The HP E45c G5 is a premium 45-inch ultrawide monitor that’s intended for savvy professionals who want a streamlined yet gaming-capable setup. The monitor is intended to replace two 1440p monitors for less clutter and functionality, along with offering broader functionality for the modern office. All these come at a premium price, so let’s check it out to see if it’s worth the investment.
HP E45c G5 Specifications
- Screen Size: 45 Inches
- Resolution: 5120 x 2160 DQHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 3ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 1, USB-C x 2, USB 3.0 x 4, RJ45 x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jacks
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 42.7″ x 20.5″ x 12.1”
- Weight: 32.18 lbs
Design and Features
The HP E45c G5 has gaming-grade specs, but it resembles the brand’s premium business displays more than the Omen variants. The monitor has a matte black and gunmetal finish, so it would look nice with any kind of setup. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has thin inner borders like most modern display products.
It replaces two 1440p monitors with a single unit, but it is a massive device, so you aren’t truly saving space. The monitor needs almost four feet of width, plus it’s over a foot deep due to the large base and sharp curve. It is also very heavy at 32.18 pounds, so you might want to ask for help in setting it up.
Its build quality is excellent, so in a way, that helps further justify its higher price tag. The device has plenty of reinforcements for durability, and there were no signs of manufacturing flaws like cosmetic defects. The stand can keep the massive display upright, but it can slightly wobble if you nudge the screen’s edges accidentally.
The HP E45c G5 has a joypad for its OSD instead of joysticks or pesky mush buttons. It’s located at the back, but it’s still accessible even if you have to lean in a bit to reach it. The monitor has plenty of settings, so it is nice to have a tactile tool to surf through it.
The stand included with the package offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your convenience. You can’t pivot the screen, but that’s understandable due to its massive width, which looks ridiculous when its in portrait mode. You can use VESA mounts, but that’s only necessary if you want to get rid of the massive base to save space.
One of the main highlights of the HP E45c G5 is its connectivity layout which makes it compatible with many modern devices. It has DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and a 100-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. It also has a USB hub and an RJ45 LAN port for accessories and network management right on its I/O.
The one downside with it is its weaker speakers, which only have 3 watts of power, unlike what some of its competitors have. They sound decent enough for music or even some streaming on the side, but the screen’s immersive size and resolution make headsets more suitable. Gaming is always better on them, but at least you have a set that may be useful as a backup.
Display and Performance
The HP E45c G5 boasts a 45-inch 1500r VA panel with a 5120 x 1440 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 3ms boosted response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 3000:1. The monitor doesn’t list HDR capabilities, but that’s understandable since it’s not equipped for convincing HDR effects.
1440p monitors are fantastic for mixed-use since they are not too sharp for reading or browsing. Graphics and visuals look better on them due to the higher pixel count, but the GPU requirements also go up with that. This monitor is similar to two 1440p displays minus the bezels in between, so you will need more oomph from your GPU to reach the 165Hz limit.
The HP E45c G5 covers 100% sRGB and 93% of the DCI-P3 gamut for rich colors in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.98, so it doesn’t need calibration out of the box. Most users will be able to plug it in and enjoy it straight away, although we think you should adjust the default brightness to a more comfortable setting.
Calibrating with a colorimeter reduced the dE average to 0.88, making it suitable for color-critical work. The downside is that you have to buy the colorimeter, and those aren’t cheap or as accessible as something you can borrow from a neighbor. We can only recommend it if your job involves editing or content creation, but it’s impractical otherwise.
The HP E45c G5’s backlight reached 445 cd/m2 at 100%, so it has plenty of room for adjustment. Its contrast peaked at 3766:1 at 30% brightness, so it’s great for viewing night scenes or dark images. Other brands now use IPS panels for monitors like this, but we think that there is still some value in using VA panels for users who are after deeper immersion.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some minor issues due to light leaks at the top and bottom edges of the screen. This is common with displays that have steep curves, but it is not a permanent occurrence. Its still possible to get a better unit with fewer issues since backlight bleeding is usually caused by manufacturing tolerances.
The biggest weakness of the HP E45c G5 when it comes to performance is its slower pixel response time. Fast-paced and contrasting transitions often leave some trails or persistence, like when a jet streaks through a pitch-dark sky. Setting the overdrive moderately helped with this, but maxing it out was counter-intuitive since it added overshoot.
The HP E45c G5 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync, so you don’t have to worry about stuttering. Dual compatibility is crucial for expensive monitors, so you don’t have to upgrade them, too if you decide to switch between Nvidia or AMD. Its input lag sits at 5ms at 165Hz, so there is no need to worry about delays while gaming or working.
Thoughts on the HP E45c G5
The HP E45c G5 is a unique and desirable choice for users who want something effective for productivity and gaming. It is designed like a true premium product and comes with a host of must-have features like USB-C and HDMI 2.1. It also gives you serious bragging rights due to its very unique DQHD screen.
However, we perplexed as to why HP stuck with VA instead of going with an IPS or IPS Black panel. VA panels are still great by the way, but they are usually found on more affordable display products. It’s a great choice, but we’d wait for a sale to make the deal even sweeter.
Pros:
- Plenty of Viewing Space
- Great for Gaming and Productivity
- Plenty of Features
Cons:
- Expensive
- VA Limitations
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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