The Cooler Master GM27-CFX is an inexpensive gaming monitor that tries to combine immersive visuals with E-Sports-grade speed. It sports a curved VA panel with higher contrast while also promising blur-free performance and rich colors. It’s a lot for a monitor at this price, so lets look closer to know what it can bring to the table.
Cooler Master GM27-CFX Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Full HD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time: 0.5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 4 00 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 24” x 22” x 10.8”
- Weight: 11.07 lbs
Design and Features
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX has a unique design, but its not too gaudy or gamer-centric compared to its competitors. The monitor has a good mix of matte black and gunmetal, so it doesn’t look cheap even when its placed next to a high-end build. The display is bezel-free on three sides, so you only have to deal with typical inner borders.
Its not a large monitor, but its dimensions are still slightly bigger than similar models. It needs over 10 inches of depth, although its base can be used as a holding area for small peripherals. The whole device only weighs 11.07 pounds, so its rather portable as far as 27-inch monitors go.
It’s mostly made out of plastic, but its build quality is quite decent for a budget offering. The plastic panels are tough and sturdy, and there were no signs of cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is stable, although there is some slight wobbling if you accidentally nudge it.
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX has an OSD joystick at the back for easy access to its settings and features. The gadget is located near the lower right corner of the screen, so it’s very accessible. It’s easier to use than buttons, which take more time and effort to get to something simple, like adjusting the brightness.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included since curved displays were never meant to be used as portrait displays. You can still use mounts, but we don’t think it’s necessary until you build a multimonitor setup.
One aspect that took a hit to lower the price is the monitor’s connectivity layout. It only includes DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 slots, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. Other models have USB ports, but those aren’t essential for most applications.
It also has speakers, but they are limited to 2 watts of power per channel. It’s always nice to have extras, but add-ons like this are not entirely suitable for the monitor’s main purpose. The set is usable for basic media consumption, but we always recommend headsets for better immersion and focus.
Display and Performance
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX sports a 27-inch curved VA panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.5ms response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 3000:1. This model has HDR 400 specifications, but we all know how limited that is in producing HDR effects.
1080p monitors are great for E-Sports because it’s easy to max framerates with just about any GPU or configuration. They are still very popular because of this fact, even if many have transitioned to 1440p or 4K. Legibility is also great with them, but the absolute best part would have to be their substantially lower price points.
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX covered 100% sRGB and 94% DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. It’s not the most accurate, with a deltaE average of 2.91, but that’s workable in our books if the monitor is to be used for gaming. Most users won’t need to tweak it before usage, so even beginners will be able to enjoy it right away.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.07, putting its output close to what a premium model can offer. Note that you will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results since every panel has different color characteristics. However, we think it’s not necessary for a gaming display unless you plan to use it for color-critical work.
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX’s backlight reached 389 cd/m2 in SDR and it peaked at 421 cd/m2 when its HDR mode is active. Its contrast reached 3877:1 at 30% brightness, telling us that it is capable of rendering deep blacks and inky dark scenes. Its HDR performance still isn’t the best despite these, but that’s expected from a budget model.
Panel uniformity for the sample had some issues in the form of backlight leaks on the top and bottom edges of the screen. They become noticeable against dark backgrounds but are mostly at bay during white or full-color scenes. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so it’s possible to get a better unit when you buy it.
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX’s pixel response time is great, thanks to its higher refresh rate. Setting the overdrive to modest levels helped, but it is unnecessary to max it out if you can keep your framerates above 200 FPS. There is still some persistence, but it’s not significant enough like it usually is on most VA panels.
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync for tear- and stutter-free gaming. Dual compatibility is a must if you want to save money in the long run since you don’t have to buy a new monitor every time you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 3ms at 240Hz, making it one of the fastest monitors in its price category.
Thoughts on the Cooler Master GM27-CFX
The Cooler Master GM27-CFX is an excellent choice if you want an inexpensive monitor for fast-paced gaming. Its refresh rate and tuning provide excellent responsiveness, while its colors and deep contrast take care of the eye candy. It may not have a lot of features, but we think its overall quality makes up for that.
It’s not perfect, but no other monitor will be, especially if its pricing has been cut to meet budget-oriented levels. Most of the limitations we noted are expected from a monitor like this and are forgivable in our eyes. It’s a great pick for us, and we know that you’d have to spend more to get something considerably better.
Pros:
- Vibrant Colors
- Excellent Contrast
- Fast Pixel Response Time
- Fast and Responsive
Cons:
- Dismal HDR
- Limited Connectivity
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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