If you’re looking for a respectable gaming monitor that won’t break the bank, there are dozens of options out there for you. One that typically doesn’t exist in the “affordable” bucket is Acer’s Predator XB323U, a 32-inch model with 1440p resolution and a 170 Hz refresh rate. It’s currently $349.99 at Woot, while Amazon sells it new for $575.
I already hit on the specs that matter the most, but there are other qualities that make this a standout monitor at this price. You’re getting an IPS panel, which rises above TN panels in terms of contrast, accurate color production, and wide viewing angles. It can reach up to 600 nits of peak brightness if you are using HDR, or up to 400 nits during normal use.
In addition to its relatively speedy 170 Hz refresh rate via DisplayPort (in other words, displaying up to 170 frames per second if your system is capable enough) it boasts a 1 ms response time, letting its pixels change color faster than you can likely notice.
Some other things worth knowing is that the XB323U can be mounted to a monitor arm via its standard 100 x 100 VESA mount, in case its very edgy stand isn’t doing it for you. The monitor has a single DisplayPort 1.2 port, two HDMI 2.0 ports (supporting up to 120 Hz refresh rate at 1440p), plus a host of USB ports to connect accessories to. This monitor gets extra points for including HDMI, DisplayPort and USB cables in the box, and it features a 3-year limited warranty from Acer.
