Monitor Review - PC Guide https://www.pcguide.com Practical Guides to PC & Tech at Home, Work, and Play Sat, 20 Apr 2024 15:02:33 +0000 en-US https://www.pcguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PCguide-favicon-75x75.png Monitor Review - PC Guide https://www.pcguide.com 32 32 Acer R240HY Monitor Review Acer R240HY Monitor Screen Size: 23.8″ Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080) Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Response Time: 4 ms Refresh Rate: 60 Hz Color Supported: 16.7 million Contrast Ratio: 100,000,000:1 Brightness 250: nit Backlight: LED Panel Type: IPS Stand Tiltable (-5° to 15°) Ports & Connectors: DVI-in HDMI-in VGA Environmental Certification: MPR II Colors: Black Dimensions: (H x W x D) 16.02 inches x 21.26 inches x 7.28 inches (with stand) Package Contents: R240HY Widescreen LCD Monitor Power Cord 1 x VGA Cable Very affordable at less than $150 Comes with one year warranty Full high definition Supports all video cards Flickerless tech Zero frame design Lightweight and portable Stylish design IPS technology Won’t hurt your eyes from looking at it 4ms response time Only comes in the color black Doesn’t have as many features as some other budget choices of gaming monitorCheck Price on AmazonIn summary of the above, the screen has basically everything you could want out of a monitor that costs less than a hundred and fifty bucks. A 23 inch screen is good enough — although if you are splitting your desktop across two or multiple monitors then you may want to think twice about this one. However, for most of us, 23 inches is more than enough to feel immersed in the gaming experience.One thing that we really appreciated about the specs for this one is the fact that it’s a full high definition display, which means you’ll be able to play your favorite games at the highest settings without worrying if your screen is able to keep up with the rest of your rig.Now, let’s talk for a second about the screen’s refresh rate; it’s not the best. Most monitors have a refresh rate of 1 millisecond or less, which is known to reduce screen blurring when there’s a lot happening on the battlefield or otherwise.4 seconds for a gaming screen is quite the number. Although we’ve definitely seen worse in our time. The refresh rate does put a big question mark over the monitor’s ability to keep up with the pace of your games. So be warned.

Features and Benefits

So now that we’ve looked at what’s under the hood for the R240HY, let’s take a step back and look at the value it provides overall.For a discount model, Acer’s R240HY comes with a few enhanced features that makes it a steal when used for its intended purpose. Some of these features are not even included on the most expensive of models, so it definitely gives the R240HY an edge over others in the marketplace.

Flicker-less Technology

When you are playing your favorite games for hours on end, usually your eyes will get a little red and sore. But thanks to Acer’s new developments in flicker-less technology, eye strain is now a thing of the past — even when you are playing late into the night.

Zero Frame Design

The R240HY literally does not have a frame, which is the thing that surrounds the edges of most monitors. Frames are annoying because they take up precious viewing real estate that could be used for, you know, actually seeing what’s going on in front of you. The lack of a frame or border on this model means that you get a full 23.8 inches of gaming enjoyment.Further Reading: Acer Predator XB271HU Review]]> https://www.pcguide.com/monitor/review/acer-r240hy/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=3917 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:15:34 +0100 Acer Predator XB271HU Review Enhanced VisualsThe reason you’re buying a top-tier gaming monitor is for the cutting-edge graphics. The Acer Predator XB271HU delivers. With a 27’’ display, 2560 x 1440 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio and 233mm pixel pitch this monitor was engineered to display a lot of color with dynamic texture. The 27’’ of screen is big enough to show off all the action, but it won’t take over your desk. The 2560 x 1440 resolution is the highest available on a 27’’ monitor. This allows over 3 million pixels on the screen. This display allows for crisp, clear visuals no matter what angle you’re looking from. There’s no blindspots on the Acer Predator XB271HU regardless of where you’re looking from.The display boasts 100% sRGB color gamut, meaning it can display literally any color available to the human eye. It has 6-axis color adjustment, which helps the screen process which colors are on screen and ensures accuracy of the colors even when they’re constantly changing. The IPS (in-plane switching) display allow users to see the same picture from a variety of viewing angles, and ensure the color reproduction of your display is crisp and clear.Outfitted with the NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, this display has smooth, tear-free graphics that eliminates clunky polygons and lazy rendering. Your games will look like movies because the monitor can handle the fast action. The Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) technology integrated into the monitor was designed for fast action games that have constantly refreshing frames. Moving objects are crisp and real—showing off the precise physics programmed into today’s modern games. Unlike a lower quality monitor, there’s no smearing (objects looking like they’re made of paint) or ghosting (objects going from point A to point B without moving gracefully between them) on the Acer Predator XB271HU.The Acer Predator XB271HU also uses EyeProtect Flicker-less blue-light filter. This will be easy on your eyes by filtering out the light that causes eye strain. With the EyeProtect, you can game for longer periods of time without noticing fatigue.With the highest resolution available, a medium-large display, the maximum amount of pixels available to a 27’’ screen, clear, deep color with the sRGB and 6-axis color adjustment, NVIDIA G-SYNC and ULMB technology, plus the blue-light filter, this monitor wants you to push it to the limit with the best graphics on the market.

