As shown above, the monitor uses the standard RGB (Red, Green and Blue) stripe subpixel layout. This is the default expected by modern operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS. You needn’t worry about text fringing from non-standard subpixel layouts as a Mac user and don’t need to run ClearType as a Windows user. You may still wish to run through the ClearType wizard and adjust according to preferences, however. The subpixel layout and arrangement is normal and we had no subpixel-related concerns related to sharpness or text clarity on this model. The image below is a macro photograph taken on Notepad with ClearType disabled. The letters ‘PCM’ are typed out to help highlight any potential text rendering issues related to unusual subpixel structure, whilst the white space more clearly shows the actual subpixel layout alongside a rough indication of screen surface. This model employs a medium matte anti-glare screen surface with a fairly smooth surface texture. The screen surface offers good glare handling, whilst the fairly smooth surface texture prevents an obvious grainy look to lighter shades. There is just a light ‘misty’ graininess, no ‘smeary’ graininess nor a sandy appearance. This provides a somewhat smoother appearance to lighter shades than offered by competing TN models. The screen surface isn’t quite as ‘light’ or low haze as on competing VA models such as the C24G1. You will also see in the image above that it states: “Selected Display is not validated as G-SYNC Compatible.” This means Nvidia hasn’t specifically tested and validated the display, not that it doesn’t work. This model worked properly using Adaptive-Sync (G-SYNC compatible mode) on our Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti, offering an experience that was very similar to using AMD FreeSync. A slight difference is that the floor of operation appeared to be 60Hz (60fps) rather than 48Hz (48fps). However; an LFC-like technology was supported, with the monitor keeping at a multiple of the frame rate with its refresh rate. There was again a momentary stuttering as the boundary was crossed, as we observed with our AMD GPU as well. The greyscale gradient appeared smooth without obvious banding or dithering. Some temporal dithering was evident upon close inspection, but it was very well-masked. The video below summarises some of the key points raised in this written review and shows the monitor in action. The video review is designed to complement the written piece and is not nearly as comprehensive.

You can see moderate to strong strobe crosstalk throughout the screen. Further up you can see it in front of the object as well as behind. A bit lower down (just above centre) it only appears behind. In the central region of the screen the strobe crosstalk becomes somewhat stronger and there’s essentially another repetition of the object as you move further down again. This becomes so strong towards the bottom of the screen that it melds into the object itself. Whilst this strobe crosstalk doesn’t make the MBR setting completely useless, it does affect how useful it is and the overall motion clarity. We explore this and some other aspects to consider using in-game examples at the end of this section. We also made some observations using the film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This is a title with plenty of high-contrast scenes – or, at least, scenes that show contrasting content and look their cinematic best on models with strong contrast. Explosions ripping through space, light sabers lighting up dark interior locations and suchlike. The AOC provided a decent cinematic look to the film overall, with bright elements contrasting well against darker surroundings. Not comparable to models with much stronger contrast (and there’s ‘IPS glow’ in this case as well) but not bad at all for a non-VA LCD panel. The consistent gamma throughout the screen could also be appreciated, avoiding things appearing ‘flooded’ with extra unintended detail peripherally (especially lower down, on TN models) or too well-masked elsewhere (especially higher up, on TN models). There are two additional models with the ‘U’ suffix: the AOC 24G2U and the AOC 27G2U which feature a quad-USB 3.0 hub and integrated 2W speakers. These are not currently available in the US. You can also find the AOC 24G2E with a tilt-only stand.

Finally, note again that you can activate the ‘Frame Counter’ in the ‘Game Setting’ section of the OSD to see if the technology is working. This will rapidly adjust as frame rate fluctuates, whereas if Adaptive-Sync isn’t being used it will stay at the static refresh rate you’ve selected. Considering its price, you really can’t go wrong with the AOC 24G2. It offers a smooth gaming experience with gorgeous colors and plenty of useful features. Specifications Screen Size Gamer Network Limited, Gateway House, 28 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1DN, United Kingdom, registered under company number 03882481. The 24G2U also goes one step further than the C24G1 when it comes to ports and inputs, too. You still get the same number of HDMI and DisplayPort connections as the C24G1, but the 24G2U has the all important addition of a 4-port USB3 hub, allowing you to hook up all your other peripherals such as your mouse, keyboard and USB headset as well as charge your phone. For me, that alone makes it worth the teensy bit of extra expense over the C24G1, which doesn't come with any USB ports whatsoever. Quite a feature-rich OSD, good ergonomic flexibility, very slender top and side bezels and competitive pricing

The original AOC 24G2, reviewed in this article, used the PANDA LC238LF1F panel. Even though it has a specified brightness of 250-nits and contrast ratio of 1,000:1, many reviewers were getting results closer to 350-nits and 1,500:1. The average static contrast with only brightness adjusted was 1486:1, which is comfortably beyond the specified 1000:1 and as good as we’ve seen from an IPS-type panel. Whilst this isn’t as high as most VA panels would go, it provides a bit of an edge in depth for dark shades compared to most non-VA LCDs. Relatively strong contrast was maintained for all settings tested in the table, with the lowest value of 1395:1 (‘LowBlue Mode = Reading’) still comfortably exceeding specifications. Under our ‘Test Settings’ we recorded a very respectable 1400:1. The highest white luminance recorded on the table was 356 cd/m², significantly exceeding the specified 250 cd/m², whilst the minimum white luminance recorded was 89 cd/m². This gives a luminance adjustment range of 276 cd/m², although the minimum white luminance achieved (without loss of contrast) will be a bit high for some sensitive users.Pleasing contrast for the panel type and a relatively smooth screen surface finish, delivering a decent atmosphere for darker scenes and fairly smooth-looking lighter shades A pixel response time of 1ms means speed without the smear for an enhanced experience. Fast-moving action and dramatic transitions will be rendered smoothly without the effects of ghosting. As above with some gamma curve changes. The average gamma is now ‘2.1’, but the top and bottom of the curve (dark and light shades) sits above and mid-section (medium shades) below this. The overall changes to the image are reasonably subtle. There’s also the newer AOC 24G2SP version with a slightly higher brightness and faster refresh rate. Microsoft for Business CouponExclusive: 20% off select Surface Pro 9 for Business + Type Cover Bundle

Note that the ‘Overdrive’ setting can be adjusted under MBR. However; ‘Strong’ is the only usable setting. The others are simply too slow and increase trailing and strobe crosstalk significantly without providing any benefits – we just focus on the ‘Strong’ setting here. Also be aware that setting the ‘Overdrive’ to ‘Boost’ is equivalent to using the ‘Strong’ setting and setting ‘MBR’ to ‘20’. We test MBR ‘15’ here as well, as we consider it to give a good mixture of brightness and clarity. The brightness was ~160 cd/m² at 144Hz, which is similar to what we target for our ‘Test Settings’ with MBR disabled. Another crucial thing to note regarding IPS panel displays is IPS glow,whichis an expected downside of this panel technology. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital (UK) PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348. The register can be accessed through http://www.fca.org.ukMoving on, IPS monitors usually have a faster pixel response speed than VA panels, meaning that you won’t get noticeable smearing of dark pixels in fast-moving games.