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Conclusion

When considering gaming monitors just based on size and category, 27-inch flat panels are the dominant class. They’re available in 1080p, 1440p and 4K resolutions and feature fast refresh, Adaptive-Sync and often include HDR and extended color. Their main draw though is the price/performance ratio: 1440p models especially. For a reasonable sum, you can get a lot of performance with 144 Hz or more and solid video processing.

The Pixio PX277 Prime sits at the bottom of the price range in its class, but offers nearly all the performance of more expensive screens. We had no trouble running at 165 Hz with both FreeSync and even G-Sync, despite the lack of Nvidia certification. Adding in overdrive gave us a blur-free experience with no frame tears or stuttering. A responsive panel with low input lag delivered satisfaction in all the games we tried.

Though the color gamut stops at sRGB, we had no reason to fault the PX277P’s color quality. It’s reasonably accurate once calibrated and sports a vivid image with decent contrast. We had to calibrate to see its full potential though. Out of the box, it needs some adjustment; otherwise, the image looks a bit flat.

The big flaw of consequence is its HDR implementation. It doesn’t provide any more contrast for HDR content, and we discovered visible grayscale errors that made it unusable. The image looks too warm and flat for satisfying HDR. But left in SDR mode, it delivers a good picture for the money.

Buying an expensive monitor to go with a budget gaming rig rarely makes sense. If you're looking for a good value choice with fast frame rates and Adaptive-Sync, the Pixio PX277 Prime is a good choice. If you can forgo extended color and HDR, you can buy it and have some extra cash to put into other parts of your system. Gamers on a budget should definitely check it out.

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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.