The recipes for conquering the desktop monitor market are known, all the cards have been revealed by the main players - take it and repeat it. ASUS has an affordable TUF gaming lineup with excellent value for money, Acer has the often even more affordable Nitro, MSI has a huge number of cheap models in the Optix series, and LG has some of the most affordable UltraGear solutions in the expensive segment. Gigabyte, until now, has tried to fight in it - and nowhere else. But its pioneers immediately showed a high level, albeit not without criticism on trifles.
Time has passed, experience has been gained, and now the time has come to join the fight for a place under the sun in the mid-budget category of gaming novelties. To do this, Gigabyte took the already familiar 27-inch WQHD *VA panel and dressed it in a more affordable decoration, while retaining all the main advantages of the solution used. The model received the simplest possible name, without any belonging to the AORUS line - the monitor is called Gigabyte G27QC. Meet!
Technical specifications
The launch of the novelty, together with two more gaming solutions, was carried out by the company in two steps: the preliminary announcement took place in early January 2020, and the launch took place 3,5 months later (at the end of April). The Gigabyte G27QC monitor got into Russian retail even later, and its recommended price by the manufacturer turned out to be at a quite comfortable level of 29 rubles.
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Gigabyte G27QC can be considered an advanced solution among 27-inch gaming *VA models with WQHD resolution, while it has an impressive list of 11 direct competitors. However, if we remove the almost inaccessible AOC and the old Acer from it, then the G27QC immediately takes the second place in terms of affordability (average price), and this is a big victory for Gigabyte. That's how it would always be!
| Gigabyte G27QC | |
| Screen | |
| Diagonal, inches | 27 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Matrix coating | Semi-matte |
| Standard resolution, pix. | 2560 x 1440 |
| PPI | 110 |
| Image Options | |
| Matrix type | Borderless *VA Curved 1500R |
| Backlight type | White-LED + KSF Phosphor Layer (92% DCI-P3) |
| Max. brightness, cd / m 2 | 250 (typical) |
| Contrast static | 3000:1 |
| Number of displayed colors | 16,7 million (8 bits) |
| Vertical refresh rate, Hz | 48-165 + G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium |
| Response time BtW, ms | ND |
| GtG response time, ms | 1 (MPRT) |
| Maximum viewing angles horizontally/vertically, Β° |
178/178 |
| Connectors | |
| Video inputs | 2 x HDMI 2.0; 1 x DisplayPort 1.2a |
| Video outputs | No |
| Additional ports | 1 x Audio Out (3.5mm); 2 x USB 3.0 |
| Built-in speakers: number x power, W | 2 x 2 |
| Physical parameters | |
| Screen Position Adjustment | Tilt angle, height change |
| VESA mount: dimensions (mm) | Yes (100 x 100 mm) |
| Mount for Kensington lock | Yes |
| Power supply unit | Built |
| Max. power consumption working / standby (W) |
70 / 0,5 |
| dimensions (with stand), L x H x D, mm |
610 x 400-531 x 203 |
| dimensions (without stand), L x H x D, mm |
610 x 367 x 85 |
| Net weight (with stand), kg | 6,4 |
| Net weight (without stand), kg | ND |
| Estimated price | 25 500-30 000 rubles |
We do not have exact data on the matrix installed in the monitor, just as they are not available on the Internet. The panel with similar to the hero of the TX review is not yet known to the βcorporation of goodβ, so we just have to focus on the information given by Gigabyte itself and the results obtained during testing of the new product. We will talk about the former now, and leave the latter for the relevant sections of the article.
In all likelihood, the G27QC uses exactly the same 8-bit *VA panel with a diagonal of 27 inches, WQHD resolution and a maximum vertical frequency of 165 Hz, as in the case of the previously reviewed . The matrix is ββcapable of reproducing up to 16,7 million colors, has a color gamut expanded to 92% DCI-P3 (most likely due to the use of the so-called KSF layer on top of a standard W-LED backlight) and does without flicker (Flicker-Free), and its bending radius is still the maximum for such displays 1500R.
