Ive seen so many people grab the cheapest thing they find and then regret it because of ghosting issues. For Valorant, you really want an IPS panel, not a VA one, or the fast movements will look all blurry and weird. Since youre in Chicago, you might want to consider heading to the Micro Center on Elston Ave because they usually have better deals than Amazon for local pickup. Be careful with those random off-brand monitors on sale tho... some claim 1ms response time but its totally fake. I would suggest looking for the Acer Nitro KG241Y Sbiip 23.8 Inch 165Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor or maybe the ViewSonic OMNI VX2418-P-MHD 24 Inch 165Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor. Just make sure to actually enable the 144hz in your Windows display settings after you plug it in. Its a super common beginner mistake to forget that part and stay stuck at 60hz for months lol.

The AOC 24G2 24 Inch 144Hz 1ms IPS Monitor is a solid budget option for competitive shooters.

• Smooth refresh rate
• Good colors
• Fits your 140 budget

Building on the earlier suggestion, unfortunately some cheap screens are kinda flimsy. I had issues with dead pixels before, but MSI G2412 24 Inch 170Hz IPS Gaming Monitor is reliable. Good luck!

TL;DR: Reliability is the absolute priority here! I love the energy in this thread and want to ensure you get a screen that actually lasts. ^ This. Also, just saw this thread and I want to be methodical so you dont waste your hard-earned money on a lemon. Before we look at more models, I have a couple clarifying questions regarding your setup to ensure total compatibility. Are you limited on desk space at all? Also, what specific graphics card are you using? Its vital to know if your hardware is actually gonna push 144 frames consistently, otherwise a high refresh rate screen wont give you the advantage you're looking for! Some budget stands are also kinda wobbly, so knowing your desk situation helps ensure we find something stable...