Gigabyte Aorus FV43U USB-C Gaming Monitor Review: King of the 43-Inch Class

Class-leading color and contrast

Reviews
By
published
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Gigabyte)

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The FV43U supports HDR10 signals and automatically switches modes when one’s detected. Four picture modes are then available, offering different interpretations of the luminance curve with slight variations in color.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

Image 1 of 3
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The FV43U carries VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification, which calls for a max brightness of at least 1,000 nits. It achieved this in our tests using a 25% window pattern, while full-field measurements were around 920 nits. To say this is plenty bright would be an understatement. The 43 and 55-inch screens in our comparison group all manage to deliver over 1,000 nits, so comparisons on this basis are a wash.

You’ll get the FV43U’s best HDR black levels and HDR contrast in the HDR1000 mode, which uses the local dimming feature to be the best screen in the group with a very dark 0.0281 nit black level and 38,888.4:1 contrast. If you’re looking for good HDR, the Aorus can deliver.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Image 1 of 4
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U
(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

We compared the four HDR modes and found HDR1000 to be the best for all types of HDR content. You can see in the first image above that the grayscale chart is pretty close to the mark with just slight red errors in the brighter steps. The EOTF starts out a bit too dark, then transitions to tone-mapping about 5% too early. This is only a minor issue.

For comparison, we also measured HDR Game mode with local dimming turned on. Grayscale tracking is fine, but the EOTF is well off the mark. This is due to the panel’s slow response to changing picture levels (the average brightness level of a given frame, usually expressed in percent). We could see the patterns pulse as the measurements were taken. In actual content, speedy action will cause the changes in luminance to lag behind, which is usually seen as flickering. Even though local dimming can’t be turned off in the HDR1000 picture mode, its operation is invisible.

In the HDR gamut tests, both modes show slight oversaturations. Both picture modes track the DCI-P3 gamut well and in practice, show vivid and natural color that will please nearly everyone. The final takeaway: use the HDR1000 mode for best results.

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.

17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thepersonwithaface45
    Eye balling this right now, only thing is the size of the thing. I want 32", 144hz, for ~$1000. That's too much to ask for though, apparently.
    Reply
  • helper800
    The only market segment for this is those that want 1000 nits HDR content and being smaller than most of the other comparable options. The LG 48 inch CX and C1 TVs do everything else that this does but better for the same price. I personally was able to snag a 55 inch CX for 1350 at Costco about 1 month ago and have zero regrets. Some may say its too big, however, vesa mounted and angled down at 20 degrees and 5 feet from my head its perfect. A monitor like this will be a hard sell for most at 1500.

    I feel like the majority of prosumers would prefer a 32-38 inch 4k 120+hz VRR and HDR at 600-1000 nits for 800-1200 dollars instead if this.
    Reply
  • waltc3
    I just paid $850 for this, via Amazon, a week or so ago:

    https://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/philips_436m6vbpab.htm
    Absolutely love the thing and use it as a DP 1.4 monitor, not a TV. 4k never looked so good for me. At first, I thought it might be too big--but after a week of working with it I'm not sure how I ever got along without it. Gaming on this monitor is incredible--you'll feel as if you've never actually seen your games before--it's a whole new dimension. I sit about 4-5 feet away, and that actually seems ideal. The WCG and the various HDR modes must be seen to be believed.

    Windows10 scaling is marvelous--it's strange, but I use the same scaling settings on this 43" that I used on my former BenQ EW-3270U 32" 4k--175% with 128% font scaling--marvelous. An amusing thing is that Win10 tried to stick me with a 300% scaling initially which was far and away too big! Ugh.

    People who think they have to have the 144Hz probably would turn up their noses at this 60Hz monitor, but I can get far more than 144 fps @ 1440P with vsync off--and AMD's Enhanced Sync all but eliminates page tear. No ghosting whatsoever...very happy.

    But this Gigabyte looks very nice, too! My main reason for making this post is to tell folks they don't need to worry about 43" being too big for their desktops. I am surprised by just how much I've come to like it in the last week! The colors & HDR will blow you away, imo. My old BenQ looks worn out and drab, comparatively--now.

    It dawned on me that I wouldn't be buying a 6800XT anytime soon because of the shortages--not that I didn't want one badly, so I bought a nice monitor, instead. My 5700XT has a lot of life in it yet...;) I'll get a 6800XT at some point, but it's no longer the imperative it was at the end of 2020. This monitor is helping me to fully appreciate just what I've got in the 50th Ann Ed GPU!
    Reply
  • helper800
    waltc3 said:
    I just paid $850 for this, via Amazon, a week or so ago:

    https://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/philips_436m6vbpab.htm
    Absolutely love the thing and use it as a DP 1.4 monitor, not a TV. 4k never looked so good for me. At first, I thought it might be too big--but after a week of working with it I'm not sure how I ever got along without it. Gaming on this monitor is incredible--you'll feel as if you've never actually seen your games before--it's a whole new dimension. I sit about 4-5 feet away, and that actually seems ideal. The WCG and the various HDR modes must be seen to be believed.

