The Gigabyte GS27QC is an entry-level gaming monitor. It has a 27-inch screen with a 1500R curve, and it features a 1440p resolution and 165Hz native refresh rate that you can overclock to 170Hz. It's part of Gigabyte's entry-level Gaming lineup, replacing the Gigabyte G27QC, and sitting alongside the bigger Gigabyte GS32QC. Besides the typical gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR) support and different vision modes, it's rather barebones in extra perks, as it doesn't come with a KVM switch like on Gigabyte's higher-end M Series monitors.
Our Verdict
The Gigabyte GS27QC is decent for most uses. It performs best as a gaming monitor because it has a 170Hz refresh rate, a fast response time at high refresh rates, and low input lag for a responsive feel. It also has a high native contrast ratio, making it a great choice if you want to game or watch content in dark rooms. That isn't the case for using it in bright rooms, as it doesn't get bright enough to fight glare, which is disappointing for office use or content creation. It also has narrow viewing angles and terrible ergonomics, which makes it hard to share with someone else, but its good text clarity makes it suitable enough for working. Unfortunately, it has a limited implementation of HDR, and it doesn't display a wide range of colors or get bright enough for highlights to pop.
-
Good text clarity.
-
Fast response time with most refresh rates.
-
High contrast ratio.
-
Narrow viewing angles.
-
Terrible ergonomics.
-
Low peak brightness.
-
Some build quality issues.
The Gigabyte GS27QC is alright for office use. It has a 27-inch screen and 1440p resolution, resulting in high pixel density and good text clarity. That's one of the main benefits of using it for work, as it struggles in bright environments due to its low peak brightness and only decent reflection handling. It also has narrow viewing angles and terrible ergonomics, so it's hard to share the screen with someone next to you, like a coworker.
-
Good text clarity.
-
Narrow viewing angles.
-
Terrible ergonomics.
-
Low peak brightness.
-
Some build quality issues.
The Gigabyte GS27QC is impressive for gaming. It has a high 170Hz refresh rate and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It has a fast response time at high refresh rates, and while it's slower at low refresh rates, it's still fast enough for most gamers. It also has low input lag at any refresh rate for a responsive feel. It's limited to HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 bandwidth, so it can't take full advantage of modern graphics cards or gaming consoles. On the plus side, it has a very high contrast ratio, so it displays deep blacks in dark rooms, but it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve it.
-
170Hz refresh rate and VRR support.
-
Fast response time with most refresh rates.
-
Low input lag.
-
High contrast ratio.
-
No local dimming feature.
-
Can't take full advantage of modern gaming consoles and graphics cards.
The Gigabyte GS27QC is decent for media consumption. It performs well in dark rooms thanks to its excellent native contrast ratio and okay black uniformity, so blacks look deep without blooming. However, it lacks a local dimming feature to improve the picture quality further in dark scenes. Unfortunately, it doesn't perform as well in bright rooms because it doesn't get bright enough to fight glare, and it's hard to see the screen properly if you place it opposite a bright window. Also, it has narrow viewing angles and terrible ergonomics, so sharing the screen with someone else is difficult.
-
High contrast ratio.
-
1440p resolution.
-
Great accuracy in sRGB mode.
-
Narrow viewing angles.
-
Terrible ergonomics.
-
Low peak brightness.
The Gigabyte GS27QC is decent for media creation. It has great accuracy in the sRGB mode. However, you still need to calibrate it for the most accurate colors, and even with that, colors are undersaturated after a full calibration. It has good text and image clarity thanks to its 1440p resolution, but because it has a curved screen, straight lines in your content appear curved. It's also a bad choice if you constantly need to share your screen with someone else, as it has narrow viewing angles that make the image appear washed out from the sides, and it has terrible ergonomics.
-
Good text clarity.
-
Great accuracy in sRGB mode.
-
Narrow viewing angles.
-
Terrible ergonomics.
-
Low peak brightness.
-
Limited color gamut.
-
Some build quality issues.