The manufacturer indicated the maximum level of contrast at the standard mark for * VA at 3000: 1 and viewing angles of 178 degrees in both planes. The maximum brightness of the monitor is 250 nits (as Gigabyte says - βtypical valueβ) - and this led to the fact that the monitor had to do without VESA DisplayHDR 400 compliance, and its TX only proudly flaunts the inscription βReady for HDRβ. Ultimately, it hints that the HDR function in the operating system can be activated, but you can not count on any special changes (except for the usual oversaturated picture with dead lights and shadows, as well as automatic brightness control).
For CV27Q, a vertical scanning range of 48-165 Hz is declared (it is even wider with LFC on AMD), and AMD FreeSync Premium with native HDR support and NVIDIA G-Sync in compatibility mode (Compatible) are supported as adaptive synchronization systems. True, as of the end of July, official support in the latest green driver has not yet been found, but this is a matter of time. In addition, even without it, the user can easily activate the necessary technology and enjoy a smooth (without gaps) picture.
Speaking of speed, the manufacturer continues to exploit the figure of 1 ms according to the MPRT method, which makes it possible to judge not the response time of the panel, but the time the frame appears on the screen - thanks to the so-called black frame insertion using the already well-known technology with the strange name AIM Stabilizer. The minimum GtG time, according to unofficial data, is 4 ms, common for gaming (and not only) * VA displays.
In its new product, the company uses the first version of the Black Equalizer technology, as well as the familiar Dashboard function. It allows you to display technical information (voltage, temperature and CPU / GPU frequencies, fan speeds, etc.) on the screen in real time. This can be implemented using third-party software, but Gigabyte offers this feature, as they say, out of the box.
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Another whole paragraph of text in the description of the monitor is devoted to the Blue Light Reducer functions (reducing the blue component of the spectrum) and PbP / PiP (βpicture in pictureβ and βpicture to pictureβ). The list of GameAssist features for displaying the on-screen crosshair, timer, counter and various grids continues, and an updated Sidekick for controlling monitor settings through a utility for Windows with support for automatically updating the monitor firmware (new Auto Update feature).
The list of available interfaces for connecting the Gigabyte G27QC is quite sufficient: two HDMI versions 2.0 and one DP 1.2a, which reveals the monitor's capabilities to the maximum. To connect headphones, the monitor has a 3,5 mm audio jack, and two USB 3.0 are presented for working with peripherals, but without support for high-speed charging. The built-in speaker system in the novelty is represented by two "tweeters" of 2 W each - you should not place high hopes on them.
Packaging and appearance
The Gigabyte G27QC monitor comes in a rather large and weighty box made of unpainted cardboard, which contains two schematic images of the display, as well as a complete list of features in the form of small icons.
For ease of transportation, the box is equipped with a plastic handle.
The general list of features of the model includes 10 points, and one of the information stickers can be used to find out the batch number, serial number, full name of the monitor, its weight and country of manufacture (China).
The display kit includes everything you need:
- power cable (2 pieces of different standards);
- DP cable;
- HDMI cable;
- USB cable for connecting the monitor to a PC and operating a USB hub;
- quick user guide for initial setup;
- guarantee ticket.
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In the case of the hero of the review, the user can use any of the available interfaces, each of which will maximize the capabilities of the model. However, if you want to protect yourself from possible problems and the need for additional configuration steps, then we strongly recommend using a DisplayPort connection. Also, do not forget that in order to be able to set 165 Hz, you need a video card of the GeForce GTX 950 level or more modern, and owners of AMD graphics adapters just need to make sure that the video card used has a DP version 1.2 port.
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Gigabyte's new product continues the trend of getting rid of complex and expensive design elements - and as a result, the G27QC has become even simpler and more concise than its predecessor, the AORUS CV27Q, which fully fits into the concept of an affordable gaming display.
Before us is still a βframelessβ curved case with minimal internal frames on three sides and a plastic overlay at the bottom. The designers decided to dilute it with impractical glossy inserts, which are also found on the modified stand and central column. The monitor does not have any external lighting system, and in terms of ergonomics, the G27QC was able to maintain only two degrees of freedom - tilt forward / backward and change the height.
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Savings also affected the missing quick-release connection - the central rack is attached to the case from the factory through a conventional VESA-compatible mount with four screws.
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The stand of the G27QC is more strict, and the front surface is made of plastic, while the monitors of the AORUS series had a metal one. Its dimensions are large enough for a 27-inch monitor, especially because of the depth of the stand.
