Acer XG270HU — FreeSync, 1440p and 144 hertz for 500 euros
The Acer XG270HU must show in the test whether it with Free Sync, high 1440p resolution and brisk 144 hertz
Acer XG270HU at a glance:
• 2560x1440 pixels, which are nearly 80 percent more pixels than with Full HD
• AMD Free Sync for synchronization of fps and refresh rate
• Maximum 144 Hertz refresh rate
• Anti-reflective TN panel with 27 inch diagonal
Much helps a lot — also in screen resolutions. The more pixels your monitor represents, the sharper the image and especially game graphics will be compared to lower resolutions as calculated with high-quality edge smoothing. While most of our readers are playing in 1920x1080 pixels (see also this survey resolution survey on GameStar.de), Acers XG270HU Free Sync-Monitor is testing with clearly sharper 2560x1440 pixels and can also display 144 images per second.
I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but it’s not a good idea, but it’s not a good idea, today practically no graphics card more demanding titles with high details in 4K liquid can conjure to the monitor. In addition, there are currently no more than 60 images per second in 4K.
2560x1440 pixel, modern 3D accelerators of the upper middle class, however, handle without problems with maximum details and the 1440p resolution looks much more detailed, sharper and crisp compared to Full HD — even without edge smoothing. In our opinion, 2560x1440 pixels with a refresh rate beyond the 60 fps are therefore the currently best game resolution. If AMD’s FreeSync comes to the test, as with the Acer XG270HU, it is potentially the best TFT combination for players.
Games test
In the game test, this potential actually unfolds, playing with the XG270HU is a lot more fun than on a Full HD monitor without FreeSync (see also our detailed experience report AMD FreeSync against Nvidia G-Sync). The high resolution provides a wonderfully sharp and almost completely flicker-free image, which makes it noticeably easier for us to sink into the game world, at least as positively, the effect of FreeSync makes itself felt.
While GTA 5 can be run on the highway in GTA 5 without free-sync, our test system with a Radeon R9 290X and a Core i5 2500K in high detail reaches 50 to 60 fps. However, if we activate FreeSync, the game feels much more supple and the control is more direct. We notice this both when changing the camera position with the mouse as well as with the constant evasion of other cars via the keyboard, with activated FreeSync it is noticeably more direct and (feeling) more constant from the hand.
However, there is a catch: If we switch from high to maximum details and end up in the range between 30 and 40 fps, the gameplay without FreeSync is better because the Acer XG270HU only works at 40 frames per second FreeSync at all and then we The frequent change between Hertz numbers in the FreeSync range and Hertz numbers outside of it get uncomfortable. This is not an inherent Freesync problem, because the monitor manufacturers can set the fps range itself between 9 and 240 fps, but Acer’s decision.
We would have liked to use Freesync at least 30 fps, but also 40 fps in practice usually in order, since hardly a PC player less than 40 fps really felt as liquid. Especially in fluttering games probably most prefer the details.
The bottom line is that games on Acers XG270HU are noticeably more fun than conventional full-HD monitors without the FreeSync, especially since the TN panel can display fast 144 frames per second and also shines with the reaction times measured by us. Without Overdrive enabled, we measure a response time of 11.6 milliseconds (black and white black). Even in this setting no streaks occur, we finally activate Overdrive, we measure very fast 5.9 milliseconds in the “Normal” stage, the setting “Extrem” with 5.4 milliseconds without visible overshoot once again a subtle better value on top of it,
TN-panel
As good resolution, refresh rate and FreeSync for players are, by the TN panel used with the Acer XG270HU, certain reductions in the picture quality and the angles of view are to be expected, which is at least partially confirmed in the test. The picture is somewhat yellowish and the colors are too bright, which can be bent only by the options for the color representation only conditionally straight. IPS panels usually offer the more natural color presentation, the better contrast, and other viewing angles. Due to the sitting position directly in front of the monitor, however, the narrower viewing angles of the TN panel are completely correct.
The maximum brightness of the XG270HU is 349 cd / m² — a very good value. The black level (0.40 cd / m²) might be lower, but the display brightness of 87 percent for a TN panel again attains a high level, as does the normal contrast value of 882 to 1. Also The display of lower resolutions than the native 2560x1440 pixel succeeds the Acer TFT well, so if you should achieve a high fps in a game with your PC only in Full HD, in order to benefit as far as possible from the 144 Hertz, the picture quality suffers Including only minor.
Equipment
The stand of the XG270HU does not elicit jubilation screams, because it is too faithful to its name and offers almost no ergonomic options. We can simply tilt the screen backwards and forwards, the Acer monitor has a height adjustment as well as a pivot function to display the image in portrait format rotated by 90 degrees. After all, we can get one of the many old mainboard packs out of our cabinets and still usefully to hoist the monitor to a comfortable height, the pivot function is missing in games anyway.
In addition to the DVI, HDMI and the DisplayPort required for FreeSync, the monitor also has an audio input for the integrated speakers and an audio output for connecting a headset. Due to their low sound quality, the integrated speakers are not really suitable for playing or watching movies.
Visually, the XG270HU has light and shadow: While most players probably look forward to the pleasantly narrow frame with a width of just seven millimeters, the striking orange in the stand and the approximately 2.5 centimeters wide frame in the lower frame Monitor area not necessarily everyone’s thing.
Last but not least the operation, which takes place via small buttons in the right, lower corner of the monitor. While the pressure points and the key feedback are correct, wobble of the monitor is a little distracting at the time of actuation, and the buttons for our feeling would have to be a little further to the right to be exactly the menu items on the on- Of the monitor. The menu itself is neatly structured, but does not have much to offer apart from usual functions like the regulation of the brightness or the color space.
