So the time has come when I'm in need of replacing my monitor (as it is old, the LCD backlight fading and it is having a flicking issue every now and then depending on the image being displayed).

However, since I bought this monitor (something like 8 years ago), it seems that monitor technology and specs have changed massively, so I'm in need of advice or recommendations.

Obviously I'm looking for a 16:9 monitor as that is the standard now, so I'd want 1920x1080, but I've no interest in it being 3D capable.

I do enjoy gaming (hence why I'm posting here on GOG) so I don't want to have any issues with ghosting that can happen if the response time is too high. My current one says 2ms but initial searches seem to suggest that response times aren't as fast as they used to be (at least not when looking at the monitor sizes I've checked so far).

Then there is the question of TN vs IPS, but I guess that is something I'd have to physically see in order to judge. Similarly, should I go with LED for the better backlight? Is there a risk of image burn-in with LED (somehow I feel I ought to know the answer to that already).

What about video cable connections? I thought monitors were going down the route of using DisplayPort now, but again when I've been searching, nearly all for the monitor sizes I've been looking at are HDMI.

I've not a lot of room on my desk (strictly a single monitor setup), so I was looking at 21.5"-22", but could stretch to 23" or 24". 24" might be a little too big considering that I sit about 2 feet away from the monitor screen.

Any manufacturers to look at or avoid? Current one is Samsung and they've always seemed pretty good with their display equipment, but it isn't as if I won't look at other manufacturers.

Oh, and is G-Sync worth looking at? I've only seen it present on 24" and larger, so not even sure it is an option for me at this time.

LCD
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SJANIWA/ref=as_li_tl?tag=amazon0920-21&ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00SJANIWA&linkCode=as2

Great price and good for gaming

If you want something more for media like picture editing and video with accurate color reproduction then stick with
IPS monitors like I do, They are good for what I mentioned and are decent for games but you will noticed some ghosting in very fast games if you have a 14ms rate so stick with anything 8 or 6 when it comes to IPS for gaming

IPS
https://www.amazon.co.uk/VX279H-27-inch-Widescreen-Monitor-80000000/dp/B00N1ULSUW/ref=sr_1_17?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1471288497&sr=1-17&keywords=ips+monitor

you can sit close to a 27 inch if you have room on the desk and it would be nothing different from sitting to a 22 or 24 inch. those brands tend to make pretty high end monitors and don't slack on quality but at the end of the day it all rides on you and what you feel you like more in terms of what you need it to do.

Can't help with any specific recommendations, just make sure that the company/retailer has a decent dead pixel policy.

I haven't bought a monitor in years so I have no idea what they're like now.

This is damned good advice, as dead pixel policies can vary wildy and it's something a lot of people overlook (often to their rather irate disappointment).

I'll just share my own experience with monitors I've owned.

17" NEC monitor = great color, but expensive. I only have a 4:5 aspect ratio monitor I use on a backup computer.

24" 1920x1080p Acer monitor = terrible color. I only keep it as an extra backup.

24" 1920x1080p Samsung monitor = TN panel with adjustable height stand. The color is ok. Fast response and is good for games like first person shooters. I currently use this.

27" 1920x1080p IPS monitor = I don't remember the brand. It had good color, but was really slow for games and gave me a headache. I returned it.

All the monitors have DVI and VGA connectors. The Acer has hdmi, but with no audio out. I don't have any with display port.

54" plasma tv. Connected with hdmi for playing games on a big screen.

TVs generally make terrible monitors. They often add blur and delay and have poor color reproduction. My tv has pretty good response though. I only use it for games.

---

After my experiences, here's what I've learned:
24" monitor minimum. I sit 2 feet from my monitor and it's just barely big enough.

IPS panels give me headaches and ruin fps games for me. I won't buy them again.

Unless you're also buying a video card, get a monitor with the best port your video card supports.

If the monitor has hdmi ports, make sure it also has an audio out port (My Acer monitor does not, making it useless for most hdmi sources like consoles). Most hdmi monitors don't have speakers.

G-Sync is only worth it (IMO) if you're a really avid gamer who likes to play newer titles. I mostly play older titles and just turn on Vsync.

Lastly, I will only buy monitors from now on with adjustable height stands. I also put it on another display stand so I can look at the monitor straight on. It makes life so much easier. Those monitors also usually support rotating the monitor.

I have an Asus 27":
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DRPZ988/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its is a great monitor, had it for 18months, wouldn't change it for the world.

I'd get one with IPS tech

For an AMD card (freesync) I'd go with this, or one larger: https://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-VX2257-MHD-DisplayPort-FreeSync-Technology/dp/B018MYT3YO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471296961&sr=8-1&keywords=viewsonic+vx2257-mhd

For Nvidia cards (G-sync) I'd go with this: https://www.amazon.com/Asus-VG248QE-24-inch-Ergonomic-Back-lit/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1471297026&sr=1-1&keywords=g-sync+monitor

It's just an opinion of mine. Hope it helps.

