Connectivity

Much like every other monitor equipped with NVIDIA's G-Sync module, the Acer Predator XB271HU is limited to HDMI (1.4) and DisplayPort (1.2) video inputs. If you plan to utilize its high refresh rate and G-Sync functionality, forget about HDMI completely as it's unable to deliver 144 Hz at 1440p resolution. The only viable way of connecting it to the PC is via DisplayPort, with HDMI potentially being useful only if you also have a gaming console you'd want to connect to the same monitor as your PC. Next to the video inputs is a single 3.5-mm audio output, which can be used with a pair of headphones.


There are three USB 3.0 ports on the rear of the monitor, with one of them functioning as an upstream port, while the other two can be used to connect peripherals or external hard-drives.


There are two additional USB 3.0 ports on the monitor's left side. As anything plugged into those ports will stick out from the side of the screen and actively bother you, you'll mainly use those for temporary devices, such as memory sticks and SD card readers.

It's possible to power the built-in USB 3.0 ports by activating the appropriate option inside the on-screen display. This may be of interest to you should you want to use these to charge such devices as smartphones and wireless peripherals after your PC goes to sleep.

Power Consumption

The power unit is built into the monitor, which means an external power brick doesn't have to be used. I used a power meter to determine the power consumption of the monitor at various brightness levels and in Sleep mode, which it switches to as soon as the PC goes to sleep. My measurements are summed up in the chart.



One available factory profile within the on-screen display is called ECO. ECO mode has the monitor consume around 29 W and sets the brightness to 44%. These measurements have been made with the monitor set to 144 Hz. I did try to overclock it to 165 Hz in an attempt to figure out whether power consumption increases, but the readings I was getting were nearly identical to those taken at 144 Hz and fell within the power meter's tolerance. Power consumption in Sleep mode is quite high even when nothing is connected to any of the built-in USB 3.0 ports. It lingers at around 15-18 W for 12 minutes after your PC goes to sleep and before the Deep Sleep function kicks in, which has power draw drop below 1 W. Just make sure you keep Deep Sleep turned on in the on-screen display.