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Conclusion

The value monitor proposition is difficult for gaming display vendors.Today’s players are spoiled by things like fast refresh rates and Adaptive-Sync, and expectations are rising with the advent of HDR and extended color. Prices inevitably fall, but to compete in the gaming monitor genre, the features have to be there.

Pixio succeeds in delivering what’s needed for a good experience without driving the cost up. The Pixio PX248 Prime is just $170 but packs in a reliable 144 Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync to prevent screen tears.

We found the PX248 Prime’s gaming performance to be faultless. It delivers the same panel response as any other 144 Hz monitor and input lag nearly as low as its best competitors. You can find a little more speed from another display, but you’ll have to pay more.

Our only real complaint is about its default picture quality. Because of Pixio’s choices in default settings, the out-of-box image is too blue and somewhat flat. That comes down to color temperature and gamma, both of which are set incorrectly. Calibration (see our recommended settings on page one) is required to get the most from the PX248 Prime, but if you make those changes, you’ll be rewarded with an excellent image that has more contrast than most IPS monitors.

With proper setup, the PX248 Prime is a very good gaming monitor that delivers excellent performance for the money. Though it requires a tweaking, it’s an ideal match for budget gaming PCs or consoles. Lavish gaming monitors are great, but when you can get the vast majority of the experience for 20% of the price, what’s not to like?

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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.

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