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It’s getting easier and easier to find good value in gaming monitors. While there is no shortage of the exotic and expensive, bread and butter screens are plentiful. Not only are they less expensive, but their performance also keeps improving.
The hot category is 27-inch 16:9 QHD screens running at 165 Hz and above. That resolution delivers 109ppi pixel density but doesn’t place high demands on your PC or console. Smooth motion is the most important component in gaming feel and fast frame rates are needed to achieve that. Quality video processing is key as well. A good overdrive can make up for Hertz in many cases.
The Cooler Master GM2711S exemplifies these qualities. It’s $300 for a 27-inch QHD panel so we’re already off to a good start. It runs at 180 Hz so it’s a little faster than a 165 Hz monitor. It has top-shelf video processing with a precise overdrive and artifact-free backlight strobe, and flawless Adaptive-Sync too. Gaming feel doesn’t get much better than this.
It offers a wider gamut than most of its competitors and superior accuracy too. It can be used without calibration, or adjusted to a professional standard. My only complaint there is the lack of an sRGB mode. But I doubt that will be a deal-breaker for anyone shopping this category. I also wished for better contrast. IPS doesn’t have the dynamic range of VA, but I’d have liked to see a dimming option for HDR. The color is there, but black levels are a little high.
Honestly, the GM2711S’s gaming is so good I can easily overlook these flaws. For $300, it’s one of the best 27-inch QHD monitors out there. If you’re looking for great gameplay and rich color, the Cooler Master GM2711S is a solid choice.
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