Gigabyte has been making a name for itself in the gaming monitor market, and their latest offering, the G27FC, is a 27-inch curved monitor designed to deliver a premium gaming experience. With a fast 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, this monitor promises to keep up with even the most demanding games. But is it worth the price tag? In this review, we’ll dive deep into the features, performance, and overall experience of the Gigabyte G27FC.
From its sleek design to its impressive features, the Gigabyte G27FC is a monitor that aims to impress gamers at every turn. The 27-inch curved VA panel offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, creating a truly immersive gaming environment. Its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time ensure smooth, tear-free gameplay, crucial for competitive gamers looking for a competitive edge. But the G27FC is more than just performance; it also boasts a range of ergonomic features and connectivity options.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll put the G27FC through its paces, testing its performance in various games and scenarios. We’ll analyze its image quality, color accuracy, and contrast ratio, ensuring that we provide you with a complete picture of this monitor’s capabilities. We’ll also delve into the ergonomics of the G27FC, assessing its adjustable stand, its eye-care features, and its overall user experience. By the end of this review, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether the Gigabyte G27FC is the right monitor for you.
The gaming monitor market is crowded, but the Gigabyte G27FC stands out with its impressive combination of performance, features, and affordability. It’s a monitor that targets gamers seeking a high-quality, immersive experience without breaking the bank. In this review, we’ll examine the G27FC’s strengths and weaknesses, providing you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
| Name: | Gigabyte G27FC |
| Image: |  |
| Price: | |
| Rating: | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
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Introduction
The Gigabyte G27FC is a 27-inch curved monitor that aims to deliver a compelling experience for gamers and content creators alike. It boasts a 165Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and a VA panel with a 1500R curvature. With a price tag that positions it in the mid-range market, the G27FC looks to offer competitive features and performance.
In this review, we’ll delve into the Gigabyte G27FC‘s design, build quality, panel characteristics, performance, image quality, ergonomics, connectivity, and software. We’ll also compare its features and value proposition against other monitors in its price range. So, buckle up as we explore whether the G27FC can truly deliver on its promise of a captivating and immersive gaming experience.
Design and Build Quality
The Gigabyte G27FC is a sleek and modern monitor with a distinct design that’s sure to catch the eye. The stand is a simple, yet effective, single-piece design that allows for tilt and height adjustments. It doesn’t have swivel or rotate functionality, but it’s sturdy and provides a good range of movement for optimal viewing angles. The panel itself is housed in a thin, black bezel that helps minimize distractions and creates an immersive viewing experience. While not as premium as some of the higher-end models, the build quality of the G27FC feels solid and well-constructed. The plastics used in the construction feel durable and the monitor feels stable on its stand.
The overall design is clean and minimalist, with only a few buttons on the bottom bezel for navigating the OSD (On-Screen Display). The buttons are responsive and easy to use, though you’ll probably only need to use them to change the display settings a few times during setup. The Gigabyte logo is discreetly placed on the bottom bezel, adding a subtle touch of branding without being overly flashy.
Panel and Features
The Gigabyte G27FC boasts a 27-inch curved VA panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time (MPRT). This combination makes it a solid choice for both competitive gaming and immersive entertainment. The panel’s 1500R curvature helps to enhance immersion, drawing you into the action.
One of the standout features is the G27FC’s support for AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility. This means you can enjoy smooth, tear-free gameplay with compatible graphics cards, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. This is especially beneficial for fast-paced games where every frame matters.
Another notable feature is the G27FC’s wide color gamut coverage, covering 120% of the sRGB color space. This translates to vibrant and accurate colors, making games and movies look more lifelike. The panel also has a high contrast ratio, which helps to deliver deep blacks and bright whites for a more immersive visual experience.
While the G27FC offers a wide range of features, it’s worth noting that it lacks HDR support. This means you won’t experience the same level of detail and realism as you would with an HDR-capable monitor. However, considering its price point, the lack of HDR is understandable.
Overall, the Gigabyte G27FC packs a punch in terms of features for a gaming monitor. Its combination of a fast refresh rate, low response time, and adaptive sync support makes it a compelling choice for gamers who prioritize smooth and responsive gameplay. While the lack of HDR is a slight drawback, the G27FC still offers a solid set of features and impressive image quality at a competitive price.
