All but the final pattern was distinct from the background, with the final pattern faintly visible although a bit fainter than it could be. Bracketed numbers in our analysis refer to shades on the printed sheet or right side of the screen if theyre ordered consecutively from top left to bottom right. We didnt readily observe either artifact type at high or relatively high refresh rates (100Hz+). There was slight extra yellowing at the bottom of the screen but nothing extreme. Things arent quite up to the level of the TN reference, but there are no particularly pronounced weaknesses either. Video review Medium chocolate brown and some neighbouring shades appear a touch more saturated and warmer in tone on the AW2521HF when displayed at the bottom vs. top of the screen. The monitor is also listed as such on Nvidias website. Alienware Monitors - Monitors & Monitor Accessories. The screen surface was a touch on the grainy side when viewing lighter content, although this wasnt a strong layered graininess or excessively sandy appearance thankfully. The monitor delivered a very competent 240Hz performance, with only minor weaknesses as described earlier. There is a list of GPUs which support the technology here, with the expectation that future AMD GPUs will support the feature too. The pixel response requirements are slacker at such frame rates and the visual fluidity is greatly limited by the frame rate itself. Note that wavy patterns surrounding some UFOs in the background are slight image retention. The monitor didnt provide excellent depth and atmosphere here due to the static contrast and IPS glow limiting things in that respect. Each product is pushed to the limit to see how it performs under intense stress to make sure it warrants our coveted top spot. Slight pixel responsiveness weaknesses for some transitions, a bit of overshoot creeps in at reduced refresh rates and no strobe backlight setting With the AW2521HF, you need to connect the monitor up via DisplayPort and enable FreeSync in the Game section of the OSD. When you open up Nvidia Control Panel, you should then see Set up G-SYNC listed in the Display section. ALIENWARE ADVANCED GAMING KEYBOARD | AW510K. Even on this title where there are lots of high contrast transitions, with bright objects against much darker backgrounds, there was nothing that really caught the eye as a clear weakness. The monitor provided a reasonable contrast performance on Battlefield V. Darker regions on this title include dark tunnels, dimly lit building interiors and some darker exterior locations. They often catch the eye due to their dynamic nature, on models where they manifest themselves in this way. But far from poor. Add the products you would like to compare, and quickly determine which is best for your needs. Slight deviation from preferred 2.2 gamma, without gamma settings in OSD. Extreme in particular showed very strong and eye-catching overshoot. The final point to note is that FreeSync only removes stuttering or juddering related to mismatches between frame rate and refresh rate. At a basic level, a mismatch between the frame rate and refresh rate can cause stuttering (VSync on) or tearing and juddering (VSync off). Youll also notice G-SYNC Compatible listed under Monitor Technology in this section, as shown below. This indicates a low viewing angle dependency to the gamma curve of the monitor, typical for an IPS-type panel. The video below shows the monitor in action. Pixel response behaviour was similar under the Fast setting whether Adaptive-Sync was active or not both in this test and more broadly. For a wide range of shades. The screen surface was a touch on the grainy side when viewing lighter content, although this wasnt a strong layered graininess or excessively sandy appearance thankfully. The contrast performance was much as we were expecting. The following observations were made. The monitor offers fairly comprehensive sRGB coverage (99%), with a very small amount of under-coverage. Its again important to note that individual unit vary when it comes to uniformity and that deviation beyond the measured points can be expected. The numbered Game presets and Custom Color are most flexible as they allow you to adjust the colour channels and saturation levels. This provides effective blue light reduction and can easily be assigned to a numbered Game preset for easy activation and deactivation. Designed with enough space for both your keyboard and mouse. Most users will probably wish to enable VSync when using FreeSync to ensure that they dont get any tearing. Slickdeals, 2020 American Package Design Awards GDUSA, Alienware AW2521HF: Singapore Good Design Award 2020 Winner, "Alienwares latest competitive gaming monitor combines the most up-to-date display technology with the most extreme performance needs of E-sports Tournament level gaming." Youd therefore select either the third or fourth option in the list, shown in the image below. AlienFX allows for custom lighting and