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The cable management system is implemented by a cutout in the central column, also decorated with glossy inserts. The manufacturer does not offer any additional accessories to hold the cables.
The ergonomics of the stand, as we noted earlier, are not the widest: tilt (from -5 to +20 degrees) and height (130 mm) can be changed. There is no possibility of flipping to portrait mode (Pivot), so the centering of the panel is perfect.
All mounting elements of the monitor, including the inside of the stand and base, are made of metal. For reliable adhesion to the work surface, seven rubber legs of various shapes are used - they are good at holding the monitor in one position, including due to the sufficient weight of the device.
The hero of the review is equipped with a matrix with a semi-matte work surface, which effectively fights glare on the screen and does not bother with a too noticeable crystalline effect.
By the sticker on the device case, you can check all the numbers (serial, batch number, and so on) and finally find out the approximate production date. The copy that came to us was released in April 2020 and, it seems, by Gigabyte itself (but this is not certain).
All connection interfaces are located on one block and directed downwards. Connecting cables due to not the most advanced ergonomic component is not very convenient.
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Despite a somewhat different approach of Gigabyte designers to the appearance of the affordable G27QC, the quality of the materials used remains very high. The processing of the elements is performed at the highest level, the painting is without defects, the gaps are uniform along the entire length of the joints.
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The monitor does not creak or crackle when twisted and repositioned. Control elements do without backlash. It turns out that the hero of the review does not lag behind the best representatives of the segment in terms of quality, and the only thing that can be embarrassing is the glossy decor elements that instantly collect dust on themselves and become covered with scratches relatively quickly.
Menu and control
The basis of the monitor control system is a five-position joystick located on the rear surface of the case, on its right side. On the lower edge there is a power indicator with a white glow, which cannot be deactivated, which we see only as the manufacturer's desire to further distance the new product from the premium AORUS, where such an opportunity exists.
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Menu speed is high. The system instantly responds to user actions - we did not notice annoying delays. And thanks to the on-screen prompts, it's easy and simple to control the monitor both day and night, in the absence of external lighting.
Among the options with quick access, the hero of the review has the following by default: signal source selection, black equalizer, brightness and volume settings, as well as switching to GameAssist and Dashboard settings through the preliminary OSD block. At will, the functions of all four positions of the joystick can be changed - the choice of available options is quite wide.
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The appearance of the OSD menu is a design mix from what we could see in Samsung and BenQ monitors, but made in a different color (this time blue, with slight external changes), without much emphasis on any details. Everything is simple and concise. Before us is the upper block with six items that the manufacturer considered the main ones, and eight sections, the settings of which were divided into three additional sections.
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The first section, Gaming, provides access to the so-called gaming parameters, including AIM Stabilizer, Black Equalizer, Super Resolution, Low Blue Light, Display Mode (built-in scaler settings), Overdrive matrix overclocking settings, and the ability to activate AMD FreeSync. The latter feature also allows you to enable G-Sync in the settings of the respective driver.
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Adjustments for brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpness, color temperature and color saturation are highlighted in the Picture section. Here you can also select one of the many preset picture modes.
In the third section, you can find the ability to select an image source, change the tonal range when using the HDMI interface, and enable Overscan.
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Extensive options for configuring the PiP and PbP functions are presented in the following appropriately titled section.
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In the System section, you can select the audio source and set up quick access functions, adjust the volume, and change the appearance of the menu. In advanced settings, you can turn off notifications about the working resolution, change the brightness of the power indicator and the DP version, activate automatic shutdown and automatic transition to the connected signal source.
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The choice of localization language is highlighted in a special section. There is Russian with a fairly high-quality translation and an adequate font.
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The last two sections offer to save the settings to one of the user presets and reset all parameters to factory defaults.
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A slightly wider list of features is presented in a more visual form through the updated OSD Sidekick application, which can replace the trip to the standard monitor menu. Many consumers will find this way of controlling the display more convenient. You can download the latest version of the Sidekick utility .
The test is
Testing technique
The Gigabyte G27QC monitor was tested using the X-Rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter in combination with the reference X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer, Argyll CMS with dispcalGUI and HCFR Colormeter. All operations were carried out in Windows 10, during testing the screen refresh rate was 165 Hz.
