Go big or go home, with this 32-inch 1440p 240Hz gaming monitor that's under $270 right now

Acer Nitro XZ323QU | 31.5-inch | 1440p | 240Hz | VA panel | 1000R curve | $449.99$269.99 at Newegg (save $180)
There's nothing quite like a massive, curved monitor for the ultimate in gaming immersion, but they're usually mega expensive. Not this Acer model and you're getting an awful lot of monitor for very little money. Curved screens aren't to everyone's taste, though, and it won't have quite the same color reproduction as an IPS panel.

Price check: Best Buy $299.99 | Amazon $329.99 | Walmart $269.99

A decent gaming monitor should last you for many years, so it's always worth paying that little bit more to ensure you get something that will meet your current or potential future needs. On the other hand, sometimes you get a deal like this, where you're getting a fantastic monitor without having to spend a fortune.

Let's start with the basics. It's a 31.5-inch screen (let's just call it 32-inches, okay?) with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. That's as large a panel as you'd ever want to go with a 1440p layout and even then, the pixel density is a little on the low side if you're looking for ultra crisp fonts and icons on your Windows desktop.

But for gaming, it's a glorious, view-filling experience. Adding to all of that is the 240Hz refresh rate, with support for FreeSync Premium and its variable refresh rate (VRR). So even if your games can't run at 240fps, the VRR will ensure the monitor's output will always look super smooth.

It's worth nothing, though, that the full 240Hz is only available via the DisplayPort connection. The two HDMI ports are version 2.0 connections and so can only offer 144Hz, which honestly is still perfectly decent.

The panel itself is a VA type, so while not the best for color reproduction, it's bright and has a great contrast ratio. That's ideal for its black representation to look more genuinely black, rather than some kind of washed out shades of grey. The screen is also VESA HDR400 certified, with a peak brightness of 400 nits.

That's the