in-game lighting responsiveness. Using VRR improved pixel response behaviour for very high refresh rates, too, allowing the Extreme overdrive setting to be used without strong overshoot. The camera, processing done and your own screen all affect the output so it doesnt accurately represent what youd see when viewing the monitor in person. Interlace pattern artifacts The red block appeared a fairly rich red throughout. Corporate & Government Employee Discounts, View orders and track your shipping status, Create and access a list of your products, 2 x USB 3.0 downstream with Battery Charging 1.2, With stand - width: 21.9 in - depth: 9.9 in - height: 16.6 in, Without stand - width: 21.9 in - depth: 2.9 in - height: 12.9 in - weight: 7.8 lbs. The SpyderX Elite was also used to analyse variation in the colour temperature (white point) for the same 9 quadrants. There was no noticeable dithering. There was slight extra yellowing at the bottom of the screen but nothing extreme. Viewing angles Most pixel transitions were performed fast enough for a solid 240Hz experience, with either no additional trailing or just a little light powdery trailing in places. Over 30 repeat readings were taken to help maximise accuracy. We also tested movie content, which was much more limited in frame rate (generally 24fps, 30fps or 60fps). Note that we have no way to accurately measure input lag with Adaptive-Sync active in a variable refresh rate and frame rate environment. Brighter elements stood out well against darker surroundings, complete with a bit of graininess from the screen surface but nothing extreme. The ~1000:1 static contrast being somewhat limiting in that respect. Medium orange (3), Persian pink (6) and looked slightly undersaturated in person, but they appear much less saturated and overly bright in the image compared to how they actually looked on the monitor. To configure VSync, open AMD Radeon Software. A futuristic sci-fi prop look which some will find quite endearing. Ensure the Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible checkbox and Enable settings for the selected display model is checked as shown below. We refer to these as interlace pattern artifacts but some users refer to them as inversion artifacts and others as scan lines. The monitor can also be set to 120Hz although not documented in this testing, results were very much comparable to 144Hz. As a Mac user theres no need to worry about text fringing from non-standard subpixel layouts. This gives the monitor the potential to output most shades within the sRGB colour space, with just a touch of extra vibrancy. Brightness= 38% (according to preferences and lighting). Slight changes could be observed at the very edges for some shades, such as the purple of Leelas hair gaining a bit of an extra red vs. blue hue to the purple more pronounced if sitting close to the screen. The following observations were made from a normal viewing position, eyes ~70cm from the screen. The responsiveness of the monitor was also quite impressive which is a good thing given that its a key focus of 240Hz models like this. AMD FreeSync is a variable refresh rate technology, an AMD-specific alternative to Nvidia G-SYNC. As usual we tested a broad range of game titles using FreeSync and found the experience similar across the board. Slight deviation from preferred 2.2 gamma, without gamma settings in OSD. 80 240fps). 237fps) instead, avoiding any VSync latency penalty at frame rates near the ceiling of operation or tearing from frame rates rising above the refresh rate. This is an alternative to VSync which allows the frame rate to rise above the refresh rate (no VSync latency penalty) whilst potentially keeping the experience free from tearing or juddering. In this position the top of the stand neck pokes up an additional ~40mm (1.57 inches) above the top edge of the screen surface. Screen surface imparts a bit of graininess to lighter content This indicates that the monitor has been specifically tested by Nvidia and passes specific quality checks. If you are in the market for an Alienware monitor, then chances are you are serious about gaming and want a superior display to maximize the games you love. The included stand can be removed using a hexagonal quick-release button beneath the attachment point and replaced with an alternative 100 x 100mm VESA compatible solution, if preferred. Even if such dips were very slight, without FreeSync active and VSync enabled theyd cause obvious stuttering. The refresh rate was set to 240Hz in Windows, although this didnt significantly affect the values or observations on this table. Less pronounced than youd see on TN or VA models. As noted earlier, AMD FreeSync makes use of Adaptive-Sync technology on a compatible monitor. Buy from Amazon Nonetheless, we wouldnt describe the atmosphere as poor in an appropriately well-lit room either. Towards the bottom right it has a slightly warm greenish tint to it, which is somewhat more subdued compared to the right side. This could be reduced by turning up the Response Time setting, but as explored earlier with Test UFO youd need Adaptive-Sync enabled and suitably high frame rates to avoid strong overshoot if doing that. Ensure the Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible checkbox and Enable settings for the selected display model is checked as shown below. The Dell Alienware AW2521HF (now designated AW2521HFA in UK and EU) aims to find a nice balance between speed and image quality, combining a 240Hz refresh rate with the superior colour quality of an IPS-type panel. Brightness= 38% (according to preferences and lighting). TN models show obvious saturation shifts vertically. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the monitor provided an excellent performance in all cases, with no noticeable weaknesses. We consider either Fast or Super Fast optimal here, both being very well-tuned and difficult to distinguish from one another in practice. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Less pronounced than youd see on TN or VA models. Colour in games and movies Our test system uses an Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti connected using the supplied DP cable and runs Windows 10. Bracketed numbers in our analysis refer to shades on the printed sheet or right side of the screen if theyre ordered consecutively from top left to bottom right. Positives Whilst observing a black screen in a dark room, using our Test Settings, we noticed a small amount of backlight bleed and minor clouding. This is exactly what the Dell Alienware AW2521HF delivered. That means that if the game is running between 48fps and 240fps, the monitor will adjust its refresh rate to match. As shown in the image above, the monitor uses the usual RGB (Red, Green and Blue) stripe subpixel layout. There were some slightly more pronounced weaknesses for a minority of pixel transitions, for example when observing white or very light objects such as in-game text against a dark and shadowy background. Most users will probably wish to enable VSync when using FreeSync to ensure that they dont get any tearing. The purple block appeared a violet shade throughout, with a bit more of a pink hue towards the bottom and extreme side edges. We purchase our own monitors and To maximise colour accuracy within the sRGB colour space, for colour-managed workflows, full calibration and profiling with a colorimeter or similar device is recommended. The monitor was left to run for over 2 hours before readings were taken and observations were made. Press OK, then turn the monitor off then on again so that it re-establishes connection the technology should now be active. If a game ran at 34fps, for example, the refresh rate would be 68Hz to help keep tearing and stuttering at bay. This indicates a low viewing angle dependency to the gamma curve of the monitor, typical for an IPS-type panel. This gives easy access to the ports from the front as well. Many of the presets make further adjustments, such as FPS, MOBA/RTS, RPG and SPORTS adding a sharpness filter which cant be disabled or counteracted effectively in the OSD aside from by selecting a different preset. Full-sized wireless gaming mouse with up to 300 hours of play per single AA battery and six fully programmable buttons for performance that takes no prisoners. This is a good practical speed to take such photographs at, highlighting both elements of perceived blur nicely. We wont be going into this in detail as its a GPU feature rather than a monitor feature. The video below shows the monitor in action. Click Settings (cog icon towards top right) and click Graphics. Unless youre frequently passing this boundary its not something youre likely to notice or care about, though. Adaptive-Sync also worked well on both our AMD and Nvidia GPU to get rid of tearing and stuttering. A very slight shadowy trail behind the UFO, but overall rather similar to the Fast setting in appearance. The screenshot below is for a different model, but the settings and layout of the page are the same. On models with a significantly wider gamut, this shade and candy apple red (14), to name but a few, tend to look significantly more neon than they appear here. Responsiveness in games and movies The curved 37.5 display sucks you into the gameplay and really does immerse you more than most. The image below shows how things look with refresh rate bumped up to 144Hz. The monitor provided a rich and natural appearance to Battlefield V. The monitor provides comprehensive sRGB colour gamut coverage and a bit of extension beyond, but stays well short of extended colour spaces such as DCI-P3. Candy apple red appeared with a bit of an orange-red tone due to extension in the red to green edge of the gamut. Competing TN models certainly have something of a vertical detail gradient going on for dark content vertically, whilst VA models have black crush centrally and a bit of extra detail peripherally. Note that we have