For those who’ve budgeted round $750 for the finest gaming monitor for you, you’ve gotten a number of classes to select from. For optimum decision, there are many 4K 144 Hz screens obtainable. Nevertheless, that choice will provide you with the bottom movement decision. Why? Body charges, pure and easy. You possibly can put lots of pixels on the display, but when the perfect you are able to do is 120 fps, that superb element can be misplaced if you transfer the mouse in a first-person sport.
To fulfill the necessity for velocity, you’ll be able to go along with an FHD 360 Hz display, as this feature will ship the smoothest efficiency of all. Nevertheless, sitting within the center is QHD at 240 Hz. It’s an excellent choice as a result of it places 109 pixels per inch onto a 27-inch panel and, with a quick sufficient video card, delivers body charges over 200 fps. That’s a efficiency candy spot and one I’ll be exploring on this evaluate of AOC’s Agon Professional AG274QG. It’s a 27-inch IPS panel with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 600 and a large coloration gamut. It additionally consists of Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer and a complete raft of gaming options.
AOC Agon Professional AG274QG Specs
| Panel Sort / Backlight | IPS / W-LED, edge array |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | 32 dimming zones |
| Display screen Dimension / Side Ratio | 27 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Decision and Refresh Fee | 2560×1440 @ 240 Hz |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | G-Sync Final |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | FreeSync Suitable |
| Native Colour Depth and Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3 |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 450 nits SDR |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | 600 nits HDR |
| Distinction (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
| Audio system | 2x 5w |
| Row 12 – Cell 0 | DTS Sound |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Row 14 – Cell 0 | 2x HDMI 2.0 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| Row 16 – Cell 0 | 3.5mm mic enter |
| USB 3.2 | 1x up, 4x down |
| Row 18 – Cell 0 | 1x USB-C (65w charging) |
| Energy Consumption | 37w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 23.9 x 16.6-21.3 x 13.9 inches (607 x 422-542 x 353mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 2.9 inches (74mm) |
| Bezel Width | High/sides: 0.2 inch (5mm) |
| Row 23 – Cell 0 | Backside: 0.4 inch (10mm) |
| Weight | 18.3 kilos (8.3kg) |
| Guarantee | 3 years |
The AG274QG begins with a quick IPS panel that has a claimed response time of 1 ms. In my check, the draw time from full black to full white was 4 ms which is simply 1ms slower than a 360 Hz monitor. I additionally measured very low enter lag, which places this show in competition with the skilled competitors. Whereas a 360 Hz display would be the final gaming instrument, this Agon Professional is simply barely behind in velocity. Adaptive-Sync is available in G-Sync Final kind with an Nvidia certification. You can too run AMD FreeSync, 48-144 Hz over HDMI, and 48-240 Hz via DisplayPort. Consoles are supported as much as 120 Hz over HDMI with Adaptive-Sync.
AOC additionally didn’t skimp on picture high quality. The AG274QG is rated for 600 nits in HDR mode and met this spec whereas testing. It’ll additionally get near 450 nits for SDR content material, so it really works within the brightest environments with loads of punch and readability. The colour gamut is bigger than most, with a measured 95% protection of DCI-P3. A near-perfect sRGB mode can routinely interact for SDR if you would like much more precision.
Amping up the distinction quotient is an edge-dimming backlight with 32 zones. This motion will increase distinction to five,000:1 in SDR mode and over 33,000:1 for HDR, placing the AG274QG forward of many HDR screens I’ve examined. You possibly can enhance the picture additional with the included inflexible gentle hood that snaps in place. It offers an actual benefit in all however the darkest rooms by stopping any gentle from hitting the display from the edges or above.
Different options embody a really good LED lighting system that has results on the again of the panel and a projector constructed into the stand that shows two totally different Agon logos on the desktop. There are lots of selections for coloration and impact obtainable within the in depth OSD. Premium construct high quality abounds with a rock-solid stand, full ergonomics and an honest pair of built-in audio system. All of your peripherals are supported by USB 3.2 with 4 downstream ports, one among which is coloured inexperienced for the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer characteristic.
