At $450, the Tempest X270OC satisfies my value benchmark, if only because it's an overclockable IPS-based monitor. We've already established the advantages of running at 120 or 144 Hz in previous gaming monitor reviews. And, like you, we've lamented the fact that all other high-speed displays make certain compromises with TN technology, 6-bit/FRC color, and FHD resolutions. Now it seems that Overlord is breaking new ground, and we hope it inspires other companies to follow suit.
It seems like every time I review a QHD monitor, the audience reaction is that it’s too expensive and too slow. I'd agree with this assessment, for the most part. Now that LG’s IPS panels are at the heart of nearly every 27-inch QHD monitor on the planet, we side with the majority of enthusiasts impatient for prices to fall. Over the past 18 months, these displays were stuck at $600 and higher. There is some relief to be had in gray-market Korean products, but when you go off-trail to buy a monitor, quality becomes less consistent. Sometimes the prudent decision is to pay extra for support, a usable warranty, and a reasonable assurance that the panel you buy is free of defects.
Thanks to Overlord, we can now choose high quality and high performance. With its more robust control board installed, any user can overclock their Tempest X270OC simply by activating a few software tweaks. The utilities provided online make it easy to patch your Nvidia or AMD drivers and create custom display timings. With a little help from Overlord’s tech, I was able to get my sample running perfectly at 120 Hz in a few minutes.
If you’re concerned about stability, you needn’t be. I installed the Tempest and used it for several weeks for productivity and gaming, running at 120 Hz the entire time. There was nary a hiccup and I thoroughly enjoyed the smoother motion that comes with doubling the standard refresh rate. Activities as mundane as moving the mouse cursor across Windows' desktop are more satisfying. We’ve become so accustomed to the blur inherent in LCD panels that it’s easy to forget what judder-free motion even looks like.
Before I conclude, I have one final bit of advice for anyone considering the Tempest X270OC as a centerpiece of their gaming rig. And it's the same guidance I’d offer with any high-refresh rate monitor. To maximize your experience, buy as much graphics processing horsepower as you can afford. Since you'll save quite a bit on the display, put more budget into a capable video card. Gaming at a native 2560x1440 (and beyond) is taxing. If you skimp at any point before the signal leaves your computer case, you won't get as much enjoyment from the Tempest in your favorite titles. Feel free to consult Best Graphics Cards For The Money for help choosing an appropriate GPU.

At least now you can push those extra pixels without buying a monitor that costs as much as your whole system. For its exceptional performance and value, we’re giving the Overlord Tempest X270OC the Tom’s Hardware Smart Buy award.
- Overlord Tempest X270OC: 27” 120 Hz IPS Gaming Monitor Review
- Packaging, Physical Layout, and Accessories
- Setup and Calibration Of The Overlord Tempest X270OC
- Measurement and Calibration Methodology: How We Test
- Results: Brightness and Contrast
- Results: Grayscale Tracking and Gamma Response
- Results: Color Gamut and Performance
- Results: Viewing Angles and Uniformity
- Results: Pixel Response And Input Lag
- Overlord’s Tempest X270OC Satisfies The Speed And Resolution Obsession
any idea if there will be a similar monitor spec but 4k resolution ?
thanks,
any idea if there will be a similar monitor spec but 4k resolution ?
thanks,
Question is how much will this cost here in Europe.
Also, now make the same thing happen in a 30" format with 2560x1600 resolution, and than I am definitely opening my wallet.
MonsterCookie, alas I doubt that will happen. A few years ago, 1440 and 1600
height monitors were priced basically the same, ie. expensive. Back then, top-end
GPU reviews tended to use 2560x1600 as a typical max res test for gaming. But
then buying patterns evolved, the usual feedback between pricing and demand,
people tended to opt more and more for 1440 displays instead. As a result, when
I wanted to get a 1600 IPS a while ago, I was amazed to find 1600 hieght displays
were about 4X more expensive than 1440 IPS models.
Presumably it suits the industry to home in on a more typical standard, and for
the moment, beyond HD, 2560x1440 seems to be it. Very unlikely the industry has
any interest in pushing 1600 height to the masses, so probably the next main step
up will be to 4K, or as I wish they'd call it instead, quad-HD.
Ian.
http://overlordcomputer.com/blogs/news/7384176-the-overclock-overview
It's like hoping you'll get an i7 that will have a stable OC to 4.5Ghz 24/7. It's the luck of the draw.
I don't much like putting my money on hope. If they did have a guarantee or just sold a monitor that shipped to my house with 120Hz capability, I'd be more likely to hand over my cash.
You know darn well they make sure the review site is getting a good one.
1) Yes, This works perfectly at 90Hz. Yes, it is a great improvement. Much greater improvement is 60->90 than 90->120.
2) All monitors are from this day to the future to come 16:9. So, its useless to fancy 16:10 monitors anymore, they wont be coming ever again.
3) 4K 120Hz gaming monitors wont be coming, either. At least not in the foreseeable future.
4) Overclocking this is not luck of the draw. They all come at least 96Hz, and the great majority work 120Hz.
5) The lack of displayport etc is what helps keeping input lag low.