Fast response monitors used to be in a league of their
own, and command a princely sum. These days though, a good all round 1-or 2ms
response monitor can be had for just a tad over a hundred pounds. We have got hold
of six such fast response monitors of varying sizes and prices, to see which
comes out as the best
Acer G276HLA
Acer usually give us some wonderful monitors, within a very good
price range. There are times where it's slipped up, and the quality of the
product has dropped, but on the whole it does a pretty good job of delivering
the goods. We were therefore quite looking forward to getting our hands on a
brace of Its G27HLA 27" monitors for a dual display setup we had in mind.
Thankfully, we weren't disappointed.
The Acer G276HLA is, by any standard, a very good monitor.
It's a larger than average, 27“ TN panel with a decent enough 2ms response time
that comes with HDMI, DVI and VGA inputs and a dynamic contrast ratio of
100,0,000:1. Viewing angles are 170° on the horizontal, and 160° on the
vertical, which isn't up to IPS standards but good enough for the average user.
The Acer G27HLA
isn't a bad monitor
The build quality is good too; there's a Vi" glossy
bezel around the screen, with the OSD controls located In the bottom right-hand
corner together with the power. Connectivity around the back of the monitor is
easily accessible, and there's the relevant holes for VESA mounting should you
wish - although if you're doing that you'd probably prefer the video inputs to
be facing down rather than straight on, as they are in this example.
It's certainly sturdy enough to sit on a desk and take a few
knocks. The included stand is a four-point cross that slots up into the bracket
around the back of the monitor, and then screwed in place. This makes for a
solid foundation, but one that doesn't impede the monitor's adjustable angle in
any way. It's also surprisingly light, weighing in at around 4.5kg with the
stand in place, which isn't too bad considering it's not the thinnest panel
we've ever come across.
With a nice large
screen and reasonably quick response time, it's generally enough for most users
We found the G276HLA to be a bright, clear monitor to use,
with great colour reproduction. The 2ms response time is a benefit for watching
video or playing games, but it also means there's very little eye strain when
spending long hours in front of a Word document or CAD package.
When a pair of these monitors are placed together the effect
is quite stunning, and a massive improvement over even a brace of standard 24“
desktop monitors. Because of these combined points then, the Acer G276HLA
scores somewhat better than expected. The addition of a USB hub and a set of
speakers wouldn't go amiss, though. While this would bump up the price
considerably, it saves you from having to buy an extra USB desktop hub to
replace the handy, within reach, ports you can have with a USB enabled monitor.
The easy-to-access
ports are located on the rear of the monitor
On a separate note, we found the OSD buttons to be a little
fiddly, and difficult to locate properly. This was exacerbated by only having a
few seconds to press the correct button before the OSD powers off
automatically.
Acer has put together a very good quality monitor here,
though, While, on paper, it may seem fairly average, what lifts It above the
norm Is the larger 27" display, its 2ms response time and that £283 price.
It won't win any awards, but with that screen, connectivity options and such a
reasonable price to boot, this ultimately a monitor that will suffice, and
provide you countless hours of day-to-day use.
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Details
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Price: $283 ·
Manufacturer: Acer ·
Required Spec: HDML DVI, VGA connection
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