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Conclusion
Today’s gaming monitor genre offers a dizzying array of choices, but many are looking for one thing—value. There are a few screens on the market today friendly to limited budgets, like the 27-inch Acer RG270 and MSI Optix MPG27CQ. But the Monoprice 33822 offers something those two panels don’t—extra size. Five more inches represents a significant jump in a display’s immersive quality. If you don’t have the cash to spend on an ultra-wide monitor, a 32-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio is the next best thing. Of course, you’re getting some extra vertical space too.
We consider 27-inch QHD monitors to be a resolution sweet spot. Their 109ppi density offers a great balance between image quality and performance. Grow that screen to 32 inches, and you drop to 93ppi but the speedy performance is still there. The Monoprice 33822 only costs $400 (£270), so we don’t expect people with expensive systems to buy it. But it’s an ideal display for budget PCs.
Our gaming experience was very positive. The Radeon R9 285-based tower we used, while older, can still deliver over 60 fps at near-max detail levels with a QHD monitor. The Monoprice provided tear-free response and great contrast with accurate color. Even without calibration, it had more than twice the dynamic range of even the best IPS or TN gaming screens. We did wish for gamma presets though, and its response and lag scores make it closer in speed to a 75Hz or 100Hz panel.
The Monoprice 33822 is a superb value. For $400, you get the important gaming monitor elements—144Hz, FreeSync and high contrast. It deserves strong consideration from anyone with a low to mid-priced system.
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