144 Hz IPS G-Sync Monitor reviewed

[WhoDecidedThat]

LinusTechTips:

TFT Central: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/acer_xb270hu.htm

TFTC says, "Move over Asus ROG Swift PG278Q, we've got a new king of gaming monitors!"

 

[Frag_Maniac]

If it's the new "King" why didn't you put at least Acer in the thread title? LOL

Seriously though, I figured that was the one you were talking about. I'm more interested in whether we'll see any Freesync supported TVs, esp after bench tests have verified both technologies work equally well. I see no reason to pay more for G-Sync unless you're a diehard Nvidia fan and they decide not to support Feeesync, which I feel would be a bad move on their part since it's a VESA standard now.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

If it's the new "King" why didn't you put at least Acer in the thread title? LOL

Because it's an Acer.

BUT it's technological proof that high refresh rate IPS are very much possible and by 2016 the era of TN should be over as long as you are not looking for the cheapest possible monitor. According to TFTC, this monitor has input lag lower than even ROG Swift's which is amazing considering it's IPS and not TN.

Now all we have do is wait for ROG Swift 2 or something.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

BBBUUUUMMMPPP!!!!

 

[Space Lynx]

I'm with Linus, I will wait for 3440x1440 21:9 curved glass IPS gsync 144hz. Once someone makes that monitor, they will not only get my money but my soul. :3

 

[Frag_Maniac]

So you were hesitant to post the Acer name because they're associated with "value" category displays? So what, they've put out some fairly good monitors for the money. It's kinda contradictory given you're blowing smoke up G-Syncs arse after tests have shown Freesync works equally well at a much lower price. After being made a VESA standard the market will also soon be flooded with displays supporting it. I get the feeling G-Sync will be all but a distant memory soon. Nvidia have a habit of coming up with ideas that don't get used much or implemented well.

That said, I certainly hope the same is not true of NVLink, because I'm kinda leaning toward Pascal for my next GPU. If Nvidia decide not to support Freesync though, I could very well end up sticking with AMD, depending on Pascal's performance and pricing. I just don't foresee G-Sync catching on big though, and variable frame rate syncing is a pretty big deal that will likely influence a lot of people's purchase decisions. Nvidia could lose some market share if they're too stubborn about it. Most display manufacturers aren't going to want to make both G-Sync and Freesync supported product.

This could very well end up being like the short lived war of the HD format between MS and Sony, with one soon winning out over the other.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

I get the feeling G-Sync will be all but a distant memory soon. Nvidia have a habit of coming up with ideas that don't get used much or implemented well.

Just like CUDA.

variable frame rate syncing is a pretty big deal that will likely influence a lot of people's purchase decisions.

Just like 3D monitors.

 

[Cheeseball]

Just like PhysX.

Corrected that for you. CUDA is used a lot more often compared to OpenCL, and is even backwards compatible.

 

[Caring1]

Corrected that for you. CUDA is used a lot more often compared to OpenCL, and is even backwards compatible.

You "corrected" it to PhysX, except Nvidia didn't come up with that idea, they bought the I.P. for it.

 

[qubit]

Yup, they bought out Agea.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

Corrected that for you. CUDA is used a lot more often compared to OpenCL, and is even backwards compatible.

I meant CUDA. That guy was trying to imply that G-Sync will be dead because of Adaptive Sync. I was trying to imply that just like OpenCL couldn't do a damn about CUDA, Adaptive Sync can't do anything about G-Sync.

 

[qubit]

I meant CUDA. That guy was trying to imply that G-Sync will be dead because of Adaptive Sync. I was trying to imply that just like OpenCL couldn't do a damn about CUDA, Adaptive Sync can't do anything about G-Sync.

I wouldn't write off an open adaptive sync standard just yet. It's far too early.

 

[xorbe]

I have one. It's an awesome toy. Use "normal" overdrive as shown by TFTCentral. My opinion below:

Pros:

* gsync + 144Hz is very smooth, fast response low lag for gaming
* matte ahva/ips viewing angles
* non-pulsing back light
* real buttons
* a few selectable gamma curves ("1.9, 2.2, 2.5, gaming")
* color temps cool, normal, warm, user
* up/down, tilt, swivel, turn
* optional real-time vertical Hz bar chart

Cons:

* compared to my $$$$ pro NEC the white is a bit hot (typical of consumer stuff)
* one input, display port (guess this is a gsync thing)
* fails the hatch pattern test like some other lcds
* bezel is shiny plastic but it's thin enough (I prefer the matte plastic)
* no option for disabling blue power led (or changing to red/green)
* brightness up/down is really slow ... lol

Other:

* 27" 2560x1440
* usb3, 1 in 2 out
* 5 presets (user, eco, standard, graphics, movie)
* ULMB works only at 85 and 100 Hz
* I'm using white balance user RGB 52/48/48

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

I have one. It's an awesome toy. Use "normal" overdrive as shown by TFTCentral. My opinion below:

Pros:

* gsync + 144Hz is very smooth, fast response low lag for gaming
* matte ahva/ips viewing angles
* non-pulsing back light
* real buttons
* a few selectable gamma curves ("1.9, 2.2, 2.5, gaming")
* color temps cool, normal, warm, user
* up/down, tilt, swivel, turn
* optional real-time vertical Hz bar chart

Cons:

* compared to my $$$$ pro NEC the white is a bit hot (typical of consumer stuff)
* one input, display port (guess this is a gsync thing)
* fails the hatch pattern test like some other lcds
* bezel is shiny plastic but it's thin enough (I prefer the matte plastic)
* no option for disabling blue power led (or changing to red/green)

Other:

* 27" 2560x1440
* usb3, 1 in 2 out
* 5 presets (user, eco, standard, graphics, movie)
* ULMB works only at 85 and 100 Hz
* I'm using white balance user RGB 52/48/48

How does ULMB work with extreme and no over-drive?

