Which 1440p 240Hz monitor is best for competitive Valorant?

Question

I just started playing Valorant a few months ago and I am totally hooked. I managed to climb to Gold which im pretty proud of, but my current screen is this old 60Hz office monitor my dad gave me years ago. Everyone in my discord keeps telling me I need to upgrade to a 1440p 240Hz monitor if I want to actually get good at competitive. The problem is I have absolutely no idea what any of this means. I tried looking up reviews on YouTube and my head is spinning with terms like IPS, OLED, response times, and motion blur. I honestly dont know where to start and feel kinda stupid looking at all these specs.

I have a budget of around 450 dollars, maybe 500 max if it is really worth it. I live in Ohio and there is a Micro Center near me, or I can just order off Amazon. I want to buy something in the next week or two before the next act starts. My friend told me 1440p is better than 1080p because it looks sharper but then some other guy in my lobby said pros only use 1080p? Im so confused. I just want something that makes the game feel super smooth when I am flicking with the vandal. I dont want to buy something that has lag or weird blurry trails behind the characters when they run across the screen.

So yeah, sorry if this is a really basic question but what is actually the best 1440p 240Hz monitor for someone playing Valorant? Are there specific models I should look for that fit my budget?

M4440 · Accepted Answer

If you want the best performance for your budget without getting ripped off, look at the LG 27GR83B-B UltraGear 27 Inch QHD 240Hz IPS. I have been running this panel for months and I am highly satisfied with the motion clarity. For competitive shooters like Valorant, you want a Fast IPS panel. Avoid VA panels in this price range because they suffer from dark-level smearing, which makes fast-moving targets look blurry. OLED is better but it is way out of your 500 dollar budget. This LG model has excellent response times and practically zero input lag, so you wont get those weird trails when flicking. It usually sells on Amazon for around 350 to 400 dollars, saving you some cash. No complaints at all, it works incredibly well.

Sophia000 · Answer

^ This. Also, when I was trying to choose my first fast monitor, I spent hours on Rtings.com looking at their motion blur tests. Marketing specs like 1ms response time are basically lies. You want to check real-world tests for ghosting. Personally, I ended up getting the Gigabyte M27Q X 27 inch 1440p 240Hz and it has been solid. Quick tip: when you get whatever monitor you choose, set the overdrive setting to Medium. Setting it to the highest option usually causes overshoot, which makes weird dark trails behind moving agents. The MSI G274QPX 27 inch 1440p 240Hz is another decent option that fits right in your budget.

dpnixtqiek · Answer

I remember when I made the jump from a dusty 60Hz panel. Honestly, it completely changed my tracking in Valorant. The lobby guy is right that pros stick to 1080p for absolute max frames, but for most of us, 1440p is the sweet spot because everything looks way cleaner. Since you have a Micro Center nearby, you can probably grab one of these today. Here are the two best options in your budget:

Gigabyte M27Q X 27 Inch 1440p 240Hz IPS: I used this one for about a year. Response times are incredibly fast, and motion blur is minimal. It sits right around 400 bucks.

MSI G274QPX 27 Inch 1440p 240Hz Rapid IPS: A slightly cheaper alternative usually around 350. The panel response is fast enough that you wont get blurry trails behind dashing Jetts. Both of these will run circles around your old screen. Just make sure your GPU can output 240 FPS.