Improved Performance

The Acer Predator XB271HU review isn’t just great for graphics though. It can handle all the tech-heavy needs of gamers playing the latest releases.Just looking at the sleek design of the Acer Predators tells you they’re built for gaming. The bright red feet, the well-designed, cool-looking stand, the full display with the Predator logo underneath. This model looks great and specifically engineered for gamers. If you’re bringing this monitor to a competitive gaming event, you’ll be the envy of everyone else with such a smart looking monitor.When going through reviews for the new model, users are most happy about the 180Hz refresh rate of the Acer Predator XB271HU. By default, the monitor runs at 144Hz, but you can crank that up to 180Hz and have a higher refresh rate for smoother, fluid visuals. If you’re playing the latest games, and pushing your graphics card to the limit, this is the feature for you.This monitor was designed to handle fast data transfer and large rates of information. It has high-bandwidth connection ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, four USB 3.0 ports) for connecting your mouse, headset, and portable gaming devices. This feature is essential because no matter how good your graphics are, if your mouse or keyboard lags, you’re going to get owned. The Acer Predator XB271HU has the competitive hardware specs required of a high-end gaming monitor.The monitor has two built in 2W speakers offer dynamic sound, reflecting your game environment. It’s not quite surround sound, and the Acer Predator XB271HU does support adding supplemental speakers, but the built in speakers for this monitor are surprisingly good.The Acer ErgoStand lets users move the monitor—tilt, pivot, swivel, move up and down—so you can find the best angle for the game you’re playing and the light levels in your room. You can also use the VESA mounting to attach the monitor to your wall and save space, while knowing the your expensive machine won’t fall off the wall and break. The stand was designed for taking the strain off your neck by positioning the display in a better place for your head. No more sore neck after long gaming sessions.One thing we admire about the Acer brand is that all their monitors are Energy Star and RoHS compliant. They use mercury-free LED backlighting and consume less energy through a variety of power saving modes. This means your energy bills will be lower when you’re using a certified green monitor—and when you decide to upgrade, you can rest easy knowing that your monitor won’t be poisoning the ocean in a landfill somewhere.

Conclusion

The Acer Predator XB271HU has everything you need to play triple A gaming titles like Titanfall 2, Overwatch, Battlefield 1 and The Witcher 3. It also has the specs required for a competitive gaming rig, allowing you to rest assured that your display is working together with the rest of your machine to give you the competitive advantage. This display is one of the best on the market and if you can afford it, you can’t go wrong with the Acer Predator XB271HU.]]> https://www.pcguide.com/monitor/review/acer-predator-xb271hu/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=3954 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:14:57 +0100 Dell P2715Q Monitor Review FeaturesAs we mentioned previously, the P2715Q measures at an impressive 27 inches, which should be more than enough for even the most demanding of desktop users. Additionally, you get over eight million pixels in full high definition quality.You also get a seamless connection to other peripheral devices such as laptops and tablets, all without compromising your viewing experience.It should be noted that all of this is backed by Dell’s Premium Panel Guarantee with its three year Advanced Exchange Service. What this means in simple terms is that Dell will replace your monitor if anything should go wrong with it within three years of the purchase date, which is triple the standard length of coverage offered by other companies.So not only does the monitor have an excellent picture quality, it is also very easy to use and maintain as well. We’ve all had nightmares of a hard drive failing or graphics card running too hot, so the extra peace of mind that you get from Dell’s Panel Guarantee is definitely an appreciated bonus.In addition to everything above, the screen is fully adjustable. You can tilt it up to five degrees forward or 21 degrees backwards, and it even provides a built-in cable management system. So say goodbye to that unsightly rat’s nests of cables behind your gaming rig!Finally, the P2715Q is Energy Star approved and features many positive ratings from EPEAT and TCO, which are both organizations that oversee the power consumption of electronic devices. The short of it is that this model is great to use as well as being a very environmentally-conscious choice.

