A computer monitor decides how comfortable your computer is to use for hours, and the specifications that matter depend on what you do. Size and resolution set how much you can see at once; a gaming monitor's refresh rate matters for gaming; panel type affects colour and viewing angles. Any pc monitor connection type has to match your computer. Start with the work you do and your desk depth, then match size, resolution and refresh rate to it.
What size and resolution monitor do you need?
Size and resolution work together, since a large screen at low resolution looks coarse:
- 24 inch, Full HD: a solid everyday size for documents, browsing and general work at a normal desk depth.
- Monitor 27 inch, 1440p: noticeably more workspace with sharp text, the popular middle ground for work and gaming.
- 32 inch or 4k monitor: lots of detail and room for several windows, best for design, video and heavy multitasking.
- Ultrawide: extra horizontal space, replacing a dual-monitor setup with no bezel down the middle.
What refresh rate do you need?
Refresh rate is how many times per second the screen updates, measured in hertz. For documents, browsing and video, 60 Hz is entirely adequate and most content is made for it. For gaming, higher rates of 120 Hz, 144 Hz or more make motion noticeably smoother and reduce blur, which matters in fast games. There's a catch worth knowing: your computer has to be able to produce frames that fast for a high refresh rate to help, and the cable must support it too. For office and general use, spend on resolution and panel quality rather than refresh rate.
How do you set up a monitor comfortably?
Getting the position right prevents neck and eye strain over long sessions. Set the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, so you look slightly down rather than up. Place it about an arm's length away, adjusting for screen size — a larger screen wants to sit further back. Tilt it slightly upward and position it to avoid glare from windows and lights behind you. If you use two monitors, angle them in a shallow V around you. Tip: a monitor arm frees desk space and makes height and distance much easier to fine-tune than a fixed stand.
Common questions
What size monitor is best for work?
27 inch at 1440p is the popular middle ground, giving good workspace with sharp text. 24 inch Full HD suits smaller desks and general use; 32 inch or 4K suits design and heavy multitasking.
Do I need a high refresh rate monitor?
Only for gaming, where 120 Hz or more makes motion smoother. For documents, browsing and video, 60 Hz is fine — spend on resolution and panel quality instead.
What is an ultrawide monitor?
A wider screen giving extra horizontal space, effectively replacing two monitors without a bezel down the middle. It suits spreadsheets, timelines and side-by-side windows.
How high should a monitor be?
With the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, about an arm's length away, so you look slightly down. This reduces neck strain over long sessions.
Can I pay for a monitor with Afterpay?
Yes. You can split it with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4. Our monitors start from $37, which is four fortnightly payments of $9.25.
Complete your setup
A monitor works with the rest of your desk. Add a computer to drive it, keyboard and mouse, and a desk to sit it on.
A $37 monitor splits into four fortnightly payments of $9.25 with Afterpay, and Zip, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4 do the same. Every order ships from our Australian warehouse, dispatched within 1–2 business days, with a 12-month warranty and 30 days to return it. We're a family-run Australian store, going since 2016, rated 4.66 out of 5 across 5,363 reviews.
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