The Gigabyte GS27QC has limited HDR capabilities. There aren't any picture settings available in HDR, and it doesn't display the wide range of colors needed for most HDR content anyway. It also has limited HDR brightness, so highlights don't pop against the rest of the image. The one plus is that it displays deep blacks in dark rooms, but it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve the contrast.
-
High contrast ratio.
-
Low peak brightness.
-
No local dimming feature.
-
Limited color gamut.
- 7.3 Mixed Usage
- 6.5 Office
- 8.4 Gaming
- 7.3 Media Consumption
- 7.0 Media Creation
- 6.4 HDR
- Updated Apr 10, 2024: Added that the LG 27GR75Q-B has better SDR Brightness.
- Updated Nov 30, 2023: Review published.
- Updated Nov 27, 2023: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 16, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Oct 17, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Oct 06, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27-inch Gigabyte GS27QC, and the results are only valid for this size. There's also a 32-inch GS32QC model, but it performs differently. There are other monitors in Gigabyte's entry-level Gaming lineup, and you can see the differences between them below.
| Model | Size | Panel Type | Resolution | Max Refresh Rate | Curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS27QC | 27" | VA | 1440p | 170Hz | 1500R |
| GS27Q | 27" | IPS | 1440p | 170Hz | - |
| GS32QC | 32" | VA | 1440p | 170Hz | 1500R |
| G27QC | 27" | VA | 1440p | 165Hz | 1500R |
Our unit was manufactured in June 2023; you can see the label for it here.
Compared To Other Monitors
The Gigabyte GS27QC is an impressive entry-level gaming monitor that doesn't break the bank. It comes with the essentials for gaming, like VRR support, low input lag, and a fast response time that's better than most competing monitors in its price range. It's a great choice if you need a simple gaming monitor and aren't ready to splurge on something more expensive. That said, it has limited versatility for other uses due to its low peak brightness, narrow viewing angles, and terrible ergonomics, so if you're willing to stretch your budget, you can also consider options like the Dell G2724D or the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0), which are both better overall.
See our recommendations for the best budget and cheap gaming monitors, the best budget monitors, and the best gaming monitors under $300.
The Gigabyte GS27QC is the newer version of the Gigabyte G27QC, and they have many of the same specs, but there are some differences. The GS27QC is an upgrade in gaming performance as it has an overclock to 170Hz, and it also has better motion handling with less smearing. That said, the GS27QC also downgrades in a few areas, particularly with office performance, as it doesn't have a USB hub like the G27QC, it doesn't get as bright, and it has worse ergonomics.
The Gigabyte G27Q and the Gigabyte GS27QC are different types of entry-level gaming monitors. The main difference comes down to their different panels, as the G27Q has an IPS panel with wider viewing angles, while the GS27QC has a curved VA panel with a higher contrast. The GS27QC has an advantage when it comes to gaming because it has a higher refresh rate and it also has a faster response time. However, the G27Q is better for most other uses as it gets brighter, displays a wider range of colors, and has better ergonomics.
The Dell G2724D is a better budget gaming monitor than the Gigabyte GS27QC. This is mainly because the Dell has much better motion handling at any refresh rate, and it also supports VRR with the PS5, which the Gigabyte doesn't. The Dell is also better for co-op gaming because it has wider viewing angles and improved ergonomics, and it's even better for use in bright rooms thanks to its high peak brightness. However, the Gigabyte is better for dark rooms as it has a higher native contrast ratio.
The Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0) is a higher-end monitor than the Gigabyte GS27QC, so it has extra features. The main difference is that the M27Q has a USB hub and KVM switch, making it the better choice for productivity. It's also better for office use as it has wider viewing angles, higher peak brightness, and much better color accuracy. The monitors are similar for gaming, but the GS27QC has a faster overall response time. Also, the GS27QC is better for use in dark rooms thanks to its higher peak brightness.
The Dell S2722DGM and the Gigabyte GS27QC are both entry-level gaming monitors with similar specs. Each has a 1440p resolution, 165Hz native refresh rate, and 1500R curve. However, there are a few differences in performance as the Dell is the better choice for work use thanks to its higher peak brightness and better ergonomics. On the other hand, the Gigabyte has an advantage for gaming because it has a faster response time at any refresh rate and an overclock feature to boost the refresh rate up to 170Hz.
The Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51 and the Gigabyte GS27QC are both entry-level gaming monitors with similar specs, but they have a few differences. They each have a 27-inch, 1440p screen, but the Gigabyte is curved to bring the edges closer to you. The Gigabyte also has an advantage for gaming thanks to its better motion handling. On the other hand, the Samsung is better for sharing your screen with someone as it has better ergonomics.
Test Results
The Gigabyte GS27QC has a simple look with a subtle curve and an all-black plastic body. The back doesn't feature glossy plastic like on some other Gigabyte monitors, as you can see here. Because of its plain design, it fits into any type of environment.
The build quality is okay. The plastic materials are good, especially for a cheap monitor, and it doesn't easily flex either. While the stand doesn't prevent all wobble, the monitor quickly stabilizes itself when it does wobble. The biggest downside is that the screen tilts forward a bit from the top edge like the panel is curved vertically too. It's even more noticeable from the right side, as you can see here, which is disappointing.
The ergonomics are terrible as it only offers tilt adjustment, so it's hard to place it in an ideal position. Without any height adjustment, the top of the screen is always 17.2" (43.6 cm) from the desk, which is too high if you like a screen that's lower. On the plus side, the stand has a clip for cable management.
The thickness of the monitor is measured from the side of the monitor to the back of the stand, and the thickness from the center to the back of the stand is 5.3" (13.5 cm).
The thickness is measured from the side of the screen to the back of it, and the thickness from the center to the back is 2.0" (5 cm).
There's a single joystick underneath the center of the monitor to control the on-screen display.
The Gigabyte GS27QC has an excellent contrast ratio. It displays deep blacks next to bright highlights, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve it.
This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the monitor so you can compare the backlight performance with a monitor that has local dimming.
The SDR brightness isn't bad. While it isn't very bright, it's still fine if you have a few dim lights around, and it maintains its brightness consistently across different content, which is great. If you want a monitor with better SDR brightness, look at the LG 27GR75Q-B. These results are from after calibration in the 'ECO' Picture Mode with the Brightness at its max. Unlike other monitors, using the 'ECO' mode doesn't limit the peak brightness.
The HDR brightness is disappointing. It doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop, and its EOTF is a bit darker than intended for most content. The monitor has a very basic implementation of HDR as it automatically turns on when sent an HDR signal, and there aren't any settings to change. It even locks you out of some gaming settings like Aim Stabilizer, but you still have access to Overdrive and VRR.
The Gigabyte GS27QC has a disappointing horizontal viewing angle. The image washes out from the sides, which isn't ideal if you need to share your screen with someone else. In this video, you can also see an example of the warped screen, as explained in the Build Quality section.
The vertical viewing angle is poor. The image looks washed out if you're standing up and looking down at the monitor.
The gray uniformity is decent. While the edges of the screen are darker than the rest, there isn't too much dirty screen effect in the center, which is great when browsing the web or reading full-screen documents.
The black uniformity is okay. Even without a local dimming feature it displays deep blacks, but there's a bit of backlight bleed along the top and bottom edges.
The Gigabyte GS27QC has great accuracy before calibration in the sRGB mode. It locks colors well to the sRGB color space, but some colors are a bit undersaturated, like yellows and greens. The color temperature is close to the 6500K target, and there are minimal inaccuracies to colors and the white balance, but it isn't perfect either. Unfortunately, gamma is off, as really dark and really bright scenes are overdarkened. Using the sRGB mode also locks many settings, including Overdrive and Aim Stabilizer, so you need to use another mode for gaming that has oversaturated colors, as you can see here.
The accuracy after calibration is excellent. While it isn't a significant difference than from before calibration, and colors are more undersaturated, the main advantage of calibrating it is that you have access to all settings. We calibrated it using the 'ECO' mode, which, unlike other monitors, doesn't lock out any settings or limit the brightness.
