The debate on whether gaming monitors are suitable for work continues to rage. But is a gaming monitor really good for work? After all, gamers tend to be very serious about their gaming performance and are often willing to invest thousands of dollars into the perfect gaming setup. Consequently, their gaming rigs usually feature higher-end hardware such as 144Hz refresh rates and wider range of colours. So a logical assumption is, if a gaming monitor can provide all the features and general performance to help a gamer achieve an optimal gaming experience, it should be able to provide sufficient performance for any type of work related task.
Pros of Gaming Monitors for Work
One of the key advantages of using a gaming monitor for work is its higher refresh rate. This can make a significant difference in how smoothly the image is redrawn on the screen, which is especially noticeable when scrolling through websites or documents. Additionally, many gaming monitors offer more display modes than general monitors, with features such as black stabilisation that can help enhance text readability and reduce eye strain.
Similar to image performance, a gaming monitor’s audio outputs commonly offer better quality than other types of monitors, with better frequencies and dynamic range. This can be particularly helpful if you’re using a laptop that doesn’t include any external speakers.
Lastly, gaming monitors usually come with various ports, allowing you to use the monitor with multiple devices. And because the interface should be optimized for gaming, switching between two or more devices should be easier.
Cons of Gaming Monitors for Work
On the flip side, if you’re primarily using your monitor for work, you might be paying for features and hardware that you don’t actually need. Higher-end gaming monitors often cost significantly higher than general-purpose monitors. Not only that, but the technology used in gaming monitors such as G-Sync and FreeSync require compatible hardware and may not be suitable for some tasks.
Another common issue with gaming monitors is they often have higher latency than the general monitors. This means the time it takes for the image to register on the screen should be longer. This is not a huge issue if you’re working predominately from a laptop, but it can cause some annoyance if you’re working with multiple monitors.
Lastly, gaming monitors typically come with physical switch buttons, rather than being controlled via an on-screen interface. This can be unsustainable if you’re frequently changing settings or resolution, especially if your monitor isn’t adjustable.
Design Pros and Cons of Gaming Monitors for Work
The design of gaming monitors typically follows a certain trend. While they are often aesthetically pleasing and feature edge-to-edge designs, these design characteristics may not be suitable for a professional setting. Also, gaming monitors do tend to have thicker bezels, which might not be pleasing to those with a more minimalist design taste.
On the flip side, many of today’s gaming monitors come with RGB lighting and may even offer customisable lighting. This might be confusing for some non-gamers, but can also be used to make the workspace more aesthetically pleasing as well as customisable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether a gaming monitor is suitable for work or not is largely based on the type of tasks one needs to use the monitor for. Although gaming monitors may provide certain short-term advantages, such as higher refresh rates and better audio, they may not be the best option if you’re looking to save money in the long-run. Additionally, depending on the design, it may also not be suitable for a business setting. Consider the pros and cons carefully before investing in a gaming monitor for work.
