05/22/2020 UPDATE. The IPS 240hz monitor tier list.(I've measured/tried the all) and my honest explanation why.

[jimbus80]

I've been following this topic for a while and I want to thank you all for sharing your experience and tell you about mine with the monitors I've bought (and returned) this year. No technical tests, just my feelings with daily use in games and office work:

- LG 27GL850: Good for general use and gaming up to 144hz. Good colors and nice 27'' 1440p combination. Good price too. Best overall monitor. Gsync compatible, which means you can use VRR with Nvidia cards too but overdrive is not optimal, which means you'll notice stuttering with frame rate fluctuation.

- LG 27GL83A: RGB version of the 27GL850, which for me was an advantage. However, no way to update its firmware (no USB ports).

- Viewsonic XG270QG: A better LG 27GL850 because it has a physical GSync module and the variable overdrive is perfect, so no stuttering. That module is "new" and also makes possible VRR with AMD cards. Very expensive however. For me, best 27'' 1440p monitor if you can afford it and win the panel lottery (common problem with IPS monitors).

- Asus XG279Q: A deception. Good colors but not good performance for gaming. I had problems with games like Horizon Chase Turbo, where frame rate dropped at some points and didn't recover until I paused and resumed the game. The panel doesn't seem to be fast enough. Avoid this monitor, which is almost as expensive as the Viewsonic but much worse for gaming.

- Asus VG279QM: Not a bad gaming monitor, but a bad monitor for general use due to its low pixel density. Avoid all 27'' 1080p monitors unless you want them ONLY for gaming because text is not crisp enough.

- Asus VG259QM: A better version of its big brother in every aspect. 24'' 1080p is almost as good as 27'' 1440p. It can reach 280 fps if your system is powerful enough and can combine VRR with LMB, however not well enough unless you can keep always high fps (over 200) because OD locks at 80. The variable overdrive is not good enough and you'll notice stuttering if your frame rate fluctuates. Overall, a good gaming monitor. The problem is we have the...

- MSI MAG251RX: The best gaming monitor I've tried. I've read it has the same panel as the Asus VG259QM. However, I cannot see stuttering even with frame rate fluctuation, almost as if it had a Gsync module. I have now at home both monitors next to each other and playing Ride 3, for example, is a different experience: in my system I get in that game frames that go from 120 to more than 200 depending on the number of bikes, the landscape, etc. The MSI is more fluid than the Asus. It's my second day trying games in both monitors and I am almost sure I'll keep the MSI and return the Asus. I still have to calibrate it, but the default colours seem good enough, so they can only improve. I have not yet forced the situation to see if it has the image retention problem some people talk about. I'll update this if I get it. My unit, however, came with a noticeable red luminance in the bottom-right corner if you pay attention over a black image. The panel lottery...

So, after all these monitor purchases and returns, here goes my recommendations for the best gaming experience with also office working in mind: Viewsonic XG270QG for 1440p 165hz and MSI MAG251RX for 1080p 240hz.

Games I use for testing motion blur, frame rates, stuttering, etc. (all work at high fps): Geometry Dash, Runner 3, Horizon Chase Turbo, Ride 3, rFactor 2, Grid 2, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, COD WW2 zombies.

[Stevie66]

So I picked up the LG 27GN750 and MSI MAG251RX, playing around with both for some hours in terms of response time at 240hz they seem pretty much the same both on the fastest(second to fastest for LG) setting. But at variable refresh rate both at their best settings because the fastest had a lot of overshoot going 144hz and lower the LG seems better, clearer and less overshoot.
LG has no strobing though but messing around with the MSI one a bit, it's a bit too dim for my liking(I play in a pretty dim lit room too) 240hz has way too much crosstalk too, 120-144hz seems pretty damn good but the screen being so dim it seems like a gimmick to me still and I see no point using it in games, maybe in 2-3 years they will perfect it at high hz or OLED will come and save the day lol.
So I'll keep the LG for now but still plan to try out the 24"/27" XB Acer monitors next.

