Gigabyte GS32Q 32-inch 170 Hz QHD gaming monitor review: Big screen fun at an attractive price

Delivers large screen goodness for a low price

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Gigabyte GS32Q
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Budget gaming monitors always come with qualifiers, so the purchase decision comes down to what you’re willing to give up. Fast refresh and Adaptive-Sync are a must. I would follow these with contrast and color accuracy. If a monitor does those things well, and doesn’t cost a lot, it’s worth considering.

(Image credit: Gigabyte)

The Gigabyte GS32Q has a firm grip on speed, color accuracy and contrast. Among IPS monitors, it eclipses the 1,000:1 average with 1,400:1. If you want more, VA and OLED are the only options. Color accuracy is nearly at reference level right out of the box, and no calibration is required. If you would like to tweak it, those options are included. The only missing element there is an expanded color gamut. The GS32Q is sRGB only, though it does cover 102% of that gamut.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Its weakness is video processing. The overdrive and Aim Stabilizer backlight strobe both come with some visible artifacts that cause a little softness during fast-paced gaming. However, input lag is extremely low, and this was something I could easily see and benefit from. My movement and aiming precision were very high. And there were no issues with Adaptive-Sync at any time. I never saw a single frame tear.

The GS32Q is also not the best choice for HDR. It supports the standard with accurate tone mapping and color. But it doesn’t have dimming for additional dynamic range and again, is limited to sRGB. But for $209, I can forgive most of these issues. As an everyday monitor, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better 32-inch screen for the money. As a gaming monitor, it is satisfactory, if not life-changing. If you want a 32-inch screen for 27-inch money, it’s worth considering the Gigabyte GS32Q.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Roland Of Gilead
    Would love to see pixel density for the different screen sizes incorporated into the specs.
    Reply
  • xiscKillerx
    Great and informative review. I've been looking at this monitor for a while as it seemed way too good for it's price point but once again Gigabyte is king of budget monitors.
    Reply