 

[xorbe]

How does ULMB work with extreme and no over-drive?

This guy covers it better than I ever could I'm sure:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/acer_xb270hu.htm
I haven't actually tried ULMB yet, isn't Gsync superior?

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

This guy covers it better than I ever could I'm sure:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/acer_xb270hu.htm
I haven't actually tried ULMB yet, isn't Gsync superior?

They don't. That's why I asked here.

G-Sync is superior while gaming. In normal day to day use like web browsing, emailing etc. ULMB is better.

 

[Cartel]

Still not as fast as my CRT

 

[Xzibit]

Panel Technology - AU Optronics AHVA

Marketing calls it IPS-Type but its not IPS. Much like marketing calls 6-bit+FRC panels 8-bit panels

 

[xorbe]

G-Sync is superior while gaming. In normal day to day use like web browsing, emailing etc. ULMB is better.

I have to read up about ULMB before I even know what to look for.

edit: Yeah it works, that's kind of trippy. It also allows super low light output for dark rooms.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I meant CUDA. That guy was trying to imply that G-Sync will be dead because of Adaptive Sync.

Whoa pal, I'm not "trying to imply" anything, I'm making a sound assessment based on fact. If anything you're "trying" to interpret comments on the subject, and not very well.

Freesync only makes use of Adaptive Sync, it takes far more than AS to get it working. And I'm not just saying G-Sync could die soon due to the tech alone. Since tests have now shown that both techs pretty much perform equally, it comes down to price and availability. There Freesync will easily win.

A primary rule of business, especially during a global recession, is when two products perform equally, the cheaper one, esp if there's more choice and availability, is the one that gets purchased. Furthermore, unlike G-Sync, Freesync allows having Vsync on or off, does not darken the screen, and has a much wider refresh range. And that's without even mentioning the complexity and trust involved in display manufacturers having to partner with Nvidia on the hardware end.

 

[15th Warlock]

If it's the new "King" why didn't you put at least Acer in the thread title? LOL

Seriously though, I figured that was the one you were talking about. I'm more interested in whether we'll see any Freesync supported TVs, esp after bench tests have verified both technologies work equally well. I see no reason to pay more for G-Sync unless you're a diehard Nvidia fan and they decide not to support Feeesync, which I feel would be a bad move on their part since it's a VESA standard now.

I agree, Acer is become more and more a manufacturer of awesome gaming monitors.

As for freesync and gsync working equally well, unfortunately that is not the case, at least not yet:


http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Dissecting-G-Sync-and-FreeSync-How-Technologies-Differ

At least, in theory, AMD can include better low frame rate performance and crossfire support in a future driver, but right now, most reviewers agree gsync provides a better experience than the current version of freesync

 

[Xzibit]

I agree, Acer is become more and more a manufacturer of awesome gaming monitors.

As for freesync and gsync working equally well, unfortunately that is not the case, at least not yet:


http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Dissecting-G-Sync-and-FreeSync-How-Technologies-Differ

At least, in theory, AMD can include better low frame rate performance and crossfire support in a future driver, but right now, most reviewers agree gsync provides a better experience than the current version of freesync

With-in the VRR window they are the same and above FS+AS have the benefit of on or off while GS your capped they point that out in the latest podcast. Below is where they see a issue are beating the drum. Look at the latest Podcast. They had to draw down their assertions until they can verify them. Ryan was a lot more careful then Allyn. Allyn been getting pounded from day 1 on various forums for not knowing the panel differs from the ASUS ROG Swift. Seem they are trying too hard to point out Adaptive-Sync issues while ignoring G-Sync issues. They wrote a quick write up about game stalls and flickering on G-sync which somehow in conveniently left out of comparisons.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Look-Reported-G-Sync-Display-Flickering

Gsync monitor your limited to DP with no audio pass through
Adaptivesync your limited to DP with audio plus option to hook up other sources to it (HDMI/DVI depending on monitor)

Both techs still going through a maturing process.

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

They wrote a quick write up about game stalls and flickering on G-sync which somehow in there comparisons doesn't exist anymore.

That has already been fixed in the newer G-Sync monitors. They just got caught up in stuff and couldn't make a separate post about it.

 

[Xzibit]

That has already been fixed in the newer G-Sync monitors. They just got caught up in stuff and couldn't make a separate post about it.

Not according to them

This is not limited to the ROG Swift. All variable refresh panels we have tested (including 4K) see this effect to a more or less degree than reported here. Again, this only occurs when games instantaneously drop to 0 FPS, and not when those games dip into low frame rates in a continuous fashion.
The effect is less perceptible (both visually and with recorded data) at lower maximum refresh rate settings.
The effect is not present at fixed refresh rates (G-Sync disabled or with non G-Sync panels).

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I agree, Acer is become more and more a manufacturer of awesome gaming monitors.

As for freesync and gsync working equally well, unfortunately that is not the case, at least not yet:


http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Dissecting-G-Sync-and-FreeSync-How-Technologies-Differ

At least, in theory, AMD can include better low frame rate performance and crossfire support in a future driver, but right now, most reviewers agree gsync provides a better experience than the current version of freesync

We don't need theories at this point, just credible benches, and that one is very suspect. The more technical and reliable sites are showing multiple graphs indicating identical performance and foreseeing Freesync as likely becoming the dominant tech. In fact AMD's claim of less fluctuation has even been substantiated, though at such a low percentage it's not perceptible except in graphs.

Again, we don't need theories, or fanboy hype, they just muddle the facts. There are already plenty of products to test with, and the software development is already at the stage to show real world results. VESA doesn't just take a stab in the dark when it adopts a new standard. Freesync is the real deal.