I just lately reviewed Gigabyte’s GS32QC, one of many least costly 32-inch screens out there in any class. It’s a very succesful gaming show with 170 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR, prolonged shade and a curved QHD VA display screen that delivers quite a bit for the cash.
But when $250 is above your price range, there’s a 27-inch different you’ll be able to choose up for simply $200. It packs each characteristic from the 32-inch model and differs solely in its display screen dimension. The GS27QC is a really worthy gaming display screen with the most effective overdrives round and video processing that rivals premium shows costing far more. Let’s have a look.
Gigabyte GS27QC Specs
| Panel Sort / Backlight | VA / W-LED, edge array |
| Display screen Measurement / Side Ratio | 27 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Decision and Refresh Price | 2560×1440 @ 165 Hz |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | 170 Hz w/overclock |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | FreeSync: 48-170 Hz |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | G-Sync Suitable |
| Native Colour Depth and Gamut | 8-bit / DCI-P3 |
| Response Time (MPRT) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 250 nits |
| Distinction (mfr) | 4,000:1 |
| Audio system | None |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Row 12 – Cell 0 | 2x HDMI 2.0 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | None |
| Energy Consumption | 27.5w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 24 x 17.1 x 8.2 inches (610 x 434 x 208mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 3.1 inches (79mm) |
| Bezel Width | High/sides: 0.3 inch (8mm) |
| Row 19 – Cell 0 | Backside: 0.7 inch (17mm) |
| Weight | 10 kilos (4.6kg) |
| Guarantee | 3 years |
The GS27QC is a 27-inch QHD VA 1500R curved panel with 170 Hz (overclocked from 165), Adaptive-Sync, HDR and prolonged shade. And as you’ll see within the checks, there are solely minor variations in brightness, distinction and shade in comparison with its bigger sibling. You would put the 27 and 32-inch fashions facet by facet and solely have the ability to differentiate them by display screen dimension.
The VA panel has a 1500R curvature, that means a circle of GS27QCs will probably be three meters throughout. That’s comparatively tight, however not a lot that the picture is distorted in any seen means. It serves equally nicely for work and play with round 250 nits peak brightness out there and low black ranges for a excessive native distinction ratio of 4,000:1. Colour and gamma are almost spot on out of the field, so no calibration is required. The gamut is bigger than sRGB however doesn’t cowl fairly as a lot of DCI-P3 as different screens on this class. Much like AOC’s CQ27G3S. HDR10 content material is supported with excessive accuracy as nicely.
Like its 32-inch counterpart, the GS27QC’s star attraction is video processing and recreation efficiency. The native refresh fee is 165 Hz, and 170 Hz is obtainable with an overclock possibility within the OSD. It labored completely for me, as did each flavors of Adaptive-Sync. FreeSync is supported from 48 to 170 Hz and G-Sync labored with out challenge in my checks. It has not been licensed by Nvidia.
The overdrive is the most effective a part of the video processing equation and may be very exact. Although it is just an on-or-off affair, it reduces movement blur tremendously with no black or white path artifacts. You too can interact a backlight strobe known as Goal Stabilizer. It really works moderately nicely however reveals a little bit phasing, which is typical of this know-how. It additionally requires that you just flip off Adaptive-Sync.
The GS27QC has little else in the best way of facilities. There are aiming factors and a body counter, however no USB ports or inner audio system. And there are not any LED lighting results both. The stand is minimalist with only a tilt adjustment, and also you don’t get a lot in the best way of additional cabling. However the GS27QC has, as I prefer to say, every part you want and nothing you don’t for good gaming. And its worth quotient is among the many finest.
Meeting and Equipment
The small stand and base come from blocks of crumbly foam and assemble with a captive bolt; no instruments are wanted. The panel snaps on with its fulcrum on the backside. In the event you’d somewhat use an arm or bracket, there are threaded fittings in a 100mm VESA sample. You’ll have to supply your personal fasteners for that possibility. The facility provide is inner, so that you get an IEC twine for juice together with a DisplayPort cable and a clip for wire administration. The whole lot has a top quality really feel that makes you suppose you spent more cash.
Product 360
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The GS27QC has an excellent skinny bezel that’s barely noticeable when the facility is on. It’s simply 8mm large, so should you line up a number of screens, the dividing line is about as slim because it will get. The underside trim sports activities a Gigabyte emblem and nothing else. There’s a energy LED within the middle, however you’ll be able to solely see a faint projection on the bottom. It isn’t seen from the entrance. The middle of the panel can be the place you’ll discover the management joystick, which covers all monitor capabilities.
The stand is small however sturdy and connects low on the panel so whenever you tilt it again, the highest strikes additional away from the consumer than a monitor whose fulcrum is within the middle. No peak adjustment exists, so except you increase the GS27QC up on a pedestal or arm, you’ll be able to’t place the display screen vertically. I choose that configuration for curved screens to maintain the complete picture in focus. Nevertheless, this isn’t an enormous deal on the 27-inch dimension. There’s additionally no swivel or portrait adjustment. The lean is 20 levels again and 5 levels ahead.
Within the again is a element bulge with air flow throughout the highest. You possibly can see the VESA fittings within the photograph above. The Gigabyte emblem seems once more in a refined end, contrasting the matte floor used all over the place else. Slightly clip goes on the stand for cable administration.