    Windows10 scaling is marvelous--it's strange, but I use the same scaling settings on this 43" that I used on my former BenQ EW-3270U 32" 4k--175% with 128% font scaling--marvelous. An amusing thing is that Win10 tried to stick me with a 300% scaling initially which was far and away too big! Ugh.

    People who think they have to have the 144Hz probably would turn up their noses at this 60Hz monitor, but I can get far more than 144 fps @ 1440P with vsync off--and AMD's Enhanced Sync all but eliminates page tear. No ghosting whatsoever...very happy.

    But this Gigabyte looks very nice, too! My main reason for making this post is to tell folks they don't need to worry about 43" being too big for their desktops. I am surprised by just how much I've come to like it in the last week! The colors & HDR will blow you away, imo. My old BenQ looks worn out and drab, comparatively--now.

    It dawned on me that I wouldn't be buying a 6800XT anytime soon because of the shortages--not that I didn't want one badly, so I bought a nice monitor, instead. My 5700XT has a lot of life in it yet...;) I'll get a 6800XT at some point, but it's no longer the imperative it was at the end of 2020. This monitor is helping me to fully appreciate just what I've got in the 50th Ann Ed GPU!
    Thats awesome that you found something that ended up fitting your needs at a price you can live with, cheers and thanks for the info. Personally I cannot got back to 60hz on a monitor for PC gaming.
    Reply
  • JarredWaltonGPU
    helper800 said:
    The only market segment for this is those that want 1000 nits HDR content and being smaller than most of the other comparable options. The LG 48 inch CX and C1 TVs do everything else that this does but better for the same price. I personally was able to snag a 55 inch CX for 1350 at Costco about 1 month ago and have zero regrets. Some may say its too big, however, vesa mounted and angled down at 20 degrees and 5 feet from my head its perfect. A monitor like this will be a hard sell for most at 1500.

    I feel like the majority of prosumers would prefer a 32-38 inch 4k 120+hz VRR and HDR at 600-1000 nits for 800-1200 dollars instead if this.
    I don't know ... maybe I'm a tiny minority, but I'd really like a 43-inch (basically 40 to 46 inch) 144Hz 4K monitor. For what I do, I'd prefer the larger size -- easier to read -- over the typical 28-inch 4K displays. I've just got enough displays right now that I don't feel the need to pull the trigger on a $1000 monitor.
    Reply
  • mikeyunk
    Any who owns this monitor does it charge over USB-C? I own a AOC AGON 49” ultra wide with USB-C and even though it does charge my work laptop it runs at a much lower resolution and looos terrible. I have to use a USB-C to display port adapter to my AGON display to get the full resolution 5120x1440. I have to charge the laptop with the AC adapter it came with.

    What resolution can you run on this screen via USC-C and does it charge? Basically is anyone using it for work with a laptop and gaming?

    can you run this monitor at 1440p instead of 4K resolution? I’ve got a RTX-2080 TI and that card might not cut it for 4K gaming.
    Reply
  • Geef
    thepersonwithaface45 said:
    Eye balling this right now, only thing is the size of the thing. I want 32", 144hz, for ~$1000. That's too much to ask for though, apparently.

    Just wait a little bit longer. The current Gen doesn't, but next gen monitors will get HDMI 2.1 + 4k along with the 32" and the 144Hz you want hopefully with a tag around $1000.
    Reply
  • Blowsie
    Does this monitor work with gysnc and HDR at the same time? That's what the review suggests to me?
    Reply
  • RS13
    Blowsie said:
    Does this monitor work with gysnc and HDR at the same time? That's what the review suggests to me?

    I have this same question. Also does anyone besides Newegg sell this?! I can't even find listings anywhere else.
    Reply
  • waltc3
    Blowsie said:
    Does this monitor work with gysnc and HDR at the same time? That's what the review suggests to me?

    Can't tell you--but I can tell you that the 43" Philips Momentum DisplayHDR1000 I bought does, and it does a terrific job of it. I went to the NewEgg site and they have two customer reviews on the 43" Gigabyte (in the "Gaming monitor" pages), so I'd suggest you read both. The first guy really liked his--the second one, not so much. But read his review posted on the NewEgg site. I was a bit surprised--actually--as HDR & Freesync work splendidly here. But I'm not sure what hardware the second guy had in the way of a GPU, but his criticisms were fairly monitor-specific, I thought. At any rate, I'm enjoying my HDR games more than I ever have. Until you see a 43" 4k Wide Color Gamut, DisplayHDR 1000-certified monitor in action, you really can't describe how much better things can be. I sure could not.
    Reply