The Gigabyte GS27QC offers essential yet solid gaming performance at a price that you would normally see on a 1080p variant. What sets it apart from the G27QC is its curvature, which lends some immersion to your games. Absolutely low prices can make anyone skeptical about a product, so let’s take it for a spin to see if it’s a great buy.
Gigabyte GS27QC Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 170Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 4000:1
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in 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 With Stand(WxHxD): 24″ x 17.1″ x 8.2″
- Weight: 10 lbs
Design and Features
The Gigabyte GS27QC looks like most plain monitors, although the brand logo at the bottom bezel gives away its gaming heritage. This model has a matte black finish, so it won’t stand out too much against most builds. The screen has a bezel-free design, but you still get inner borders just like with any modern monitor.
Its dimensions are more modest than most curved monitors due to the new base design that doesn’t use the old boomerang-shaped variant. It only needs 8.2 inches of depth so it will leave you with more room even if the desk is smaller than a standard-sized one. It only weighs 10 pounds, so it’s portable and very easy to move around.
Another thing Gigabyte didn’t overlook with this budget model is its build quality. The device uses durable and high-quality materials, so there are no signs of weakness like flexing or cracking. The included stand is firm and stable, so it only slightly wobbles if you nudge it accidentally.
The Gigabyte GS27QC still has a joystick, but it is now located under the Gigabyte logo for easier access. The monitor is also compatible with the brand’s OSD Sidekick app for direct access to its settings within your OS. Other budget models have to make do with pesky buttons, so this is a huge plus for gamers who want to tweak their monitor often.
The first limitation you will encounter is with the default stand since it only offers tilt. The new base is also scarily small, based on the pictures, but it’s actually stable and reliable. You can use VESA mounts, but that’s an added cost that will impact your savings.
The second limitation would be on the Gigabyte GS27QC’s connectivity layout, which only includes the basics. You only get DisplayPort and two HDMI 2.0 slots, along with a 3.5mm jack for headphones. You also don’t get speakers with this model, but that’s acceptable since it deserves immersive headsets anyway.
Display and Performance
The Gigabyte GS27QC sports a 27-inch VA panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 170Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms boosted response time. The backlight has a 250 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 4000:1. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but it is compatible with HDR10 signals.
27-inch 1440p monitors are perfect for both gaming and productivity since they offer the best balance between sharpness and visibility. Games look cleaner and sharper because of the higher pixel count without making text smaller and harder to discern. It is more demanding than a 1080p variant, but you can get high framerates with more GPU models compared to 4K, which needs top-end cards.
The Gigabyte GS27QC only covers 93% of the sRGB gamut and 75% of DCI-P3, so it is not the most vibrant out there. Its default accuracy isn’t the best either since it has a deltaE accuracy of 2.97. That’s not an issue for gaming, but it will be noticeable for users who are accustomed to calibrated displays.
Calibrating the monitor improved its deltaE average to 1.87, which looks more balanced and natural. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to get comparable results. The gadget is more expensive than the monitor, so it is not worth getting that for minor improvements to its color performance.
Its backlight reached 255 cd/m2 at 100% brightness, so it might struggle when it’s in a room with lots of glare. Its contrast peaked at 4022:1 at 50% brightness, exceeding the quoted ratio Gigabyte placed on it. It has great dark scenes or images, unlike its IPS counterparts, which are handicapped in this regard.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some minor backlight leaks at the top edge of the screen. This is common with curved displays, but it is not entirely guaranteed that everyone has them. It is still possible to get a unit with better results in this regard, but it’s the luck of the draw.
The biggest weakness of the Gigabyte GS27QC is its VA panel’s slower pixel response time. It is not a big deal unless it’s a very fast and contrasting transition, like when a jet streaks through the night sky. Serious competitive gamers might want to look elsewhere, but typical gamers will not have an issue with it.
The Gigabyte GS27QC is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync for tear- and stutter-free gaming. It is essential to have dual compatibility if you want to save money in the long run since you won’t need to buy a new monitor if you switch GPU brands and would like to keep VRR. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 170Hz, so it’s responsive enough for competitive gaming.
Thoughts on the Gigabyte GS27QC
The Gigabyte GS27QC is an interesting pick due to its combination of price and specifications. You get a gaming-grade 1440p monitor for the price of a 1080p offering, so it makes upgrading easier on your mind and wallet. It’s also built like the higher-end models, so you aren’t sacrificing durability and reliability while saving money.
Some issues may be deal-breakers for some, like the limited color coverage and features. However, these handicaps are expected from extra affordable models since the cost to make them focuses on the high-refresh panel. It’s a decent pick, but we know many would rather spend a bit more for something more capable.
Pros:
- Very Low Price for 1440p
- Excellent Build Quality
- Superb Contrast
- FreeSyn and G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Limited Gamut Coverage
- Tilt Stand
- Prone to Blurring
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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