📐 What is PPI?
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) is a measurement of pixel density on your display. Higher PPI means more pixels are packed into each inch of screen space, resulting in sharper and more detailed images.
🎯 PPI Categories
Low PPI (60-90):
- • Large displays at low resolution
- • Visible pixels at close range
- • Good for budget setups
- • Better performance in games
Optimal PPI (90-110):
- • Best for gaming (1080p 24" / 1440p 27")
- • Good clarity without scaling
- • Balanced performance
- • Industry standard
High PPI (110-140):
- • Very sharp images
- • Great for 4K displays
- • May need UI scaling
- • Higher GPU requirement
Very High PPI (140+):
- • Retina-level clarity
- • Professional work ideal
- • Requires OS scaling
- • Very demanding on GPU
🎮 Gaming Recommendations
- 24" 1080p (92 PPI): Perfect for competitive FPS gaming, excellent performance
- 27" 1440p (109 PPI): Sweet spot for gaming - great clarity and performance balance
- 32" 4K (138 PPI): Best for AAA games and immersive experiences
- 34" Ultrawide (110 PPI): Ideal for racing/simulation games and immersion
👁️ Viewing Distance Guidelines
- Low PPI (<90): Sit 24-30 inches away
- Optimal PPI (90-110): Sit 20-26 inches away (most comfortable)
- High PPI (110-140): Can sit 18-24 inches away
- Very High PPI (140+): Can sit 16-22 inches away without pixel visibility
💡 PPI vs DPI
While PPI (Pixels Per Inch) measures screen pixel density, DPI (Dots Per Inch) typically refers to printer resolution or mouse sensitivity. In gaming contexts:
- PPI: Your monitor's pixel density (hardware)
- Mouse DPI: Mouse sensor sensitivity (see our DPI Calculator)
- Scaling DPI: OS display scaling setting (software)
Note: The "ideal" PPI depends on your use case, viewing distance, and personal preference. For gaming, 90-110 PPI is generally considered optimal as it provides good clarity without requiring UI scaling or excessive GPU power.