AOC G2770PF 27-inch FreeSync Gaming Monitor Review

Early Verdict

Despite the cons we've noted, there really isn't anything to dislike about the G2770PF. It's well-built and presents a clear image with high contrast and plenty of available brightness. FreeSync works over a wide 30-144Hz range setting it apart from several more-expensive monitors. At a price well under $400, it seems like a great choice for gamers on a budget.

Pros

  • +

    Excellent contrast • FreeSync from 30-144Hz • Solid build • Great value

Cons

  • -

    No motion-blur reduction • Overdrive disabled above 60Hz • A few minor color errors

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Introduction

The list of adaptive-refresh displays is growing ever-longer with new FreeSync and G-Sync products coming out at regular intervals. While you can find 24 and 27-inch screens at a wide range of prices, two distinct categories are emerging. One is on the high-end where you'll find IPS panels, QHD resolution, motion-blur reduction and premium pricing. On the other end are less-expensive screens based on TN panels with 1920x1080 pixels in both 24 and 27-inch sizes.

24 inches is a great form factor if you need a display that's easy to pack up and carry. The ones we've looked at are light and compact; easily secured in their suitcase style cartons and toted to LAN parties. A 27-inch screen is more likely to stay put on users' desktops so there you'll find better build quality and perhaps nicer styling too.

We've been consistently impressed with AOC's products in past reviews as they offer a lot for the money. Last year, we evaluated the G-Sync G2460PG and found it competent and most importantly, inexpensive.

Today, we have AOC's first FreeSync offering in the lab, the G2770PF. It's a 27-inch TN panel running in FHD resolution at 144Hz. Unlike some of its more-expensive competition, the FreeSync range extends all the way to the max rate and down to a very practical 30Hz. This makes it ideal for use with a wide variety of graphics boards and should last users through multiple hardware upgrades.

Specifications

To keep the price low the G2770PF leaves out less-important features like motion-blur reduction. To us this is a non-issue because you can't use it in FreeSync mode and it always reduces light output and overall contrast. In our opinion, the reduction in image quality is greater than the improvement in motion resolution. And without FreeSync, tearing is fairly obvious at rates below 90fps.

Also helping reduce cost is the TN panel running at FHD resolution. Many users prefer IPS and higher pixel counts and we count ourselves among them. But prices are still higher not only for the technology but for the greater QHD pixel density and longer feature list. If you're not willing to spend $600 and up on a 27-inch screen however, this AOC might just be the monitor for you.

Hardware-wise, everything you need for an excellent gaming experience is included. The panel is bright with a white-LED backlight. Color depth is 8-bits and gamut is the correct sRGB specification. There are built-in speakers plus a headphone jack and an analog audio input. A USB hub with four downstream ports is also present. Build quality looks solid on first glance and the whole package seems pretty good for the money. Let's hook up the test gear and take a closer look.

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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.

  • ohim
    I don`t understand the 27" 1080p market, most of the guys who buy these monitors instantly regret it and sell them for cheap on the second hand market. In phones they don`t know how to cram more pixels on to a little screen while on PC they don`t know how to make them bigger ...
    Reply
  • Verrin
    I could live with 1080p at 27 inches. Hell, I've been using a 42 inch TV for years now and I honestly have no complaints with the pixel density, which is much worse. I probably would struggle to deal with the ghosting though from the lack of overdrive on this panel over 60Hz.

    My current freesync monitor had a firmware bug that prevented overdrive from being enabled with freesync turned on, and the ghosting was atrocious. I had to send it in to get the firmware updated, and the monitor has been excellent ever since.
    Reply
  • sillynilly
    1080 at that size is a bit nasty. Save a bit a get 1440 at this screen size - better, just better.
    Reply
  • J_E_D_70
    I looked at Asus 27" 1080 TN panel a couple of years ago in store and it looked great. I just wish gsync was same price.
    Reply
  • RockyPlays
    I'm sticking with the 24" Aoc 144hz Freesync model. I don't see the point of spending more on a bigger screen.
    Reply
  • sergyi
    ??
    Reply
  • sergyi
    It is a good monitor for gaming.
    Reply