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.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published
Cooler Master GM27-FQS
(Image: © Cooler Master)

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In every computer hardware category, there is a balance point where you get 99% of the best possible performance for a reasonable sum. Reaching the absolute bleeding edge costs a lot more. In other words, that last one percent might double the price.

For monitors, that point is QHD resolution at 165 Hz. There are a large number of screens, IPS and VA based, in 27- and 32-inch sizes, that provide excellent performance and image quality for gaming and productivity. Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS is the latest addition to this genre.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

It stands out from the competition in a couple of ways. It is one of the more color-accurate examples I’ve reviewed, requiring only a single setting change to deliver reference-level numbers in the grayscale, gamma and gamut tests. It’s one of the faster 165 Hz monitors I’ve tested with less than 30 milliseconds of total input lag. Effective overdrive and a useful backlight strobe blur reduction option mean it can be tailored to the needs of gamers at all skill levels. And it pairs equally well with FreeSync and G-Sync PCs. The only thing it doesn’t have is HDMI 2.1; though with QHD resolution, it’s still compatible with the latest consoles.

My only complaint about the image was a lack of extra HDR contrast. Like many of its competitors, the GM27-FQS does not offer dynamic contrast in HDR mode. This means there is no more depth in the HDR image over the SDR version. Color is a bit more saturated and hits the marks in color testing, but if you want impactful HDR, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Cooler Master’s GM27-FQS delivers value as its primary asset. You get excellent gaming performance, cool styling with unique lighting, solid build quality and a good all-around image that’s well suited for gaming, video or productivity. If cost is a primary consideration, you should definitely check it out.

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.

4 Comments Comment from the forums
  • 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