Gigabyte M32UC Review: Snappy Gaming Performance and Premium Image Quality

The Gigabyte M32UC is a 32-inch UHD/VA curved gaming monitor with 144 Hz, 160 Hz with overclock, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 400 and wide gamut color.

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Gigabyte M32UC
(Image credit: © Tom's Hardware)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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.

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cknobman
    You cannot have HDR without any type of local dimming.
    Pretty much false advertisement and should make an instant no recommendation IMO.
    Reply
  • ssj3rd
    HDR400? 🤮🤮🤮
    Reply
  • Johnpombrio
    I own the GigabyteM32U which RTratings names as the best 32-inch 4K mid-range gaming monitor with HDR 10, 144 Hz, and IPS for a year and a half now at $650 on Amazon. Going for VA and curved and the hokey HDR 400 sounds like a big step backward.
    Reply
  • truerock
    VESA DisplayHDR400 is not HDR - in my opinion.
    I take Vesa DisplayHDR400 as a VESA definition of a good-non-HDR monitor for a base comparison to the other VESA DisplayHDR standards. It's a helpful marketing tool.

    Really, VESA DisplayHDR500 is the lowest level of VESA DispayHDR - in my opinion.

    I've been using a 27", 1080P, 8-bit, 60Hz monitor for the last 12 years. When I upgrade, it will probably be to a 32", 4k, 10-bit, 144Hz monitor, VESA Display500 (with NO speakers).
    Reply
  • expert_vision
    truerock said:
    When I upgrade, it will probably be to a 32", 4k, 10-bit, 144Hz monitor, VESA Display500 (with NO speakers).
    @truerock I recently got Dell G3223Q for $500 on black firday and I think it meets all your criterias.
    Reply
  • truerock
    expert_vision said:
    @truerock I recently got Dell G3223Q for $500 on black firday and I think it meets all your criterias.

    Thanks... but, I don't think that monitor is VESA Display500.
    Reply
  • expert_vision
    truerock said:
    Thanks... but, I don't think that monitor is VESA Display500.
    It says it's VESA DisplayHDR™ 600. Is that not better than 500?
    Or are you reffering to the lack of local dimming? In that case, yeah, it lacks.
    Personally, I don't care about HDR. I have it disabled and brightness set to 0-10%, lol.
    Reply