Hi everyone. While I have an LG OLED TV in my living room for console-style games, I have had a crummy history with desktop monitors in the last years, unable to find anything I really liked for desk-based gaming and frequent office work. I had an ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ 1440p for a while, which was "ok" but had the usual terrible IPS blacks. I then started to use a Samsung 28" 4k monitor, which while decent in terms of image quality, was only 60hz and had many annoying interface and port switching issues. None of the 4k high refresh monitors I had previously seen appealed to me as they were either stupidly expensive and/or had the usual IPS blacks.
However, I recently did some googling for decent 4k monitors to see if the market had changed and came across the Gigabyte M32UC. It is 4k, 144-160hz, VA panel, good colour space, reasonable price. No functional HDR but I have no use for that anyway at my desk. Review was really good at RTINGS. https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/gigabyte/m32uc
But hmm, conscious bias kicked in; it was a VA panel and I admit I had always avoided budget VA panels which were mostly 1440p or Ultrawide panels due to the "black smearing" reports I read. Anyway I thought 'what the hell', hit that order button and I am so glad that I did!
So what are the PROS?
In summary this is a fantastic 4k 144hz PC, console gaming and office monitor that has really exceeded my expectations and changed my mind about VA panels, at least the modern ones. The price is imo also 'reasonable' for what you get when comparing other high refresh 4k monitors on the market. I think you have to spend a lot more to get a lot better, but even then is it worth it and do you get other issues like with the Samsungs?
If you want a great 4k 144hz gaming monitor of a reasonable size without needing to donate a kidney and you don't care about HDR then I think this is it. The Gigabyte M32UC is a big buy recommendation from me.
However, I recently did some googling for decent 4k monitors to see if the market had changed and came across the Gigabyte M32UC. It is 4k, 144-160hz, VA panel, good colour space, reasonable price. No functional HDR but I have no use for that anyway at my desk. Review was really good at RTINGS. https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/gigabyte/m32uc
But hmm, conscious bias kicked in; it was a VA panel and I admit I had always avoided budget VA panels which were mostly 1440p or Ultrawide panels due to the "black smearing" reports I read. Anyway I thought 'what the hell', hit that order button and I am so glad that I did!
So what are the PROS?
- The 32" size is perfect, not too big or too small and it is very ergonomic for the viewing distance I am at.
- The colours are good and the deep blacks seriously make any of my old IPS panels look like a joke. The black levels also have a fine level of granular control at the touch of a button.
- Panel uniformity is great compared to previous IPS panels I had.
- While gaming at high refresh 144hz I cannot notice any ghosting or smearing, games like Baldurs Gate 3, Total War Warhammer 3, Bannerlord etc just both look and run gloriously.
- Office work is also really good as VA panels are perfect for that.
- The port selection is very generous with everything but the kitchen sink. USB-C, HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4 and a USB 3.2 hub.
- The OSD and joystick are super user-friendly with fine granular control over every setting that matters including black levels with lots of convenient shortcuts.
- What is especially awesome for me is that when I turn one machine to sleep it auto-switches to the other active machine, which one of my other monitors ever did.
- It has KVM, if that's something you will ever use.
- PIP/PBP work fine.
- You definitely do get some colour shift if your head is not positioned roughly central facing the monitor, but come on, why would your head ever not be centrally facing the monitor when working or gaming? I can only see it being an issue for you if someone is constantly next to you watching and they knew what to look for.
- The speakers are loud but terrible. Don't use them except in emergencies.
- You can notice some smear and yellowing when you scroll white text fast on a black backgound.
- Umm, that's it.
In summary this is a fantastic 4k 144hz PC, console gaming and office monitor that has really exceeded my expectations and changed my mind about VA panels, at least the modern ones. The price is imo also 'reasonable' for what you get when comparing other high refresh 4k monitors on the market. I think you have to spend a lot more to get a lot better, but even then is it worth it and do you get other issues like with the Samsungs?
If you want a great 4k 144hz gaming monitor of a reasonable size without needing to donate a kidney and you don't care about HDR then I think this is it. The Gigabyte M32UC is a big buy recommendation from me.
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