FreeSync | AMD adaptive sync technology (FreeSync, FreeSync Premium, FreeSync Premium Pro) | AMD Radeon |
| NVIDIA G-SYNC | NVIDIA technology | NVIDIA GeForce |
| G-SYNC Compatible | Monitors with adaptive sync that work with NVIDIA cards | NVIDIA GeForce |
In practice, most modern gaming monitors with FreeSync / Adaptive-Sync support work with both AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards. Whether a specific Gigabyte monitor supports FreeSync or is G-SYNC Compatible is stated in its specifications.
🚀 How to get the most out of your monitor and graphics card?
- Connect the monitor to the graphics card, not to the motherboard ports.
- Use a DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1 cable – an old HDMI cable may prevent you from reaching a high refresh rate.
- Set the actual refresh rate in Windows: Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → choose the highest refresh rate. Windows sometimes leaves 60 Hz by default!
- Enable G-SYNC or FreeSync in the monitor menu and in the NVIDIA / AMD control software.
- Set the correct resolution – always use the monitor's native (highest) resolution.
- In the monitor menu, try the "Overdrive" (response speed) setting – a medium level is often optimal.
- Update your graphics card drivers and use DLSS (NVIDIA) or FSR (AMD) in games.
🖥️🖥️ Multi-monitor workspace
Two or more monitors are one of the most effective ways to boost productivity: a document on one screen, a browser, email or chats on the other. For gamers, a second screen is handy for streaming, chats or guides.
👥 Two identical 27" QHD
A classic, symmetrical solution. Choose two identical models so that colours and size match, e.g. two G27Q20 EK.
↔️ One ultrawide instead of two
Ultrawide 34" GS34WQCA or 49" AORUS CO49DQ – no bezel in the middle. A 49" DQHD screen equals two 27" QHD monitors side by side.
↕️ Vertical screen
The second monitor can be placed vertically – handy for programmers and those working with long documents, if the stand or mount allows the screen to rotate.
💡 What to check before setting up a multi-monitor workspace?
- Whether the graphics card has enough outputs (DisplayPort, HDMI).
- Whether the desk is wide and deep enough.
- Whether the monitors have VESA mounting if you want to use a mount.
- For a laptop – whether its ports will be enough or you'll need a docking station.
👑 Top-of-the-range (high-end) picks
⚡ The fastest
Gigabyte MO27Q3 – 27" QD-OLED QHD 360 Hz. For competitive gamers for whom every millisecond counts.
🎬 The best 4K
Gigabyte MO32U24 – 31.5" QD-OLED 4K 240 Hz. The highest picture quality and a high refresh rate. Also the 27" MO27U2.
🌐 The most impressive
AORUS CO49DQ – a 49" QD-OLED DQHD 144 Hz super ultrawide screen.
💸 Budget pick
- Gigabyte GS25F14 – 24.5" FHD 144 Hz IPS: a great first gaming monitor.
- Gigabyte GS27FA – 27" Full HD 180 Hz IPS.
- Gigabyte GS27QA – 27" QHD 180 Hz IPS: the cheapest way to move up to QHD.
✨ Special models
- White ICE models – M27Q2 ICE, M27UP ICE, MO27Q2A ICE – for a light-coloured desk.
- Smart monitor – M27QS with Google TV: you can watch films and series even without a computer.
✅ Checklist before buying a monitor
- ☐ What will I use it for: work, gaming, films, creative work?
- ☐ What screen size will fit on the desk and how far away do I sit?
- ☐ Which resolution: Full HD, QHD or 4K?
- ☐ How many Hz do I need – and can my graphics card "handle" them?
- ☐ IPS, VA or OLED?
- ☐ Does the monitor support FreeSync / G-SYNC Compatible?
- ☐ Which ports are needed (DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C)?
- ☐ Do I need an adjustable stand or VESA mounting?
Frequently asked questions
Which monitor is best for gaming?
For most gamers – 27" QHD at 180–240 Hz. For competitive gamers – 240–360 Hz, and for the best picture quality – OLED.
Is 144 Hz enough?
Yes, 144 Hz is a huge leap compared to 60 Hz and is enough for most gamers.
Is an OLED monitor suitable for work?
Yes, but if you keep the same static image on screen all day, follow the OLED care recommendations.
Why does my monitor only show 60 Hz?
Usually because of Windows settings or an unsuitable cable. Choose the highest refresh rate in the Windows display settings and use a DisplayPort cable.
Can a monitor be connected to a laptop?
Yes, via HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C (if it supports video output).