The Gigabyte M27QA ICE breaks the stigma of expensiveness on white gaming gear by offering it in a capable yet easy-to-own package. It’s a regular gaming monitor by today’s standards, but Gigabyte added type-C and KVM to make it a multitasking hub. Let’s take a look at its performance to know if it should be the top mainstream gaming monitor for 2025.
Gigabyte M27QA ICE Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD10W x 1, USB 3.2 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 24.22″ x 15.97″ x 7.62″
- Weight: 11.35 lbs
Design and Features
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE is basically the M27Q on the outside but with a few minor modifications to make it more enticing. The monitor has a matte white finish, making it look more sophisticated and suitable for themed builds. The display has a bezel-free design but still has inner borders like most modern monitors.
This model is lightweight at 11.35 pounds, but its overall build quality, inherited from the best Gigabyte monitors, has not changed. It has a smaller footprint, so you should be able to fit it in despite the awkward shape of its base. 27-inch monitors are not considered unusual now, but small study corners in dorms might still have a problem with them.
As mentioned, its build quality will not disappoint compared to other budget monitors in the market. The panels are not thick, but they are sturdy enough to fight off flexing while being free from cosmetic defects. The included stand slightly wobbles if you nudge it, but it will remain stable most of the time.
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE has an OSD joystick at the back for easy access to its settings. It’s located near the right-hand side of the screen, so you can easily reach it. Other models have remotes, but those typically make them more expensive and less practical.
The included stand offers tilt and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting and swivel were not included, but that’s okay since it’s not awkward to position due to its common size. You can use VESA mounts, but that’s only necessary in specific instances.
The biggest upgrade for the Gigabyte M27QA ICE is its connectivity layout. It has DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 slots, as well as a USB-C Port with DP Alt Mode. Couple that with the USB 3.2 ports and you get a capable KVM hub that doubles the monitor’s main purpose.
It doesn’t have speakers, but that’s okay since gaming displays are often best paired with gaming headsets. Most built-ins are weak anyway, so not having is acceptable, especially since it also lowers the price. They are nice to have as backups, but we know most of our readers barely use them.
Display and Performance
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE 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 350 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 1000:1, like most IPS panels. This model has HDR 400 certification, but that also means that it’s quite limited in producing HDR effects.
1440p is still popular and the current bread and butter of budget gaming monitors for its flexibility. It’s not as demanding as a 4K screen, but it’s also sharper and clearer than a 1080p alternative. It doesn’t take a lot to run games at 1440p 180Hz, so it’s also a very suitable choice for midrange and dual-purpose setups.
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE covers 99% sRGB and 94% DCI-P3 for great color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.81, so it’s already balanced out from the factory. Most users won’t need to do anything to it simply because Gigabyte already did the homework for you.
Calibrating it reduced the de average to 1.35, making it more natural than the default setting. The downside is a colorimeter was needed to achieve the minor improvement. It is not practical to buy one just for this monitor, so prioritizing an alternative geared towards prosumer use might be better in the long run.
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE’s backlight reached 311 cd/m2 at 100%, but it peaked at 439 cd/m2 when its HDR mode was active. Its contrast reached 1244:1, but it is still incapable of deep blacks like VA and OLEDs. That also leaves something to be desired with its HDR performance, but that’s acceptable since the monitor is not equipped for it.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had minor leaks at the top edge of the panel. It is not too bad against light backgrounds but can become noticeable against darker ones. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are worse and better units out there.
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE’s response time is excellent, thanks to its Fast IPS panel. You should be golden if you can keep your framerates steady above 100 FPS, but you also get an MPRT mode if all else fails. However, we don’t think it will ever be needed since the monitor is already fast by itself.
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free performance. Dual compatibility is a must-have if you want to save money if you want VRR but are going to switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so it can go toe to toe with most E-Sports monitors out there.
Thoughts on the Gigabyte M27QA ICE
The Gigabyte M27QA ICE is an excellent choice if you need a reasonably-priced monitor that performs for your all-white build. It offers great color performance and excellent responsiveness, making it perfect for gaming. It also comes with USB-C connectivity and KVM, so it’s a valid solution if you need a monitor that can be a dock for your work PC.
We don’t see a lot of points to complain about with this monitor unless we compare it to higher-tiered options. It is not perfect, but it still is an excellent buy for that budget to midrange build that needs extra oomph.
Pros:
- Excellent Pricing and Aesthetics
- Rich Colors
- HDMI 2.1 and USB-C
Cons:
- Limited Stand
- Poor HDR
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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