In accordance with the methodology, we will measure the following monitor parameters:
- white brightness, black brightness, contrast ratio at backlight power from 0 to 100% in 10% increments;
- color gamut;
- color temperature;
- gamma curves of the three primary colors RGB;
- gray gamma curve;
- color deviation DeltaE (according to the CIEDE1994 standard);
- backlight uniformity, color temperature uniformity (in Kelvin and DeltaE deviation units) with a brightness at the central point of 100 cd/m2.
All measurements described above were carried out before and after calibration. During tests, we measure the main monitor profiles: default, sRGB (if available) and Adobe RGB (if available). Calibration is carried out in the default profile, except for special cases, which will be discussed later. For monitors with wide color gamuts, we select the sRGB hardware emulation mode, if available. Before starting all tests, the monitor warms up for 3-4 hours, and all its settings are reset to factory settings.
We'll also continue our old practice of posting calibration profiles for the monitors we've tested at the end of the article. At the same time, the 3DNews test lab warns that such a profile will not be able to 100% correct the shortcomings of your particular monitor. The fact is that all monitors (even within the same model) will necessarily differ from each other in small color errors. It is physically impossible to make two identical matrices, so a colorimeter or spectrophotometer is required for any serious monitor calibration. But even a βuniversalβ profile created for a specific instance can generally improve the situation for other devices of the same model, especially in the case of cheap displays with pronounced color rendition defects.
Operating parameters
In the Gigabyte G27QC monitor, the manufacturer offers six preset modes and three additional ones (Custom) for completely manual settings. In testing, we used the DisplayPort interface as the most hassle-free interface available.
By default, the basic settings look like this:
- image mode - Standard;
- brightness - 85;
- contrast - 50;
- sharpness - 5;
- color temperature - Normal;
- gamma - 3;
- black equalizer - 0;
- Overdrive-Balance;
During manual tuning (100 cd/m2 and 6500 K), the parameters took the following form:
- image mode - Custom;
- brightness - 10;
- contrast - 50;
- sharpness - 5;
- color temperature - User (99/93/100);
- gamma - Off;
- black equalizer - 0;
- Overdrive - Picture Quality/Balance.
The user mode was used to access the full list of required parameters. After switching to it, no changes in the picture occurred, and in order to obtain the necessary changes, it was necessary not only to adjust the brightness and color temperature parameters (RGB Gain), but also to change the Gamma mode. Additionally, to our taste, we adjusted the degree of Overdrive overclocking, but all the maps regarding the speed of the model will be disclosed in the corresponding section.
Brightness of white, black brightness, contrast ratio
The test was carried out in the "Standard" mode with the default settings.
| Brightness in menu (%) | White brightness (cd/m2) | Black brightness (cd/m2) | Static contrast (x:1) |
| 100 | 332 | 0,102 | 3255 |
| 90 | 308 | 0,095 | 3242 |
| 80 | 283 | 0,087 | 3253 |
| 70 | 259 | 0,08 | 3238 |
| 60 | 234 | 0,072 | 3250 |
| 50 | 209 | 0,064 | 3266 |
| 40 | 183 | 0,056 | 3268 |
| 30 | 157 | 0,048 | 3271 |
| 20 | 130 | 0,04 | 3250 |
| 10 | 103 | 0,032 | 3219 |
| 0 | 75 | 0,023 | 3261 |
The maximum brightness was 332 cd / m2, which is significantly higher than the level declared by the manufacturer, and the lower value stopped at 75 cd / m2, which, in turn, is half as high as that of the similar AORUS CV27Q, and generally too high.
But the hero of the review has no problems with the depth of the black field and the corresponding contrast ratio. The average value over the entire range of brightness adjustment was 3250:1 against the ridiculous 2000:1 against this background for a more expensive fellow. For a gaming *VA display, this is an excellent result, but it is worth remembering that such a depth of black is not characteristic of the entire surface of the matrix.
Results at default settings
According to the manufacturer, the monitor is equipped with a matrix with a color gamut expanded to the level of 92% DCI-P3 (2% higher than that of the AORUS CV27Q). At the moment and in the next five years, compliance with this color space will be the de facto standard on the way to conquering the full-fledged BT.2020 (aka Rec.2020).
