The controversy between velocity and backbone in gaming screens is a matter of perspective. In the event you play fast-paced shooters or eSports video games, further velocity offers you a aggressive benefit. Excessive body charges imply the image will keep sharp when objects and backgrounds transfer rapidly. However excessive decision and pixel density are higher decisions in the event you like to absorb the view and discover the digital atmosphere.
Many gamers need 4K just because the most recent consoles assist it. However that comes with a success to border charges. The quickest and finest 4K gaming screens have been restricted to 144 Hz or barely larger with overclocking; till now. Samsung has simply raised the bar with a 240 Hz 4K monitor, the primary I’ve ever examined. The Odyssey Neo G8 is a 32-inch VA panel with a 1000R curve, HDR, Adaptive-Sync, a 1,196-zone dimming Mini LED backlight and a pair of,000 nits peak in HDR mode. This monitor checks all the correct bins that ought to put it squarely in rivalry as one of many Greatest 4K Gaming Displays.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 Specs
| Panel Sort / Backlight | VA / Mini-LED |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | 1,196 dimming zones |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 | Quantum Dot movie |
| Display screen Dimension / Side Ratio | 32 inches / 16:9 |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | Curve radius: 1000mm |
| Max Decision & Refresh Charge | 3840×2160 @ 240 Hz |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | G-Sync Licensed |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | FreeSync Licensed |
| Native Shade Depth & Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3 |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | HDR10, HDR10+ |
| Row 10 – Cell 0 | HDR 2000 |
| Response Time (MPRT) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 350 nits SDR |
| Row 13 – Cell 0 | 2,000 nits HDR |
| Distinction (mfr) | 1,000,000:1 |
| Audio system | None |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Row 17 – Cell 0 | 2x HDMI 2.1 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | 1x up, 2x down |
| Energy Consumption | 74.5w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 29.1 x 19-23.7 x 12.2 inches (739 x 483-603 x 305mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 6.8 inches (173mm) |
| Bezel Width | Prime/sides: 0.3 inch (8mm) |
| Row 24 – Cell 0 | Backside: 1 inch (26mm) |
| Weight | 19.6 kilos (8.9kg) |
| Guarantee | 3 years |
Take all of it in as a result of there’s lots to see right here. The G8 is without doubt one of the only a few 4K VA panels. VA offers extra distinction than IPS, however that’s not all. The backlight is a Mini LED with 1,196 dimming zones and a Quantum Dot movie. Which means even better distinction and a large colour gamut, virtually 90% protection of DCI-P3 in keeping with my devices. And the height output for HDR content material is 2,000 nits.
The G8 is the primary monitor I’ve seen that features HDR10+, which is an extension of the HDR10 customary that’s backward appropriate and contains dynamic metadata (Dolby Imaginative and prescient shares that means). Dynamic metadata means the content material can detect the aptitude of a person show and modify its HDR tone map to match. It ensures there will probably be no clipping of spotlight element. Like every HDR customary, you want appropriate content material to take benefit. HDR10+ remains to be an rising spec.
For the velocity quotient, there’s a 240 Hz refresh fee accessible through an possibility within the OSD. I had no bother working at 240 Hz in Home windows, however to hit 240 fps in-game, I needed to flip down the element stage a bit with my GeForce RTX 3090-based gaming PC.
Adaptive-Sync is supported with certification from AMD and Nvidia for FreeSync and G-Sync, respectively. You additionally get full console assist at 120 Hz over the 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, whereas DisplayPort is model 1.4.
The body charges potential from the G8 are definitely excessive, nevertheless it doesn’t cease there. The display has a super-tight 1000R curve, that means a circle of G8s could be simply two meters throughout. Distinction can be excessive. Although a VA panel ensures no less than 3,000:1 distinction, Samsung has engineered the backlight to have its native dimming characteristic turned on on a regular basis. In my SDR assessments, I measured round 25,000:1 with full rendering of all brightness steps with completely no clipping. HDR distinction was even larger as I couldn’t measure the black stage there, making its dynamic vary theoretically infinite.
With specs like these, you’d anticipate the G8 to be very costly and it’s certainly a wallet-punishing buy. However the place different Mini LED screens like ViewSonic’s XG321UG and Asus’ PG32UQX promote for over $2,000 at this writing, the G8 is available in at $1,400. That’s laborious to disregard, contemplating its phenomenal efficiency.