[purplew]

Yeah, honestly I've got to say - the MAG251RX's fastest setting (there's normal, fast, fastest) is completely unusable. I know that RLCSContender said it's the best but just no. Especially in web browsing it's hurting my eyes a lot. Fast is completely fine though.
Also it's even noticeable in games in fast motion scenarios, it just messes up everything

If I had to pick a monitor again I'd either go the XB253Q GX or the AW2521HF that's like $200 cheaper or a good TN, strobing is not too useful on the mag unless you have 200+ fps, but then it's a bit dim, and fastest overdrive is not really usable. Fast overdrive combined input lag + response time is not quite on par with the XB253Q GX from the reviews ive seen.

Edit: I played for about 5 hours of COD:MW, with the "Fastest" overdrive for about 3 hours, then using Anti Motion Blur for the next 2 hours. Anti Motion Blur, even tho it makes the screen really dim (even more if you keep contrast at 50 and use no color correction) is completely usable as long as you're willing to get used to it. It's really really good IMO. See my updated post below for more info.

[Stevie66]

Yeah, I have high hopes for the Acers, will get get the 24" when it's in stock locally here and possibly the 27" once it goes on sale again, I like the LG even if it lacks "features" just hoping the Acer is even better.
Kind of tempted to wait and see what the new BenQ has to offer but still not sure if I want to go back to TN panel even if the response time is the best...

[PixelDuck87]

Yeah, honestly I've got to say - the MAG251RX's fastest setting (there's normal, fast, fastest) is completely unusable. I know that RLCSContender said it's the best but just no. Especially in web browsing it's hurting my eyes a lot. Fast is completely fine though.
Also it's even noticeable in games in fast motion scenarios, it just messes up everything

If I had to pick a monitor again I'd either go the XB253Q GX or the AW2521HF that's like $200 cheaper or a good TN, strobing is not too useful on the mag unless you have 200+ fps, but then it's a bit dim, and fastest overdrive is not really usable. Fast overdrive combined input lag + response time is not quite on par with the XB253Q GX from the reviews ive seen.

Based on hardwareUnboxed review only 49.1% of transitions are within refresh window at 240hz on 'fast' setting. If 'faster' as you say is unusable then MAG251RX should not be considered at all for 240hz competitive gaming?

[Stevie66]

How is the AW2521HF? Any downsides? is the response time just as good as the LG and MSI?
I see RTINGS show that fast is the best setting for it and the 2 higher settings have so much overshoot, what's the purpose of them then? But another review showed those 2 setting being good with VRR on at the same 240hz? how does that even work? Seems like it actually has variable overdrive or having adaptive sync on just makes it all 1 OD setting without telling you?

[RLCSContender*]

flip to page 82(i will also quote myself), i posted a tldr;lr quick review of the triple review of the vg259qm vg279qm mag251rx. I will soon post the REAL REVIEW coming up and you don't want to miss it. I will discuss a lot of important things such as

image retention
pixel inversion
scanline screendoor effect
the real MSI MAG251RX rEAL REVIEW
the real Odyssey G7 review
vg259qm review
vg279qm review
Differences between the vg279qm/vg259qm
Vs TN monitors

Also did Tim really say 49? Does THIS LOOK LIKe 49% to you?

phpBB [video]

I measured at 99%. Only VERY few transition was outside the required 4.17ms g2g requirement(and it's mostly the slow blacks since the 24.5" ips monitors have the best contrast ratios of any IPS)



Fast OD from the mag251rx is among the best tuned OD settings out there(just right behind the AW2521HFL_ . here is the UFO ghosting test on "fast". even on OD fast, it's around the 3.4-3.5 g2g average mark which is extremely close to the g2g response time BEFORE inverse ghosting begins to occur.

