Many years ago, when LCD monitors were only at the initial stage of development, and large IT companies were engaged in only a few areas with which they are still associated today, few could have imagined that after 10-15 years they would all rush into the fight for the right to be leaders in the monitor market, which has long been divided between completely different players. Of course, none of them plans to win the first place in world sales and displace such giants as Dell and HP (who settled on the pedestal thanks to corporate purchases), but everyone wants to take a large share in the now popular gaming device market.
Of the three A-brands that have remained afloat and are known to everyone thanks to their motherboards and video cards, only for ASUS this market segment is not new - it has been dealing with displays for about 10 years. The competitor, MSI, entered this market only a year and a half ago and during this time managed to expand its product line to almost two dozen models, each of which somehow belongs to the gaming class. Gigabyte also decided to keep up and added their first monitor to the list of AORUS devices - the AD27QD model, which we will introduce you to today.
Technical specifications
The display in question was introduced after the CES 2019 exhibition and has already appeared in retail sales at a manufacturer's recommended price of 46 rubles. It was with the gaming 990-inch WQHD-model with an IPS-matrix that a new branch of Gigabyte's business development began. Most likely, in the coming months we will be able to witness the release of at least a couple more monitors from the AORUS family.
The Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD has been awarded the title of "World's First Tactical Monitor" by the company, which refers to a number of exclusive features that will help gamers gain a tactical advantage over rivals in virtual battles. It sounds nice and tempting, but almost all the functions presented are, in fact, well known from other monitor models - both presented recently and those that have been on the market for 4-5 years, however, without such beautiful descriptions and such a big accent on the features at the time of the announcement.
The novelty will have to fight with the Acer and ASUS models that have already captured the minds of consumers, some of which are somewhat more expensive, but with a G-Sync module on board, while others cost the same or less and offer similar features (unless, of course, touching the software side of the issue) . In the meantime, we see that Gigabyte has slightly gone too far with the set price, and there are much more words about “software chips” than about much more important technical features of the display.
| Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD | |
| Screen | |
| Diagonal, inches | 27 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Matrix coating | Semi-matte |
| Standard resolution, pix. | 2560 × 1440 |
| PPI | 110 |
| Image Options | |
| Matrix type | IPS-Type (from Innolux) |
| Backlight type | White-LED + KSF Phosphor Layer (?) |
| Max. brightness, cd/m2 | 350 (400+ in HDR mode) |
| Contrast static | 1000:1 |
| Number of displayed colors | 1,07 billion |
| Vertical refresh rate, Hz | 24-144 + FreeSync Support |
| Response time BtW, ms | ND |
| GtG response time, ms | 1 (MPRT) |
| Maximum viewing angles horizontally/vertically, ° |
178/178 |
| Разъемы | |
| Video inputs | 2 x HDMI 2.0; 1 x DisplayPort 1.2; |
| Video outputs | 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (MST) |
| Additional ports | 1 × Audio Out (3.5 mm); 1 × Mic-In (3.5 mm); 2 x USB 3.0; |
| Built-in speakers: number × power, W | No |
| Physical parameters | |
| Screen Position Adjustment | Tilt, rotate, change height, flip (Pivot) |
| VESA mount: dimensions (mm) | Yes (100 × 100 mm) |
| Mount for Kensington lock | Yes |
| Power supply unit | Built |
| Max. power consumption working / standby (W) |
75 / 0,5 |
| dimensions (with stand), L × H × D, mm |
615×485-615×237 |
| dimensions (without stand), L × H × D, mm |
615 × × 371 60 |
| Net weight (with stand), kg | 8,0 |
| Net weight (without stand), kg | ND |
| Estimated price | 46 000-50 000 rubles |
According to our data, the AORUS AD27QD model is built on AAS panels (refers to IPS-type) production Chimei Innolux, models M270KCJ-K7B. This is a 10-bit solution using the FRC (dithering) method to increase the number of playable halftones to 1,07 billion. Uses Flicker-Free (flicker-free) W-LED backlighting with a special diffusing layer (KSF) to increase color gamut to ~95% DCI-P3 (about 130% of sRGB color data). This feature allowed the manufacturer to declare compliance with the HDR400 standard, even though the technical specifications indicate a maximum brightness of 350 candela (in reality, the monitor can display a picture with a white field luminosity one third higher).
