Gigabyte G27F2 Gaming Monitor Review: Premium Performance for a Low Price

The Gigabyte G27F2 is a 27-inch FHD/IPS gaming monitor with 170 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published
Gigabyte G27F2
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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

The G27F2 supports HDR10 signals by switching automatically when one is detected. All picture controls are locked out, and light output goes up by 16%.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

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Gigabyte G27F2
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The G27F2 doesn’t offer any more contrast for HDR content, but there is visibly greater brightness. With 16% more light available, highlight areas have a little more punch and color looks slightly richer. The difference between SDR and HDR isn’t significant, but HDR is a little better. The Pixio’s VA panel offers greater native contrast, but the HP delivers the biggest improvement with over 9,500:1 contrast for HDR content.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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Gigabyte G27F2
(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

Despite the lack of HDR picture adjustments, the G27F2 has good color and grayscale accuracy. Grayscale tracking is a tad cool, but the error is hard to spot in content. The EOTF tracks perfectly except for the darkest part of the image, which is too light. That makes shadow detail more visible at the expense of true blacks. With a tone-map transition at 65%, there is plenty of bright highlight detail that adds a little extra pop to the image.

For DCI-P3 HDR content, the G27F2 is well suited. It hits all the saturation targets except 100% red which is a little under. Blue is generally over-saturated but not so much that detail is obscured. There is also plenty of green, which is better than most wide-gamut monitors can boast. For Rec.2020 material, the G27F2 hits the inner saturation points until it runs out of color between 80 and 90% saturation. Color stays on the proper hue trajectory, which again is better than more expensive wide gamut monitors in my experience. While the G27F2’s HDR won’t bowl you over with its contrast, it is very color accurate and makes excellent use of its attributes.

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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.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Matt_ogu812
    It all sounds too good to be true for a monitor at this price point.
    Just might be too tempting to pass up since I've been looking for a 27 " monitor with these specs.
    Reply
  • Emito
    Wow.. that review made me buy it. And Im very pleased. I love it.
    Could you please share the ICC profile?
    Reply
  • Der_Clown
    It doesn't have G-Sync. Well, if you have nVidia Graphics Card...Just think about it.
    Reply