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Samsung's latest curved gaming monitors are fast and cheap
So you want a curved Samsung gaming monitor, but you don't want to splash out for an over-the-top model like the HDR-ready CHG90. Are you out of luck? Not for much longer -- Samsung has unveiled the CJG5 series, which delivers some of the core features you might crave without the nice-to-have extras. It still includes a curved panel (to provide a more natural focus for your eyes, Samsung claims) and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate, but in a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, 2,560 x 1,440 VA display (no quantum dots here) at 32- and 27-inch sizes.
The AOC G2460PQU 144Hz monitor is a blazingly fast display for gamers
If you're a gamer, you've probably heard a whole lot about the newest crop of monitors that promise to enhance your experience with a refresh rate that blows your 60Hz display out of the water. AOC's new 24-inch, 144Hz gaming monitor (G2460PQU) is one such device, and while it won't necessarily change the way you view your more boring computer tasks, the benefits are clear when it comes to gaming. Specs Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Screen Size: 24"W Viewable Image Size: 609.7mm Pixel Pitch: 0.277 (H)×0.277 (V) mm Display Area: 531.36 (H)×298.89 (V) mm Brightness: 350 cd/m2 Contrast Ratio (typical): 80000000:1 (DCR) Response Time (typical): 1ms Viewing Angle: 170/160 (CR≥10) Scan Frequency H: 30K~83KHz (DVI:30Khz~160Khz) V: 55~76Hz Pixel Frequency: 165MHz Display Colors: 16.7M HDCP Compatible: Yes Inputs: Analog RGB, Dual Link DVI, HDMI and DP Input Connector: 15-pin D-Sub, 24-pin DVI, HDMI and DP Power Supply: 100~240VAC, 50/60Hz Power Consumption: Power On: <33W（Typical), Standby: <0.5W Speakers 2W x 2 Wall-Mount 100mm×100mm Mechanical Function Tilt: -5°~20° Weight (Net /Gross) 4.61/6.10kg Price: US$399.99 Design The first thing you'll notice about the G2460PQU -- but arguably also the least important -- is the striking red bezel that rests at the bottom of the display. It's a slick looking monitor all around, with a slightly textured, brushed metal appearance, and while the red racing stripe doesn't really match anything in my office, it's still a cool look. Once you get past its flashy looks, you'll find that the design is as much about customization as it is about aesthetics. The nondescript base holds the display on an arm that is fully adjustable, allowing you to raise the screen to a maximum height of around 21 inches (measured from the top of the monitor) or lower it to just less than 16 inches. The sliding arm is extremely sturdy and while you might worry that the screen would fall ever so slightly of its own accord, I've seen no problems over several days of use. You can also orient the screen vertically and use it in a "portrait" mode, and if you have the strange desire to have the screen tilted at a diagonal pitch, you can do that, too. Normally you'd need to buy a desk-mounted monitor arm to get this kind of customization out of the display, but the fact that AOC built it right into the default stand is a huge plus. Another great extra is a pair of built-in USB ports on the right side of the display, in addition to the two located on the rear. All of them are USB 2.0, and one is a high-powered port that boasts the ability to charge your gadgets up to three times faster than normal. It's nothing huge, but the inclusion is nice for quick connections and those of us who can just never seem to have enough USB connections. The monitor comes with an optional snap-on cord holder in a red hue that matches the monitor itself, though this is entirely up to you to use. Functionality If you're interested in a 144Hz monitor, you're looking for speed, and in that aspect the G2460PQU absolutely delivers. From the moment you plug it in, the response time and refresh rate are instantly noticeable. Even as you just drag your mouse across the screen you'll notice how much more fluid movement looks when it's being delivered at a speed so much greater than what you're used to. It's actually kind of hard to describe how it looks unless you've seen a one of these monitors in action, but let me try to explain it with a simple test for those of you reading this on a standard 60Hz monitor: Right now, on your computer, rotate your mouse cursor in a circle on your screen. If you do it fast enough, you'll see not only your little pointer but also the ghosts of where your cursor has been. You'll see the gaps in between each cursor ghost because your monitor isn't capable of updating the pixels on the screen fast enough to render your mouse position in the space in between. Now imagine your monitor is fast enough to update the screen so many times per second that all you see is the brief blur of your cursor trailing it as it moves around the circle. That's the effect the 144Hz refresh rate produces. If you move your cursor fast enough, you'll still see some small gaps, but the overall effect is much smoother than what you've seen before. This, of course, pays off when it comes to games, which is what the G2460PQU was made to conquer. When playing a fast-paced game like Counter-Strike, the upgrade from 60Hz to 144Hz not only makes the game look better in terms of fluidity, but it can also be a tactical advantage. In online shooters, FPS (frames per second) is one of the most important metrics (along with ping, of course), and if your computer is capable of delivering insanely high framerates, a monitor like this is the only way to take full advantage of it. Everything from racing games like Grid 2 to card games like Hearthstone look even more fantastic in 144Hz, and after going back to my regular 60Hz monitor once I was done testing, I honestly miss it. It's one of those changes that you won't be able to roll back from without some serious regret. Settings wise, the G2460PQU does a nice job of helping you customize your display with some user-friendly menus and lots of options. You can tweak familiar settings like brightness, contrast, gamma, color temp, and a handful of others, or just choose one of the preset modes. I had my best luck when starting with the standard preset and then tweaking the various options until my desktop looks stunning, but you may find one of the default settings to be perfect for you right from the start. But as awesome as the monitor is in most aspects, I had a couple of issues crop up over the days I had with it: For one, the monitor doesn't really "lock" into an orientation very well. Whether you want it in portrait or landscape mode, turning it as far as you can in either direction doesn't result in a click or a snap or anything that suggests it is perfectly locked at that 90-degree angle. I often thought the monitor was tilted just the slightest bit, and it became such an obsession that I kept a level at my desk for several days. After changing its orientation I could never seem to eyeball it back to a perfectly straight angle, which is where a nice click or locking mechanism would have come in handy. Second, the built-in speakers are a bit on the weak side. If you're a serious gamer, you'll find them to be pretty inadequate compared to a nice sound system or high-end headphones, so don't expect anything great on the audio side of things. Conclusion The G2460PQU is a monitor made for gamers, and as such it is almost perfect. Its display is bright, vibrant, and super fast, and the customization options and extras are just icing on an already tasty cake. In terms of pure functionality, there's really nothing I can imagine being added that would significantly improve its performance, and aside from my admittedly minor sticking points, it's gets a huge recommendation from me. Note: It's important to remember that you'll need a pretty high-end Mac to be able to use this monitor to its full potential. Some lower end machines don't support 144Hz output whatsoever, so be sure to check your compatibility. Rating
ASUS breaks through 120Hz refresh rate with VG278HE gamer monitor... refresh
ASUS continues to update its VG monitor series, and this time it's got something a little more impressive than an integrated IR transmitter. According to FlatpanelsHD, the VG278HE has knocked through the 120Hz barrier that most monitors come up against. The 27-incher can be configured to a buttery smooth 144Hz for 2D and 3D gaming, while inputs include HDMI, dual-link DVI and VGA. The monitor also supports NVIDIA's 3D Vision 2 -- but you'll have to buy the rest of the parts separately. We've reached out to ASUS about pricing and availability, but until we hear more, you'll just have to imagine those breezy refresh rates. Update: ASUS told us we can expect to see the display hit shelves sometime in Q4, but noted that pricing has not been finalized.
