Cooler Master GM27-FQS Review: Accurate Color and High Performance

The Cooler Master GM27-FQS is a 27-inch QHD/IPS gaming monitor with 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color.

Cooler Master GM27-FQS
(Image: © Cooler Master)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

Cooler Master rates the GM27-FQS at 300 nits typical, and my sample came close with 276 nits peak output in SDR mode. There is a little more brightness available for HDR content, which I’ll talk about on page five. The black level is about average for the panel’s backlight intensity, so contrast is also average at 946:1. You can increase dynamic range by turning DCR on, which lowers the black level noticeably. The ratio goes up to around 3,000:1 as a result but some fine shadow detail is clipped in the process.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Whether you calibrate as I did or simply choose the DCI-P3 color space, adjustment increases contrast a bit to 1,039:1. This is a subtly visible gain in image depth which also improves color saturation. I recommend using the settings shown on page one or just switching to the DCI-P3 color space and leaving the remaining options at their defaults.

Hot spots at the top of the screen reduce the ANSI contrast score to 828.9:1. The rest of the screen shows decent pop and depth, so this result doesn’t indicate a significant reduction in image quality. Other GM27-FQS samples may post higher ANSI scores depending on their screen uniformity.

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.

  • husker
    A monitor stand should not extend so far in front of the screen as to get in the way of the workspace, no excuses.
    Reply
  • hotaru251
    even 400 nit is basically "no different" in HDR....why would you list 300nit as hdr x_x...
    Reply
  • Friesiansam
    How much cheaper would this monitor be, without the fairy lights and overdesigned stand?
    Reply
  • giannis.karaoglanis.87
    coolermaster or dell s2721dgf?
    Reply