btw, the UFO tests NEVER LIED to me(presuming i have the shutter at 1/4 the refresh rate, no oversaturation, straight line with a tiny gap in between, cyan color, 960 pixel speed, on the monitor's optimal temperature).. it has literally confirmed every motion artifact(even the hidden ones) on my in practice cannonball test.

my guess is hardware unboxed measured the monitor when it wasn't at its optimal temperature setting.


this was on page 82, but i will requote it for you guys if in case anybody missed this

this is the tld;rtldr version of my upcoming triple review. of the asus vg259qm, asus vg279qm, and msi mag251rx) Plus the conclusions of the odyssey g7 and lg 27gl850-b and viewsonic elite xg270qg reviews.

(click to enlarge)


tldr;rl version of me NUKING the samsung odyssey G7 once again. For a $776(aftertax) dollar monitor, i have higher expectations and i get very strict on what is acceptable and what is not)

(click to enlarge)


ANYONE who has ever reviewed the viewsonic elite xg270qg. I advise you guys make this revision. 6ms grey to grey if "USER" under color temperature setting is used, GHOSTING will occur. 4ms grey to grey if NATIVE(or SRGB) under color temperature setting (no ghosting, no artifacts). Here is a video proving it. I've owned FOUR of these, all FOUR confirm the same thing

phpBB [video]

The blurbusters UFO ghosting tests has never lied to me. it has confirmed virtually 100% of the cases that I've seen and I truly believe the blurbusters UFO test is the best way to determine response times, which monitor is faster, and most important of all, the motion artifacts you may or may not see in game. Just to prove how accurate it is



Viewsonic elite xg270qg under "USER" color temperature (100/100/100 RGB). I clearly see ghosting on the rocket league ball



Viewsonic elite xg270qg under "native or SRGB" color temperature. I clearly see a SHARPER moving object with a very feint inverse ghosting corona.



okay, the tldr;l version is out of the way. The real version is coming up.

-The 60hz fixed refresh plague
-pixel walk/pixel inversion
-image retention
-Scanline screendoor effect
-vg259qm review vs vg279qm review differences
-which is the optimal version?
-vs TN (higher refresh rate vs faster pixel response times, why g2g is inferior to MPRT at higher refresh and why the vg259qm/vg279qm will beat any TN user especially at 307hz overclock(300hz recommended) for the vg259qm)
-MSI MAG251RX review
-g2g response times & input lag results
-pickuchu jab frame checker(input lag at 60hz)
-samsung odyssey g7 review part 3

[RLCSContender*]

How is the AW2521HF? Any downsides? is the response time just as good as the LG and MSI?
I see RTINGS show that fast is the best setting for it and the 2 higher settings have so much overshoot, what's the purpose of them then? But another review showed those 2 setting being good with VRR on at the same 240hz? how does that even work?

I ranked it #1 in the best motion clarity, tied with the VG259qm. Only TWO monitors passed my 1920 pixel speed cannonball test on rocket league. The Asus VG259qm and the alienware aw2521hfl. However, on the 960 pixel speed test, the #1 RANKED monitor when it came to motion clarity in the 960 speed test believe it or NOT is the LG 27GN750.

the 27gn750 has the least motion artifacts and the most buttery smooth gameplay. No scanline screen door effect, no pixel walk/pixel inversions, no image retention, the colors are very accurate, and the input lag at 60hz and at 240hz is also quite low. I will make a review on it very soon. But i'm still working on the odyssey G7, how i will write a VERY VERY VERY detailed review on it big time because i got sick and tired of all the reviewers giving it a positive review while NOT addressing the MAIN issues in which CONSUMERS complain about the most.

The aw2521HFL was slightly better tuned in than the aw2521HF(although it could be panel variance). The aw2521HF's "fast" OD is the SAME exact OD as "fast" OD on the msi mag251rx. However panel variances exist. On my panel, it was extremely close to the inverse ghosting range of the AOU monitor of the 24.5" ips variant. Any form of inverse ghosting=BAD, i found this out regardless if it was feint when it failed my 1920 pixel speed test in rocket league.

