Question Best 25" 240hz Gaming Monitor?

[Fallengod]

To make a long story short, I got laid off work(temporarily?) and now have lots of free time apparently(just no money). I have been wanting a 25" 240hz monitor a while now but just didn't want to pay for one.... Before anyone asks, yes I want 25" not 27", and yes I want TN not IPS.

I don't know if there's anyone around here who knows or has done research, but I just want the best bang 4 buck 240hz monitor. I have been doing research and it seems as though they all have pros and cons, unfortunately. Some have higher input lag than others, some have terrible terrible contrast, etc. I am also trying not to spend $500 like on the BenQ zowie monitors...(this may be unavoidable)

I have been back and forth from these monitors but the list goes on... There's just a plethora of options here I have no clue which to consider. I was kind of trying to stay within the new gen AU Optronics panels but...not sure how much of a difference it makes. I know I am splitting hairs at some point but

BenQ zowie XL2546 (apparently this has some issues according to some so I have discarded this choice since its the most expensive as well)
Gigabyte Aorus KD25F
AOC Agon AG251FZ2
Asus XG258Q(newer model)
Asus PG258Q (older 2016 model)
Acer Predator XN253QX (Supposedly pretty highly rated?, also $500)
Acer Nitro XF252Q
Acer XF250Q (the cheapest)
Dell Alienware AW2518hf


Help me narrow things down?

 

[Glo.]

ASUS VG259QM. ELMB Sync, IPS, 280 Hz, FreeSync/G-Sync compatible.

 

[Fallengod]

ASUS VG259QM. ELMB Sync, IPS, 280 Hz, FreeSync/G-Sync compatible.

I was just looking at this after I posted. I definitely want to see reviews on it first and find out what the input lag is like, but that might be my number one contender here. Unfortunately it is not released yet.... If its $400 or less I might be in. The motion blur and input lag performance needs to be there though. I am going to hold off making any decisions until these are released I think.

 

[Glo.]

I was just looking at this after I posted. I definitely want to see reviews on it first and find out what the input lag is like, but that might be my number one contender here. Unfortunately it is not released yet.... If its $400 or less I might be in. The motion blur and input lag performance needs to be there though. I am going to hold off making any decisions until these are released I think.

Its the same panel as:

You only have to add ELMBSync to equation, and 280 Hz refresh rate. Based on VG279QM reviews 280 Hz is on the edge of what this display can do. Input lag is one of the smallest in the industry for all 240 IPS displays.

Bigger display VG279QM is 399$, based on what I have seen in my country, the price for VG259QM should be 349$.

About Motion Blur - you should read on ELMB Sync feature.

 

[Fallengod]

Oh really? I didnt know that. I was looking at that MSI as well.

See the question is...how does the input lag compare to like, the HP Omen x25 and Acer XF252Q and Acer Predator XN253Q. I keep seeing those 3 monitors recommended as the top tiers for low input lag in the 240hz category. I also see the BenQ zowie XL2546 recommended often but I also see many people saying its not great too.

I could see the 40hz extra refresh vs 240hz mean nothing but, IPS with high refresh and low input lag, that would be the best of both worlds maybe?

Wonder when it will get released.

 

[Glo.]

Oh really? I didnt know that. I was looking at that MSI as well.

See the question is...how does the input lag compare to like, the HP Omen x25 and Acer XF252Q and Acer Predator XN253Q. I keep seeing those 3 monitors recommended as the top tiers for low input lag in the 240hz category. I also see the BenQ zowie XL2546 recommended often but I also see many people saying its not great too.

I could see the 40hz extra refresh vs 240hz mean nothing but, IPS with high refresh and low input lag, that would be the best of both worlds maybe?

Wonder when it will get released.

It already has been released, if you don't see it in your country it just means there is no stock.

Hardware Unboxed measured on MSI's monitor second best Input Lag latency in their reviews, losing only to HP Omen X 27 which is 240 Hz TN panel. "Losing" by 0.34 ms.

 

[Fallengod]

It already has been released, if you don't see it in your country it just means there is no stock.

Hardware Unboxed measured on MSI's monitor second best Input Lag latency in their reviews, losing only to HP Omen X 27 which is 240 Hz TN panel. "Losing" by 0.34 ms.

Right. Yeah I saw the msi video. Of course were assuming this performs the same as that, but I want to see a review still. I still want input lag info.

I guess Dell released a alienware AW2521HF as well which is 25" and 240hz ips. Same panel as well I am assuming? Its pricey of course, but in the same realm.

Yeah, I mean no websites carry it in stock yet so... When I am saying "released" I mean available for purchase.

 

[Glo.]

Yep, Dell AW2521HF is the same panel as MSI and Asus.

 

[phillyman36]

The Dell website seems to have them(AW2521HF) in stock(US). I just got one for $384.00 with tax and free shipping. They have $130.00 off right now. i also got another $39.50 off for creating an account. The next day after I registered they sent a 10% coupon code. My eta is this Thursday 4/16/2020

Part of me wants to cancel it and get another 1440p monitor tho lol.

 

[Glo.]

