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Acer XB270HU monitor review (144Hz 1440p IPS G-sync)

Ok so this is the stuff we should have got in 2005. We are finally getting somewhere. A freesync option at a cheaper price would be great in the future as an option.
 
I've noticed that most (all?) G-Sync capable displays only offer one single DisplayPort input. Is this a limitation of the G-Sync hardware? I am actually considering getting a G-Sync capable display, but I have two PCs at my desk (one is a gaming PC the other a Mac mini for everyday stuff / work) so I need a display with at least two inputs. 1440p IPS only, of course. I guess I'm out of luck there, ain't I? :-/
 

LCGeek

formerly sane
Finally glad IPS is catching up makes me happy about my next pc or monitor when I decide to upgrade. Shame they don't have an amd version but that's more on amd not the monitor industry.

Pricewise not happy but I tend to wait till these things get reasonable before I care flat panels still have many faults to buy above 400$
 

Grief.exe

Member
Ok so this is the stuff we should have got in 2005. We are finally getting somewhere. A freesync option at a cheaper price would be great in the future as an option.

Finally glad IPS is catching up makes me happy about my next pc or monitor when I decide to upgrade. Shame they don't have an amd version but that's more on amd not the monitor industry.

I believe there is one in the cards with the exact same panel, just needed some more time in the oven due to the newer standard.
 
Finally glad IPS is catching up makes me happy about my next pc or monitor when I decide to upgrade. Shame they don't have an amd version but that's more on amd not the monitor industry.

Pricewise not happy but I tend to wait till these things get reasonable before I care flat panels still have many faults to buy above 400$

Asus announced a 1440p IPS monitor with high refresh rates at CES. Last we heard it was 120Hz but Asus was "still working on certifying 144Hz ready for launch". It wasn't Freesync-branded, but supports DP 1.2a and Adaptive Sync.

It probably uses the same panel as this.
 

Arulan

Member
That's what I like to see in a review. ;) Looks like a great monitor, if I wasn't attempting to hold out for a 4K display with similar characteristics, I would strongly consider this one. Monitors have been on a recent incline of rapid advancements, but I wonder how long until something like a 4K, 120Hz+, G-sync, and VA (or IPS) is viable.
 
Ok so this is the stuff we should have got in 2005. We are finally getting somewhere. A freesync option at a cheaper price would be great in the future as an option.

There is a FreeSync version set to release soon: http://hothardware.com/news/acer-confirms-amd-freesync-support-for-27-inch-xg270hu-gaming-monitor

This article states the panel its IPS but others claim it's TN. Overclockers UK has a pre-order up and it's £250 cheaper than the G-Sync version, so I'm more inclined to believe in a TN panel. That said, it does have more input options and the price difference is pretty massive, so it could be a really solid alternative.
 
Glad I didn't jump on the ROG when it was released. But I think I'm going to wait on this one too at least until this tech is more available and I won't be dropping $800 on a monitor I still need to upgrade my 680SC first.
 
Asus announced a 1440p IPS monitor with high refresh rates at CES. Last we heard it was 120Hz but Asus was "still working on certifying 144Hz ready for launch". It wasn't Freesync-branded, but supports DP 1.2a and Adaptive Sync.

It probably uses the same panel as this.

Yes it probably uses same panel but it will use diffrent electronics and from what we know so far it only dynamically changes frequency in 40-120 Hz and lacks strobing mode. That might also mean diffrent overdrive setting and input lag.


There is a FreeSync version set to release soon: http://hothardware.com/news/acer-confirms-amd-freesync-support-for-27-inch-xg270hu-gaming-monitor

This article states the panel its IPS but others claim it's TN. Overclockers UK has a pre-order up and it's £250 cheaper than the G-Sync version, so I'm more inclined to believe in a TN panel. That said, it does have more input options and the price difference is pretty massive, so it could be a really solid alternative.