Performance
The Gigabyte G27FC delivers a strong performance for both gaming and everyday use. Its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time make it a capable competitor in the fast-paced world of competitive gaming. The FreeSync Premium certification ensures smooth, tear-free gameplay, and its AMD FreeSync support complements the high refresh rate for a fluid gaming experience. We tested the monitor with a variety of games, including Valorant, Apex Legends, and Cyberpunk 2077, and found that it consistently delivered smooth gameplay with minimal input lag. The fast response time also helped to minimize ghosting and motion blur, even during high-action sequences. The G27FC’s performance isn’t just limited to gaming, as it’s also well-suited for productivity tasks. We found that it was comfortable to use for several hours at a time, with minimal eye strain. The wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction make it an excellent choice for browsing the web, watching movies, and editing photos. The Gigabyte G27FC‘s performance is impressive for its price point. It offers a smooth, tear-free gaming experience with minimal input lag. It also delivers excellent image quality, making it a well-rounded monitor that can be used for both gaming and everyday tasks.
Image Quality
The Gigabyte G27FC boasts a VA panel, known for its deep blacks and high contrast ratio. This translates to a truly immersive viewing experience, especially when you’re enjoying dark scenes in movies or games. The 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time ensure smooth, tear-free gameplay, making it a great choice for fast-paced action games.
However, the G27FC’s image quality doesn’t quite reach the heights of some of its competitors. While the contrast is excellent, the overall color accuracy isn’t as impressive. Out of the box, the colors are a little too saturated and warm. Fortunately, you can adjust the color settings to your liking using the on-screen display (OSD) menu.
Another drawback is the viewing angles. While VA panels generally have better contrast than IPS panels, they often suffer from narrower viewing angles. If you’re watching the monitor from an angle, the picture can start to look washed out. This is something to keep in mind if you’re planning to share the screen with others.
Overall, the Gigabyte G27FC offers decent image quality for the price. The deep blacks and high contrast ratio create a truly immersive viewing experience, and the high refresh rate and response time ensure smooth gameplay. However, the lack of color accuracy and narrow viewing angles are shortcomings that could be addressed in future iterations.
Ergonomics and Stand
The Gigabyte G27FC boasts a sturdy and adjustable stand that caters to a wide range of ergonomic needs. The stand offers tilt adjustment, allowing you to angle the screen for optimal viewing comfort. Additionally, you can also adjust the height of the monitor, ensuring a comfortable posture whether you prefer to sit or stand. This flexibility is crucial for reducing strain on your neck and back during extended gaming sessions. While it doesn’t offer swivel or pivot features, the robust build and adjustable options make it a reliable choice for maximizing comfort and reducing fatigue.
Connectivity
The Gigabyte G27FC boasts a comprehensive suite of connectivity options, catering to various needs and preferences. At the rear of the monitor, you’ll find a DisplayPort 1.4 input, allowing for the highest refresh rate and resolution. Additionally, it features two HDMI 2.0 ports for versatility and compatibility with a wide range of devices, including consoles and PCs. This makes it a great option for gamers who want to use their monitor with both their PC and console.
While the lack of USB ports may be a minor drawback for some users, the inclusion of a headphone jack is a welcome addition for gamers who prefer to use a dedicated headset.
It’s worth noting that the monitor doesn’t come with a built-in USB hub, which might be a deal-breaker for users who require a lot of ports. However, the focus on core display connectivity ensures a smooth and reliable connection for your gaming rig.
Software
The Gigabyte G27FC comes with Gigabyte’s OSD Sidekick software which allows you to adjust various monitor settings, including brightness, contrast, color temperature, and more. The software also provides a few extra features like a crosshair overlay for gaming and a picture-in-picture mode for multitasking. While it’s not the most feature-rich software out there, it does the job well and provides a more convenient way to adjust your monitor settings without having to use the on-screen menu.
OSD Sidekick is compatible with both Windows and macOS operating systems. It’s easy to install and use, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. The software interface is simple and straightforward, with all the important options easily accessible. You can even customize the shortcut keys for your desired functions.
While OSD Sidekick doesn’t offer the same level of customization as some other monitor software, it’s still a useful tool for tweaking your monitor settings to your liking. It’s especially convenient for gamers who want to quickly adjust their monitor settings without having to navigate through the on-screen menu.
Price and Value
The Gigabyte G27FC is priced competitively at around $250, making it a strong contender in the mid-range 27-inch 1440p curved gaming monitor market. This price point positions it alongside other popular models from brands like Samsung, Acer, and MSI. So, does the G27FC deliver on its value proposition?
What you get for your money
At this price, the Gigabyte G27FC offers a solid combination of features and performance. You get a fast 165Hz refresh rate with FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility, a vibrant VA panel with a decent contrast ratio, and a curved display that enhances immersion. The monitor also includes a built-in KVM switch, which is a useful feature for multi-device setups.