Here is a review of LG's 27 inch 240 Hz IPS, 1080p monitor

 

[Fallengod]

Yeah all these new 240hz IPS panels are definitely intriguing. I guess, and listening to what others have said, it still makes more sense to go TN for gaming. I am unsure as to how much I should adhere to that logic, as I have not tried any of the new 240hz IPS either, but TN is still better for gaming from what I have read.

So as of now, I am still having a hard time deciding on which TN 240hz monitor to get. It makes it difficult because coronavirus is also affecting stuff now. Most places online are OOS of lots of items. I cant even find the Acer XF252Q anywhere online now, except recertified from acer.

However, I did purchase the Acer Nitro XF252Q to try out which actually arrives in the mail today. This is one of the highly recommended 240hz monitors, along with the Omen X 25 and Aorus KD25F. I am not necessarily keeping it, I actually bought it re-certified from walmart(through acer I guess). I just wanted to try it out. I feel like I am never going to decide on a monitor if I dont just order them and try them out. There is no other way.

There is a brand new BenQ zowie XL2546s which is like just released and not even online to order yet. This is the new one utilizing the new 2nd gen panels that the other monitors use, I guess slightly updated dyac+ as well as Freesync support. One of my complaints on the XL2546 was that it was a little worse and higher input lag than the newer ones. So I kind of want to try that one and compare to this Acer. That should give me a good idea of what I want.

Past that, I dont know what to do. I get a lot of people recommending the newer 27" 240hz panels and I just feel like I dont want a bigger monitor, I actually would rather have a smaller monitor than 25" to be honest..... I really wanted to like the Asus XG248Q(24"), but after reading reviews on it, apparently not that great and terrible clouding.

 

[Glo.]

Enjoy.

 

[Glo.]

Enjoy.

 

[Glo.]

I am using it and it is Awesome!

How do you find its response times? Any smearing, motion blur visible?

 

[Fallengod]

Yeah thanks for the suggestions.

So, to recap... I ended up purchasing both an Omen x 25 g-sync and Acer Nitro XF252Q. Tested/gamed on each for about 3 weeks or so. Returned both of them. I pretty much just wanted to test them anyways(is that bad? ). I had a few small weird quirks with both of them but both pretty much performed as expected. I would pick the Acer XF252Q over the Omen x 25.

I have a problem being very indecisive.

At this point in time, for me personally, I think I decided to stick with TN panels. They are just better for gaming, although the gap is getting very narrow now. I feel like I want to care about colors and viewing angels because I know I should, but I just dont. Heh. I care about performance and TN just has lower input lag and response times.

Doing quite a bit of testing with both 240hz monitors mentioned above, I came to the conclusion that screen tearing these days is minimal in any remotely modern game and I decided I care less about the g-sync/freesync issue.

Right now I decided I am waiting for the BenQ zowie XL2546s to be available and plan to go with that I think with its dyac+. I have seen others say they prefer dyac over the g-sync stuff anyways and I feel like I will be in the same camp. My only issue going this route is that the monitor is extremely overpriced at $500(typical for BenQ stuff) before tax and I was able to get the Acer XF252QX for around $280 after tax not that long ago. Is dyac worth double the price? Really hard call there, probably not but.... I think I may just have to splurge on this item. I am going to have to test one out to know...

 

[Glo.]

Why don't you try the IPS 240 monitors, if its not a problem?

I also would like your opinion how you find motion handling by those monitors, compared to TN's.

On the topic. General conclusion about 240 Hz IPS monitors is that 25 inch panel is better performing than 27 inch versions, and it goes for all: MSI MAG251RX, Dell AW2521HFL/HFL, Asus VG259QM, compared to 27 inch versions. Thee 25 inch panel appears to be better in terms of response time, especially this is apparent with Dell's implementation of this panel which WITHOUT overdrive has average G2G response of 3.3 ms, with 0% overshoot which actually blows my mind. The "Fast" Overdrive preset(Standard, out of the box, minimal setting) in Dell's monitor is very, very well tuned.

 

[Fallengod]

Why don't you try the IPS 240 monitors, if its not a problem?

I also would like your opinion how you find motion handling by those monitors, compared to TN's.

On the topic. General conclusion about 240 Hz IPS monitors is that 25 inch panel is better performing than 27 inch versions, and it goes for all: MSI MAG251RX, Dell AW2521HFL/HFL, Asus VG259QM, compared to 27 inch versions. Thee 25 inch panel appears to be better in terms of response time, especially this is apparent with Dell's implementation of this panel which WITHOUT overdrive has average G2G response of 3.3 ms, with 0% overshoot which actually blows my mind. The "Fast" Overdrive preset(Standard, out of the box, minimal setting) in Dell's monitor is very, very well tuned.

Youre right. I probably should.

 

[Glo.]

In Q3 2020 LG has started production of 25 inch, 1080p, NanoIPS displays that have 240 Hz refresh rate.

Most likely those panels will land in UltraGear lineup, among the likes of 27GL850-B, 27GL750, 27GN83A-B.

I think its worth keeping this in mind, if you are in the market for 25 inch, 240 Hz, 1080p, IPS display .