You have spent R20,000 on a gaming PC; you have the RGB keyboard; you have the lightweight mouse. But are you still staring at a 60Hz office monitor? If so, you are effectively driving a Ferrari in first gear.
For fast-paced shooters like Valorant, Call of Duty, or Overwatch, the monitor is your window to the game. In 2025, a High-Refresh Rate (HRR) monitor is the single most impactful upgrade you can make to your setup.
Why Hertz (Hz) Hurts (Your Enemies)
Standard monitors refresh the image 60 times a second (60Hz). Gaming monitors start at 144Hz and go up to 360Hz+.
- Smoothness: Higher Hz makes motion look fluid.
- Latency: Higher Hz reduces input lag. You see the enemy around the corner miliseconds faster than they see you. In gaming, those miliseconds are the difference between a kill and a death.
Supply Shack’s Top Picks for SA Gamers
1. The Budget King: 24-inch IPS 144Hz/165Hz (1080p)
This is the sweet spot for most gamers. At 24 inches, 1080p looks crisp.
- Panel Tech: Look for IPS panels. Historically, TN panels were faster but had ugly colors. Modern IPS panels are fast (1ms response) and have beautiful, vibrant colors.
- Brands: We recommend looking at models from Dell, LG, or AOC. They offer incredible value usually around the R3,000 – R4,500 mark.
2. The Competitive Edge: 240Hz
If you are grinding ranked lobbies hoping to go pro, 144Hz might not be enough. Jumping to 240Hz is diminishing returns for casuals, but essential for pros.
- Note: You need a powerful CPU to push 240 FPS to match this monitor!
3. The Visual Sweet Spot: 27-inch 1440p 165Hz
If you prefer RPGs and single-player games over competitive shooters, consider stepping up to 1440p (2K). The image is sharper, and the larger 27-inch screen is more immersive.
- The Cost: These monitors are more expensive, and they demand a stronger GPU (RTX 4070 or higher recommended).
Curved vs. Flat?
Curved monitors (usually VA panels) add immersion, especially for racing sims or flight sims. However, for pure competitive shooters, most pros still prefer a flat IPS screen for geometric accuracy.
Local Availability
Shipping monitors can be risky. They are fragile! That is why buying local from Supply Shack is smart. We ensure secure packaging for delivery across South Africa, from Sandton to Stellenbosch.
Don’t let your monitor be the bottleneck in your system. See what your GPU is actually capable of.
Upgrade your Display: Check out our Monitor specials here!
Visit us in JHB to see some of these displays in action!