[speancer]

Yeah, honestly I've got to say - the MAG251RX's fastest setting (there's normal, fast, fastest) is completely unusable. I know that RLCSContender said it's the best but just no. Especially in web browsing it's hurting my eyes a lot. Fast is completely fine though.
Also it's even noticeable in games in fast motion scenarios, it just messes up everything

If I had to pick a monitor again I'd either go the XB253Q GX or the AW2521HF that's like $200 cheaper or a good TN, strobing is not too useful on the mag unless you have 200+ fps, but then it's a bit dim, and fastest overdrive is not really usable. Fast overdrive combined input lag + response time is not quite on par with the XB253Q GX from the reviews ive seen.

Based on hardwareUnboxed review only 49.1% of transitions are within refresh window at 240hz on 'fast' setting. If 'faster' as you say is unusable then MAG251RX should not be considered at all for 240hz competitive gaming?

It's perfectly fine on "Fastest" overdrive on 240 Hz. I have MSI Optix MAG251RX on my desk right now. I mostly use this monitor with fixed 240 Hz for competitive gaming with overdrive "Fastest", Adaptive-Sync disabled. I'm pretty sure @purplew is describing VRR performance, then yeah, for lower frame rates in Adaptive-Sync mode you need to switch overdrive setting to "Fast", but that's normal behaviour for many monitors (lack of variable overdrive). Hardware Unboxed also mentions this and recommends "Fast" overdrive for Adaptive-Sync, as it delivers the best performance across the refresh rate range on the lower side (144 Hz and less), but "Fastest" overdrive is also the best with Adaptive-Sync for refresh rates closer to 240 Hz.

[frosti]

Yeah, honestly I've got to say - the MAG251RX's fastest setting (there's normal, fast, fastest) is completely unusable. I know that RLCSContender said it's the best but just no. Especially in web browsing it's hurting my eyes a lot. Fast is completely fine though.
Also it's even noticeable in games in fast motion scenarios, it just messes up everything

If I had to pick a monitor again I'd either go the XB253Q GX or the AW2521HF that's like $200 cheaper or a good TN, strobing is not too useful on the mag unless you have 200+ fps, but then it's a bit dim, and fastest overdrive is not really usable. Fast overdrive combined input lag + response time is not quite on par with the XB253Q GX from the reviews ive seen.

Based on hardwareUnboxed review only 49.1% of transitions are within refresh window at 240hz on 'fast' setting. If 'faster' as you say is unusable then MAG251RX should not be considered at all for 240hz competitive gaming?

It's perfectly fine on "Fastest" overdrive on 240 Hz. I have MSI Optix MAG251RX on my desk right now. I mostly use this monitor with fixed 240 Hz for competitive gaming with overdrive "Fastest", Adaptive-Sync disabled. I'm pretty sure @purplew is describing VRR performance, then yeah, for lower frame rates in Adaptive-Sync mode you need to switch overdrive setting to "Fast", but that's normal behaviour for many monitors (lack of variable overdrive). Hardware Unboxed also mentions this and recommends "Fast" overdrive for Adaptive-Sync, as it delivers the best performance across the refresh rate range on the lower side (144 Hz and less), but "Fastest" overdrive is also the best with Adaptive-Sync for refresh rates closer to 240 Hz.

Little bit off-topic: "Owned and tested displays: Acer Predator XB273 X (G-SYNC 240 Hz) • BenQ Zowie XL2546 (DyAc 240 Hz) • MSI Optix MAG251RX (Adaptive-Sync 240 Hz) • Acer Predator XB271HU (G-SYNC 165 Hz) • ASUS TUF VG279QM (Adaptive-Sync 280 Hz)" - which one is the best in ur opinion to competitive gaming (CS:GO, Rocket League) and also games like GTA 5 (~100 fps games). Im looking for 24-25' 240hz monitor for competitive CS:GO.