no way to accurately measure input lag with Adaptive-Sync active in a variable refresh rate and frame rate environment. This is the default expected by modern operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Apples MacOS. This was only observed during this test and is something weve seen on various monitors before. The pixel response requirements are slacker at such frame rates and the visual fluidity is greatly limited by the frame rate itself. If you activate the Frame Counter in the Game Setting section of the OSD, this will display the refresh rate of the display and therefore indicate the frame rate if FreeSync is active and the frame rate is within the variable refresh rate range of the display. The very low signal delay of this model also aided the connected feel, but the very high frame and refresh rate combination also helped. The colour gamut provided just a bit of extension beyond sRGB, injecting some extra vibrancy without the strong saturation of a much more generous colour gamut. Sensitivity to such things varies, however. Contrast Finally, note again that you can go to Game Enhance Mode in the Game section of the OSD to activate the Frame Rate feature. The OSD controls are located towards the bottom left. Standard accessories include a power cable, DP cable, HDMI cable and USB 3.0 upstream cable. It was free from alternation between deeper purple and a very strong pink hue that youd see on VA and moreover VA models. So better than some IPS-type models, weaker than others but very much as specified. NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible Certified As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made using the below link. The pastel shades of this movie were suitably varied and muted, whilst vibrant shades such as neon reds and greens appeared fairly eye-catching. But there wasnt a strong coarse graininess nor a strong smeary appearance, either. Complete your experience with accessories designed to make the most of your Alienware Monitor. Finally, note again that you can go to Game Enhance Mode in the Game section of the OSD to activate the Frame Rate feature. The monitor provided a reasonable contrast performance on Battlefield V. Darker regions on this title include dark tunnels, dimly lit building interiors and some darker exterior locations. We didnt readily observe either artifact type at high or relatively high refresh rates (100Hz+). Alienwares Sci-Fi aesthetic design is a crowd-pleaser in todays market. In the image above you can see that the monitor is validated as G-SYNC Compatible (or you could, if Nvidia Control Panel displayed the entire text instead of cutting it off). Intelligently designed to deliver exceptional performance, value and essential gaming functionality in a compact design. Nonetheless, we wouldnt describe the atmosphere as poor in an appropriately well-lit room either. Its something were sensitive to, as long-time readers of our website will be well aware. This feature is used regardless of VSync setting, so its only above the ceiling of operation where the VSync setting makes a difference. Fly your colours on the battlefield with fully customizable AlienFX low profile RGB lighting that gives you a choice of up to 16.8m colours per key via Alienware Command Center Software and a tricked-out setup that brings you deeper into the action. This, coupled with the inclusion of a flipped version of the shade sheet, allows both accuracy and colour consistency to be visually assessed. This requires that the frame rate comfortably exceeds the refresh rate, not just peaks slightly above it. The dark desktop background highlights IPS glow, which creates an obvious bloom as viewing angles become steeper. The rest of the range feature IPS panels and vary in terms of response time, refresh rates, and resolution. As a Mac user theres no need to worry about text fringing from non-standard subpixel layouts. It is no secret, these are quite pricey but they are all bursting at the bezels with incredible features, responsiveness, accurate color reproduction, and ergonomic stands. The improvement in connected feel and reduction in perceived blur was still noticeable to us and would be to sensitive users going up from 144Hz to 240Hz. Press OK, then turn the monitor off then on again so that it re-establishes connection the technology should now be active. The default is Off, unless application specifies which means that VSync will only be active if you enable it within the game itself, if there is such an option. Standard accessories include a power cable, DP cable, HDMI cable and USB 3.0 upstream cable. The colour temperature uniformity was good. These are just a suggestion, anything not mentioned was left at its default value for Game 1. Independent, transparent, rigorous and authentic, our reviews are the most thorough and honest in PC gaming. AMD FreeSyncPremium" and NVIDIA. Although not nearly as pronounced or obvious as stepping up from 60Hz to 144Hz (or even 120Hz).