Alienware AW2524H 500Hz Gaming Monitor Review
I have been finding out displays for therefore lengthy that I’ve an occasional “keep in mind when” second. Keep in mind when all displays refresh at a continuing 60 Hz? Keep in mind the 144 Hz Asus VG248QE was leading edge with TN panel and fixed refresh charge? You can even buy a $200 board so as to add G-Sync.
We have come a great distance since then, and I am now privileged to check the world’s first 500 Hz monitor, Alienware’s AW2524H. It makes use of an IPS panel operating at FHD decision with G-Sync, Nvidia Latency AnalyzerHDR400 and most tremendous quick displays lack excessive distinction and prolonged coloration gamut.
Alienware AW2524H Specs
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| Panel Kind / Backlight | IPS / W-LED, edge array |
| 16 dimming zones | |
| Display screen Measurement / Side Ratio | 25 inch / 16:9 |
| Most Decision and Refresh Fee | 1920×1080 @ 480Hz |
| 500Hz overclocked | |
| G-Sync and FreeSync suitable | |
| Native Shade Depth and Gamut | 10 bit (8 bit+FRC) / sRGB+ |
| HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 | |
| Response Time (GTG) | 0.5ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 400 nits |
| Distinction (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
| Audio system | None |
| Video Inputs | 1x Show Port 1.4 |
| 2xHDMI 2.0 | |
| Sound | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.2 | 1x up, 4x down |
| Energy consumption | 30.5w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions | 21.9 x 15.4-19.7 x 9.6 inches |
| with WxHxD base | (556×390-500x244mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Body Width | Prime/sides: 0.2 in (5 mm) |
| Backside: 0.6 in (16 mm) | |
| Weight | 14.5 kilos (6.6 kg) |
| Assure | 3 years |
One factor that hasn’t modified because the VG248QE is the FHD decision. The quickest displays nonetheless use a smaller pixel rely to maintain body charges excessive. On a 25-inch panel (24.5 inches viewable), that is 90ppi density. That is not dangerous, however if you happen to sit nearer than a meter you will note the pixel construction. The additional movement decision these excessive body charges present means the picture at all times stays sharp regardless of how briskly the digital camera is rotated. Movement blur is not a problem above 200fps.
How a lot will you achieve with 500 Hz over the AW2524H’s 360 Hz show? Sufficient to see a distinction, however the principle draw is the virtually non-existent examine lag. Alienware has produced the quickest monitor I’ve ever examined, and it provides a sensible benefit. Actually, the panel response is so quick that I want I might flip off overclocking; simply not needed. Comprises the most recent G-Sync module and Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, however these enhancements are additionally pointless. You will by no means see body tearing or movement blur at body charges above 400fps. And sure, you will want some critical gaming gear to hit these numbers.
Image-wise, the AW2524H would not lower corners. Not like different panels on this class, it has somewhat additional coloration. It isn’t sufficient to say DCI-P3 show however it’s undoubtedly extra of a 360 Hz monitor. Nice consideration has been paid to HDR as nicely. Backlight is an array of edges that makes use of zone dimming to extend distinction. You should utilize dimming in each SDR and HDR modes; within the latter, it produces over 82,000:1 dynamic vary. It is a big benefit over any 360 Hz show presently obtainable. In my testing, coloration was confirmed correct within the monitor’s default image mode with out the necessity for calibration.
The AW2524H will initially promote for $830, which is almost double its worth. The AW2523HF I reviewed in October 2022. The AW2524H is best in each means, however is it twice nearly as good? Let’s take a look.
Product 360
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Alienware’s acquainted shapes and accents adorn the AW2524H with out drawing an excessive amount of consideration. The entrance view is only for enterprise, with a super-slim 5mm bezel and “500Hz” proven on the underside strip. A tender glowing gentle rings the suitable energy button. Within the center, beneath is a joystick that controls all monitor features.
You will discover the backlight characteristic: the Alienware head emblem and the quantity 25. You possibly can select from a number of colours and results or flip all the pieces off. It isn’t too vivid and should not distract you, even in a darkish room.
The stand is a stable piece that snaps into place. Under it’s a 100mm VESA mount together with fasteners. Changes embrace 4.3 inches (110 mm) top, 5/21 levels tilt, 20 levels rotation, and a portrait mode the place you may rotate the panel in both path. The gestures really feel stable and top quality befitting a monitor at this worth level.
Inputs embrace a single DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 and USB ports on the principle jack panel and below the bezel. You get one upstream and 4 downstream. One is labeled for Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, the place you’ll plug in a suitable mouse. There may be additionally a headphone jack below the bezel. HDMI ports are restricted to 240Hz however embrace VRR for consoles.
Talking of earphones, a hook pops out from the highest left and dampens motion properly. It is a small characteristic, however the consideration to element right here is spectacular.
OSD Options
Urgent the AW2524H’s joystick brings up a fast menu on the backside of the display screen and a standing window on the high. One click on opens the complete OSD with many choices for image management and video processing.