The SDR color gamut is great. It displays a wide range of colors in both the sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces, but colors are undersaturated in each, which is disappointing.
The Gigabyte GS27QC has a fantastic SDR color volume. It displays dark colors well thanks to its high contrast, but it doesn't display bright colors as well.
The HDR color gamut is disappointing. It can't display the wide range of colors needed for most HDR content, and most colors are undersaturated.
The HDR color volume is okay. Its incomplete color gamut limits it, but it still displays some dark colors well.
The reflection handling is decent. It's fine if you have a few dim lights around, but it struggles with bright light sources, like if you place it opposite a window with direct sunlight.
The text clarity is good. Enabling Windows ClearType (top photo) helps improve the clarity of most text, too. These photos are in Windows 10, and you can see them in Windows 11 with ClearType on and with ClearType off.
This monitor has superb gradient handling. There's hardly any banding with shades of similar colors.
Due to bandwidth limitations, you can only reach the monitor's max refresh rate with 8-bit signals over DisplayPort, and the monitor has an Overclock setting to boost it up to 170Hz.
Like some other VA monitors, there are some scanlines in certain content, as you can see here. It only happens with certain content, and it's most noticeable at high refresh rates as it's harder to see at lower refresh rates, so it isn't something to worry about too much.
The Gigabyte GS27QC supports FreeSync over both HDMI and DisplayPort, and it's G-SYNC compatible over DisplayPort. It also supports Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) for the VRR to continue working at lower refresh rates.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| On | Chart | Table | Photo |
| Off | Chart | Table | Photo |
The response time at the max refresh rate of 170Hz is great. Unlike many monitors, you can only turn the Overdrive setting on or off, as there aren't any specific settings, and enabling it improves the response time. While some dark transitions are a bit slow, it doesn't result in a ton of noticeable black smearing like on other VA monitors.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| On | Chart | Table | Photo |
| Off | Chart | Table | Photo |
The Gigabyte GS27QC has a very good response time at 120Hz. Enabling the Overdrive setting helps improve motion handling, and like at its max refresh rate, there isn't too much noticeable black smearing.
| Refresh Rate | Motion Blur Photo |
| 170Hz |  |
| 120Hz |  |
The Gigabyte GS27QC has an optional backlight strobing feature known as black frame insertion. You can only enable Aim Stabilizer with a fixed 170Hz, 165Hz, or 120Hz refresh rate, and the setting is grayed out at lower refresh rates or with VRR enabled. While it reduces some persistence blur, it also causes image duplication.
The backlight remains flicker-free at all brightness levels, which helps with eye strain if you're sensitive to it.
The input lag is very low for a responsive feel while gaming, and it doesn't significantly increase with the backlight strobing feature enabled, either.
This monitor works as expected with the PS5, but without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it doesn't support VRR or 4k @ 120Hz. It still displays a 4k signal by downscaling it to 1440p, which results in a more detailed image than native 1440p.
The Gigabyte GS27QC works without issue with the Xbox Series X|S, besides the fact that it doesn't support 4k @ 120Hz due to its lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. If VRR isn't working on the console, you may have to disable Overclock on the monitor for it to work.
While it's advertised as having DisplayPort 1.4, the monitor is limited to DisplayPort 1.2 bandwidth.
This monitor works well with macOS. Due to bandwidth limitations, the max refresh rate in HDR is 120Hz over DisplayPort and 144Hz over HDMI, as you can see here. However, it doesn't support VRR over HDMI, but it does with DisplayPort. If you're using a MacBook, windows return to their original position when you reopen the lid or wake the laptop up from sleep.
The Gigabyte GS27QC has a few extra features to improve your gaming experience, like:
- Black Equalizer: Adjusts the gamma so that it's easier to see opponents in dark areas of games.
- Display Alignment: The monitor displays a grid to help you align it next to another display.
- Game Assist: This includes gaming-oriented features like a timer, refresh rate counter, and virtual crosshair.
- Low Blue Light: Removes blue light to help reduce eye strain.