Meeting and Equipment
The sunshine hood is available in its personal carton, which sits on the prime of the AG174QG’s field. One other small field incorporates the exterior energy brick and a pleasant assortment of cables. You get USB, HDMI and DisplayPort, together with a pair of stand clips to maintain your wiring tidy. Additionally within the field is the Fast Swap management puck that gives quick entry to the OSD. It plugs into its personal devoted port beneath.
Product 360
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With the sunshine hood put in, the AG274QG has a powerful presence. The hood is lined with light-absorbing materials and as soon as snapped on turns into a part of a really strong unit. The stand is tremendous strong with a really extensive and deep base. You received’t be tipping one among these over, regardless of how intense the gameplay will get. Styling could be very angular, with nary a curve in sight. Corners are simply rounded sufficient to maintain them from being sharp, however flat surfaces are the order of the day. The entrance bezel is skinny at simply 5 mm across the prime and sides and 10 mm on the backside. There’s simply sufficient room for a tiny Agon emblem within the middle.
For those who doubt the AG274QG’s origin, a projector constructed into the stand places both a graphic or the phrase “AGON” on the desktop. A bit slider on the barrel switches between photos. You possibly can change the colour and depth or flip it off within the OSD. Further lighting is situated within the again on six geometric shapes arrayed to the edges. They are often any coloration and be left static, flashing or respiration. A slick metallic headphone hook that slides out can be discovered on the again. An Agon emblem tops the panel, and you’ll see purple trim on the stand.
Ergonomics embody -3/21 levels tilt, 20 levels swivel and 120 mm top. The upright has delicate click on stops to make it simpler to repeat an adjustment, and there’s a 90-degree portrait mode. The OSD could be managed by a tiny joystick across the again proper or by a big puck referred to as Fast Swap, which plugs into its personal devoted port. The puck provides some fast entry buttons configured by the consumer. For those who want utilizing an aftermarket arm or bracket, a 100 mm VESA mount is supplied with included fasteners.
The enter panel contains a single DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports. DisplayPort helps G-Sync Final from 1 to 240 Hz, whereas the HDMI ports work from 48 to 144 Hz with both G-Sync or FreeSync. USB is available in model 3.2 with one upstream and 4 downstream ports. The picture doesn’t present it, however one of many ports is supposed for Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer and is color-coded inexperienced. To make use of this characteristic, you’ll want a supported mouse. Learn extra about it in our overview right here.
OSD Options
The AG274QG makes use of the identical fashion menu as different Agon Professional shows, with eight sections organized in a grid that seems on the decrease proper if you press the joystick or the middle button on the Fast Swap puck.
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Recreation Setting is the place you’ll discover the image modes, referred to as Recreation Mode. There are seven presets, however the default and best choice is Off. You possibly can nonetheless regulate all picture and video processing parameters so there’s no actual want for the opposite modes besides the three consumer reminiscences, which the numbered buttons can name up on the Fast Swap puck. Dial Level is an aiming reticle that seems as a tiny purple cross on the middle of the display. You get a three-level overdrive which I discovered pointless. The AG274QG has very good video processing with out it. Even the Weak setting precipitated ghosting artifacts. Surprisingly, there isn’t a backlight strobe choice, however this monitor doesn’t want it. When body charges are excessive, movement decision is sort of excellent.
Within the Luminance menu, you’ll be able to regulate brightness in nit values. They measure comparatively near the mark. There are 5 gamma presets, with the default one being barely gentle in tone. Including +.2 fastened that situation neatly. The SDR Colours sRGB choice, when turned on, routinely selects the sRGB gamut for SDR content material which is the proper solution to do it. For those who want the bigger gamut for every little thing, simply flip it off. You can too interact the zone dimming characteristic for SDR, and it does improve distinction visibly. The Auto Brightness and Auto Black Degree choices use a sensor to regulate these parameters based on your room’s lighting circumstances.
The Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer has a number of choices for monitoring sensitivity (how typically the timing is sampled) plus the scale and place of the measuring rectangle. The numbers seem in small font within the higher proper nook of the display. You possibly can monitor your enter lag in real-time whereas enjoying.