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We begin our journey within the Sport menu, the place you may select from 12 image modes. The usual is the default and is correct sufficient for use with out calibration. G-Sync Esports makes use of the G-Sync Processor, which I’ll talk about in a second. Three Gaming modes permit six coloration settings and customized adjustment of overdrive and darkish stabilizer. Customized Shade has RGB sliders for exact grayscale calibration and is the mode I used to try it out.
Sport Improve is the place you will discover the timers, body charge counter, and picture alignment marks for multi-screen setups. No aiming factors are included.
Activate overclocking to run at full 500Hz. The native charge of the panel is 480 Hz, which provides the identical efficiency to my eyes. Response Time is overkill, and I rapidly realized that this was fully pointless when body charges exceeded 400fps. Actually, it induced slight ghosting on its lowest setting and I used to be unhappy that I could not simply flip it off. There may be additionally a three-level variable backlight, which successfully will increase the distinction. In SDR mode, it went from about 1,000:1 to over 8,000:1. HDR distinction is over 82,000:1 in Mode 1, which is spectacular.
AlienFX lighting can be utilized to manage the habits of the facility button and the 2 graphics on the again of the panel. Every can have a distinct coloration and you may change the consequences to your liking.
The G-Sync Processor presents Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer. Reveals real-time enter lag on the display screen when paired with the suitable mouse. You can even allow ULMB, a blur-reducing backlight flash, at refresh charges of 360 Hz and under. You should first flip off G-Sync to make the controls obtainable. Then you may change the heartbeat width to discover a stability between blur discount and brightness. Much less turbidity means decrease brightness. As I mentioned earlier, that is pointless at body charges above 400fps. Even 300fps is so fluid you would not be motivated to open ULMB.
There are 5 shortcuts within the fast menu to set to consumer desire. This makes it straightforward to leap straight into issues like brightness or image modes. There isn’t a built-in speaker, though there’s a quantity management. This slider solely controls the headphone output.
Alienware AW2524H Calibration Settings
From the second you are taking the AW2524H out of the field, you may get pleasure from it in Customary image mode with out adjustment. If you need a slight enchancment, attain for Customized Shade like I did and alter the RGB sliders. There isn’t a gamma choice, though I measured glorious monitoring there. It could be good to have choices, however you probably have bother seeing high quality shadow element, you may change the darkish stabilizer. Under are the settings I exploit for SDR. HDR locks out all image controls besides distinction, however I like to recommend leaving it as is. The AW2524H can be very delicate in HDR mode.
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| Image mode | customized coloration |
| Brightness 200 nits | 79 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 47 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 36 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 24 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 5 (min. 40 nits) |
| Distinction | 75 |
| Shade Temperature Person | Crimson 100, Inexperienced 99, Blue 96 |
Sport and Arms-on
We used an Alienware Aurora R15 Gaming PC geared up with GeForce® RTX 4090 To check the AW2524H. I even have an RTX 3090 system readily available, so I began with a number of comparisons. Clearly, you have to quite a lot of energy to run this monitor to its full potential. The RTX 3090 may be very succesful, however Doomsday Everlasting When set to full element in HDR mode, the very best I might do was round 200fps. It is tremendous easy and extremely responsive, however 200fps is simply yesterday.
I might play when R15 began working Doomsday Everlasting With most element between 450 and 500fps, that is additionally a premium expertise. First off, you will not discover that the decision is FHD solely. The motion is totally easy. There isn’t a blur and the ghosting I noticed within the check patterns was not seen within the sport. It isn’t a problem in its present state, though I might nonetheless like the choice to show off overdrive.
I spent a number of hours mowing the monsters. Apocalypse Take pleasure in crowd mode and instantaneous management response. It isn’t an enormous soar from the 360 Hz display screen, however I did detect a extra exact connection between my mouse hand and the display screen. Not solely are the inputs translated immediately, you may as well cease your motion precisely the place you need it. This implies better effectivity, as you will spend much less time over-correcting when the motion will get intense. Altering path can be a extra pure and fluid course of.
Picture high quality matches the very best HDR displays I’ve performed. The AW2524H raises the bar between the 360Hz competitors, with extra saturated coloration and higher distinction, particularly for HDR content material. It presents extra coloration quantity than the rest at this velocity and backbone.
As an on a regular basis show, the FHD decision of 25 inches is tolerable. 4K displays spoiled me a bit, however I had little bother studying high quality textual content in Microsoft Edge or distinguishing trendy fonts in Phrase. Spreadsheets require a bit extra scrolling than I am used to, and for Photoshop, I favor a monitor with bigger and denser pixels. However the AW2524H can prevent from work duties.
I briefly tried ULMB, however discovered no fast enchancment in any of the heartbeat width settings. It would be best to set this worth under 30%, in any other case the image might be too darkish. And when body charges are above 300, it makes no distinction in movement decision.
The ultimate conclusion I might draw from the AW2524H’s video processing is that it really works finest when you may reap the benefits of excessive body charges. Past 400fps, there isn’t any want for overclocking, ULMB, and even Adaptive-Sync.
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