Gaming is great, particularly on a massive screen. While projectors boast excellent price-to-screen real estate ratios, a monitor is easier to set up. Although you can use a television for PC gaming, either by hooking up your desktop or laptop directly to your TV or with game streaming such as Steam Link, a monitor engineered for computer gaming affords many benefits. If you want to enjoy your PC games with a TV-like experience, you’ll want a big format gaming display (BFGD). Check out the best BFGD options you can buy!
What is a BFGD and Why Should You Buy a Big Format Gaming Display?
A BFGD, or big format gaming display is something of a computer monitor-television hybrid. BFGDs combine the size of traditional TVs with computer gaming-specific features such as higher refresh rates, NVIDIA G-Sync, and other qualities normally absent on most televisions. As such, you can comfortably use your gaming PC with a big format gaming display without sacrificing refresh rate, response time, or graphics card compatibility.
What is a BFGD: A big format gaming display, or BFGD, is a TV-sized (usually 50-inches or larger) computer monitor. Whereas TVs often lack PC gaming-centric features, you’ll find faster refresh rates and response times, plus GPU compatibility with the likes of NVIDIA G-Sync.
Can You Use Your TV as a Computer Monitor?
But wait, can’t you just use your TV as a computer monitor? Technically, yes you can simply use your television or projector as a large external display. This works with a wired connection such as an HDMI or DisplayPort cable, as well as wirelessly with the likes of Chromecast and AirPlay. For multimedia playback, office productivity, and general computer use, using a TV as a computer monitor should work fine. However, when it comes to gaming, televisions often lack highly sought-after features.
For example, input lag, response time, and refresh rate on TVs is generally well behind that of gaming monitors. Most televisions feature a 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. While that’s fine for watching TV or movies as well as most console gaming, computer gamers will often want a higher refresh rate like 144Hz or 240Hz.
Likewise, input lag or the delay between movement made on an input device such as a controller or keyboard and mouse and the display, is typically worse on a TV than a monitor. And response time, or how long it takes the pixels in a display to change colors between scenes, is optimized for video rather than gaming on HDTVs. Therefore, a BFGD will deliver better PC gaming performance than the average television.
Best BFGD Overall – LG UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor
The LG UltraGear UHD OLED gaming monitor is an exceptional Big Format Gaming Display. It’s available in a 48-inch panel with a native 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) 3840 x 2160 resolution. You’ll enjoy a whopping 1.5 million:1 contrast ratio plus 99% DCI-P3 color coverage for unparalleled color accuracy. There’s an impressively low 0.1ms response time and a 120Hz refresh rate panel for excellent responsiveness. Built-in bias lighting offers an ambient backlight that reduces eyestrain.
Its HDMI 2.1 with variable refresh rate (VRR) support ensures compatibility with both PCs and modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X or S. Both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync come standard for reducing screen tearing. Because it’s an OLED, the LG UltraGear provides a near infinite contrast ratio with a blazing-fast response time for gaming. Unfortunately, all of this awesomeness doesn’t come cheap. Additionally, there’s no Dolby Vision HDR support, unlike with LG’s OLED TVs like the C2. Still, if you’re a hardcore PC gamer with the space for it on your desk, the LG UltraGear OLED is a superb BFGD.
Pros:
- 120Hz refresh rate
- OLED panel
- HDMI 2.1 with VRR
- 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution
- 99% DCI-P3 coverage
- 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio
- 0.1ms response time
- NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync compatible
- Built-in bias lighting
Cons:
- No Dolby Vision HDR support
Best ASUS ROG BFGDs – ROG Swift and ROG Strix
ASUS offers a pair of BFGDs in its ROG Swift PG48UQ and XG43UQ massive gaming monitors. The ASUS ROG Swift PG48UQ is a 47.5-inch 4K 3840 x 2160 OLED gaming monitor with a blazing-fast 138Hz refresh rate. Its 0.1ms response time is great for gaming, and you’ll enjoy lifelike colors thanks to its 98% DCI-P3 color space coverage. NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility reduces screen tearing for smooth gameplay. Onboard, you’ll find HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and USB connectivity. With support for VRR and ALLM (auto low latency mode), the ROG Swift PG48UQ works with modern consoles like the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and gaming computers. In their review, PCGamesN appreciated its best-in-class contrast ratio, instantaneous response time, and decent speakers while critiquing its matte anti-glare coating.
On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix XG43UQ is a 43-inch 4K 144Hz gaming monitor. It’s a VA panel with AMD FreeSync support and a 4ms response time. You’ll find HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 along with USB ports. Thanks to its VA panel, the ROG Strix XG43UQ delivers a big, bold, bright, beautiful image. Unfortunately, in their review, Tom’s Hardware notices some overdrive artifacting and backlight strobe artifacts.
