New Gaming & Office Monitor - 144Hz Monitor c/w Choice Paralysis

[TheNameIsJambo]

Hello!

Going to cut to the chase here: I'm drinking and I want to buy a monitor ASAP so I can blame it on the booze. I've not bought a monitor in donkeys years and I appear to be drowning in choice. I've currently got a cheap-and-cheerful QHD 27" DGM IPS (LG panel), FHD 23" Iiyama IPS (very basic, for work only) and my UHD 15.5" HDR OLED (yes, yes, it's OLED) laptop display at my disposal.

I have recently got back into (fairly) competitive FPS gaming and I've been thoroughly enjoying it. Lockdown has been wonderful for rekindling love with video games and discovering Dungeons & Dragons... Coming back to video games, I have been playing CSGO, predominantly. I've been playing CS since it was back in it's infancy at 1.1. Played that and all the other HL mods to death; along with BF, CoD, etc. I have now realised that I'm a little behind the times when it comes to framerates. In my adulthood I've mostly been playing single-player games. A bright, vibrant, 60FPS IPS panel (or TV) has been ideal. Now, after getting back into the competitive spirit, it leaves me wonting a more adequate monitor with a decent refresh rate.

Anyway, enough of my off-piste digressions. I will need to use the monitor for gaming and office use. As most of us now do, I work from home, and I'm self employed. My computer equipment is literally my livelihood. Therefore, a VA or IPS is preferred; so my eyes aren't being assaulted by TN - I am not sure why these even exist anymore.

First things first: I want to (try and) spend less than £300. I am absolutely fully aware that any-time anyone asks advice here, their budgets don't mean ****, so.. Bugger it, just fire away, lads and ladies. Just please try and be sensible. I have already found a few panels which "fit the bill":

1080 (24") Panels: Will do the job

AOC 24G2U: This seems to always slip to the top of the pile. IPS panel; great picture quality, rave reviews, it already makes my manly-bits tingle.

BenQ's David Zowie XL2411K: This is what all of the hardened nutters use, a TN panel. Amazing how a little branding and advertising can force people to cough up.

1440 (27") Panels: Budget Busters

LG 27GL850-B (Pre-Order?): Can't go wrong with an LG panel - I've got one.

Gigabyte M27Q: This looks superb, but is out of stock.

ASUS TUF Budget Buster: This just looks the absolute ballocks.

By the way - 2560x1440 & 27" monitors don't need to be mutually exclusive, but I feel like a 1080 27" panel's pixels will look like Minecraft (correct me, if I'm wrong).

I just feel like there's too much bloody choice... I now need some honest opinions and advice. Your help, advice, suggestions and physically destroying my credit card is and would be appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[thenewoc]

I'd go for the Gigabyte M27Q if it were me as it's about the best value and 3 year warranty. Just be aware if wanting it for the KVM that it doesn't have enough grunt to charge a laptop over the USB-C so you'll have to use a separate charger. Google and you'll find it in stock.

If you don't need the KVM then a Pixio PX277 Prime is a cheaper option but a shorter warranty of 2 years.

 

[TheNameIsJambo]

I'd go for the Gigabyte M27Q if it were me as it's about the best value and 3 year warranty. Just be aware if wanting it for the KVM that it doesn't have enough grunt to charge a laptop over the USB-C so you'll have to use a separate charger. Google and you'll find it in stock.

If you don't need the KVM then a Pixio PX277 Prime is a cheaper option but a shorter warranty of 2 years.

I like how you skipped straight over 23-25" 1080 panels and immediately indulged me with QHD only options

Thanks for the suggestion of the Pixio - I had a look into it. It's a whole £40 cheaper than the Gigabyte, but I think I'd have to go for the latter. Splurging extra purely for the additional edge in quality is worth it, considering I'd be using it almost every single day. The Pixio appears to have slightly worse performance regarding ghosting and GtG when you aren't full-bore maximum refresh; you would need to fiddle with Low-High overdrive, depending. Where the M27Q is the opposite, it looks to be sweet out the box right across the board from 60-165Hz with the default overdrive setting. Phwoar.

Thanks for the heads-up regards to the KVM - I didn't even notice that there was one on the M27Q. I am not sure if I would have a use for it, off the top of my head. Chances are that I would use it down the line.

The Gigabyte is slightly over-budget (at £360-ish) but it looks to be an absolutely solid contender. It punches above it's weight.

Thanks @thenewoc !

P.S.
Glad I retired to the sofa to watch some UFC and KO. I woke up to £1,500+ worth of monitors in my basket.

 

[thenewoc]

No worries, you mentioned office use also so in my mind FHD is not suitable with only 1080 vertical pixels vs 1440. You might want to also hook up the laptop to it if you want / need to reduce things down to just one screen at any time. The KVM will come in use then especially if it's a work laptop that you don't have admin permissions for installing an alternative software KVM.

I also think when you've experienced QHD and the improved field of view you won't want to go back to FHD ever.

Still on my trusty DGM until I get my new Philips Ultra Wide set up.

 

[EsaT]

Gigabyte M27Q: This looks superb, but is out of stock.

Because of whacked up "upside down panel" BRG subpixel layout it just has some challenges especially for office use.
Text rendering is pretty much optimized for RGB subxpile layout, so opposite layout can cause fuzziness and colour fringing.
Here's example from Acrobat Reader:
https://pcmonitors.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/PDF-M27.jpg
Vs. panel flipped upside down in VESA mount for RGB subpixel order:
https://pcmonitors.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/PDF-M27-flipped.jpg

Adjusting ClearType in Windows can improve it:
https://i.rtings.com/images/reviews/monitor/gigabyte/m27q/m27q-cleartype-on-large.jpg
Though its still less contrasty feeling than with usual RGB subpixel layout.