It's TN screen and it also lacks strobing mode and since it likely uses swift panel it will probably have heavy matte coating
 
Yes it probably uses same panel but it will use diffrent electronics and from what we know so far it only dynamically changes frequency in 40-120 Hz and lacks strobing mode. That might also mean diffrent overdrive setting and input lag.

That's true. I assume however that since it is a gaming-branded Asus monitor it should be alright in the electronics and input lag department. This isn't Asus' first rodeo.

The loss of the strobing mode hurts though, but nothing we can do about that...
 
I really want a VA as my next monitor as well, Durante. I'm just worried that VA may have problems with ULMB, do you think that's the case?
 
Worse than other IPS panels?

Compared to good IPS displays? Much worse. That's more in line with an average TN panel, which leads me to believe they had to cut some corners somewhere in order to get this panel performing as well as it is.

Kind of unfortunate. I'm looking to replace my 1080p 120hz BenQ with a 2k IPS Gsync panel, but with such a low color gamut, I'm not sure it's worth the upgrade. Especially if it comes in at $600-700 :( I guess I'll wait for reviews to see how it stacks up to other IPS screens.
 

Odrion

Banned
Compared to good IPS displays? Much worse. That's more in line with an average TN panel, which leads me to believe they had to cut some corners somewhere in order to get this panel performing as well as it is.

Kind of unfortunate. I'm looking to replace my 1080p 120hz BenQ with a 2k IPS Gsync panel, but with such a low color gamut, I'm not sure it's worth the upgrade. Especially if it comes in at $600-700 :( I guess I'll wait for reviews to see how it stacks up to other IPS screens.

So then what does this have over TN panels then? Better viewing angles?
 
I'm only really into multiples of 1080p so I'm not going to upgrade my AOC 1080p G-sync pannel until I can get 4k 144hz IPS with g-sync or whatever is the standard for my future video card. Hopefully it won't all be quite as pricey in a year or two when this is possible, lol.
 

SliChillax

Member
I'm only really into multiples of 1080p so I'm not going to upgrade my AOC 1080p G-sync pannel until I can get 4k 144hz IPS with g-sync or whatever is the standard for my future video card. Hopefully it won't all be quite as pricey in a year or two when this is possible, lol.

In 2-3 years there better be a 34 inch 21:9 VA 120hz (or above) monitor with Gsync and a vertical resolution of 2160p.
 

Hazaro

relies on auto-aim
Hmm...
I'll buy a used second generation one. Looks nice though!

A bit hard for me to justify spending that much when my beautiful TN 120Hz is doing okay :p
 

Schrade

Member
I'm only really into multiples of 1080p so I'm not going to upgrade my AOC 1080p G-sync pannel until I can get 4k 144hz IPS with g-sync or whatever is the standard for my future video card. Hopefully it won't all be quite as pricey in a year or two when this is possible, lol.

16:10 aspect ratio for life.

16:9 just feels... wrong for a computer.
 

astraycat

Member
Worse than other IPS panels?

Looking at other panels on the site, ~72% NTSC looks pretty standard. Weird that it doesn't have a number for sRGB though.

Edit: looking at the calibration pictures, it looks like it's got sRGB covered.
 
Looking at other panels on the site, ~72% NTSC looks pretty standard. Weird that it doesn't have a number for sRGB though.

Edit: looking at the calibration pictures, it looks like it's got sRGB covered.

Ok, that sounds a bit better. Will wait for reviews on color accuracy once it finally ships.
 

Jimrpg

Member
The ROG Swift is still $1000 in Australia, which is going to make this baby even more expensive.

To be honest I would much rather a 24" 1080p monitor. Why don't they make one of those instead? At 27" it just means I sit further away, plus 27" at 1440p is more or less the same PPI as 24" at 1080p.

The best thing about this panel then is that it is the only 144Hz IPS G-Sync panel around.... I suppose it will have to do but that price tag is going to hurt!

