This $130 250 Hz MSI gaming monitor proves that you don't have to sacrifice speed when you're shopping on a tight budget

MSI MAG 255XFV | 24-inch | 1080p | Rapid VA | 250 Hz | Adaptive Sync | $149.99 $129.99 at Best Buy (save $20)
You might not like the VA panel and its low brightness, but you'll surely like the speed and price tag. 250 Hz, 0.5 ms pixel time, and adaptive sync will all help to ensure you get super-silky gaming.

Price check: Amazon $176.23

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If we all had magic bank accounts, every PC gamer out there would be rocking a massive rig, with a hulking graphics card pumping its pixels onto a luscious OLED monitor. Sadly, the real world isn't like that, but even then, not everyone wants or needs a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED display.

This is especially true if you're looking to get into competitive esports, you simply don't have room for a big screen, or you just prefer to put your hard-earned cash towards a better CPU or graphics cards. For those cases, may I present to you the MSI MAG 255XFV gaming monitor, currently on offer for $130 at Best Buy.

It's 24 inches in size, and given that it has a 1920 x 1080 resolution (aka 1080p), you certainly don't want to go bigger than this if you want to maintain a decent pixel density. The 255XFV wears its gaming credentials proudly for all to see: a refresh rate of 250 Hz, an average pixel response time of 0.5 milliseconds (gray-to-gray), and adaptive sync support for tear-free visuals.

At this price, you're normally looking at well under 200 Hz, so you're getting a fair old blast of speed for your money. The downside to this combination is that the display itself is a Rapid VA panel, so that means the viewing angles aren't great, and they can get a little smeary in dark areas.

Traditionally, TN panels have been the top choice for esports due to their ultra-fast pixel response times, but this one is just as quick, so some of those VA panel problems won't be a major problem. What might be is the fact that the peak brightness is just 250 nits—one for gaming in a dark den, then.

But these gripes are forgivable when it's this affordable. Sure, you can spend way less on a 1080p monitor, but it'll be smaller and a lot slower. As the cliche goes, if you feel the need, the need for speed, then your bank balance will thank you for picking up this MSI monitor.

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Best OLED gaming monitor

👉Check out our full guide👈

1. Best overall:
MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED

2. Best 1440p:
MSI MPG 271QRX

3. Best ultrawide:
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM

4. Best 32:9 ratio:
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

5. Best budget ultrawide:
Alienware 34 QD-OLED AW3423DWF

6. Best WOLED:
LG UltraGear 32GS95UE

7. Best 27-inch:
Alienware 27 AW2725Q