Pros:
- 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution
- NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync compatible
- 48-inch or 43-inch display
- Excellent connectivity (HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB 2.0)
- VRR and ALLM
- OLED or VA panel
- Excellent color accuracy, contrast, and brightness
Cons
- Average speakers
- OLED matte anti-glare coating isn’t great
- VA panel has some artifacting
Best Sounding Big Format Gaming Display – HP Omen X Emperium
A big screen deserves sound to match. And built-in TV or monitor speakers are generally terrible. Enter the HP Omen X Emperium with its standard 120-watt soundbar. Not only does the Omen X Emperium sound superb, but it sports spectacular visuals. You’ll find full-array local dimming with 384 LED zones and HDR1000 with NVIDIA G-Sync. There’s a peak brightness of 1000 nits and sustained brightness of 750 nits. Moreover, color accuracy is top-notch with 95% DCI-P3 color gamut. Black levels are OLED-rivaling. An Nvidia Shield TV comes baked in for streaming from Android TV apps. Its 4K Ultra HD (UHD) 3840 x 2160 resolution assures a crisp, clear image.
Unlike the average TV, the HP’s BFGD is thick, mostly because of the soundbar. You can use the 120W soundbar one of two ways: attached to the Omen X Emperium or free-standing. However, the process of screwing the soundbar to the HP big format gaming display is laborious and results in an unstable TV, so it’s best accomplished only if you plan to mount the Omen X Emperium on the wall with its standard VESA mount holes.
A few visual issues plague the HP Omen X Emperium such as its middling screen uniformity, short viewing angles, and slight screen banding. As a result, if you’re a cinephile, you might be disappointed. Still, the gaming performance makes the HP Omen X Emperium a fantastic choice. Since it’s really not a TV, it’s tough to criticize some of the video watching shortcomings, and the Omen X Emperium handles gaming ridiculously well. Coupled with the built-in soundbar as well as Nvidia Shield TV, it’s a phenomenal BFGD for big screen computer gaming.
Pros:
- 144Hz refresh rate
- 120-watt soundbar
- HDR1000, peak brightness of 1000 nits and a sustained brightness of 750 nits
- 4ms response time
- 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution
- 95% DCI-P3 color gamut
- Nvidia Shield TV built-in
- Excellent connectivity (1 x DisplayPort, 3 x HDMI, S/PDIF, headphone jack)
- Quantum dot technology
- NVIDIA G-Sync
- Standard VESA mount
- 65-inches
Cons:
- Thick TV
- Soundbar is difficult to attach to the TV
- Some video shortcomings – short viewing angles, slight screen banding, and middling screen uniformity
Best Looking BFGD – LG CXPUA Series
OLED displays deliver top tier video quality. The LG OLED CXPUA series (available in 48-, 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models) boasts both NVIDIA G-Sync as well as AMD FreeSync for fantastic gaming performance. There’s an a9 gen 3 artificial intelligence (AI) processor. With OLED Motion Pro, the CXPUA series touts a native 120Hz refresh rate. Ample connection options include four HDMI ports with HDMI 2.1 and HDCP 2.2 for enhanced audio return channel (eARC) an RF connection, three USB 2.0, an A/V input, Ethernet, optical audio out, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
Whereas most BFGDs are monitors rather than televisions, the LF CXPUA series is an actual television with gaming capabilities. As such, you’ll find LG’s webOS platform built-in. Because it’s an OLED panel, the LG CXPUA TVs usher in lifelike colors. But for gaming, there are a few downsides. Although the CXPUA does boast a 120Hz refresh rate, the ASUS and HP BFGDs can hit 120Hz or 144Hz without an HDMI 2.1 GPU along with the entire G-Sync refresh rate range. As an alternative, you might consider either the LG B9 or LG C9 OLED panels, both of which rock NVIDIA G-Sync onboard.
Pros:
- 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution
- NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync
- OLED panel technology
- Line buffer for as low as 6.6ms input lag
- HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.2 and eARC
- Variable refresh rate
- Auto low-latency mode
- webOS built-in
- Excellent connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4 x HDMI 2.2 and HDCP 2.2 with eARC, RF, Ethernet, 3 x USB 2.0)
- 120Hz native refresh rate
- Up to 77-inch display
Cons:
- Can’t hit 144Hz
- Doesn’t have full G-Sync refresh rate range
Best BFGD Options for Big Screen PC Gaming – Final Thoughts
While a TV is perfect for watching movies, television shows, and sports, when it comes to PC gaming, monitors deliver better performance than their TV counterparts. But most gaming monitors don’t come in huge 50-inch and higher sizes. Nevertheless, big format gaming displays are poised to upend that trend. If you’re purely looking for a massive monitor, the ASUS ROG Swift PG65UQ is a fantastic BFGD. HP’s Omen X Emperium adds a 120W soundbar along with OLED-rivaling visuals for a stellar large format gaming display. But if you want a TV that can handle computer gaming, LG’s CXPUA, C9, and B9 OLEDs make a few minor sacrifices when compared with the ASUS and HP big format gaming displays while still incorporating high refresh rates, low response times, and G-Sync.
Your turn: Which BFGDs do you recommend?
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