The panel size is 27 inches, the working resolution is 2560 × 1440 pixels (WQHD standard), the aspect ratio is 16:9. The resulting pixel density is 110 ppi, a familiar figure that provides sufficient image clarity and does not require scaling to be enabled in Windows.
The figures for contrast and viewing angles are common for an IPS monitor in the gaming segment. You can only find fault with the response time of 1 ms, but it should be borne in mind that the figure was obtained using the MPRT (Motion Picture Response Time) method, which is far from the well-known GtG (Gray to Gray) and is used by manufacturers rather as some kind of speed index obtained during testing in the "insert black frame" mode.
Gigabyte gave its own name to this mode, which is very strange and completely untrue - A.I.M. Stabilizer. In fact, this is an analogue of the ULMB / ELMB / VRB modes of other gaming models. The manufacturer gives an example with a sight trembling when shooting, due to which the picture is blurred, and the use of the function supposedly should deal with this. In reality, this is not how it works, and, as it turned out, it is not necessary to count on a picture without artifacts.
The following function is Dashboard - allows you to display technical information (voltage, temperature and frequencies of the CPU / GPU, fan speeds, etc.) on the screen in real time. However, we are sure that it is not at all necessary to purchase AD27QD for this, since there are well-known software products with the same (and even greater) capabilities for a long time.
Blue Light Reducer (reduction of the blue component of the spectrum), PbP/PiP (picture in picture and picture by picture) USB Charger (the ability to charge devices via USB) and Black Equalizer (setting the visibility of shadows) - a set of functions, each of which is devoted to a whole paragraph of text, but we did not see anything new here either. Most competitors have similar opportunities.
Functions Game Assist и Sidekick could have been exclusive, but for this, the Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD monitor should have hit the market five years earlier. Now it is simply impossible to surprise with the possibility of displaying an on-screen sight, a timer, a counter and various grids. You won’t be able to do this with the help of an additional utility for setting up a monitor using a mouse and keyboard - although not all, many monitor manufacturers offer similar software, and not for the first year.
Of the real know-how, Gigabyte engineers were only able to present an active noise cancellation system ANC, officially available, however, only when using the AORUS headset. On the other hand, if you own a really high-quality headset from any other manufacturer, you can be sure that it already has good noise cancellation and does not require anything extra.
Additionally, it is worth noting the use RGB illumination of the external space, which was given a beautiful name Fusion 2.0. To configure it, a separate application with the appropriate name has been allocated, but its performance still leaves much to be desired. In addition, once again we note the fact that all such backlight systems look beautiful exactly until the moment when the back of the monitor is turned to the wall - and this is exactly what happens most often. After that, you will see a completely ordinary display, without any visual frills.
The list of available interfaces for connecting the AORUS AD27QD includes two HDMI version 2.0 and one DP 1.2. There are 3,5 mm audio ports for connecting headphones and a microphone, and two USB 3.0 ports with fast charging are presented for working with peripherals. There is no built-in speaker system in the novelty.
Packaging and appearance
The AORUS AD27QD monitor comes in a fairly large and heavy box with high-quality printing and a stylish design. Two photos of the model are presented, as well as a complete list of features in the form of small icons.
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For ease of transportation, the box is equipped with a plastic handle.
The general list of features of the model includes as many as 18 items, 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);
- HDMI cable;
- DP cable;
- USB cable for connecting the monitor to a PC;
- CD with drivers and utilities;
- 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 recommend using a DisplayPort connection.
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The appearance of the AD27QD shows the features of many modern solutions from various segments. Something Gigabyte designers adopted from ASUS or Acer gaming monitors and even borrowed ideas from MSI, whose products appeared on the market relatively recently.
However, the result turned out to be solid, memorable and, what is important (so the manufacturers think) for the gaming model, bright.
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The matrix used is packaged in a modern "frameless" case with minimal internal frames on three sides. From below, we are met by a wide plastic overlay with the AORUS logo.
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The central column is initially attached to the case, and to dismantle it, it is necessary not only to clamp one plastic lock-button, as is done with other monitors, but to bring the two guides together, after which the user will see a standard VESA-compatible platform of the 100 × 100 standard mm.
