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Speedy But Not The Speediest

AOC G2770PQU 27-Inch 144Hz Gaming Monitor Review
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We, along with our enthusiast readers, have long clamored for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate panels to game on. Overlord answered the call with its Tempest X270OC, and Asus now has the PG278Q (ROG Swift). So why consider a TN-based panel with a density of only 82 ppi? The answer will undoubtedly come down to budget and how the display fits in with your particular gaming rig.

For a price-is-no-object setup, you’re probably not even considering anything less than Ultra HD. But for those who have to watch their expenditures, it’s important to measure the abilities of your video board against those of your display.

We all know the best image comes at a monitor’s native resolution. And we all know it takes a lot of power (and money) to game at decent frame rates beyond FHD. There’s no point in buying a QHD or UHD screen when the best your hardware can manage is 1920 x 1080. That is where the G2770PQU becomes relevant.

We’ve talked about balanced performance in the past. If you have a component that out-distances the rest of your system, it’s not only a waste of money, it can even contribute to poorer image quality. The right pairing means making a realistic assessment of your graphics card’s performance and connecting a monitor of the appropriate resolution and speed rating.

There’s no question that GPU technology and performance improves at a far greater rate than display tech. At least now we have several excellent choices among high-refresh monitors. In the past few months, we’ve looked at major products from Asus, Overlord, BenQ, and AOC. Soon, we expect to see more samples of G-Sync-capable screens from the same companies.

We’re in the midst of an exciting evolution in display technology for sure. And for many users, a monitor like the G2770PQU is a perfect match. It offers reasonably accurate color, grayscale, and gamma, along with excellent contrast and stable operation at 100, 120, and 144Hz. That should be more than enough speed for just about any system short of a G-Sync-capable one running a GeForce GTX 780 or better. The only surprise we encountered was input lag that fell behind other 144Hz-enabled screens we’ve tested. Of course, only the enthusiasts with the fastest reflexes will notice a difference of 17 milliseconds.

Like the G2460PQU, this monitor has no blur-reduction feature. We’ve tested backlight strobing on the BenQ XL2720Z and found it useful. But as the refresh rate increases, the need for additional blur-reduction decreases. At 144Hz, motion is very smooth with no obvious ghosting or artifacting. While capabilities like LightBoost are helpful at 60Hz, we’re not sure they're really needed at the higher rates.

For those gaming above 1920 x 1080 pixels, AOC offers a compelling choice. We’re only just starting to see G-Sync monitors hit the market and QHD displays that run faster than 60Hz still only come from Overlord and Asus. If FHD is enough resolution for your particular graphics setup, and you want 144Hz operation in a 27-inch screen size, the G2770PQU is worthy of your consideration.

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  • 1 Hide
    eklipz330 , September 27, 2014 12:46 PM
    "At 144Hz, motion is very smooth with no obvious ghosting or artifacting. While capabilities like LightBoost are helpful at 60Hz, we’re not sure they're really needed at the higher rates."

    I completely agree. I use a benq xl2411z, and i can understand turning on the blur reduction feature at 60hz. But at 100hz and up, i just don't see the reason why. the blur reduction actually detracts from the overall experience, increases ghosting and crosstalk in particular areas of the screen. Even with modded drivers, it still doesn't seem like the best course of action.

    but light reduction at around 72hz is awesome. the only issue is the flickering, but man is the picture crisp
  • 1 Hide
    jdwii , September 27, 2014 1:28 PM
    400$ no thanks A 27 inch 1080P monitor should be 300$ and no more
  • 2 Hide
    NeatOman , September 27, 2014 3:15 PM
    What do we want!?..
    - 2560x1440 144Hz ! !
    When do we want it!?
    - NOW ! !

    From what i heard when you get close to 120Hz or above you almost can't see the tearing from no-sync at all vs G-Sync, but if it has it for little to now extra charge (like im hoping will happen with free-sync) then ok.. lol
  • 2 Hide
    Bowmaster , September 27, 2014 7:28 PM
    2560x1440 144hz, <1ms response, OLED, under $500. Maybe someday... right now to do something like that would take a few more 0's on the price tag sadly, but that would look sooooo pretty at 27-30 inches. Fun to dream!
  • 0 Hide
    Bowmaster , September 27, 2014 8:27 PM
    2560x1440 144hz, <1ms response, OLED, under $500. Maybe someday... right now to do something like that would take a few more 0's on the price tag sadly, but that would look sooooo pretty at 27-30 inches. Fun to dream!
  • 2 Hide
    huilun02 , September 28, 2014 6:44 AM
    All I ask for is a 60Hz 1080p IPS with Gsync/Freesync. Screen tearing elimination while still practical and economical. Low entry price for faster adoption by the masses.

