HDR on PC (or excessive dynamic vary) is all properly and good when it really works, however let’s face it, nobody desires to shell out north of £2000 / $2000 on one in every of Nvidia’s fancy G-Sync HDR monitors just like the Acer Predator X27 or Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ when it’s nonetheless so rattling fiddly to get proper. Admittedly, issues aren’t any easier over on the AMD aspect of the HDR pool both, with the GPU large’s FreeSync 2 tech providing a good woollier method to nailing down an honest HDR expertise.
The benefit of happening the AMD route, nonetheless, is that you just’ve not solely a wider choose of displays to select from, however they’re additionally a heck of loads cheaper, with the AOC Agon AG322QC4 on take a look at immediately costing actually 1 / 4 of what you’d be forking out for one in every of Nvidia’s screens. Is AOC’s curvy, 31.5in, 144Hz, 2560×1440 monitor made from sterner best gaming monitor stuff than its flat, 27in, 4K, 144Hz competitors? Let’s discover out.
It goes with out saying, after all, that in an effort to profit from this £415 / $550 FreeSync 2 monitor, you’ll want an AMD graphics card. You’ll discover a full listing of FreeSync 2-compatible GPUs over in my What graphics card do I need for HDR? round-up, however for the needs of this overview, my PC was outfitted with Sapphire’s Radeon RX Vega 64 Nitro+ card.
It’s additionally value noting that you just’ll have to make use of one of many AG322QC4’s two HDMI 2.Zero inputs in an effort to allow HDR, because the pair of DisplayPorts on supply reasonably annoyingly solely help the common DP 1.2 commonplace as a substitute of the HDR-ified DP 1.4. Still, I can’t begrudge it when there are such a lot of different ports on supply right here (together with a two-port USB3 hub, a VGA enter and a headphone output, the latter of which might be neatly held on the monitor’s built-in, extendable headphone hook around the again), and it even comes bundled with an HDMI cable within the field, which is greater than might be mentioned for another displays lately.
Yes, the AG322QC4 comes with necessary LEDs that may be modified from purple to blue or inexperienced, however you may flip them off (or modify their depth) within the onboard menu system.
Once it was all setup, the AG322QC4 makes for fairly the imposing gaming display screen. Measuring 31.5in throughout its gently curved diagonal, this 2560×1440, 144Hz VA panel takes up fairly a good portion of your general peripheral imaginative and prescient. The curve didn’t make an enormous quantity of distinction to my general sense of immersion, all instructed – in all probability as a result of its comparatively compact stand allowed me to shunt it additional again on my desk than different curved screens I’ve examined prior to now – however sadly the flat model of this specific display screen, the AG322QCX, solely helps common previous FreeSync. If you need FreeSync 2 and HDR, you’ll need to put up with the curve.
FreeSync 2, chances are you’ll bear in mind, is an extension of AMD’s already-existing adaptive body charge know-how, FreeSync. It’s basically precisely the identical factor as common FreeSync (which supplies you low latency, tear-free gaming amongst different advantages), solely with added HDR help. Initially, AMD mentioned that FreeSync 2 displays can be held to a better commonplace than common FreeSync displays, and that solely the perfect screens would ever be classed as FreeSync 2.
The solely drawback is that, in contrast to Nvidia’s clearly-defined G-Sync HDR commonplace, AMD haven’t really confirmed what a monitor has to do in an effort to win that coveted FreeSync 2 badge. Instead, now we have to look to one other commonplace, this time from VESA, to assist make sense of all of it (which is strictly what you wish to make issues completely crystal clear to your typical client).