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As a stand, the company's designers chose a very effective solution - to match the segment in which the monitor is presented, but we cannot call it convenient. Firstly, it is quite deep, and secondly, its width is quite large for a relatively small by modern standards matrix with a diagonal of 27 inches. On the other hand, such an assessment is purely subjective. The attitude towards the stand used by the end user will be based on how much space he has available on the table and how far away from himself he is ready to place the monitor. If the stars align, then there will be no problems.
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As for other important aspects of the stand, everything is in perfect order here: stylish, workmanship is high, the stability of the monitor is excellent. The cable routing system is implemented due to the figured cutout in the central column, and for easy carrying, a handle is made in its upper part.
The ergonomics of the stand will satisfy the needs of all consumers without exception: tilt (from -5 to +21 degrees) and height (130 mm) can be changed, as well as body rotation to the right / left (by 20 degrees).
There is a possibility of flipping to portrait mode (Pivot), due to which, to our surprise, the centering of the case was almost not affected.
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, four rubber legs of various shapes are used - they are good at holding the monitor in one position, including due to the rather large weight of the device.
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The RGB lighting of the external space RGB Fusion 2.0 is divided into several local zones.
The color spectrum of the backlight is as wide as possible. Through the monitor menu, you can select one of three modes of operation or completely disable it. Fine-tuning and synchronization with other products can be done thanks to a separate Gigabyte application.
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As practice shows, demand creates supply and people are ready to overpay for such lighting systems even if, after installing the display on the desktop, the entire “Christmas tree” will be visible only to the wall or employees passing through the office.
Continuing the topic of technical features, it is worth noting that the hero of the review is equipped with an IPS-type matrix with a semi-matte work surface, which should fight not only glare on the screen, but also an annoying crystalline effect. She copes with this task with dignity.
By the sticker on the body of the device, 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 turned out to be made in December 2018 and, quite likely, by Gigabyte itself.
All interfaces for connection are located in the back of the case, on one block, and are directed downwards. Due to the possibility of flipping the case to portrait mode, there are no problems with connecting cables.
According to the special slots in the back of the case, one could assume that the monitor has a built-in speaker system, but the company's engineers and marketers decided to do without it. According to many manufacturers, real gamers use headsets, so engineers are focusing on the placement of audio interfaces and the convenience of connecting to them.
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In appearance and the quality of the materials used, the monitor is perceived as an expensive device. The processing of elements in AD27QD is performed at the highest level, the gaps are uniform along the entire length of the joints. The plastic is not black, but dark gray, the practicality of many elements is high, but this certainly does not apply to translucent plastic inserts in places where RGB Fusion backlight is present.
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The monitor does not creak or crackle when twisted and repositioned. Don't worry about the paint either. In terms of quality, Gigabyte's first monitor clearly didn't come out as a lump, and in the future, one can hope that all subsequent models will look and feel worse.
Menu and control
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The basis of the monitor control system is a five-way joystick located in the middle of the bottom edge of the case. A little higher, on the front frame, there is a power indicator with a white glow, which, if desired, can either be turned off or made half as bright.
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.
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Among the options with quick access, the hero of the review has the following by default: select a signal source, black equalizer, go to the GameAssist and Dashboard settings. At will, the functions of all four positions of the joystick can be changed - the choice of available options is quite wide.
The appearance of the OSD menu is a design mix from what we could see in monitors from Samsung and BenQ, but made in a different color scheme, 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 six 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.
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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 preset picture modes.
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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, RGB backlight settings (three modes of operation), selection of an audio signal source and functions for quick access, change of appearance and menu localization language are available.
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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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A slightly wider list of features is presented in a more visual form through the OSD Sidekick application, which can replace going to the standard menu of the AD27QD monitor. Many consumers will find this way of controlling the display more convenient.
Speaking about another function of the monitor, Dashboard, it should be noted that for its smooth operation, as it turned out, it is necessary to install two applications from the manufacturer's website, which, in our opinion, have nothing to do with this technology.
After evaluating the capabilities of the solution proposed by Gigabyte and the number of necessary actions to activate the function in question, it becomes obvious that you can achieve the same result and display the operating parameters of the hardware on the screen in a simpler way - by installing many familiar applications that do not require additional advertising and work without any or problems on any monitor.
Source: 3dnews.ru