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The Gigabyte GS27FA offers a large and fast gaming screen for gamers who want to spend as little as possible. It’s a Fast IPS model, but its price like the brand’s various VA variants which have slower pixel response times. Let’s take a closer look to know if this will be the new value king for the approaching holidays.
Gigabyte GS27FA Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.37” x 17.60” x 6.77”
- Weight: 11.07 lbs
Design and Features
The Gigabyte GS27FA has a simple aesthetic, but that’s okay since you pay for the fast IPS display. The monitor has a matte black chassis, so it looks clean and very easy to maintain. The display has a three-sided bezel-free design, giving you a maximized view of the screen.
Gigabyte reduced the footprint of its new models, so this variant’s dimensions are more modest. It only needs 6.77 inches of depth from your desk, so it shouldn’t offset your other peripherals. It’s also very light, at 11.07 pounds, so it’s easy to move around.
Its build quality is great and comparable with most of Gigabyte’s offerings which never failed to satisfy. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. Its stand has good footing, but it causes some wobbling if you nudge the screen due to its low center of gravity.
The Gigabyte GS27FA has an OSD joystick at the bottom for easy access to its settings and features. You don’t have to reach in too much to get to it. Other budget models have to make do with buttons, so we’re glad it has an easier to use tool.
The included stand only offers tilt, so the monitor is rather limited when it comes to comfort. It may also seem like it rides low, so taller users will need a platform like a stack of books or a monitor base to prop it up on. You can use VESA mounts, but the added cost might offset the savings you were after in the first place.
The Gigabyte GS27FA’s connectivity layout has also been simplified to help it meet its targeted low price. You only get DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 slots, along with a 3.5mm jack for your headphones. USB ports are desirable, but we feel that it’s okay to miss them if the price is low enough.
It also doesn’t have speakers, just like most budget models in the current market. We think that’s fine since it’s better to use gaming headsets with these displays anyway. They are better when it comes to immersion and putting out the bass for explosive effects, so it would be silly to look for tinny built-ins if you are serious about gaming.
Display and Performance
The Gigabyte GS27FA sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but Gigabyte lists it as HDR-ready.
27-inch 1080p monitors are less desirable since they are not sharp like their smaller counterparts due to the looser pixel density. However, visibility and legibility are great so its nice to use to typing or reading tasks. Its very easy to run the monitor and get high framerates, so its great for budget setups with entry-level cards.
The Gigabyte GS27FA covered more than 100% sRGB and 80% DCI-P3 for decent colors in games and movies. Its default accuracy has a deltaE average of 1.93, making it decently balanced and accurate for a budget display. Most users won’t need to calibrate it, so it’s good to go right away.
Calibrating the monitor did not produce fantastic results since the dE average only improved to 1.54. Its not worth getting a colorimeter for this monitor since the gains are too small. We recommend going with a better tuned display if accuracy is essential for your work.
The Gigabyte GS27FA’s backlight reached 338 cd/m2 at 100% brightness, enabling it to better fight off glare during daytime use. Its contrast reached 1105:1 at 50% brightness, making it a bit better at black luminance than its counterparts. It’s not capable of deep dark scenes like VA or OLEDs, but that’s an expected limitation of the panel tech.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was pretty bad since there were visible backlight leaks on the edges of the screen. They become even more noticeable in dark scenes, potentially ruining the immersive quality of the screen. However, this can vary with every panel made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The Gigabyte GS27FA’s response time is decent since it can be considered a fast IPS panel. We recommend some overdrive, but maxing it out is not ideal since it will induce overshoot. The monitor has an MPRT strobing mode, but it induces flickering, so it’s not usable, in our opinion.
The Gigabyte GS27FA is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. Dual compatibility is essential for saving money since you can use the monitor with VRR for both Nvidia and AMD GPUs. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so its fast and just as good for competitive gaming as its more premium counterparts.
Thoughts on the Gigabyte GS27FA
The Gigabyte GS27FA is an excellent choice for budget gaming or completing an affordable setup. It costs less than $250, but it gives you a bright and fast IPS panel with great color performance. It is built well despite the limitations set by its very low price.
However, that low price also introduced some deal-breakers, like the tilt-only stand and lack of common features like USB and HDR compatibility. It performs great in responsiveness, but it lacks some refinements. It’s a decent buy overall, but there are better alternatives that won’t cost a hell of a lot more.
Pros:
- Low Price
- Full sRGB Coverage
- Decent Accuracy
- High Brightness
Cons:
- No USB Ports
- No Improvement When Calibrated
- Tilt Stand
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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