The G8 impresses on paper and my preliminary impressions are extraordinarily optimistic. There’s nothing to do now however hook it up and play.
Meeting and Equipment of Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
You’ll want to interrupt out the Phillips-head screwdriver after extracting the G8 from its crumbly foam packaging. The bottom bolts to the upright, you then connect it to the panel with 4 fasteners already in place. And don’t overlook to place the trim ring on earlier than securing the bolts. Ask me how I do know. An adapter bracket is included in the event you’d somewhat use a 100mm VESA-compatible arm or mount. And a canopy snaps over the enter panel as soon as connections are made. A big white brick serves as the facility provide and is supported by white cords with right-angle plugs. Further cables embody DisplayPort and USB however not HDMI.
Product 360
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There is no such thing as a mistaking the G8 from all views as something however a Samsung gaming monitor. It’s all enterprise up entrance with a skinny bezel and refined LED lighting on the corners. Underneath the tiny Samsung brand is a four-way button pad, a middle key surrounded by 4 directionals. The display’s anti-glare layer may be very efficient, with a flatter end than typical LCDs. You’ll have a tough time washing out the picture with something however the brightest daylight.
The highest view exhibits the G8’s excessive curve of 1000R. It doesn’t get tighter than that within the 32-inch 16:9 measurement, and it doesn’t distort the image in any seen method. The curve does imply a number of panel depth, because the aspect view exhibits. It’s practically seven inches thick.
The again is all white, with a small grill on the high to vent warmth. The LEDs are behind two skinny strips on both aspect of the attachment level. Within the picture above, I had not but put in the plastic trim ring that hides the 4 bolts, my unhealthy. On the backside of the upright is a little bit rubber clip to maintain cables tidy.
The bottom may be very deep to make sure stability and does its job properly. It’s all steel, whereas the upright is white plastic over a steel core. The attachment level is small and creates a little bit of wobble. It took me a number of tweaks to get the display completely stage. Sure, there’s a 90-degree portrait mode together with 15 levels swivel, -9/13 levels tilt and a 120mm top adjustment. Actions are agency, however there’s some play after you are taking your palms off. The display sits properly forward of the stand, so that you’ll want a bit extra desktop space to place the display to your liking. One factor I appreciated was how excessive I might elevate the panel. It’s straightforward to set it vertically and place your eyepoint at middle display.
The lighting characteristic, known as Infinity Core, has LEDs in back and front. You may change the colour and impact and sync them with on-screen content material utilizing Samsung’s CoreSync app and a USB connection. You get one upstream and two downstream 3.0 ports, two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4. The yellow jack is 3.5mm audio for headphones or powered audio system. There is no such thing as a built-in sound, however you may management the amount within the OSD.
OSD Options of Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
The G8’s OSD has a game-oriented look with standing information on the high of each display and 6 sub-menus. It’s managed by 5 buttons underneath the panel’s middle in a directional/choose configuration. It’s uncommon to see this as a substitute of a joystick, nevertheless it works intuitively.
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Whereas within the Sport menu, you may choose both 120 or 240 Hz for the max refresh fee. You’ll must activate 240 Hz earlier than it’s proven within the Home windows or Nvidia Management Panel. The Response Time possibility is grayed out when Adaptive-Sync is on, however I noticed refined ghosting that indicated overdrive was energetic. Ultrawide Sport View switches the facet ratio to 21:9 with black bars high and backside, however you might want to flip off AS to make use of it. Video processing choices are a bit complicated, however you may be golden in the event you depart settings on their defaults and easily activate 240 Hz. This menu additionally offers a collection of six aiming factors.
Infinity Core Lighting may be on within the entrance and/or the again. There are 5 results, together with static and you’ll select the colour. Utilizing the CoreSync app, colour and impact can change with on-screen content material.
Seven image modes embody a usable sRGB possibility. All others make use of the total vast gamut for each SDR and HDR materials. Customized contains calibration controls that embody customized colour temp and three gamma presets. Distinction Enhancer is one other layer of dynamic distinction, nevertheless it’s finest left off except you need the image to be very vibrant. Native Dimming is all the time on in some kind, as I found in my assessments. You’ll by no means need for dynamic vary from the G8.
