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Here are three affordable monitors that won’t break the bank and are extremely capable at 1440p and 1080p resolutions.
A decade ago, the gaming monitors listed below would have easily crossed the $800 price point. However, thanks to the advent of technology, gaming monitors in recent years have seen significant price cuts, primarily due to the technology becoming more mature, making it easier and more cost-effective for manufacturers to produce monitor panels at lower costs. Be warned: to fully utilize these displays to their maximum potential, you need a GPU and CPU combination capable of sustaining at least 144 FPS or higher framerates on average in all your chosen games, at given resolutions of either 1080p or 1440p. That said, here are your options.
Note: These prices are from a sale event currently taking place at Micro Center as of July 9, 2025. When the sale ends, the prices may increase. This SKU is exclusive to Micro Center and is provided for cross-checking purposes.
1. Acer Nitro VG270U Z1bmiipx 27″- $249.99
The Acer Nitro series is very popular among budget-conscious consumers seeking a high-quality display that doesn’t break the bank. It is a 10-bit IPS panel gaming monitor that features AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility, HDMI 2.0 support, and DisplayPort 1.4 connectivity. Some may complain that HDMI 2.1 and newer displays are missing, but at 1440p resolution, what’s provided is still good enough for good image quality.
Specifications:
- Display: 27″ IPS, 2560×1440 (WQHD), 270Hz refresh rate
- Response Time: 0.5ms (MPRT), 1ms (GtG)
- Panel Type: IPS with 178° viewing angles
- Color Gamut: 99% SRGB
- Brightness: 400 nits peak
- Sync Technology: AMD FreeSync Premium Compatible
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Price: $249.99
- SKU: 770016
- Buy Here: Micro Center
2. AOC CQ27G4X 27″- $169.99
AOC monitors are often regarded for their punchy contrast, and this one adheres to that nomenclature. For starters, it’s an 8-bit VA panel, and it’s even curved. So, for all you budget racing sim fans out there, this one, the value, the refresh rate, speaks for itself. It also features adaptive sync compatibility out of the box, meaning your AMD or NVIDIA GPU with FreeSync or G-Sync will work seamlessly.
Specifications:
- Display: 27″ Curved VA, 2560×1440 (WQHD), 180Hz refresh rate
- Response Time: 0.5ms (MPRT), 1ms (GtG)
- Panel Type: Fast VA with 1500R curvature
- Brightness: 300 nits
- Contrast Ratio: 4000:1 static
- Sync Technology: Adaptive Sync Compatible (FreeSync/G-Sync)
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Price: $169.99
- SKU: 876326
- Buy Here: Micro Center
3. ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM 27″ – $199.99
The TUF Gaming series from ASUS brings in incredible monitors at affordable prices. This one is a 27-inch 1080p gaming monitor with an 8-bit IPS panel. It is FreeSync Premium graded and is also G-Sync compatible. Gamers looking for a budget 240Hz+ monitor can opt for this one, as it features ELMB technology, which enables the simultaneous use of motion blur reduction and adaptive sync, a rare feature at this price range. It’s somewhat similar to BFI (Black Frame Insertion), which is often found on higher-end displays, but way more cost-effective.
Specifications:
- Display: 27″ Fast IPS, 1920×1080 (Full HD), 280Hz refresh rate
- Response Time: 1ms (GtG)
- Panel Type: Fast IPS with ELMB Sync technology
- Brightness: 400 nits with HDR400 certification
- Color Gamut: 95% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB
- Sync Technology: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2
- Price: $199.99
- SKU: 076265
- Buy Here: Micro Center
Verdict
All three of the monitors here are high-value-for-money products. Depending on your use case, you may find each one unique. For FPS gamers, the VG279QM is the way to go, as it offers ELMB at $199, coupled with a color-accurate panel and Adaptive Sync, all of which is quite rare even as of 2025. For racing enthusiasts, the AOC CQ27G4X is the way to go, as the VA panel is more punchy than the IPS panel, the contrasts are noticeably better than those of IPS panels, and the curved aesthetics may appeal to your liking. Lastly, choose the Acer VG270U if you want a balanced, high-quality 10-bit panel, which is ideal for gaming or work.
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