    But no, manufacturers insist on making it exclusive to the most high end/expensive models. They want to milk the most out of this tech by keeping it elusive.

    "With speedy G-Sync-capable monitors starting to emerge, is the tech still a relevant choice?" What a stupid question to ask. Just about every monitor that comes with Gsync ARE 144Hz TN panels. Where its benefit is the least noticeable...
  • -1 Hide
    soldier44 , September 28, 2014 11:35 AM
    Been gaming at 2560 x 1600 for over 4 years now and have moved to a Asus 32 inch 4K display with 2 GTX 780 Classifieds running it. Smooth as silk. 1080p is so 2008.
  • -2 Hide
    thequn , September 28, 2014 6:39 PM
    i would be in if it was not a tn pan. unless they changed tech when I was not looking but its 6 bit color and not 8
  • -1 Hide
    knightmike , September 28, 2014 7:39 PM
    TN looks horrible if you're even a few degrees off center. No, thanks.
  • 1 Hide
    Snookslayer , September 28, 2014 9:42 PM
    When will they make an IPS monitor with these kind of specs?

    TN? No thank you.
  • 1 Hide
    MarkW , September 28, 2014 10:07 PM
    As I read this, the author repeatedly states that we will all have G-Sync monitors soon, and I keep wondering why we are all supposedly going to be using proprietary, costly, Nvidia only sync technology when AMD has put out an open source alternative that is free.

    Are changes coming? Yes. But who wins out at this point I think is going to be up to the market, and monitors that cost $35 more are going to be at a disadvantage if they both function equally or very close to equally.

    Maybe in 6 months we will be able to see both technologies side by side, and get a better idea of what each can do. But we are nowhere near being there to make this decision today.
  • 0 Hide
    rantoc , September 28, 2014 11:12 PM
    The larger the screen the more horrible TN becomes (unless the distance is changed accordingy - But whats the point to buy a larger screen then?)

    Got several different screens available and the TN based Asus Swift PG278Q is definatly the quickest but the picture quality price of a TN panel at that size is heavy, even at almost perfect monitor centered eyes its still borderline to wash out the colors/clarity at the edges. Compared to an Dell US UP3214Q (ips/igzo) or Dell US U3014 (ips) the TN panels is lightyears behind in picture quality (allthoo todays 4k@60hz screens have their issues with the 1.2a display port as their handeled as 2 screens).

    So if you ask me, get two screens - One for quick fps style gaming and one for desktop / slower gaming.

    So for a wishlist - An overdrive IPS panel 27-30" @ 120hz running 2560x1440(1600) and having G-sync (Ever tried an g-sync? if not - try it out, really hope Amd gets freesync to take off and Nvidia wises up and gets behind it)
  • 1 Hide
    mapesdhs , September 29, 2014 3:17 AM
    "But as long as you view the screen head-on from two or three feet away,
    you probably won’t be able to tell it apart from an IPS display."

    Sorry, can't agree there. I have a 27" Dell IPS 2560x1440, and meanwhile I
    bought my brother a 27" Samsung TN 1920x1080. Sitting directly infront of
    the Samsung, I can already see the change in colour & brightness towards
    the corners & edges of the screen, as the angle is large enough to reveal
    the effect despite not sitting off to one side. The Dell screen looks sooo
    much nicer.

    I can imagine TN panels still being reasonbly ok at 24" or below, but by 27"
    the sheer size means one doesn't have to sit off-axis to see the difference.
    With hindsight, if I'd known the effect was going to be that visible, I'd probably
    have bought him a 24" model instead, upgraded to a 27" IPS later.

    Later for my gf's PC, I bought a 24" Dell 1920x1200 IPS.

    Ian.

  • 0 Hide
    Ninjawithagun , October 2, 2014 9:33 AM
    27 inch monitor + 1920x1080 resolution = FAIL
  • 0 Hide
    jbrown156 , October 2, 2014 10:30 AM
    for $400 its not worth it to me to make it worse its just 27" .. no way
  • 0 Hide
    Voytek_ , October 16, 2014 8:04 AM
    I just got this monitor (AOC G2770PQU) revied here and games like BF4 and other
    shooters which I like, haven't tried driving games, look beautiful, just turn off
    the Overdrive feature. Don't fall for the 27" at 1080p looks bad, its awsome. Single card setup can pump 100+ fps ( I got a gtx680 ftw 4 gig) and it shines at bf4,1080p.
    This monitor is a great value.
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