The AG322QC4’s five-way management button and up to date onboard menu system are a giant enchancment on earlier fashions, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a bit fiddly to make use of
The AG322QC4, for example, can also be licensed as assembly the VESA DisplayHDR 400 commonplace. This is the bottom VESA commonplace (the others being 600 and 1000) for HDR, and basically boils down to a few issues: a most brightness of 400cd/m2 (therefore the 400), a minimum of 95% protection of the rec.709 color gamut (which is what the common sRGB gamut is predicated on), and a most black degree of 0.40cd/m2 (the nearer to 0.00cd/m2, the higher). By comparability, the 600 and 1000-level tiers additionally demand 90% DCI-P3 color gamut protection along with a better 99% sRGB, in addition to decrease black ranges (0.10cd/m2) and, naturally, larger brightness necessities.
Clearly, then, FreeSync 2 isn’t a lot a ‘gold standard’ for HDR as it’s a signal of ‘vague competence’. Indeed, with VESA’s commonplace (fortunately) now turning into way more widespread amongst PC gaming displays, the DisplayHDR 400 mark is absolutely the naked minimal you need to be in search of in the case of shopping for an HDR-capable show.
That doesn’t imply that FreeSync 2 is similar as VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 commonplace, oh nooo. That can be too straightforward. Instead, the one factor AMD have really mentioned on the matter is {that a} FreeSync 2 DisplayHDR 400 display screen would exceed the specification required for simply DisplayHDR 400. DisplayHDR 600 screens, for instance, is also classed as FreeSync 2 shows, as might DisplayHDR 1000 displays. Presumably, the latter two would supply much more than what’s technically required for FreeSync 2, however the level stays that the bar seems to be to be fairly low for FreeSync 2 displays in comparison with their 1000cd/m2, 90% DCI-P3 Nvidia G-Sync HDR rivals.
The AG322QC4’s two-port USB3 hub and separate headphone and microphone jacks are simply to the fitting of the primary inputs.
On paper, then, the AOC AG322QC4’s HDR capabilities don’t precisely sound significantly promising. After all, a excessive peak brightness is likely one of the key issues that provides HDR its eye-searing wow issue, and there are many different non-HDR displays on the market (SDR, or commonplace dynamic vary screens, if you’ll) that may already do properly in extra of 400cd/m2 brightness proper off the bat.
Indeed, there’s no denying the AG322QC4’s brightness degree is one in every of its greatest weaknesses. During my common SDR checks, for instance, I recorded a most white degree of 380cd/m2 with my X-rite i1 DisplayPro calibrator. Admittedly, that’s nonetheless greater than sufficient for normal desktop use, significantly should you’re sitting in direct daylight, however when it got here to testing the monitor’s brightness in HDR, I solely ever noticed a peak of round 350cd/m2 – and that was after I plonked my DisplayPro over the white sizzling Grecian solar in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
That’s not good should you’re hankering for some correct digital Mediterranean sunshine because the winter months begin to attract in, and I used to be left feeling distinctly much less impressed than after I watched the identical scene play out on Nvidia’s pair of G-Sync HDR displays, the Acer Predator X27 and Asus PG27UQ.
That mentioned, whereas the AG322QC4 may not ship on the brightness aspect of HDR, I’d argue that its color accuracy regarded simply as vibrant as its Nvidia rivals. In fact, it’s exhausting to place a definitive determine on this, as my testing patterns don’t produce their very own HDR metadata, which is what tells the display screen that, sure, that is certainly HDR content material so please present it in HDR. As such, the one factor I can actually decide it by is the way it seems to be to my very own eyeballs – which on this case, was fairly rattling close to good.
You get 5 foremost inputs on the AG322QC4, however solely the 2 HDMI ports will do HDR.
Going again to that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey dawn once more, I noticed the identical heat mild casts its pinky, purple glow over the mountains of Cephalonia on the AG322QC4 as I did on the Predator X27 (albeit with HDR turned on this time as a substitute of being compelled to go away it off as a result of Acer’s unusual HDR implementation), and should you put the 2 screens aspect by aspect I feel I’d have a tough time telling them aside.
