Your monitor is one of the most critical parts of your gaming setup, so optimizing it for the best experience is important. However, with so many confusing settings, it can get a little overwhelming. That’s why I created this checklist to help you get the best experience possible.

1
First: Pick the Right Cable

Before you start tweaking any settings on your monitor, first ensure you’re using the correct cable. Regardless of whether it’s HDMI or DisplayPort, both your monitor and your graphics card have to support the same version of the standard to get the maximum advertised bandwidth. Without the right cable and connectors on both the GPU and monitor, you won’t get the maximum advertised refresh rate at the monitor’s native resolution. For instance, the older HDMI 1.4 standard can’t do a 240Hz refresh rate, even at 1080p.

DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 is likely your best option, but if your GPU and monitor don’t support it, use HDMI 2.1 instead. However, if your GPU and monitor don’t have HDMI 2.1, use DisplayPort 1.4 instead, as it supports more bandwidth.

Even if the lesser of the two connectors on your monitor technically supports the advertised resolution and refresh rate, having the extra bandwidth still ensures your monitor works at its best. For some context, I’ve read about Samsung Odyssey monitors having various issues with DisplayPort 1.4 that disappear when users switch to HDMI 2.1. I suspect it’s because the DP 1.4 cable was being pushed to its limits at 1440p 240Hz.

2
Resolution and Refresh Rate

With the cables out of the way, let’s talk about resolution and refresh rate. Both of these settings are typically handled through your operating system rather than the monitor. On Windows, right-click the desktop and open “Display Settings.” The resolution will be under “Scale & Layout.” Set the recommended option (don’t select the maximum if it’s beyond the monitor’s native resolution).

The refresh rate is buried in the “Advanced Display” options under “Related Settings.” Set it to your monitor’s advertised/maximum refresh rate. Also, disable “Dynamic Refresh Rate” on desktop PCs because it’s a battery-saving feature that’ll make your monitor run at a lower refresh rate in Windows.

One last thing to note is that monitors with an “overclock” mode like the LG 27GS85Q-B require you to set the maximum refresh rate through the monitor’s settings first. Don’t worry; this isn’t like the home-brewed monitor overclocking you’d do on a typical monitor; these panels were verified by the manufacturer to support the overclocked refresh rates without artifacts.

I can’t give you the exact instructions on where to find it (it’s likely in the game-related settings), so consult your owner’s manual if your monitor’s refresh rate is below the advertised one.

One last thing I’d like to briefly discuss is the aspect ratio. Modern monitors use 16:9 (more if you have an ultrawide), but many of them still support the old 4:3 aspect ratio. You can switch to it in the monitor’s settings if you want to play an older game designed for it (though you should probably own a CRT for retro gaming anyway). For everything else, use the monitor’s default aspect ratio.

3
Set Up HDR

If your monitor supports HDR, it should automatically detect whether the signal is in HDR mode and switch it on, too. At least, that’s how it works on my monitor. Now, to enable or disable HDR on Windows, you can simply press the Windows key+Alt+B. Alternatively, right-click your desktop and open “Display Settings” and enable “Use HDR.” Also, don’t forget to confirm that the game you’re playing also has HDR turned on by checking the display settings.

You can also click on the HDR option to expand it and fine-tune a few HDR-related options. Make sure “Turn Off HDR When my PC Is Running on Battery” is disabled and consider enabling “Auto HDR.” This option will adapt an SDR picture for HDR. Just note that it doesn’t work well in all games, so you can always switch it off (or just use the Windows key+Alt+B hotkey to toggle HDR).

Now, whether you should use HDR is a topic of its own.In short, you should only use HDR when playing or watching HDR content and disable it for SDR (including your desktop and web browser). This is because the picture may look off, and your maximum brightness will be significantly lower. Additionally, your monitor still runs at maximum power, using more electricity and causing unnecessary wear and tear on the power supply and backlight.

It’s important to note that not all HDR monitors are created equal. Lower DisplayHDR standards, like DisplayHDR 400 and DisplayHDR 600, offer minimal improvements in games and movies, which is why many gamers choose not to use HDR at all with these monitors. Conversely, monitors that support DisplayHDR 1000 deliver exceptional quality, so it’s important not to forget to enable HDR on a display of that caliber.

4
Variable Refresh Rates and FreeSync or G-Sync

Whether you call it by its brand names, FreeSync (AMD) or G-Sync (NVIDIA), or the generic term VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), they all refer to the same core technology—syncing the monitor’s refresh rate with your frame rate. This awesome technology ensures that your FPS never exceeds your monitor’s refresh rate, eliminating screen tearing with significantly less input lag than V-sync.

To use VRR, you have to enable it both in your GPU’s driver settings and the monitor’s menu. It’s usually somewhere in the game settings menu. On some monitors, you might see more than just a simple on/off toggle. For instance, most LG monitors let you choose VRR options between “Off,” “Basic,” and “Extended.” You should use Extended because it extends your monitor’s VRR range beyond the natively supported one.

For instance, if a monitor supports a VRR range between 48Hz to 240Hz, enabling Extended would allow VRR to go lower than 48Hz. This extended range maximizes the usefulness of the feature when your FPS drops below the VRR range, and it’s even better if your monitor supports LFC (Low Framerate Compensation).

