When it comes to competitive gaming, every advantage counts. From top-of-the-line hardware to customized gaming peripherals, professional esports players spare no expense in their pursuit of gaming excellence. One often-overlooked aspect of a pro gamer’s setup, however, is the resolution they use. While it may seem like a minor detail, the resolution a player chooses can have a significant impact on their performance and overall gaming experience.
Why Resolution Matters in Esports
Before diving into the resolutions favored by esports pros, it’s essential to understand why resolution is important in the first place. In competitive gaming, every millisecond counts, and a higher resolution can provide a subtle yet crucial edge over the competition.
Higher resolutions offer several advantages:
- Increased visual clarity, allowing players to spot enemies or objectives more easily
- Improved accuracy, as finer details can be distinguished at higher resolutions
- Enhanced immersion, making it easier for players to stay focused and engaged during long matches
On the other hand, higher resolutions can also introduce additional challenges, such as:
- Increased system resource requirements, potentially leading to lag or framerate drops
- Greater GPU demands, which can result in higher temperatures and reduced hardware lifespan
The Optimal Resolution for Esports
Given the pros and cons of higher resolutions, it’s no surprise that esports players often opt for a balance between visual quality and performance. So, what resolution do esports pros typically use?
The most popular resolutions among esports pros:
- 1080p (1920×1080)
- 1440p (2560×1440)
- 1600p (2560×1600)
While some pros may experiment with higher resolutions like 4K (3840×2160) or 3440×1440, these are less common due to the increased system demands and potential performance issues.
Why 1080p Remains a Popular Choice
Despite the improved visual quality offered by higher resolutions, 1080p remains a staple among many esports pros. This is largely due to its:
- Lower system requirements, ensuring a smoother gaming experience with less lag or stuttering
- Wide availability of 1080p monitors with high refresh rates (e.g., 144Hz or 240Hz), allowing for a more responsive gaming experience
- General optimization of most modern games for 1080p, making it an ideal resolution for competitive play
Resolution Preferences by Game
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for resolution in esports, different games often favor specific resolutions due to their unique demands and gameplay styles.
First-Person Shooters (FPS)
Games like CS:GO, Overwatch, and Call of Duty typically benefit from higher refresh rates and lower resolutions to prioritize fast-paced action and quick reflexes.
FPS resolution preferences:
- 1080p (1920×1080) with high refresh rates (144Hz or 240Hz)
Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA)
MOBAs like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Heroes of the Storm require a balance between visual clarity and performance, as players need to track multiple elements on the screen at once.
MOBA resolution preferences:
- 1440p (2560×1440) or 1600p (2560×1600) with medium to high refresh rates (60Hz to 144Hz)
Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games
RTS games like StarCraft II and Warcraft III require a high level of visual clarity to track units, structures, and resources across the map.
RTS resolution preferences:
- 1440p (2560×1440) or 1600p (2560×1600) with medium refresh rates (60Hz to 120Hz)
Notable Esports Pros and Their Resolution Preferences
While general trends can be observed, individual esports pros often have their own unique preferences when it comes to resolution.
Kenny “kennyS” Schrub (CS:GO):
- Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080)
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Monitor: BenQ XL2546
Lee “INnoVation” Shin Hyung (StarCraft II):
- Resolution: 1440p (2560×1440)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Monitor: ASUS VG278HE
Kim “Reignover” Yeu-Jin (Overwatch):
- Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Monitor: Acer Predator XB252Q
These examples illustrate that even among top esports pros, there is no one “right” resolution. Ultimately, the ideal resolution depends on a combination of personal preference, game requirements, and hardware capabilities.
Conclusion
In the world of esports, every detail counts, and a player’s resolution preference is just one piece of the puzzle. While there are general trends and popular choices, individual pros often experiment with different resolutions to find the perfect balance between visual quality and performance. By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of various resolutions, gamers can make informed decisions about their own setups and take their gaming experience to the next level.
How do esports pros typically set up their screens?
Esports pros often have unique screen setup preferences that cater to their individual needs and playing styles. While some may prefer a single large monitor, others may opt for multiple smaller screens or even a curved setup. The most common setup, however, is a dual-monitor setup, with one screen dedicated to the game and the other for monitoring game stats, communicating with teammates, and watching opponent streams.
