One can have the most powerful PC imaginable, but it doesn't mean much if they don't have a monitor that does it justice. A high quality monitor capable of displaying the speedy refresh rates of modern gaming PCs is necessary for anyone's setup. Those in the market for a gaming monitor could go out and purchase the most expensive monitor possible to pair with their PC, but there are other, more budget-friendly options that will more than get the job done.

The ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD Curved Gaming Monitor with 165hz refresh rate certainly fits the bill as one of the more budget-friendly gaming monitor options that doesn't really sacrifice much in quality. Games look great on the 32 inch 1080p display, and while some may miss out on 4K resolution, it's worth pointing out that the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD has a relatively low price point of $269.99, which is not bad for a curved gaming monitor at all.

Both classic and modern games look and run great on the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD curved gaming monitor. In our testing, we tried the original Quake as well as the Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale, both of which looked just as good as one would expect. In our week or so with the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD monitor, we ran into zero performance issues of any kind with it, so it should be a safe purchase for both retro and modern gamers.

That being said, the curved monitor style certainly isn't for everyone. Some may not be a fan of the way curved monitor displays tend to look "darker" on the sides of the screen when compared to a traditional, flat monitor. And while the curved monitor is meant to make gameplay more "immersive," mileage may vary in that regard. Really it boils down to personal preference, but those who really like the curved monitor style can't go wrong with the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD.

Visually, the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD does the job it sets out to do. Anyone that wants to use it for a gaming monitor will likely be satisfied, and it also works great for browsing, watching YouTube videos, completing work tasks, or whatever else. It's not a bad monitor for the price at all, and while some ViewSonic PC monitors may offer a bit more in terms of visual output, they also come with a heftier price tag.

While the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD is a great PC gaming monitor for the price, it does have one drawback that consumers should be aware of. The built-in speakers for the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD are definitely lacking. The sound quality is fairly low, and is especially noticeable when using the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD to listen to music. This isn't a deal-breaker by any means, especially since there are many monitors that don't have built-in speakers at all. But those who value audio quality will want to invest in separate speakers to go with their ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD when they're not using a gaming headset.

The audio isn't so bad that it's unbearable or anything like that, but those buying the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD will still want to keep it in mind. Otherwise, there is very little to complain about regarding the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD curved gaming monitor. Games across various generations look great, and on top of that, it's easy to setup. There are some monitors that are a little awkward when it comes to getting them attached to their stands or they may have the HDMI ports in inconvenient locations. The ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD makes things simple, with users able to get everything set up in a couple of minutes at most.

The ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD curved gaming monitor is easy to use and will meet the needs of the vast majority of PC gamers. Those who demand 4K resolution graphics will obviously want to spring for a more expensive option, but the ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD is not a bad choice for everyone else. It's available now for $269.99 for anyone that wants to try a curved gaming monitor without breaking the bank.

Game Rant was provided with a ViewSonic VX3218-PC-MHD Curved Gaming Monitor for this review.