You may view two sources directly utilizing the picture-in-picture (PIP) menu. It’s additionally accessible utilizing the correct OSD key. The window may be moved across the display, and also you select which supply produces sound by means of the headphone output.
Within the System menu, represented by a wrench, is a Native Dimming possibility. It says that Auto will make use of dimming just for HDR, nevertheless it’s additionally energetic for SDR materials. The truth is, there isn’t a strategy to flip it off fully. Nonetheless, that isn’t an issue as a result of it’s well-implemented and doesn’t masks any spotlight or shadow element.
Calibration Settings of Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
The G8 is satisfying with out calibration, and my changes didn’t make a visual enchancment. The Customized colour mode makes use of the total DCI-P3 gamut together with a 6500K white level and gamma that rides slightly below 2.2. There, you may have a option to make. Since there’s a lot distinction, I believed the G8 seemed higher on gamma Mode 3, which runs round 2.3 common. That setting additionally improves colour saturation which I might measure and see. My beneficial settings are under.
In HDR mode, you may nonetheless select any of the obtainable image modes and modify brightness, colour temp and gamma. I like to recommend sticking with Customized, Regular colour temp and Gamma Mode 1.
| Image Mode (SDR) | Customized |
| Brightness 200 nits | 53 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 30 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 24 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 18 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 10 (min. 15 nits) |
| Distinction | 73 |
| Gamma | Mode 3 |
| Shade Temp Consumer | Pink 51, Inexperienced 51, Blue 50 |
Gaming and Fingers-on with Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
A monitor just like the G8 is constructed for gaming. Different makes use of are secondary when contemplating a purchase order, nevertheless it definitely can get by means of work duties. I discovered the acute curve to be a little bit distracting when enhancing Phrase paperwork. There’s no strategy to ignore the curve while you place a web page middle display. Nonetheless, spreadsheets weren’t an issue. Picture enhancing will rely in your specific wants. The easy graphics work I do is definitely achieved on the G8, however a flat display will higher serve photographers.
Watching movies is a singular expertise. Although I’ve skilled many curved screens, 1000R is uncommon. Sit too shut and you will need to flip your head to see the perimeters. Sit too far and also you’ll understand distortion like an hourglass on its aspect. However between two and three ft, it’s good. The complete display is in focus and inside my peripheral imaginative and prescient. I needed to plug in headphones since there’s no built-in sound, however watching YouTube and Netflix was enjoyable, because of the G8’s gorgeous image.
The distinction right here is actual and rivals an OLED. Samsung has really raised expectations for what’s potential in a Mini LED panel. Although I loved attractive visuals from Asus’ and ViewSonic’s choices, the G8 is a lower above these, particularly with HDR content material.
Gaming can be on one other stage when in comparison with different 4K screens. I might play comparably to different shows when the element in Tomb Raider, Name of Obligation WWII and Doom Everlasting was maxed. Body charges stayed round 120 fps, which is typical efficiency from my GeForce RTX 3090. However again off the element a click on and I might hit 240 fps with ease. Movement readability is about the identical as a QHD display at 240 fps however with the G8’s better pixel density and distinction, the image had extra vibrance and depth.
The G8 is in essence, two screens. With sport element maxed, it runs at 120 fps and offers the identical really feel and response as a 144 Hz UHD display. With element turned down a click on, it turns into a contest software with body charges at or close to 240 and management response worthy of a high esports participant.
I used to be by no means tempted to show off Adaptive-Sync to make use of the overdrive settings. There have been no artifacts throughout gameplay at any body fee. I additionally tried the backlight strobe possibility. It’s hidden amongst the overdrive decisions and known as Excessive MBR. To make use of it, flip off Adaptive-Sync AND Native Dimming. I discovered it fully ineffective. Blur was elevated, and brightness was decreased. It’s a ache to make use of and has no profit.
The very best configuration is the default which employs all of the G8’s attributes.
- Native Dimming – Auto
- Adaptive-Sync – On
- Refresh Charge – 240
With these settings, Low Enter Lag and Response Time will probably be grayed out. However my assessments confirmed they’re certainly energetic.
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