Some pros, like those who compete in MOBA games, may prefer a single large monitor with a high refresh rate to ensure smooth gameplay. Others, such as CS:GO players, may prefer a multi-monitor setup to keep an eye on the mini-map and communicate with their team. Ultimately, the screen setup depends on the game, the player’s preferences, and the team’s strategy.
What is the most popular resolution among esports pros?
Contrary to what one might expect, the most popular resolution among esports pros is not 4K or even QHD. Instead, the majority of pros opt for 1080p (1920×1080) or 1440p (2560×1440) resolutions. This is because these resolutions provide a high enough pixel density for clear visuals while also being less demanding on hardware, allowing for higher frame rates and smoother gameplay.
The reason for this preference is that esports pros prioritize frame rate and response time over resolution. A higher frame rate and faster response time enable them to react quicker to in-game events and track fast-paced action more easily. With the high stakes of competitive gaming, every millisecond counts, and pros are willing to sacrifice some visual fidelity for a competitive edge.
Do esports pros use the same graphics settings as casual gamers?
No, esports pros typically use custom graphics settings that are tailored to their specific needs and the demands of competitive gaming. While casual gamers may opt for higher graphics settings to enjoy the game’s visual fidelity, pros prioritize performance over visual quality. They often turn down or disable certain graphics features to reduce lag, increase frame rate, and improve responsiveness.
For example, pros may disable anti-aliasing, motion blur, and other graphics-intensive features to allocate more resources to the game’s engine and reduce input lag. They may also adjust the game’s render scale, texture quality, and shadow quality to achieve the optimal balance between visual quality and performance. Every tweak is made with the goal of gaining a competitive edge and executing their skills as quickly and accurately as possible.
How do esports pros achieve high frame rates?
Esports pros achieve high frame rates by using high-performance hardware, optimizing their game settings, and employing various tweaks to reduce latency and improve responsiveness. They often invest in top-of-the-line gaming rigs with powerful GPUs, fast CPUs, and high-speed RAM to ensure their systems can handle demanding games at high frame rates.
In addition to hardware upgrades, pros may also use various software tools and techniques to optimize their game performance. They may use frame rate limiters, disable VSync, and adjust the game’s refresh rate to reduce screen tearing and stuttering. They may also use third-party tools to monitor and adjust their system’s performance in real-time, ensuring they’re getting every last frame out of their hardware.
Why do some esports pros prefer lower resolutions?
Some esports pros prefer lower resolutions because they can improve their frame rate and reduce input lag. By reducing the resolution, the game’s engine has to process fewer pixels, which can result in a significant increase in frame rate and responsiveness. This is particularly important in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts.
Lower resolutions can also help reduce the strain on a system’s hardware, allowing pros to maintain high frame rates even on lower-end systems. Additionally, some pros may prefer the “cleaner” visuals and reduced clutter that come with lower resolutions, which can help them focus on the game’s essential elements and make faster decisions.
Do esports pros use G-Sync or FreeSync?
Many esports pros use G-Sync or FreeSync technology to reduce screen tearing and stuttering, which can be distracting and affect their performance. G-Sync and FreeSync are adaptive sync technologies that synchronize the game’s frame rate with the monitor’s refresh rate, eliminating screen tearing and providing a smoother gaming experience.
However, some pros may not use adaptive sync technology at all, opting instead to use a high refresh rate monitor and a compatible GPU to achieve a high frame rate. This approach can provide a similar level of smoothness and responsiveness, without the potential drawbacks of adaptive sync technology, such as increased input lag.
What role does monitor response time play in esports?
Monitor response time plays a critical role in esports, as it directly affects the speed and accuracy of a player’s inputs. A monitor’s response time refers to how quickly it can display image changes, measured in milliseconds. Faster response times enable pros to react quicker to in-game events, track fast-paced action more easily, and execute their skills with greater precision.
Esports pros often prefer monitors with fast response times, typically in the range of 1-5 ms, to minimize ghosting and blurring. Some pros may even use monitors with specialized response time technologies, such as NVIDIA’s ULMB or ASUS’s ELMB, which can further reduce motion blur and provide a more responsive gaming experience.