Alienware AW2524H 500 Hz Gaming Monitor Review

The Alienware AW2524H is a 25-inch FHD IPS gaming monitor with 500 Hz, G-Sync and HDR400.

Alienware AW2524H
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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I found a group of 360 Hz monitors in my database to compare with the AW2524H’s performance. They are Alienware’s AW2523HF, AOC’s AG254FG, Asus’ PG259QN, MSI’s NXG253R and Acer’s X25. All are IPS panels with HDR capability. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag 

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

A 500 Hz panel does not draw the screen any quicker than a 360 Hz one. When viewing Blur Busters test patterns, the level of smoothness is about the same at 360 and 500 fps. I noticed slight ghosting in the UFO pattern on the AW2524H’s lowest overdrive setting. I would prefer to turn this off, but that option is unavailable.

The advantage comes in control lag, where the AW2524H has a 2ms advantage over the next fastest monitor from MSI. If you’re looking for every possible edge in competition, 500 Hz is unmatched. The difference is subtle for casual gamers like me, but I did notice it during play. Alienware’s claim that this is the world’s fastest monitor is confirmed.

Viewing Angles

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The AW2524H has superb off-axis image quality with no more than a 10% reduction in brightness and only a slight purple color shift. Shadow detail remains clear, and there is no significant change in gamma. The vertical plane shows a red/green tint with a 40% reduction in light output but only a small change to detail rendering. This is one of the better-performing IPS panels I’ve seen in this test.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

There were no visible uniformity issues with my AW2524H sample. An 8.41% deviation means you won’t see hotspots, bleed or glow. I would expect this from any high-end screen, and clearly, Alienware and Acer don’t disappoint. Only the AOC had any visible issues in this group, and it was slight.

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MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

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.

  • cknobman
    Its cool and all but only 25 inches?
    Just too small for me, really wish there was at least a 27 inch or better yet a 32.
    Reply
  • Friesiansam
    500Hz is pointlessly fast and, it's clear from the test results, the panel is not fast enough to keep up.
    Reply
  • helper800
    Friesiansam said:
    500Hz is pointlessly fast and, it's clear from the test results, the panel is not fast enough to keep up.
    Soon panel technologies will push its flaws past what humans can perceive, that is a good day in my book. I long for the day that motion blur, IPS glow, text fringing, pixel density, and many more are all solved by one monitor. That will be the day I get a new monitor.
    Reply
  • cristovao
    In a 10 meter room, light fills 30.000.000 times per second, so i don't think 500 or more frames in a monitor is going to break past human perception anytime soon!
    Reply
  • helper800
    cristovao said:
    In a 10 meter room, light fills 30.000.000 times per second, so i don't think 500 or more frames in a monitor is going to break past human perception anytime soon!
    I dont know what you are talking about. What are you trying to say? Humans cannot perceive 30,000,000 "fills" of light. Please elaborate.
    Reply
  • usertests
    Required reading:
    https://blurbusters.com/blur-busters-law-amazing-journey-to-future-1000hz-displays-with-blurfree-sample-and-hold/
    Inputs include a single DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1... The HDMI ports are limited to 240 Hz but include VRR for consoles.

    How exactly do you get 1080p 500 Hz? The DisplayPort using Display Stream Compression?
    Reply
  • s997863
    I’ve been reviewing monitors long enough that occasionally, I have a “remember when” moment. Remember when all monitors refreshed at a fixed 60 Hz?

    Remember when you opened a Geforce2 control panel on a CRT monitor and got refresh choices up to 120Hz?
    Reply
  • helper800
    usertests said:
    Required reading:
    https://blurbusters.com/blur-busters-law-amazing-journey-to-future-1000hz-displays-with-blurfree-sample-and-hold/


    How exactly do you get 1080p 500 Hz? The DisplayPort using Display Stream Compression?
    Settings to lower the bandwidth include; color subsampling, bit depth of those colors, and DSC are options to increase data throughput for a higher refresh rate. 4k is 4 times the resolution of 1080p and we have 4k monitors that are 144hz+. You can simply quadruple the hz on a 4k monitor and apply it to 1080p to see what is possible for peak hz throughput at 1080p. 4 times 144 is 576. So getting to 500hz or 480 without an OC on the monitor at 1080p is very doable even at 4:4:4 chroma, and 8 or 10 bit color, with or without DSC is my guess.
    Reply
  • blacknemesist
    helper800 said:
    Settings to lower the bandwidth include; color subsampling, bit depth of those colors, and DSC are options to increase data throughput for a higher refresh rate. 4k is 4 times the resolution of 1080p and we have 4k monitors that are 144hz+. You can simply quadruple the hz on a 4k monitor and apply it to 1080p to see what is possible for peak hz throughput at 1080p. 4 times 144 is 576. So getting to 500hz or 480 without an OC on the monitor at 1080p is very doable even at 4:4:4 chroma, and 8 or 10 bit color, with or without DSC is my guess.
    The neo G8 does 4k@240hz with only DSC so 480hz 1080p seems to not even need any type of compression for dp1.4
    Reply
  • Sleepy_Hollowed
    I would personally would like it to be ultra wide, but it is what it is, this is the ultimate 1080p standard monitor for gaming anyways.
    Reply