We really like ASRock gaming monitors, and not just because they’re affordable. No, they often manage to combine two occasional factors in one monitor: affordable and that’s good.
You can often find deals there from several major retailers, including Amazon. So you’d be forgiven for thinking that given Amazon’s October day (called Big Deals Day this year for reasons), it would be the mega-giant offering the best prices on gaming monitor deals.
But lo and behold, Newegg has this 27-inch 1440p 165Hz little beast on just $157. Gaming mice that sell for more come to mind, but here you get a really swift, compact panel for the amount you might spend on a fancy dinner for two. Ok, a very exquisite dinner for two, but still.
So the main specs – I’ve already given away the game, right? It is 27 inches, has a resolution of 1440p and a refresh rate of 165 Hz. But think about this combination for a moment. Isn’t it beautifully balanced, as all great things should be?
It’s not the largest panel size in the world, but then you don’t need something huge to enjoy a great gaming experience. It’s not 4K, but 1440p is a damn sight better than 1080p. And while the 165Hz rate won’t bother mega-esports monitors rated at 240Hz and above, it’s still more than swift enough for most gamers.
Plus, you even get a built-in Wi-Fi antenna. This is quite a useful additional feature, as in many cases gaming monitors offer something useless, such as a downward-facing logo projector or cable wrap that is worse than the ones you already have.
In terms of connectivity, you get two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. More than some, not as much as others, and probably the right amount for most people. And FreeSync Premium support should ensure nice and polished operation at a refresh rate of 165 Hz.
So what’s the catch? Well, DisplayHDR 400 is, true, it’s not HDR in the sense you might imagine, and of course it’s a VA panel, so there’s always the possibility of a bit of contrast blur when it comes to swift action.
But for money? I don’t think there’s really anything to complain about here. It’s a killer little monitor with great specs for less than the price of a good keyboard, and that means it should grace the desks of anyone looking for a great gaming monitor on a budget. We’re currently searching for the best Prime Day monitor deals, but even among this hallowed group, this little monitor really stands out.