Colour Setup has a 6-axis coloration adjustment plus three coloration temp presets. The consumer mode has exact RGB sliders that assist obtain pro-level grayscale accuracy for each SDR and HDR. The Audio menu features a toggle for DTS sound processing. Turning this on improves the audio by increasing the soundstage. It additionally sounds rather less tinny although you received’t hear any critical bass from the inner audio system.
The Gentle FX menu has a lot of choices for the colour and impact of the LEDs in again. You possibly can create any coloration you want with RGB values and select from a number of patterns and results like respiration or flashing. The Brand Projector refers back to the gentle constructed into the stand. It may be any coloration and there are three depth ranges, or you’ll be able to flip it off.
AOC AG274QG Calibration Settings
For those who depart Recreation Mode off, there are not any image modes to take care of, which is an effective factor. The brightness slider is ticked in nit values pretty near the precise gentle degree. To enhance gamma, I set the choice at +.2 and adjusted the RGB sliders within the consumer coloration temp. The outcome was pro-level accuracy for coloration, grayscale and gamma. My instrument-derived settings are beneath.
In HDR mode, you need to use the identical RGB settings which labored nicely for me. There are three modes for the backlight dimming characteristic. Gaming is the default and most suitable option. It follows the proper luminance curve and retains coloration from turning into over-saturated. With little effort, the AG274QG is usually a very correct monitor with premium picture high quality and constancy.
| Image Mode | Recreation Mode Off |
| Brightness 200 nits | 213 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 127 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 104 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 83 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 53 (min. 39 nits) |
| Distinction | 50 |
| Gamma | +.2 |
| Colour Temp Person | Crimson 54, Inexperienced 57, Blue 42 |
Gaming and Fingers-on
27-inch QHD screens are very versatile in that they’ll match on practically any desk whereas offering sufficient display space for nearly any job or type of leisure. Decision is okay sufficient to take a seat at a cushty distance, round three toes, and expertise sharp element and readability. Although different kind components are extra appropriate for gaming, like 21:9 ultra-wides or 43-inch jumbo panels, the 27-inch QHD show is a staple.
The AG274QG is a premium instance on this class. It delivers a vivid image with saturated coloration and better of all, fast response and a few of the smoothest video processing I’ve seen. It’s one of many few screens that doesn’t want overdrive or any sort of blur discount to take care of excessive decision throughout quick digicam pans and actions. The image stays razor sharp it doesn’t matter what sort of sport you’re engaged in, and that comes all the way down to the body fee. Granted, I’m testing with a GeForce RTX 3090, which retains the motion round 200 fps in full element. However that is the important thing to the perfect gaming expertise, and this monitor offers that.
It additionally delivers very good HDR. With a 32-zone edge dimming backlight, it’s nicely above screens that solely supply full-field dimming or no dimming. I might put the AG274QG in opposition to a full-array local-dimming FALD monitor and defy most customers to inform the distinction. Its HDR is that good. Doom Everlasting performed with a really vivid and colourful picture that exposed each texture and nuance. There was no obvious hit to efficiency both, as I noticed round 200fps enjoying the identical scenes in SDR and HDR. The AG274QG is a good alternative if you wish to improve to an HDR-capable show.
Name of Obligation WWII was an analogous expertise. Its pure coloration was the star of the present, with vivid daylight throughout daytime battles and deep shadows at night time. Element was at all times seen, and I by no means wanted the shadow enhancer choice.
For workday duties, the AG274QG is a good instrument. Its 109 ppi pixel density is nicely fitted to textual content or graphical paperwork. Whether or not operating Photoshop or Phrase, you’ll see your work clearly with wonderful distinction and vivid coloration the place applicable.
I additionally famous the built-in audio system with DTS mode. They put out respectable quantity with out distortion and the DTS choice expands the sound discipline a bit past the sides of the display. There isn’t a lot bass, however the midrange and excessive frequencies are well-balanced.
Ergonomically, the AG274QG is a solidly constructed piece that simply earns its place within the premium class. My solely nitpick is the extra-large base. Whereas it offers lots of stability, its practically 14-inch depth is a bit intrusive. The extensive legs are skinny sufficient to permit objects to stay beneath the display, however a smaller base would doubtless work simply as nicely.
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