BenQ XL2546 (24.5" 240Hz TN) vs Alienware AW2521H (24.5" 360Hz Fast IPS)

[drmcninja]

I have the XL2546. Should I upgrade to the AW2521H?

I mostly play Overwatch at 300-400fps.

I used to exclusively play with DyAc on Premium (the highest setting). I can tell there is a teeny bit of lag with it on though, when I quickly swap during play to a profile with DyAc disabled using their little switch. So I've been conflicted about having it on versus off. Most of the time you don't need it, but in Overwatch sometimes it can help (tracking fast moving enemies, i.e, Genji, Tracer). I used to run it with FastSync on all low details for extra smoothness (400fps cap helped make FastSync smooth at 240Hz refresh). I turned that off now to get lower lag, but running G-Sync/V-Sync at 360Hz would give me back that clarity with even lower lag and while still keeping details high (G-Sync/V-Sync together are lower lag than FastSync according to this site's tests... also I can run the game on Ultra at 300-400fps, I have an RTX 3080 and sometimes it's just enjoyable to play with all the bells and whistles on, but I cannot run the game on high details and utilize FastSync, but I could hypothetically keep all my current settings (high details, no DyAc) and switch to G-Sync/V-Sync @ 360Hz and possibly notice an improvement?).

How bad is motion blur at 360Hz versus 240Hz with DyAc on?

Is the input lag of the AW2521H better overall than the XL2546? I know it's an IPS panel but it says 1ms response time, but in the Tom's Hardware review, it says "3ms screen draw time". So what is the lag I'm looking at comparing AW2521H with G-Sync/V-Sync on or off at 360Hz versus XL2546 with DyAc on or off (and no V-Sync of any sort). I have no idea what kind of lag the XL2546 got in tests/reviews.

So keeping in mind my use conditions, what do you recommend?

Putting aside my situation, what would YOU choose?

[Rogex47]

Hi,

I don't have the Alienware, but I have the Asus 360hz one. Since both use the same panel I don't think there is a huge difference.

"How bad is motion blur at 360Hz versus 240Hz with DyAc on?"
-Very bad. Nothing comes close to 240Hz strobed. You will probably need an OLED 500hz or 1000hz panel to achieve the same picture clarity as with DyAc on. But you can use ULMB on the Alienware, unfortunately only at 144hz and 240hz, should give you the same effect as DyAc does.

"It the input lag better?"
-Yes, input lag is roughly 0.6ms lower according to Rtings:
https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/co ... eshold=0.1

Personally I have upgraded from Acer Nitro XF252Q TN to Asus PG253QNR because of IPS, 360hz, Reflex Analyzer.
I would have not upgraded for 360hz alone though, for me it is the combination of all the features which makes it worth it.
And it also depends on the price tag imo.

You don't care about colours etc, you want the cleanest image possible? -> Don't upgrade
You want a fast IPS panel with great colours and viewing angles? -> There are cheaper options, but this depends on your budget and the price of the Alienware.
You want a fast IPS panel with reflex analyzer? -> Then Alienware is worth it

[drmcninja]

Thank you for your response

[Falkentyne]

240hz Strobed is VERY nice, especially if you don't have any crosstalk or inverse artifacts along with it.

360fps / 360hz vsync on is impossible to maintain in Overwatch at max detail and 100% stock render scale, even on a 10900k and RTX 3090 Founder's Edition, unless you start reducing settings. If you can maintain it, while it looks a lot better than the standard 144hz/165hz vsync on, you're still going to see some blur. 240hz strobed will destroy it.

I see no real reason to upgrade your monitor. I believe the XL2546 uses a true 8 bit panel (not 6 bit+Hi FRC, right?) If it works and you aren't unhappy with the quality, use it until the new 60hz full range strobing monitors (60hz-165hz @ 1440p, or 60hz-240hz) come out. You never know, one of them may allow adaptive sync+blur reduction at the same time (previously, only possible on some Gsync monitors via an unofficial hack, like the famous Dell S2716DG and the 24" version, and quality was VERY hit and miss).

[愛rain]

I see no real reason to upgrade your monitor. I believe the XL2546 uses a true 8 bit panel (not 6 bit+Hi FRC, right?) If it works and you aren't unhappy with the quality, use it until the new 60hz full range strobing monitors (60hz-165hz @ 1440p, or 60hz-240hz) come out. You never know, one of them may allow adaptive sync+blur reduction at the same time (previously, only possible on some Gsync monitors via an unofficial hack, like the famous Dell S2716DG and the 24" version, and quality was VERY hit and miss).