The underside-up photograph reveals the GS27QC’s curve and its small enter panel. You get two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4 together with a 3.5mm headphone jack. You too can use powered audio system as there are not any inner ones.
OSD Options
The GS27QC has a single joystick to manage all capabilities, together with energy toggle. One press brings up a fast menu and an up-click calls the complete OSD.
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The short menu is a straightforward method to entry crosshairs and the Sport Help characteristic. It has countdown/up timers and a body fee indicator. It additionally contains alignment marks to assist line up a number of panels.
The principle menu is split into 5 sections. Gaming has all video processing options, which embrace Goal Stabilizer (backlight strobe), Black Equalizer (shadow management), a FreeSync toggle and Overdrive. Despite the fact that it’s simply on or off, it’s extra exact than most screens with a number of ranges. It does its factor with no path artifacts in any way. The backlight strobe is just honest in high quality with some seen phasing, like I see with most examples of this know-how. To make use of it, you should first flip off Adaptive-Sync.
The Image menu has seven picture modes. Customary is the default, and it may be used with out calibration. If you’d like the sRGB shade gamut for essential work, that mode additionally delivers good accuracy. Calibration choices embrace 5 gamma presets and 4 shade temps plus a consumer possibility with RGB sliders.
The overclock possibility is within the Show menu and is on for 170 Hz and off for 165. I had no points operating at 170 for all testing and gameplay. It makes scrolling web site textual content smoother too, so I at all times left it on.
The final two photographs present Sport Help with its timer and crosshair choices. There are 4 completely different aiming level shapes, all rendered in brilliant inexperienced.
Gigabyte GS27QC Calibration Settings
The GS27QC doesn’t require calibration in its Customary or sRGB modes. I tweaked the Customary mode anyway and located a tiny enchancment, which was arduous to see however clearly rendered within the take a look at outcomes. Gamma is spot-on in each case and in order for you a darker or lighter presentation, there are two ranges on both facet of the reference 2.2, possibility Gamma 3. I’ve supplied my instrument-derived settings beneath. HDR alerts swap the GS27QC into that mode with out consumer intervention and grey out all image controls; regardless of as a result of accuracy is excellent there as nicely.
| Image Mode | Customary |
| Brightness 200 nits | 84 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 42 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 32 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 21 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 6 (min. 39 nits) |
| Distinction | 48 |
| Gamma | 3 |
| Colour Temp Person | Crimson 99, Inexperienced 100, Blue 100 |
Gaming and Arms-on
I’ve been reviewing pc screens lengthy sufficient to recollect when a 27-inch QHD show was $600, and it ran at 60 Hz with no pretense in direction of gaming in any way. The GS27QC at $200 is healthier than the screens of 10 years in the past in each means. It’s a excellent gaming instrument and delivers a pointy, brilliant and colourful picture for any use or activity.
27-inch QHD means 109ppi, a super pixel density for something from photograph modifying to video and gaming. The pixel construction is just seen should you sit inside just a few inches of the display screen. Detailed graphics are clear and free from edge enhancement or different resolution-robbing artifacts. The GS27QC’s excellent distinction aids this. I measured round 4,000:1, which is above common for VA screens. The large dynamic vary additionally improves shade saturation. Despite the fact that I famous lower than common protection of DCI-P3, it’s nonetheless way more vivid than an sRGB monitor.
Gigabyte has managed to incorporate a premium high quality overdrive within the GS27QC. Although not adjustable, it hits the mark completely by offering aggressive blur discount with no black or white path artifacts. Visually, movement decision is among the many easiest I’ve seen at 170 Hz. Even a 240 Hz monitor gained’t look or really feel a lot completely different than the GS27QC. The overdrive really makes that distinction.
I had no issues with Adaptive-Sync on each AMD and Nvidia platforms. It’s arduous to search out body tears over 150fps, even with out it. I turned it off to strive Gigabyte’s Goal Stabilizer, which is a backlight strobe. It reduces brightness by about 20% and isn’t too aggressive in operation. The phasing artifact frequent to this characteristic was seen however not significantly distracting. It supplied barely higher blur discount than the overdrive. Finally, I went again to overdrive and AS for its cleaner look.
My gaming expertise are common at finest and thus, I didn’t understand any enter lag. Of Gigabyte’s two GS-series screens, the 32-inch GS32QC has barely decrease la, however I couldn’t inform the distinction between it and the GS27QC when taking part in Doom Everlasting’s horde mode. My intention was as correct as potential, and actions had been exact and freed from stutter or blur.
HDR content material appears to be like higher than SDR in that distinction is deeper and shade is extra saturated. The GS27QC delivers good HDR for the value, however a dynamic possibility might make it even higher. It isn’t tremendous brilliant, however black ranges are superb and ship a satisfying picture for gaming and video content material.
Takeaway: In use, the GS27QC far exceeds expectations for a $200 gaming monitor. It has the response, low lag and easy really feel of a premium display screen and delivers a pointy image for all content material, SDR and HDR. Although it has rather less shade gamut protection than its competitors, the top-shelf overdrive makes up for that when gaming. And it has loads of pixel density for workday duties and photograph modifying.
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