For the average consumer, this means that any content on the screen of the new G27QC will be more saturated in color than on monitors with conventional W-LED backlighting. For games - and in other situations where high color accuracy is not important to you - this is a plus. But for working with color in the absence of certain knowledge and an individual color profile of the device, this is a significant drawback.
At default settings, the DCI-P3 monitor only submitted to 82,3%. If we compare it with the sRGB standard, then the hero of the review significantly outperforms it on red, yellow, turquoise and green stimuli and slightly loses on blue shades.
The dots of the gray wedge, together with the white dot, are displaced in a dense group into a zone with a slight greenish parasitic tint, at a color temperature of about 6800 K.
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On the gamma curves, we see a slight discrepancy between the RGB channels and a slightly more contrasting picture due to the curves passing just below the reference. Deep shadows are read quite well, we did not have any questions about the distinguishability of lights.
When assessing color accuracy, the G27QC showed an average result, which is not surprising in the conditions of a noticeable shift in the reference points on the CIE diagram, even in comparison with the sRGB set as a reference (with it, the monitor shows smaller deviations than in comparison with DCI-P3). However, it is enough to create a color profile - and half of the problems will immediately disappear.
AIM Stabilizer Results
When the AIM Stabilizer is activated, the monitor's electronics lock the brightness at 125 nits with no further adjustment possible. The contrast ratio remains at the initially high level of 3250:1.
The color gamut practically does not change (the difference is within the measurement error) - the insertion of a "black frame" works in a completely different direction.
The white point approached 6500 K, but retained a greenish tint, and the grayscale CT balance deteriorated slightly.
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On the gamma curves, the situation has not changed in any way: the visibility of deep shadows is good against the background of an overall increased contrast.
The level of deviations when checking in the Agryll CMS environment, however, turned out to be lower, this is especially noticeable in the maximum deviation. However, eye strain in this mode is unlikely to make you want to work with AIM Stabilizer for a long time.
Results in Reader mode
Instead of the missing AORUS mode on the G27QC, we decided to explore the Reader preset, which is aimed at long work at the monitor in low light. In this case, the brightness adjustment is not blocked, but by default it is reduced to 206 nits along with a contrast ratio of 2600:1.
In numbers, the color gamut is noticeably reduced, which cannot be seen on the 2D CIE diagram. DCI-P3 compliance drops to 72% and sRGB to 92,5%.
The white point floats into the warm zone, but the gray balance keeps a very high result in terms of uniformity.
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To our surprise, we did not find any changes in the gamma curves, except for a slightly improved visibility of the dark areas of the images.
Considering what happened to gamut and white point, it's not surprising to see DeltaE94 deviations skyrocket. The average value was 2,33, and the maximum was 6,09. On the other hand, for the tasks assigned to this mode, color accuracy is not at all important, so just forget about any deviations and work in peace.
Results in sRGB mode
When the matrix in the monitor has an extended color gamut, then the meaning of the availability and performance of the sRGB emulation mode can be traced literally immediately.
Unfortunately, with the hero of the review, the story did not turn out the way we expected. The G27QC is not capable of narrowing the color space even slightly. The sRGB mode works out the maximum capabilities of the matrix, the brightness can be adjusted, but everything else (even Overdrive) is not. You can clearly see savings on creating firmware or a special division between models from different price segments (recall that AORUS CV27Q emulation is fully functional).
But the sRGB mode was able to show the smallest deviations of the white and gray wedge point, which retained the high stability of the DH.
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With gamma curves in sRGB mode, the situation is positive. They are exposed in accordance with the requirements of the standard: the shadows are clearly visible in the picture, the most correct contrast and the smooth transmission of bright colors.
But since the mode did not make any changes to the color gamut, the DeltaE94 deviations remained in their places: 1,74 on average and 5,27 at the maximum. In other words, there is not much to catch here. Unless you want to get correctly set gamma curves right away and you don't care about locked image settings.
Results after calibration
Now let's go back to the default settings and make a manual correction. To do this, we first of all changed the gamma mode (for smaller edits in the LUT of the video card), setting it to Off; adjusted the brightness level and changed the RGB gain to achieve the desired color temperature.