I won't give you exact name, but I would advise you to get AMVA monitor instead of TN or IPS. Modern VA monitors have actually pretty good response rate. At least it should not be a problem unless you are a professional player. And if you were - there are still good gaming VA monitors with low input lag. I just bought AMVA and played Serious Sam HD and also Warsow with bots and did not see any problems. Should be OK in CSGO, Team Fortress, Unreal Tournament. Maybe I would have problems in Quakeworld.

Why not TN? Well. the image quality is the worst and angles are also not that good. Common choice instead of TN is an IPS monitor.

Why not an IPS monitor than? Well. They look good on the shelves, but if you want to play dark games, watch darker movies or be in a dark room they really suck. Just check in google - "ips backlight bleeding". Not only black is really bad, but on the corners (or even more than that) you have a big light like somebody was glaring you with a flashlight through grey material. In games like Thief it is really hard to see, not to mention the ruined experience of atmosphere.

But of course if you don't care about dark stuff go get some IPS monitor.

AMVA:
+++ Best black on all modern LCD's
+++ Really good colors (better than IPS)
+++ Good contrast
+++ OK input lag for gaming (for non proffesional gamer -VA response times are in line with IPS)
---- Input lag not so good as in TN monitors
---- Viewing angles are good, but VA panels have black crush and gamma shifting
=== You can buy pricey gaming VA monitor with low input lag

IPS:
+++ Colors better than TN (pretty good)
+++ OK input lag for gaming (for non proffesional gamer -IPS response times are in line with VA)
---- Input lag not so good as in TN monitors
---- IPS panels have backlight bleeding - horrible black
=== You can buy pricey gaming VA monitor with low input lag

https://hardforum.com/threads/best-reviewed-a-mva-monitor-thread-read-the-1st-post.1803228/ - opinions about some specific models
Jut be aware that Iiyama X2483HSU-B1 and Iiyama X2483HSU-B2 are actually different:
http://www.iiyama.com/gl_en/products/prolite-x2483hsu-1/
http://www.iiyama.com/gb_en/products/prolite-x2483hsu-b2/

The monitor I bought is Iiyama X2483HSU-B2 and it has gamma shifting while I move head :) I still prefer it to my LG IPS237L-BN I bought in April 2013.
I can finally play Thief now without light in corners :)

Some interesting information here, I'll be sure to look into it. Thought I'd add a few more details, though, looking at some of the comments.

Firstly, I already have a relatively new PC, so I'm not getting a new GPU with it as what I have is pretty new anyway. It's a GTX 980 Ti.

My desk space is limited. 24" would seem to be the biggest I could go, and even that looks big.

I'm no pro-gamer (nowhere near good enough), but I do enjoy games a lot. Particularly FPS games, though I play many different types in all.

I bought a G-Sync monitor a while back, when my old screen died. It's very convenient when you no longer have to worry about tearing, V-sync and such. The only problem is that the model I bought only has one display port slot and no other connectors, which means you can't add any additional devices such as consoles. So that's something to keep in mind, if you'd like to use your new screen for multiple devices.

What happens with a high refresh rate monitor when it is forced to use a lower refresh rate that it isn't an integer multiple of? Say a 144Hz monitor being forced to use 60Hz?

The reason I ask is that some old games require a lower frame rate otherwise the game physics goes weird. I know that vsync wouldn't help here as it would cap to 144Hz, but the maximum frame rate can be set by drivers and software.

If it were 120Hz being forced to 60Hz then that would be fine as each frame would show up for twice the monitor's refresh rate, but when not an integer multiple what happens?

In fact, thinking about it, should I even care? My current 60Hz monitor would have been playing some games below that on my old PC (would vsync then have capped them to 30 or would it have allowed anything up to 60?), and as my new PC gets older I would a;so expect frame rates to lower in newer games.

This is the beauty with PC's. You can change whatever Hz you want depending the max Hz of the monitor, and change it to the lowest setting, in the windows or driver settings. If the monitor can have it lower. If that makes sense. And you noted you have an NVidia GTX 980 TI, it'll go perfectly with what I suggested earlier for NVidia G-sync monitor. You can change the country in the website if need be. Hope this helps, a bit tipsy at the moment. Where's my tea? Or coffee. XD Good luck!

I did some searching and checking and the Asus VG248QE doesn't support G-Sync. There was a G-Sync DIY upgrade kit for it that was available for a limited time only, but Nvidia discontinued it.

It looks like the cheapest G-Sync monitor I can find is just over £300, which is a little more than I was wanting to pay, so I may just go for a high refresh rate, not adaptive, in which case this monitor is still then an option. It's £220 here on the Amazon UK site.