Comparing the value to competitors
Compared to other monitors in its price range, the G27FC stands out with its fast refresh rate and wide colour gamut coverage. However, it falls short in terms of HDR support and peak brightness, which are features you might find on pricier models.
Overall, the G27FC offers a good value proposition for gamers who prioritize fast response times and immersive visuals without breaking the bank. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, there are other monitors with better HDR performance and features, but for the price, the G27FC delivers a solid all-around experience.
Conclusion
The Gigabyte G27FC is a compelling monitor that offers a lot for its price. Its 27-inch, 1440p, 165Hz VA panel delivers impressive picture quality with deep blacks and vibrant colors, making it suitable for gaming and content creation. The fast response times and low input lag ensure a smooth and responsive gaming experience. While the stand lacks adjustability, the monitor compensates with excellent ergonomics and a wide range of connectivity options. The included software provides fine-tuning control over various settings. However, the G27FC falls short in terms of color accuracy and its limited HDR performance. If you’re seeking a monitor with exceptional color fidelity or true HDR capabilities, you may need to look elsewhere. But if you prioritize a budget-friendly option with a fantastic balance of performance, image quality, and features, the Gigabyte G27FC is undoubtedly a strong contender.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for alternatives to the Gigabyte G27FC, you’ve got a few solid options depending on what you prioritize.
For a similar price point and focus on gaming:
- MSI Optix G27C5 – This monitor shares many similarities with the G27FC, including a 27-inch 1440p VA panel, 165Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium support. It often sits in a similar price range and offers good image quality with a faster response time. You’ll find it offers a slightly higher contrast ratio and slightly less input lag, but the Gigabyte G27FC edges out on colour accuracy and features a wider colour gamut.
- AOC AG274FZ3 – Another competitive contender, the AOC AG274FZ3 offers a near-identical experience to the G27FC, boasting a 27-inch 1440p VA panel, 165Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium support. It’s a strong performer in its own right, offering good image quality, decent response times, and a smooth, responsive feel during gameplay. The G27FC might have a slight edge in colour accuracy, but the AOC AG274FZ3 tends to be priced slightly lower.
For a step up in image quality:
- Samsung Odyssey G7 (LC27G75TQSNXZA) – If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Samsung Odyssey G7 offers a stunning 27-inch 1440p curved VA panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, HDR400 support, and excellent color accuracy. The G7 delivers an immersive gaming experience with its deep blacks and vibrant colors, although it comes at a higher price point.
For a budget-friendly option:
- Acer Nitro XV272U Pbmiiprzx – If you’re on a tighter budget, the Acer Nitro XV272U is a great alternative with a 27-inch 1440p IPS panel, 144Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium support. It offers a vibrant, accurate image, a fast response time, and a wide viewing angle. You’ll be sacrificing some of the G27FC’s higher refresh rate and curvature, but it’s a solid option for value-minded gamers.
Ultimately, the best alternative for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you’re looking for a good balance of performance, image quality, and features, the Gigabyte G27FC is a great choice. However, these alternatives offer unique strengths and weaknesses, so it’s worth exploring them further to find the perfect match for your gaming setup.
The Gigabyte G27FC is a solid choice for gamers seeking a curved monitor with a fast refresh rate and responsive performance. Its 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time deliver smooth visuals and minimize motion blur, making it ideal for competitive gaming. The VA panel delivers excellent contrast and deep blacks, enhancing the overall viewing experience. However, the G27FC’s color accuracy and viewing angles could be better, especially compared to IPS panels.
Despite its shortcomings, the Gigabyte G27FC offers a compelling value proposition. It’s priced competitively for its features, making it an attractive option for budget-minded gamers. Its curved design, fast refresh rate, and responsiveness enhance the gaming experience, offering a noticeable improvement over standard flat monitors.
Overall, the Gigabyte G27FC is a decent curved monitor that caters to gamers looking for a fast and responsive display. While its color accuracy and viewing angles could be better, its strong performance and affordable price make it a solid contender in its category. However, if you prioritize color accuracy and wide viewing angles, you might want to consider an IPS panel monitor.
If you’re on a budget and seeking a curved monitor with a fast refresh rate and responsive performance, the Gigabyte G27FC is worth considering. It’s a good option for gamers who prioritize smooth visuals and minimize motion blur, but those who require precise color accuracy and wide viewing angles may want to look elsewhere.
Bilal