We managed to increase the color gamut - up to a level of 87,1% DCI-P3, but the Gigabyte G92QC will definitely never reach the 27% declared by the manufacturer. History repeats itself, as with the AORUS CV27Q, and it's sad.
The white point returned to normal, and the stability of grayscale decreased slightly.
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Gamma curves lined up without RGB imbalance in strict accordance with the reference.
After applying the created profile, the operating system received all the necessary data about the capabilities of the test subject, and together with the white point and gamma curves brought to mind, this made it possible to achieve extremely high marks in the Argyll CMS test. Nevertheless, when working with color, do not forget that *VA-matrices have their own characteristics that adversely affect the usability: Black Crush effects, color shift at the edges of the screen, more noticeable stripes on complex color transitions - Banding. If you do not make money on photos and videos and are faced with color processing once or twice a year (without much emphasis on accuracy), then the G27QC should suit you just fine.
Backlight Uniformity
The uniformity of the display backlight was tested after reducing the brightness at the center point of the monitor to 100 cd/m2 and setting the color temperature to ~6500 Kelvin.
The picture above shows a photograph of a white field with a certain exposure compensation during shooting (in the dark) and further software processing for a more visual representation of the backlight uniformity.
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On white, backlight uniformity problems are not very visible, but when looking at the gray areas, they are obvious. In particular, in our specimen, all the edges of the matrix are noticeably darkened, but in the central part the brightness is uniform.
The average deviation from the central point was 3,8%, and the maximum was 14%. The result is high, and in this way the G27QC monitor significantly differs from the expensive CV27Q in a positive way.
Unfortunately, the monitor did not cause such enthusiasm for the uniformity of the color temperature. The spread of values ββwas almost 550 Kelvin, the average deviation from the central point was 1,5%, and the maximum deviation was 4,2%. The color temperature gradually increases from right to left, which can be seen even without devices.
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Now let's look at the uniformity of the backlight and the different color effects in the case of a black box. We will do this using two photographs taken at different distances from the screen (~ 70 and 150 cm).
In the first case, the Glow effect is clearly visible in the corners, which is also characteristic of *VA matrices - it manifests itself in the form of a drop in the depth of the black field along the edges with weak spurious shades. In addition, light spots can be noted along the lower and upper edges of the panel.
If you move away from the monitor, then Glow disappears - and the picture of the depth of the black field will change dramatically. The same brightened "spots" become clearly visible - there are about 8-10 of them, as we have noted more than once with modern *VA monitors, in particular for the AORUS CV27Q. We boldly declare that this, unfortunately, is the norm for such models, and how to relate to this is up to you. The main thing that we have warned you: *VA-matrix is ββnot a guarantee of a perfect black field. Among IPS solutions, such horror must be looked for for a long time, but among modern * VA - 80-90% of modern models on the market are exactly the same as we have shown.
Visual assessment of the image and features of the model
Gradient Quality and Response Speed
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The Gigabyte G27QC, according to the manufacturer, uses an 8-bit matrix, which provides good quality gradients at default settings and after manual edits. Calibration with minimal edits in the LUT of the video card slightly reduces their quality - a lot of sharp transitions appear with weakly pronounced spurious shades in the 5-30% region.
As for such an effect as banding (sharp transitions on smooth color fills), it is clearly expressed both at the factory settings and after all the procedures performed by the user. For most modern *VA displays, this is in the order of things, and therefore we can safely say that FRC technology is still used to increase the color representation, and not in the best possible way.
Now let's move on to the speed indicators of the display. The monitor under study uses a *VA panel with a native refresh rate of 165 Hz (the word βnativeβ means that it does not require additional overclocking through the monitor settings to achieve it). In this matter, Gigabyte's solutions have a slight advantage in numbers, because most of the competitors offer only 144 Hz. On the other hand, an advanced buyer will definitely not be guided by this difference, but consumers who are greedy for technical characteristics can quite imagine themselves.
The hero of the review refers to gaming models (Gigabyte Gaming series), but the declared high vertical frequency is not always an indicator of a fast matrix with a low response time. Here we will not tell you anything new, because the G27QC is the spitting image of AORUS CV27Q, which we reviewed earlier.
