ASRock Says New Challenger Monitors Are Good for ‘Light Gaming’

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Its 100 Hz FHD flat IPS 25- and 27-inch Challenger models sit a tier below the Phantom Gaming line.

ASRock Challenger CL25FF and CL27FF gaming monitors
(Image credit: ASRock)

ASRock has launched the Challenger Series of gaming monitors. The firm made its debut in the premium gaming monitor market just over a year ago with the Phantom Gaming Series. The new Challenger Series is aimed somewhat lower at customers interested in “Light Gaming,” to use ASRock’s terminology. ASRock lays the foundation of the Challenger Series with two flat-screen FHD monitors: the 25-inch CL25FF and the 27-inch CL27FF.

Introducing the more affordable monitor line, ASRock seeks to assure would-be customers that plenty of attractions remain. It says these monitors deliver all-round performance for office tasks, entertainment, and gaming. Thus, features like flicker-free technology, AMD FreeSync, and low blue light modes remain. Furthermore, it says these “light gaming” screens still offer “a remarkable 100Hz refresh rate” and 1 ms (MPRT) 4 ms (GTG) response times. This represents a worthwhile upgrade from a bog-standard 60 or 75 Hz office monitor.

(Image credit: ASRock)

The ASRock CL25FF and CL27FF appear remarkably similar when we check through the key specifications. Apart from the physical dimensions and pixel pitch, the only other primary spec that varied between the two was the contrast ratio, which is a superior 1300:1 on the smaller monitor and 1000:1 on the 27-incher. Both values are average for IPS screens. Check out the table below for a thorough spec rundown with the 27-inch monitor spec differences put in brackets.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Spec

ASRock CL25FF (CL27FF)

Screen size

24.5-inches (27-inches)

Resolution

FHD for 0.2832 mm pixel pitch (0.3114 mm)

Panel type

Flat IPS anti-glare with 16:9 ratio, wide viewing angles

Color

sRGB 99%, 16.7M colors

Max brightness

300 nits

Contrast

1300 : 1 (1000 : 1)

Performance

48-100 Hz refresh, 1 ms MPRT or 4 ms GTG response time

Ports

1x HDMI 1.4 with cable included, 1x VGA

Stand

Tilt: +20° ~ -5°, VESA 100 x 100 option

Max power

18 W (21 W)

Pondering over the above, you can see that some specs might be described as entry-level, especially the max brightness levels and ASRock’s simple stand. However, we should hope that ASRock would reflect the admitted “light gaming” and humble specs in the price. No pricing has been revealed, and we couldn’t find any listings for the ASRock Challenger CL25FF or CL27FF monitors at the time of writing.

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ASRock Challenger CL25FF and CL27FF gaming monitors
(Image credit: ASRock)

We reviewed the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R2B monitor back in February, where it won a well-deserved four stars, largely thanks to its great HDR image quality. However, it still wasn’t good enough to earn a place in our Best Curved Gaming Monitors 2023 list. The new Challenger series isn’t likely to make a splash in our best monitors lists either, unless perhaps we open up a new budget “light gaming” category.

Mark Tyson
Mark Tyson
Freelance News Writer

Mark Tyson is a Freelance News Writer at Tom's Hardware US. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

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7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Order 66
    What does the monitor have to do with the intensity of gaming? Like I know that some monitors may not be the best for gaming, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t. Not to mention a monitor for ‘light gaming’ would be one with a 60hz refresh rate as it is not meant for competitive games.
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    Probably would have been better to label it as "casual gaming", but 100hz is an interesting decision instead of 120hz. The problem I see though is that there are monitors like the MSI OPTIX G2712 (27", 1920x1080, 144hz, >100% sRGB) for $180 (or on sale for $160 now). Even if ASRock prices this monitor at $125 it'd be tough for me to tell someone to buy this monitor over the MSI, especially since a monitor should last you several builds.
    Reply
  • AgentBirdnest
    Oh man, I wish this had come out last week. Depending on the price, this could have been perfect for the secondary PC I just built.

    Order 66 said:
    What does the monitor have to do with the intensity of gaming? Like I know that some monitors may not be the best for gaming, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t. Not to mention a monitor for ‘light gaming’ would be one with a 60hz refresh rate as it is not meant for competitive games.
    Yeah, my thoughts exactly... My friend dabbles in Cyberpunk for an hour, a couple times per week, when he has the time. Another friend plays pixel-art point-and-click adventures for 6 hours a day. Is the latter "light" gaming, compared to an hour of Cyberpunk twice a week?

    For that matter, I don't like the terms "casual" or "hardcore" gaming. There's no clear definition, and I usually disagree with what others think. To me, "hardcore" is investing your heart and mind into a game for hours on end, getting emotionally involved, and thinking about it when you aren't even playing - and that happens to me most often with story-based RPGs, life-sims, or even point-and-click adventure games. On the flipside, casual is something that I can jump into for an hour while I'm brain fogged, and then forget I even played it when I'm done, like most FPS games or a racing game.
    Reply
  • Flayed
    AgentBirdnest said:
    Oh man, I wish this had come out last week. Depending on the price, this could have been perfect for the secondary PC I just built.


    Yeah, my thoughts exactly... My friend dabbles in Cyberpunk for an hour, a couple times per week, when he has the time. Another friend plays pixel-art point-and-click adventures for 6 hours a day. Is the latter "light" gaming, compared to an hour of Cyberpunk twice a week?

    For that matter, I don't like the terms "casual" or "hardcore" gaming. There's no clear definition, and I usually disagree with what others think. To me, "hardcore" is investing your heart and mind into a game for hours on end, getting emotionally involved, and thinking about it when you aren't even playing - and that happens to me most often with story-based RPGs, life-sims, or even point-and-click adventure games. On the flipside, casual is something that I can jump into for an hour while I'm brain fogged, and then forget I even played it when I'm done, like most FPS games or a racing game.
    Playing any game for 6 hours a day is pretty hardcore I think.
    Reply
  • MiniITXEconomy
    Order 66 said:
    What does the monitor have to do with the intensity of gaming? Like I know that some monitors may not be the best for gaming, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t. Not to mention a monitor for ‘light gaming’ would be one with a 60hz refresh rate as it is not meant for competitive games.

    AgentBirdnest said:
    Yeah, my thoughts exactly... My friend dabbles in Cyberpunk for an hour, a couple times per week, when he has the time. Another friend plays pixel-art point-and-click adventures for 6 hours a day. Is the latter "light" gaming, compared to an hour of Cyberpunk twice a week?

    I think you guys are getting too hung up on the labels. As Alvar stated (and, yes, I'm referencing three different posts, now...) it's just their phrase for "entry level," a way to inform potential buyers about its specs at a glance. I don't understand why you'd take that personal, lol
    Reply
  • Order 66
    MiniITXEconomy said:
    I think you guys are getting too hung up on the labels. As Alvar stated (and, yes, I'm referencing three different posts, now...) it's just their phrase for "entry level," a way to inform potential buyers about its specs at a glance. I don't understand why you'd take that personal, lol
    Fair point, but it still doesn’t explain what they consider to be light gaming. I know that I shouldn’t take the label too seriously but it is weird that a company would make a monitor positioned for “light gaming”.
    Reply
  • Flayed
    Order 66 said:
    Fair point, but it still doesn’t explain what they consider to be light gaming. I know that I shouldn’t take the label too seriously but it is weird that a company would make a monitor positioned for “light gaming”.
    Because it sounds better than we are releasing a range of distinctly mediocre gaming monitors?
    Reply