All of the 2546 variants use temporal dithering to achieve the 8 bit color depth. What are those full range strobing monitors about and when are they going to be released? Though if they are going to be IPS monitors, I won't be joining the hypetrain. I just really hate the qc gambling in regards to the backlight bleed issues.

[drmcninja]

What are the best color settings to use for this monitor? For normal use and FPS gaming? I just use one of the presets, it always appears washed out next to my IPS second screen.

Is the 240Hz strobed mode in the Alienware as good as the 240Hz DyAc Premium mode in the XL2546? Would it have less input lag?

I was thinking if I upgraded to the Alienware, I could still use 240Hz strobed or go with 360Hz G-Sync. I could then compare the two directly. My system can maintain mid-300fps at high details without a problem and with G-Sync, dropping below isn't a problem either.

Any idea when the full range strobing monitors will be out?

[drmcninja]

I experimented some more. For some reason, 240Hz is just plain blurrier than 144. It may just be in OW. FastSync helps but the advantage is still at the lower refresh rate even with Sync (whose extra lag should be mitigated at higher refresh rates).

How much more input lag does FastSync cause compared to G-Sync+V-Sync?

[drmcninja]

I got the Alienware to try out next to the XL2546. 240Hz strobed on the Alienware looks pretty good next to the XL2546. Very little strobe crosstalk, or at least the more tolerable kind (where instead of the dark double picture look, it's a slight halo-ish on one side). XL2546 has way more customizable options, including changing AMA/Overdrive which is locked out on Alienware in ULMB mode.

[daviddave1]

Hi,

I don't have the Alienware, but I have the Asus 360hz one. Since both use the same panel I don't think there is a huge difference.

"How bad is motion blur at 360Hz versus 240Hz with DyAc on?"
-Very bad. Nothing comes close to 240Hz strobed. You will probably need an OLED 500hz or 1000hz panel to achieve the same picture clarity as with DyAc on. But you can use ULMB on the Alienware, unfortunately only at 144hz and 240hz, should give you the same effect as DyAc does.

"It the input lag better?"
-Yes, input lag is roughly 0.6ms lower according to Rtings:
https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/co ... eshold=0.1

Personally I have upgraded from Acer Nitro XF252Q TN to Asus PG253QNR because of IPS, 360hz, Reflex Analyzer.
I would have not upgraded for 360hz alone though, for me it is the combination of all the features which makes it worth it.
And it also depends on the price tag imo.

You don't care about colours etc, you want the cleanest image possible? -> Don't upgrade
You want a fast IPS panel with great colours and viewing angles? -> There are cheaper options, but this depends on your budget and the price of the Alienware.
You want a fast IPS panel with reflex analyzer? -> Then Alienware is worth it

I was about to buy the BenQ XL2546K as a upgrade for my Viewsonic XG2402 144hz monitor. Cause I want a monitor with the lowest inputlag possible for PUBG, MW and Quake Live. ( I'm going to buy a 3080 TI or 3080 when there's one available)

You guys where very positive about the XL2546K inpullagwise and Fr33thy on youtube also. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoSlv6usg8U )

Now Fr33thy made a new video where he recommends the Alienware 360hz AW2521H over the XL2546K ! Not just for the IPS colors ( I don't care about IPS) but also cause of lower inputlag! ( and higher refresh rate!) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqzW07e2I1w )

If I'm not mistaken I have seen Chief BLur Buster also been very positive about the new IPS panels also.

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/co ... eshold=0.1
Is not very convincing cause I don't get the minor details!

Can u help me out what monitor is best for lowest inputlag possible for PUBG, MW and Quake Live if u don't care about how good a game looks.

[drmcninja]

AW2521H definitely has less input lag than XL2546 (I don't know about K). Especially if you don't use any G-Sync/V-Sync, you can feel the difference.

Image on XL2546 is sharper. It's a TN. AW2521H looks slightly blurrier when they are side by side (literally, I have both in front of me right now). You'd never notice it on its own though.

I'm still trying to figure out what color/brightness/contrast settings are good for desktop and gaming. Gaming presets feel a little off.