Benefits

So now that we’ve covered the most standout features of the P2715Q, what is it about it that makes it a good choice to begin with?Well, to start off with, this model is one of the few that is guaranteed to give an almost perfect picture quality. You can count on natural and consistent colors across different mediums because each model is factory tuned at 99% sRGB with a factory calibration report before they are shipped from Dell.You can also view the monitor at any angle and the picture quality will remain the same. This makes it great for bringing out for movies with friends, or if you’d to mount it to a wall or ceiling for extended viewing.What comes in the box is impressive as well, as Dell has left nothing out for you to get the full use of the monitor as soon as it arrives. You get a monitor arm, sound bar, and even a complimentary docking station so you can enjoy some USB 3.0 goodness.

Conclusion

All in all, the P2715Q from Dell is a highly attractive gaming monitor that offers you everything you could want. No stone has been left unturned as part of its development, as the company has apparently gone at great lengths to ensure that gamers are completely satisfied.You can read the screen’s numerous reviews on Amazon by clicking one of the links above.]]> https://www.pcguide.com/monitor/review/dell-p2715q/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=3966 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:09:59 +0100 ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q Gaming Monitor Review LOVE AT FIRST SIGHTEven before you’ve plugged it in the PG279Q is a stunning piece of equipment that catches the eye immediately. The large screen (all 27 inches of it) has a 6mm bezel which means you can focus on what’s happening on the screen rather than the screen itself. We also like that it has the illuminated red ROG logoon the base but are keen to find out what the thinking is behind no color customization; we feel like it’s a bit of a missed opportunity.

FUNCTIONALITY

As far as functionality goes there are the usual features that you’d find on a gaming monitor, like the adjustable stand that you can set to suit your personal needs, from the height to the fact that it tilts, pivots and even rotates from a landscape to portrait screen. Although the resolution of the PG279Q at 2560×1440 isn’t as impressive as 4K we really don’t think it’s a huge problem – for us, it’s perfect for high-resolution gaming because an Ultra HD is too much for most gaming rigs. There is an absurd 165Hz refresh rate and the IPS panel combines the best of all worlds. When we tested it we were happy with the color accuracy and strong contrast along with the low response time and the fact that there is minimal ghosting.

TECHNOLOGY

There isn’t much the guys at Asus haven’t thought of with the ROG Swift PG279Q. It works with G-Sync, NVIDIA’s frame synch technology; it matches the monitors refresh hand in hand with the video card output, which eliminates screen tearing or any jitter. And while there have been a few reports of a slight flicker we noticed it does clear up when loading is complete.  No matter how critical we want to be, or try and be, there really is anything we can fault it on, except maybe the price. That is going to break the bank.

CREDENTIALS

Now it’s time to discuss what you’re here to find out; its gaming credentials. To test the monitor we loaded Rise of the Tomb Raider and to say we were impressed would be the understatement of the year.  You might have to drop the quality settings to support the extra resolution but paired with a graphics engine like the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti and optimal settings, the PG279Q  doesn’t take any prisoners. It is ridiculous!The pin sharp detail, the shadows, and textures along with the smooth gameplay averaging around 55 FPS were out of this world; the colors vibrant and some of the background scenes in the game were unbelievable, so much so there were times we forgot to play because we were so busy just basking in its beauty.Forgetting its looks and its credentials on paper, we need to talk about it in real-world use. There is no denying that the ASUS PG279Q is a brilliant gaming monitor. The viewing angles are excellent with even color rendering across the 178-degree axis. We watched a few videos on YouTube which had us thinking we were at the movies because of the clarity, depth and color spectrum.

OVERVIEW

The Asus ROG PG279Q  is packed with features to enhance your entire gaming experience. The 27-inch panel has a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution with the already mentioned top-class, very much unrivaled 165Hz refresh rate, four millisecond response time and 1,000:1 contrast ratio.And while you would think this gaming monitor would be aimed at the FPS / 3D action type gamer because of the refresh rate and the low response time, the geniuses at Asus have rather gone for a monitor that suits every gamer and their needs.

CONCLUSION

Unfortunately reading a monitor review is difficult, because you don’t get to experience a monitor as it should be. Also if you are considering getting a new screen we suggest you pop into a store so you can compare them side by side.What we can tell you is the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is unbelievable. If you do use Windows every now and then you’ll be pleased to know it works really well at the resolution without having to blow up the icons or text and with excellent sRGB and Adobe RGB coverage it also has strong image editing credentials.Yes, it costs a small fortune and you might have to sell a body organ or two to get it but make no mistake, this top-end gaming monitor is worth every dime. The display is exceptional, the design stunning and it consistently delivers a smooth experience across a range of titles, regardless of the games you prefer. If you are a serious gamer and get annoyed by the slightest tears or ghosting on the screen then this is the monitor you want.]]> https://www.pcguide.com/monitor/review/asus-rog-swift-pg279q/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=4005 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:09:44 +0100