Best 1440p gaming monitor for competitive shooters under $400?

Question

ive been a 1080p 240hz sweat for years but i just upgraded to a 3080 and 1080p looks like absolute garbage on my new desk setup. problem is every 1440p monitor i look at under 400 bucks has such trash response times and the smearing makes me want to rip my eyes out. I tried a va panel from amazon and it was a ghosting nightmare. i need something actually viable for valorant and apex that wont break the bank.

under 400 dollars

144hz or 165hz

ips preferred cuz the va black smear is real

fast gtg response

anyone know what actually works for comp play at this price point? every review says something different and im losing it...

dkpewkjnzf · Accepted Answer

Re: "dude you are gonna be so blown away..."I disagree that finding a fast one is tough! I love my Gigabyte M27Q 27in 170Hz IPS for Apex. It is amazing and easily fits your budget!

Nazzsnozhix · Answer

dude you are gonna be so blown away by 1440p! honestly the 3080 is way too powerful for 1080p anyway so you definitely made the right move upgrading. i totally get the VA struggle tho... that black smear is literally the worst thing ever for tracking targets in fast games like Apex. since you are used to a 240hz sweat life you really need to look for Fast IPS or Nano IPS tech because they actually hit those low GtG numbers without the gross ghosting or overshoot. here are my absolute favorites that handle competitive motion like a dream:

LG 27GP850-B 27-inch Ultragear QHD Nano IPS - this one is amazing!! it overclocks to 180Hz and the response time is basically the gold standard for mid-range IPS monitors.

MSI G274QPX 27-inch 1440p 240Hz Rapid IPS - this is actually a 240Hz beast that often dips under 400 bucks on sale. if you can snag it the motion clarity is insane for Valorant.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ 27-inch 165Hz G-Sync Compatible - love the ELMB tech on this one cuz it strobes the backlight to kill blur. seriously dont settle for cheap VA junk if you play shooters. the Nano IPS tech in the LG specifically makes colors pop while keeping everything super crisp when you are flicking. you lose a bit of contrast compared to VA but for competitive play you wont even notice. i love my LG and i bet you will too!