Westinghouse 165Hz gaming monitor displaying competitive game in RGB gaming setup
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Complete Gaming Monitor Buying Guide 2026: How to Choose the Best 165Hz Monitor

Roberto Hernández

Gaming Technology Expert

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Published on
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Updated on
|7 min read

Everything you need to know to choose the perfect gaming monitor in 2026. We compare key specs like refresh rate, response time, and adaptive sync technologies to help you dominate your favorite games.

The Right Monitor Can Give You a Competitive Edge

If you play competitive shooters like Valorant, CS2, Fortnite or any game where milliseconds matter, your monitor can be the difference between winning and losing. A 60Hz monitor simply cannot display information as fast as a 165Hz one.

In this comprehensive guide, we explain all the specs that matter for gaming: refresh rate, response time, adaptive sync and more. We also compare the best gaming monitors available for different budgets.

Whether you are a casual gamer wanting a smoother experience or an aspiring esports player who needs every advantage possible, you will find the perfect monitor here.

Why Do You Need a Gaming Monitor?

A regular office monitor runs at 60Hz, showing 60 images per second. This is sufficient for work and browsing, but for gaming it creates several problems:

Ghosting

Moving objects leave ghost trails that make tracking difficult

Screen Tearing

Image splits horizontally when GPU and monitor are out of sync

Input Lag

Delay between your action and what you see on screen

A 165Hz gaming monitor like the Westinghouse WM27FA9420 solves these problems by showing 165 images per second, nearly 3x more than a regular monitor.

Key Specifications Explained

Refresh Rate (Hz)

How many times per second the monitor updates the image. Higher = smoother.

60Hz = Basic 144Hz = Gaming 165Hz = Sweet Spot 240Hz+ = Pro/Esports

Recommendation: 165Hz is the sweet spot between performance and price, offering 98% of 240Hz smoothness at a fraction of the cost.

Response Time (ms)

How fast a pixel changes color. Lower = less ghosting.

  • 1ms: Ideal for competitive gaming, zero perceptible ghosting
  • 4-5ms: Good for casual gaming, minimal ghosting
  • 8ms+: May show trails in fast movements

Westinghouse gaming monitors have 1ms MPRT for ultra-fast response.

Westinghouse Gaming Monitors 2026

Best Value

Westinghouse WM24FA9420

24" Curved 165Hz Gaming Monitor

  • OK 24" Full HD (1920x1080)
  • OK 165Hz refresh rate
  • OK 1ms MPRT response time
  • OK 1500R curved screen
  • OK AMD FreeSync
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RECOMMENDED

Westinghouse WM27FA9420

27" Full HD 165Hz Gaming Monitor

  • OK 27" Full HD (1920x1080)
  • OK 165Hz refresh rate
  • OK 1ms MPRT response time
  • OK Height-adjustable stand
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 165Hz enough for competitive gaming?

Yes, 165Hz is more than enough for 99% of gamers. Only professional esports players benefit from 240Hz+.

Do I need a powerful GPU for 165Hz?

It depends on the game. For esports titles, a GTX 1650 is sufficient. For AAA games at 165fps, you need an RTX 3060 or better.

Does FreeSync work with NVIDIA cards?

Yes, most modern FreeSync monitors work with NVIDIA GPUs in "G-Sync Compatible" mode via DisplayPort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, 165Hz is more than enough for 99% of gamers. Only professional esports players benefit from 240Hz+.

Tags:

#monitor-gaming#165hz#gaming#fps#pc-gaming#esports#2026

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Roberto Hernández

Gaming Technology Expert

Professional gamer and gaming monitor reviewer. Specialist in high refresh rate display technology and response times.