The identical goes for Final Fantasy XV and Forza Horizon 4 as properly, whose vibrant, vibrant worlds regarded simply as wealthy and vibrant in HDR on the AG322QC4 as they did on the Asus and Acer. So sure, the AG322QC4’s brightness is probably not all that, however in the case of the color aspect of HDR, this can be a display screen that punches properly above its weight – even when, mockingly, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s particular FreeSync 2 HDR help doesn’t look practically pretty much as good as utilizing its common previous HDR settings. Final Fantasy XV and Forza Horizon 4, by comparability, don’t have particular FreeSync 2 help and simply labored from the get go as soon as I’d made a few very minor changes to its in-game brightness sliders.
The AG322QC4 impressed as an everyday SDR display screen for plain previous desktop obligation as properly – as soon as I’d acquired my head round AOC’s improved, however nonetheless reasonably fussy onboard menu system. On its default settings, for instance, my i1 DisplayPro confirmed the AG322QC4’s VA panel was already displaying a really respectable 95.2% of the sRGB color gamut, and 69% of the broader DCI-P3 color gamut, which is used as a measure for these aforementioned premium HDR screens (together with Ultra HD Premium TVs).
That’s fairly good for straight out of the field, and I wasn’t capable of get way more out of it throughout calibration, both, so you may just about use it as is and nonetheless get an excellent image. When I converted to the User color temperature profile (preserving its Eco mode on Standard and its varied gaming modes switched off), for instance, I managed to nudge these figures as much as 96.5% and 70.1% respectively, however in apply the distinction was virtually negligible. Switching on the monitor’s DCB (dynamic color increase) mode to Full Enhance made a extra noticeable affect, immediately making my desktop seem way more vibrant, however even then you definitely’re solely taking a look at figures of 96.9% and 72.7%.
Sure, there are different displays that offer you a few further per cent of sRGB protection, such because the similarly-priced and similarly-specced, non-HDR Acer XF270HUA, however few handle to mix this sort of protection with such a wonderful distinction ratio of 2726:1 and a black degree of simply 0.14cd/m2. With figures like these, the AG322QC4 actually stands other than different 1440p 144Hz screens you’ll discover on this kind of £400-500 / $500-600 worth vary, and that’s earlier than you begin throwing HDR into the combo as properly.
I do want AOC would make its onboard menu system simpler to make use of, although. Despite choosing a much more handy five-way button on the monitor’s decrease bezel this time (or, certainly, its accompanying menu management pad) as a substitute of a complicated row of horizontal buttons, the truth that you need to press the button in to pick a specific menu display screen, however then press proper to discover a particular person setting is simply mind-bogglingly infuriating – particularly when the button on my specific overview pattern was a bit wobbly and insecure within the first place, so even when I believed I’d pressed it inwards, it really ended up doing one thing else. Just make it one or the opposite and have performed with it.
I additionally wouldn’t advocate utilizing its three preset gamer modes (FPS, RTS and Racing), as these locked off a number of settings, together with the color temperature choices, and regarded worse for it. The Shadow Control function may are available use should you’re taking part in one thing significantly gloomy and don’t wish to be scared out of your wits when one thing jumps out of the shadows at you, however in any other case I’d say you’re higher off leaving its ‘game settings’ properly alone.
Fussy menu apart, although, the AOC AGON AG322QC4 is nonetheless a high-quality FreeSync 2 monitor. Despite its modest HDR specs, this £415 / $550 display screen is greater than able to matching displays 4 occasions its worth in the case of general HDR color replica, and whereas it could not wow you with its most brightness, it nonetheless gives a perceptible improve in visible high quality over its non-HDR rivals. Likewise, even should you’re not out there for an HDR gaming monitor, the AG322QC4’s glorious distinction ratio, deep blacks and wide selection of ports make it a tricky act to beat at this worth, making it a powerful choose for HDR and non-HDR PC peeps alike. If you personal an AMD graphics card and wish to give your gaming library a little bit of a lift within the previous picture division with out spending an absolute fortune, the AOC Agon AG322QC4 received’t disappoint.
