iiyama G-Master G2745QSU-B1 Review (1440p 100Hz)

Rating: 8.0.

Not everyone can afford the best possible gaming features in a monitor. But which areas should you compromise on while still getting the most enjoyable experience for the money? In the case of the G-Master G2745QSU-B1, iiyama has taken the hit on refresh rate in favour of panel quality and resolution. If you're less of a first-person shooter player and more into strategy, this could be a trade-off worth making. We put iiyama's new budget-conscious 27in panel through its paces.

Aside from the 27in screen diagonal, the G2745QSU-B1 has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440, which we think is about right for this panel size. Full HD would be too low, and 4K deserves bigger. iiyama has opted for an IPS panel, a technology that majors on image quality but not always on pixel response rate. A figure of 1ms is quoted, but this is MPRT not grey-to-grey. This panel doesn't use the response-enhancing technology that, for example, Cooler Master calls Ultra-Speed IPS. However, AMD FreeSync is available to provide adaptive refresh rates. So while the G2745QSU-B1 only supports 100Hz, it will adjust this dynamically to match what your graphics card is delivering..

The specification is otherwise mostly as expected for an IPS panel, although the typical brightness of 250cd/m2 is low. Contrast, on the other hand, is a little higher than average at 1,300:1. iiyama doesn't quote any figures for colour gamut, and there are no VESA Display HDR accreditations associated with this screen either.

The range of video inputs only includes HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2, but you don't need higher levels of either to support the resolution and refresh this monitor has to offer. There's no USB C, but you do get a two-port USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub, plus stereo 2W speakers and a headphone connector. Ergonomic adjustments include tilt, swivel, raise and rotating into portrait mode, so all your bases are covered for pointing the screen in exactly the direction you want.

Overall, the iiyama G-Master G2745QSU-B1 doesn't offer a standout specification, but the price is under £190, which isn't bad for a 27in 1440p screen. So let's find out if iiyama's compromises on capabilities make this good value.

Specification:

• Screen size: 27-inch, 16:9 aspect
• Native resolution: 2,560 x 1,440
• Curvature: None
• Refresh rate: 100Hz, AMD FreeSync
• Panel type: IPS
• Contrast ratio: 1,300:1 (typical)
• Brightness: 250cd/m2
• Response time: 1ms MPRT
• Display inputs: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2
• USB hub: Yes, USB Type B input, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 outputs
• Tilt: 4 degrees forward, 22 degrees backward
• Raise: Yes
• Swivel: 45 degrees left and right
• Portrait: Yes
• Other: Audio output minijack, headset minijack, 2 x 2W stereo speakers

Retail Price: £189.95 (inc. VAT)

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