As the next test showed, the studied monitor is a representative of the camp of medium-speed *VA displays, which is immediately evident from the picture above, which this time we received using a manual slider - for a more indicative difference between the modes and to demonstrate how the moving ones look objects when viewed with one's own eyes.
In standard test scenarios, plumes at dark transitions turned out to be clearly visible. The monitor, of course, bypasses many 100Hz *VA-models with high resolution and surpasses absolutely all 60Hz solutions, but it is quite far from the level of high-quality gaming IPS and, moreover, TN+Film. Otherwise, when performing normal tasks on a PC, the user will be able to enjoy a significantly increased smoothness of mouse cursor movement, page scrolling, window movement, and so on.
It is quite difficult to evaluate the quality of OverDrive factory overclocking, because the difference between the three main modes of the G27QC is not that very noticeable. In all cases, there are no obvious artifacts on the test images, but the most problematic scenario for the novelty - light text on a dark background - slightly spoils the overall impression: the G27QC cannot adequately cope with it in any of the OD modes. You have few options: strong purple artifacts, green-yellow ones, or some mixture of them. None of the modes saves the display from these defects, which once again proves that even gaming *VA matrices have problems with dark transitions.
Significant changes occur only when the mode with the "insert black frame" (AIM Stabilizer) is activated. In this case, the ability to work with AMD FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible disappears, the brightness is blocked, objects become clearer, it becomes possible to read the font on a moving typewriter without any eye strain, but strong artifacts immediately appear, and objects begin to double (plumes not only behind objects, but also in front of them). Whether the visual sensations of working a la βlike behind a CRT monitorβ are worth the appearance of such defects on moving objects is a million-dollar question. And the answer depends only on what you plan to do behind the monitor and for how long.
Speaking about the stability of the maximum refresh rate, it can be noted that we did not find any problems when testing the monitor. A special test from the TestUFO package fully confirms this - 165 Hz is real.
Viewing Angles and Glowβeffect
Now let's look at the viewing angles of the Gigabyte G27QC with a modern *VA panel on board after lowering the brightness to the optimal level (do it right away, without much thought).
With minimal deviations, the color shift is almost imperceptible, the image contrast remains at a fairly high level.
With strong deviations from the normal, the shadows become sharply more distinguishable, the saturation of the image on the screen slowly but surely decreases, and the contrast decreases. When viewed from the side, the picture on the monitor gives off red-pink, which is typical of many solutions with an extended color gamut. The manifestation of the Black Crush effect is not very pronounced, at least much weaker than on the old *VA solutions.
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The Gigabyte monitor has a black box glow effect, but it is also much weaker than on IPS-type solutions, and causes much less irritation. Depending on the position of the user in front of a screen with a black fill (or at least with black bars at the top and bottom when watching a movie in a dark room), the ghosting and the degree of its manifestation vary markedly.
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As for color images, viewing angles and other features of *VA-models are more important than Glow. When viewed from an angle, the contrast of the picture drops sharply, in some cases the effect of posterization may appear on complex color transitions, which is clearly seen in the photographs above.
crystal effect, cross hatching, PWM
The Gigabyte G27QC monitor uses a *VA-panel with a semi-matte protective surface that also covers the black inner frames.
For most consumers, under standard operating conditions, the crystal effect (CE) will be slightly noticeable. In terms of visual impressions, the picture cannot be compared with the image from a glossy screen, but the monitor still has pretty good anti-glare properties. When the viewing angle is changed (only when viewed from above or below), the visibility of the FE does not increase. The review hero has been spared the Cross-Hatching effect.
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The text rendering quality of the G27QC is good. Such problems as on *VA-matrices with a lower pixel density, the novelty has not been identified. The smooth adjustment of Sharpness will help to adjust the sharpness to your taste, but most consumers will not need to do this.
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According to the manufacturer, the display has Flicker-Free backlighting, which was confirmed during our tests. At any level of brightness, SHI modulation is not used, or its frequency is several kilohertz or even tens of kilohertz. For their own eyes, users can be calm. It remains not to forget about the need to take breaks in work and not to set too high brightness in low or medium ambient light.
When activating the "black frame insertion" mode (AIM Stabilizer) at a vertical frequency of 165 Hz, we detected SHI modulation with the appropriate frequency and high duty cycle - as it should be. The load on the eyes in this case, of course, increases, but the moving objects on the screen become clearer. For a short game session, this mode can be interesting, but for prolonged work at the monitor, it should definitely be avoided.