As a side note, you should always keep VRR on unless you experience an obvious flicker. In those instances, try switching back from Extended to Basic or disabling VRR directly through your GPU’s drivers.

5
Enable Game Mode

While there isn’t a universally defined standard for how Game Mode works, its functionality varies by manufacturer and model. On most monitors, it configures settings like colors, contrast, sharpness, and brightness, and may also reduce input lag to improve responsiveness. My LG monitor came with “Game Mode 1” as the default setting, which is likely the recommended profile for general gaming use.

Your monitor might even have options like “FPS” for first-person shooters and “RTS” for real-time strategy games. While I don’t use these specific profiles, it’s worth trying them out to see if they improve your gaming experience.

It’s worth noting that on many TVs and some monitors, the game mode isn’t just a simple color profile; instead, it disables any picture post-processing to achieve a lower input lag. Research your specific model to see if that’s the case for you, and if it is, enable it!

6
Setting Overdrive or Response Time

Think of overdrive as overclocking, but rather than adjusting the refresh rate, you’re adjusting the response time. Response time refers to how long it takes for a pixel to transition from one color to another and fully settle.

Your monitor’s “Overdrive” or “Response Time” option allows you to increase or decrease how fast the pixels switch. So, you should turn it up to the fastest (strongest on some monitors) setting, and you’re good, right? Wrong. While the fastest option does technically increase response time, it can also introduce a visual artifact known as “inverse ghosting.” The pixel tries to switch too quickly and overshoots the target color, causing a distracting halo-like glow.

So, instead of improving image clarity in competitive games, the highest overdrive setting tends to create a distracting trail behind fast-moving objects. Using the second or third-fastest overdrive option will lead to a better image on most panels.

It’s best to research your specific model and try looking for signs of inverse ghosting yourself on various overdrive settings using an online tool like the UFO test.

7
Motion Blur Reduction

Some gaming monitors have algorithms that reduce motion blur, which can significantly improve clarity. However, the catch is that they also tend to add input lag, flickering, and lower brightness levels. Some implementations, like Benq’s DyAc seen on models like the EW3880R, work really well and can noticeably reduce motion blur. Still, the added input lag can negatively affect your aim in competitive games, so you should test it in a few games yourself.

8
Brightness, Contrast, Gamma, Color, and Sharpness

Brightness is fairly self-explanatory: it adjusts the strength of the backlight. Turning the brightness up can make highlights pop, especially in HDR, but turning it down will improve the longevity of your panel. Personally, I adjust my monitor’s brightness depending on the time of day and usually aim for a comfortable level that’s neither too bright nor too dark. If your monitor has an auto-brightness feature, you should turn it off, as it’s very distracting in games.

Gamma and the RGB color values are often calibrated out of the box on most modern monitors, so I recommend not touching them unless you also have a fancy calibration tool. Contrast is also often calibrated, though you can mess around with it if you want to make enemies stand out more in competitive shooters. Sharpness is a personal preference—a higher sharpness will make the edges of objects more visible, but you shouldn’t go overboard. For most monitors, sharpness looks best between 50 and 80.

9
Energy-Saving Options

Monitors tend to have numerous power-saving options. Deep sleep when the monitor is on standby and automatic standby is fine, but turn off any fancy algorithms that affect the picture when the monitor is in use. Most of them, like LG’s Smart Energy Saving, just lower your brightness, which can have a detrimental effect on your maximum brightness and HDR effect.

10
Blue Light Filter

I won’t go into whether blue light is good or bad, but I have to say that it does negatively impact image quality in games because your monitor can no longer reproduce colors accurately. If you use a blue light filter at night, at least disable it during daytime gaming sessions.

Also, you should be aware that both your monitor and OS most likely have this option, so if you use one, don’t use the other.

11
Black Stabilizer or Dark Boost

Black stabilizer, black boost, or similar options adjust the brightness levels of dark areas in scenes. A higher setting brightens darker areas, making it easier to spot enemies hiding in shadows. However, it reduces contrast, making blacks less deep, which can make games look less cinematic, especially in HDR, where contrast is key.

Increase the setting slightly for competitive games, just enough to spot enemies in dark areas. For single-player games, lower it to improve contrast, or leave it at your monitor’s default value for a balanced compromise.

12
Sound Settings

Some monitors have built-in speakers, which is a nice bonus if you don’t have any. Once you enable the speakers on your monitor, you can use them as an output device in Windows sound settings.

I’m not here to focus on speakers though; if you use the 3.5mm jack on your monitor, you should know that some models have post-processing features that enhance game performance. LG’s UltraGear lineup has DTS Headphone:X baked into the headphone jack for free, which you can use to get more accurate virtual surround sound on models like the 32GS95UE. I take advantage of this by plugging my headphones into my monitor when I’m gaming, but for music, I use my PC’s headphone jack.

Now that you’ve configured your monitor, you can rest assured knowing that you’re always getting the best, most accurate picture with the fastest response time that your monitor can deliver. Still looking for a good monitor? Check out our best overall gaming monitors, best OLED gaming monitors, and best 240Hz high refresh rate monitors.