Gigabyte G27QC Review: Curve, Contrast, Crushing Speed

The Gigabyte G27QC 27-inch gaming monitor offers HDR, 165 Hz and a lot more for the money.

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Gigabyte G27QC
(Image: © Gigabyte)

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The G27QC is attractively priced and offers a little more contrast than comparable products. Most VA panels can deliver around 3,000:1 but we measured over 4,000:1 in both SDR and HDR modes. While the HDR effect isn’t life-changing here, it is a little better than similar monitors with less contrast.

(Image credit: Gigabyte)

Color gamut coverage is about average at 85% of DCI-P3. But to the naked eye, the G27QC looks more saturated, thanks to its contrast and low black levels. Dynamic range is the key to everything, and this monitor has it in spades.

Gaming performance will certainly satisfy picky players with a reliable 165 Hz refresh rate and flawless FreeSync operation, as well as unofficial G-Sync, down to 48 Hz. With 3.7 million pixels to move, you won’t need a pricey video card to keep frame rates at a high level. We easily maxed our test PCs at 165 fps with gaming detail set to maximum. And Gigabyte’s well-implemented overdrive, you won’t have to worry about motion blur. Our tests and our hands-on play also showed a complete lack of perceivable input lag.

The G27QC’s main flaw is its lack of an sRGB mode. That may not be important to some, but videophiles like us prefer to view SDR content in the proper sRGB color gamut. Gigabyte included this feature in the larger Gigabyte G32QC, but the G27QC's sRGB preset doesn’t reduce the color gamut. Tt seems few extended color monitors pay homage to sRGB these days.

That issue aside, there is nothing else to complain about. The G27QC is a superb gaming monitor with accurate out of box color, excellent contrast and smooth gaming performance. At around $290, it’s a decent value as well. 

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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
  • maestro0428
    This is right up my alley. Ive been looking for a larger monitor to game on. And it's actually a good value. Wish it was flat though as the curve is just a marketing gimmick if you ask me. Do they have a flat version?
    Reply
  • Selcuk Estel
    maestro0428 said:
    This is right up my alley. Ive been looking for a larger monitor to game on. And it's actually a good value. Wish it was flat though as the curve is just a marketing gimmick if you ask me. Do they have a flat version?

    Yes there's a flat one of the same model aptly named G27Q without the C at the end. (C=curve)
    Reply
  • QSV
    I will never understand how tech sites can recommend any VA monitors for gaming with their huge issues like black smearing and certain flickering textures.
    Reply
  • veldrane2
    cons:
    27"
    2k
    VA for gaming ...

    27" - been on it for about a decade now, its time to move up
    2k - not even a wide 2k, just 2k, in light of the new GPUs and upcoming CPUs, seriously ?
    VA - VA for gaming is hit and miss at best, usually its the miss despite marketing claims.
    Curved - preger flat,though this isn't necessarily a con as some people might prefer curved so I did not list it as such.
    Reply