Conclusions
Gigabyte decided to follow the path beaten by other manufacturers and launched a new line of more affordable gaming solutions, which, obviously, are destined to become popular, since the savings had little effect on the quality of the product and its important functions, especially for those who consider such monitors exclusively for entertainment purposes. No professional work with color - only games, movies, TV shows and the endless expanses of the Internet.
The manufacturer maximally carefully and pointwise simplified the AORUS CV27Q we studied earlier and thus received the G27QC from the Gigabyte Gaming series, which are sold for completely different money. The novelty has a system for lighting the external space, a quick-release connection has been removed, slightly worse materials (just more impractical gloss), an inoperative sRGB profile, no VESA DisplayHDR 400 compliance, a different form of stand and there is no possibility of turning right or left.
The color scheme of the menu was changed for the monitor, various functions and βtechnologiesβ were cut out at the software level, some settings were limited, but in terms of the speed of the matrix, its factory settings, all the features of the *VA-panel used and the uniformity of the backlight on black - this one is still the same expensive AORUS and no less expensive top competitors from other manufacturers.
Moreover, the novelty was able to bypass its older brother in terms of black field depth (by about 60-65%) and significantly surpassed it in terms of backlight uniformity in terms of brightness in a bright field and slightly in color temperature. In other words, the G27QC is even superior in some respects to its more expensive brother - and that is why it is doubly interesting. Good luck with your choice!
From the 3DNews.ru file server, you can for this monitor, which we got after manually configuring and profiling.
Advantages:
- excellent quality of materials and assembly;
- ergonomic stand and VESA mount;
- a wide range of connection interfaces and a built-in USB hub with two USB 3.0 ports;
- good delivery set;
- support for PbP / PiP functions with a wide range of settings;
- built-in speaker system (albeit simple and weak);
- a large number of software "chips", including an updated Sidekick application for setting up a monitor from under Windows with the ability to automatically update the monitor's firmware;
- trouble-free control system based on a five-way joystick;
- a wide range of brightness adjustment with a consistently high contrast ratio higher than that declared by the manufacturer - a rarity for *VA;
- extended color gamut (but not everyone will like it);
- HDR support (without any correspondence even to the simplest VESA DisplayHDR 400);
- quite high-quality factory setting (except for the white point);
- adequately configured OverDrive overclocking and high panel speed (for *VA-segment) - however, there are some but;
- support for AMD FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible adaptive sync technologies in the 48-165 Hz range, but so far without official support in the green driver (everything will be added in the future);
- excellent backlight uniformity in bright field in terms of brightness level - a surprising change compared to the AORUS CV27Q;
- the presence of a backlight operation mode with "inserting a black frame" (AIM Stabilizer) - an analogue of ULMB / ELMB / VRB, not compatible with the simultaneous operation of AMD FreeSync and G-Sync;
- backlight without flicker (Flicker-Free) and a barely visible crystalline effect;
- good quality of fonts (additional sharpness adjustment is not required, but can be done very finely) and the absence of various parasitic sounds during operation;
- an adequate price against the background of competitors on the market - this is one of the most affordable monitors in the class;
Disadvantages:
- banding/posterization on complex color transitions;
- non-working sRGB space emulation - get used to working and playing with a rich image;
- poor illumination uniformity on a black field in the form of 8-10 bright areas (clouds) - we decided to put this item here again so that none of the buyers would be surprised by this feature of the G27QC and many of its other competitors;
- strong artifacts on dark transitions at any OD overclocking level - easy to notice when scrolling light text on a dark background; competitors have everything the same, alas;
Might not suit:
- simplified design and use of impractical glossy inserts;
- inability to turn off the power indicator;
- quite deep stand;
- the lack of the possibility of turning the body to the right and left and quick-release connection;
- average backlight uniformity in terms of color temperature in a bright field;
- the Black-Crush effect is rather weak compared to the old *VAs;
- when the mode with the insertion of a βblack frameβ is activated, the panelβs not the highest speed becomes obvious in comparison with the TN + Film and IPS indicators (a trail with strong artifacts appears behind and after a moving object).
Source: 3dnews.ru