Also do you guys reckon a GTX970 would be good enough to run most games at high quality at 1440p and >60fps? A GTX980 is like $800 in Australia and really expensive but a Gigabyte GTX970 G1 is $500.
 
Also do you guys reckon a GTX970 would be good enough to run most games at high quality at 1440p and >60fps? A GTX980 is like $800 in Australia and really expensive but a Gigabyte GTX970 G1 is $500.

Try Amazon.com. Not sure how much damage the exchange rate has done. 750 for a 980 shipped, I think. If the dollar goes up a bit over the next few weeks you might get a better deal. But their customer service is top tier. I grabbed my 970 from them when the dollar was stronger.
 

Kaako

Felium Defensor
I still can't get over how beautiful this is:
http://abload.de/img/response_1yyusx.png

To give people who don't follow this an idea of why I am so happy looking at that image, here's what's pretty much the best state of the art in IPS panels up to now (Dell U2515H):
http://abload.de/img/response_38duui.png
And that's with significant overshoot on one transition (while the XB270HU is basically artifact-free at normal OD):
http://abload.de/img/response_5gpuof.png
I said god dayumn. I might need this.
 
I've been waiting, patiently, for many months for a new monitor to impress me and I'm trying to get something for GTA V.

This might be it.

I have a Dell U3011 and U3014 in perfect condition to sell that would easily cover the cost.

Just wish it was 30"
 

Jimrpg

Member
Try Amazon.com. Not sure how much damage the exchange rate has done. 750 for a 980 shipped, I think. If the dollar goes up a bit over the next few weeks you might get a better deal. But their customer service is top tier.

ive been debating getting it from Amazon, the prices are so much better especially for a GTX970!

Living in Malaysia at the moment, it would be a bit of a hassle to get it shipped especially if for whatever reason I need to return it. I don't want to wait 4 weeks to get my product back. I prefer to get whatever I need in Malaysia (or Australia when I go back in July).
 

Dezzy

Member
The ROG Swift is still $1000 in Australia, which is going to make this baby even more expensive.

To be honest I would much rather a 24" 1080p monitor. Why don't they make one of those instead? At 27" it just means I sit further away, plus 27" at 1440p is more or less the same PPI as 24" at 1080p.

The best thing about this panel then is that it is the only 144Hz IPS G-Sync panel around.... I suppose it will have to do but that price tag is going to hurt!

Also do you guys reckon a GTX970 would be good enough to run most games at high quality at 1440p and >60fps? A GTX980 is like $800 in Australia and really expensive but a Gigabyte GTX970 G1 is $500.

I'm on a 27" 2560x1440 with a GTX 970 and Most games I've tried still run at 60fps just fine. For the few that don't, lower resolutions like 1080p still upscale surprisingly well.

I went from a 24" to a 27" and I'd say the size and resolution increase is pretty great.
 

Jimrpg

Member
I'm on a 27" 2560x1440 with a GTX 970 and Most games I've tried still run at 60fps just fine. For the few that don't, lower resolutions like 1080p still upscale surprisingly well.

I went from a 24" to a 27" and I'd say the size and resolution increase is pretty great.

That's great to know. Thanks!

My mind boggles at the size of desk I need to get for a 27" monitor (if the 27" iMac ones are anything to go by...)
 
Wow that blurbusters picture is really impressive with the normal overdrive setting.

I'm guessing it'll have some silly price though :\
I fucking HATE my new monitor, piece of shit is worse than I ever imagined it could be, I want something better.

virtually 0 input lag (do people in this thread really still not know the difference between input lag and response time? ) is perfect for shooters.

Is there even a cpu out atm that can run every game at 144fps though (with lowered settings)? I always wonder that with these refresh rates.
My shitty phenom II can't even manage much more 30 in many modern games

My ideal monitor would still be 1200 or 1440p, 120hz, NOT sample and hold and something that doesn't need overdrive to produce a sharp image.(so not even oled would be that :( )
 
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