The Gigabyte G27F2a is a very affordable 1080p gaming monitor that’s perfect for low to midrange E-Sports gaming rigs. It offers a 170Hz Fast-IPS panel that intends to bring smooth and blur-free competitive gaming to the masses. Let’s take a closer look at the Gigabyte G27F2 to know if it’s another one of the brand’s offerings with fantastic value.
Gigabyte G27F2 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 170Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Speakers: None
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.2” x 21 .6” x 7.6”
- Weight: 11.4 lbs
Design and Features
The Gigabyte G27F2 has some minor changes to its housing design, but it is basically the same simple-looking gaming monitor. It has a matte black chassis which doesn’t stand out too much so most shouldn’t have trouble fitting it into a themed setup. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most LED displays.
27-inch monitors are reasonably sized by today’s standards, but we recommend going with the smaller 24-inch variants if you have a small desk. It’s a little over 2 feet wide, but its depth was reduced by almost half an inch compared to its predecessor. It’s also lighter this time around at 11.4 pounds, so it’s a better pick if you want something portable for LAN parties or competitions.
One aspect that wasn’t affected by the cost-cutting is the product’s build quality which seemed to be better than before. The plastic panels are thick enough to resist flexing and cracking, so the monitor doesn’t feel cheap when you hold it. The included stand is firm and stable so the screen won’t shake or sag while it’s in use.
The Gigabyte G27F2 has a joystick for its OSD, but it is also one of the models that are compatible with the brand’s OSD Sidekick. However, you need to connect the monitor’s Type-B USB slot to your PC along with the video input to use the app. It’s a minor inconvenience, but the joystick should be enough in case you don’t want to use the software-based feature.
The stand included with the package only offers tilt and height adjustments, but that’s enough in most cases. Swiveling and pivot only comes in handy if you have an irregular setup or if you have multiple screens. You can use VESA mounts, but those are only necessary for select circumstances.
The Gigabyte G27F2 also has a simplified connectivity layout that starts with DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 2.0 slots. It doesn’t have a lot of extras, but it still manages to include three USB 3.0 ports and a 3.5mm jack. We’d like to point out that the M variants have USB-C connectivity at similar price points, so we’re hoping that Gigabyte adds them to the G models as well.
There are no built-in speakers this time around, but that’s acceptable considering the first G27F only had a 2-watt pair. Those are not suited for gaming since they sound weak or quiet, so most will go with gaming headsets instead. It is nice to have more features, but this omission is forgivable since the monitor is already cheap.
Display and Performance
The Gigabyte G27F2 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 170Hz maximum refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time. The backlight has been upgraded to 400 cd/m2, while the contrast is still at 1000:1 like most IPS displays. This model is advertised to be HDR compatible, but it is not certified by VESA’s minimum standard even if its backlight is rated for it.
27-inch monitors aren’t good when it comes to sharpness, but visibility and legibility will be great on them. It is easy on the eyes for reading or processing documents, plus most will be able to see small objects from afar in games. This format is popular for competitive gaming for that reason alone, so you shouldn’t be turned off by the lower PPI if that’s your goal.
The Gigabyte G27F2 renders 100% sRGB and 91% DCI-P3 for great colors in games and movies. Its default accuracy is excellent at 2.09, so most users won’t need to calibrate it to get a balanced appearance. Most gamers don’t bother with that, so having something that’s good to go is a big bonus.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.31, making it suitable for editing work and content creation. This is a better result than the older model, but the downside is that you will need a colorimeter to get the same level of improvement. It is not worth it in this case, so we recommend going with a prosumer variant instead if you need better imaging performance.
Its backlight reached 330 cd/m2 in SDR, but it peaked at 401 cd/m2 when it is HDR mode kicked in. its contrast ratio reached a fantastic 1289:1 at 50% brightness, although the panel still isn’t capable of deep blacks. It’s better in that regard versus other IPS gaming displays, but you’ll need a better backlight implementation for appreciable HDR performance.
Panel uniformity for the Gigabyte G27F2 sample did not have any massive defects like backlight leaks or clouding issues. The top edge of the screen was slightly dimmer than the rest, but it is only noticeable when the screen is scanned with a colorimeter. Note that this can change with every G27F2 made since there are tolerances in play.
This monitor is capable of excellent pixel response time even if you don’t max out its overdrive feature. Keeping your framerate high will help, so make sure to optimize your games accordingly. We recommend using the Picture Quality mode and adjusting it as needed based on the games you play.
The Gigabyte G27F2 is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync so you don’t have to worry about losing VRR. This duality is handy now since both GPU brands have suitable cards for an affordable E-Sports setup. Input lag sits at 4ms at 170Hz, so there is no need to worry about delays while gaming.
Thoughts on the Gigabyte G27F2
The Gigabyte G27F2 is a fantastic choice if you want an affordable gaming monitor for your E-Sports setup. It is fast and capable of great image quality, despite its price which undercuts several options with comparable capabilities. It’s missing a few creature comforts, but it has the essentials like height adjustability and great build quality.
However, it isn’t perfect especially when it comes to HDR performance, although the technical limitation is understandable. It could use a USB-C slot like the M series monitors, but we know that it’s too much to ask at this price bracket. It’s one of the best budget monitors you can buy right now if you don’t want to spend a small fortune.
Pros:
- Great Image and Color Quality
- Very Low Price
- Fast and Responsive
- FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Designed for Conferencing But No Speakers
- USB-C Limited to 15W
- Weak HDR
Paolo is a gaming veteran from the golden days of Doom and Warcraft. Since junior high, he has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues. 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 has also spent half a decade researching, reviewing, and writing about these products and now has over 1400 articles about the best gaming tech under his belt.
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