After many reader requests to review Overlord’s 120 Hz 27-inch QHD monitor, we finally got a brand new X270OC in our labs. It’s the only IPS screen we know of that can exceed a 60 Hz refresh rate. We run it through our benchmark and usability test suite.
Over the past few months, we’ve covered several gaming-oriented monitors capable of refresh rates greater than 60 Hz. They all performed extremely well, and certainly lived up to their speedy specifications. But there was one thing still lacking: higher resolutions.
In the current market, a high-refresh gaming monitor is always based on a TN panel with a 6-bit/FRC color depth and FHD resolution. The speed issue is addressed decisively. Moreover, the screens that have come through our lab performed well with regards to color accuracy. However, enthusiasts plead for the greater pixel density of QHD and the superior viewing angles of IPS technology.
So far, the only company to answer that call with a quality-controlled and warrantied product is Overlord Computer, a small firm that markets gaming accessories and peripherals.
| Panel Type | AH-IPS |
|---|---|
| Backlight | W-LED, edge array |
| Screen Size | 27-inch |
| Max Resolution | 2560x1440 |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz, up to 120 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Native Color Depth | 8-bit |
| Native Gamut | sRGB |
| Response Time (GTG) | 6 ms |
| Brightness | 380 cd/m2 |
| Speakers | 2 x 10 W |
| VGA | - |
| DVI | 1 |
| DisplayPort v1.2 | - |
| HDMI 1.4 | - |
| Audio In | 1 x 3.5 mm |
| Headphone | - |
| USB | - |
| Media Card Reader | - |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 25.25 x 19 x 8.5 in 636 x 479 x 214 mm |
| Panel Thickness | 2.5 in / 63 mm |
| Bezel Width | .95-1.55 in / 24-39 mm |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg |
| Warranty | One year |
Overlord’s best-selling line of monitors is the Tempest series. For gamers seeking the extra size and pixel density of a 27-inch QHD display, there are several different models available. You can have one with or without an anti-glare layer, for instance. Removing that layer improves clarity and detail rendering. If you can manage the light sources in your room, it’s a compelling option.
Of course, this company's main attraction is its overclockable panels. Right now, the Tempest is the only IPS screen capable of refresh rates higher than 60 Hz. And its pricing is significantly below the average for even run-of-the-mill QHD monitors. In fact, the only less-expensive ones we know of are the gray-market Auria and Catleap screens. Neither of those run above 60 Hz reliably, though.
The key to Overlord’s success with the X270OC is a custom-made control board. That single component is the reason other IPS screens are stuck at 60 Hz. You can perform the same software tweaks necessary to run at 120 Hz on other monitors, but unless the board is equipped to handle those extra frames, you'll likely see either an unusable image or nothing at all.
The Tempest monitors are essentially hand-built using an A-grade LG panel as their core part. The proprietary control boards are tested before installation to be sure they can handle higher rate signals. Heat is minimized in the chassis by utilizing external power supplies. And the end result is the only 2560x1440 monitor available able to run at 120 Hz.
Otherwise, the X270OC is a very typical 8-bit sRGB IPS QHD monitor with a W-LED edge backlight. It runs your Windows apps, games, and other software no differently than any other display. Our press sample was tested to 120 Hz prior to shipment, and we verified its operation with our test platform. But this is no one-trick pony. We discovered it performs well in other areas too. Let’s take a look.
- 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.