AOC G2460PQU, Unparalleled Speed and Responsiveness
Now that the results are in, we can revisit our 144 Hz gaming monitor comparison. AOC becomes the new champ in our screen draw and input lag tests. It also comes close to matching the VG248QE’s prodigious light output. The biggest concession AOC's G2460PQU makes is a lack of blur reduction functionality, which Asus and BenQ do offer.
Then again, I can't say I missed backlight strobing in any of our tests or when I played games on the G2460PQU. Enjoying fast-paced titles on a system with a 144 Hz monitor becomes more pleasurable regardless. And even productivity-oriented tasks benefit from an almost intoxicating smoothness as your cursor moves around on-screen. Blur reduction would certainly enhance this further but frankly, I don’t consider it a deal-breaker.
We believe this monitor should be considered for its class-leading speed and excellent brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. There were a few anomalies in the gamma results, but if you stick to our suggested Gamma 2 preset, you’ll be within a whisker of the desired 2.2. Contrast is a strong point of the TN-based screens we've tested recently, and this one is no exception. In fact, the overall ratio holds up to calibration better than a majority of displays, regardless of panel technology. If you choose not to calibrate, selecting the Standard mode and User color temp generates results that come pretty close to our standards.
Comparisons based on price are pretty much a wash, given the 144 Hz options available. Whichever brand you choose, anticipate spending around $275 for a 24-inch model or $500 for a 27-inch version. Personally, I’d go for three 24s in a panoramic setup.
So is the G2460PQU a harbinger of things to come? I suspect it is. As technology allows, expect manufacturers to increase refresh rates wherever they can. After all, there are benefits to be had that transcend gaming. As the lines get blurred between traditional broadcast and streamed delivery of video content, I believe some users will want the improved motion resolution that comes with frame interpolation. It's already common on HDTVs. But with more people turning to their computers to watch TV, the demand for that same functionality on computer monitors could increase as well.
The performance of graphics cards is only going to go up. The best boards blast past what it takes to deliver smooth performance at the most demanding quality settings, particularly at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440. Enthusiasts who prefer playing with v-sync enabled can only relieve the 60 Hz ceiling with a monitor like AOC's G2460PQU. We think it deserves to be on every gamers’ short list. For its best-in-class speed and responsiveness, we're giving it the Tom's Hardware Smart Buy award.
Just so you know what's coming, we have several unique displays in the lab. LG just sent us its latest 21:9 screen, the 34UM95. It breaks that aspect ratio's mold in that it’s 34 inches diagonal with 3440x1440 resolution. Also on the test bench is BenQ’s BL3200. It’s a jumbo 32-inch QHD display with a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel. It promises black levels and contrast equal to TN, but with the low power consumption and better viewing angles of IPS. Stay tuned!
