Zowie has revealed its first 540Hz monitor, and I’ve gone hands-on to let you know if you actually need a monitor that may drive extra frames than many video games may even render, even on the highest-end PCs.
The race for the quickest refresh charges is on, and Zowie’s esports-focused XL2586X has lastly been launched. However, given its potential to drive this many frames, you must query its efficacy as each a monitor for normal use, in addition to the way it runs different titles.
When you perceive that that is no regular gaming monitor, you may recognize simply how speedy this show is, and its velocity is unparalleled by 99% of the remainder of the gaming monitor market. However, whether or not you have got the gaming setup to drive such a high-end show is one other query altogether.
Key specs
- Display measurement: 24.1-inches
- Panel sort: TN
- Decision: 1920×1080
- Brightness: 320 cd/m2
- Distinction ratio: 1000:1
- Refresh fee: 540Hz
- Response time: 0.5ms
- Connectivity: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 3x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3,5mm audio jack
- Worth: $999
PROS
CONS
Speedy refresh fee
Might be outpaced by new OLED tech
Good, understated design
Serves an especially area of interest viewers
No Nvidia Latency Analyzer assist
Design
With regards to how the XL2586X truly seems to be, it’s not going to win any design awards, encased in a black plastic shell, which comes with Zowie’s detachable “blinders” – although the efficacy of really utilizing them in a sport, and them being useful is questionable until you’re sat subsequent to different avid gamers and want to dam out their screens.
A lot of the design is precisely the identical because the XL2566K which I reviewed final yr, proper all the way down to the adjustable ball-bearing stand, which might swivel and raise to any angle you need. In comparison with numerous different gaming displays’ overdesigned stands, this has a low influence in your desk, and appears fairly clear whereas doing so.
Dexerto
Simple cable channeling additionally means that you can maintain your setup trying swanky and ensures that regardless of how wild you’re going with a mouse, you’ll by no means have any wires interfering along with your desk.
Whereas the monitor itself seems to be pretty drab, and like every other you would possibly see in an workplace house, its no-frills nature tells you that this show is all about uncooked efficiency, fairly than any superfluous additions like rear RGB lighting, or different gimmicks.
The understated design is a breath of recent air after seeing so many different gaming displays appear like some form of alien spacecraft trying to make its approach onto your desk.
Options
Earlier than I get into every thing the XL2586X can do, it doesn’t have any native G-Sync assist, which means its solely G-Sync “suitable”, so you can’t use any advantages just like the Nvidia Reflex latency analyzer, which ought to be a precedence for these trying to attain measurable peak efficiency. It’s an especially odd omission.
Dexerto The stand resembles older fashions, if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.
Exterior of that, you may as well get pleasure from DyAC 2 backlight strobing to keep away from any flicker and blur, however that is simplest at increased refresh charges, so just remember to have a PC as much as the duty of driving frames as excessive as potential to make the very best use of it. In my expertise, flicking it on was a breeze and it did noticeably enhance upon eradicating any form of blur, as examined through BlurBusters’ tried and true TestUFO.
You additionally get what BenQ calls a “S Swap controller” to configure the panel, nevertheless it nonetheless comes within the type of an unsightly cable that plugs into the monitor instantly. At this degree of premium high quality, you’d anticipate extra premium trimmings. It’s practically the very same as final yr’s XL2566K.
In comparison with OLED displays, this panel has no native dimming zones both, so for the very best image high quality, it is best to as a substitute hunt down OLED displays. However, you may as well configure the response time with a number of overdrive modes, with a slider. With a monitor this fast, nonetheless, you’ll need the quickest response occasions potential.
Decision & refresh fee
The headlining characteristic of the XL2586X is the refresh fee: However, this solely is available in helpful when you have a strong sufficient system to drive that variety of frames in sure esports titles. That is an especially fringe use case for most individuals until you need to attain the very best efficiency potential in Counter-Strike 2 and related video games.
Gaming efficiency
In movement, driving down all of the settings on CS2 and taking part in the sport at 540Hz utilizing an RTX 4080-based system is a dream, it’s wickedly easy and appears implausible whereas doing so, so long as you don’t veer too far to the best or to the left.
Dexerto In the event you don’t need to use the ugly controller, you are able to do every thing on the OSD.
There’s a important distinction between 240Hz and 540Hz, however from 360Hz and upwards, the variations are extra refined to my eyes. Nevertheless, that doesn’t take away from simply how extremely easy it feels, and to many, that’s what’s going to matter.
With 480Hz OLED displays on the way in which, it simply appears like too little, too late. The bump as much as 540Hz simply shouldn’t be well worth the discount in response time and picture high quality of a TN panel.
That is the monitor’s main downfall, because it restricts its use-cases to esports-only, whereas OLED can be utilized for watching films, and immersive single-player content material too. You simply received’t get that degree of high quality in a TN panel.
Must you purchase it?
If you’re considered one of a choose few whose aim it’s to be an extremely aggressive Counter Strike or esports participant, and have a top-shelf PC that may push upwards of a minimum of 500 FPS in your chosen titles, the Zowie XL2586X is a no brainer, it’s an important addition to your setup, and its efficiency received’t allow you to down.
However, the omission of Reflex Latency Analyzer is a big disgrace: it’s one thing that its direct competitor, the Asus PG248QP manages so as to add. However, when you’re not that one who needs a very good monitor for normal use, don’t chase the proverbial refresh fee dragon until you completely have to.
That is bleeding-edge tech for a distinct segment viewers. The swathe of OLED displays can handle a lot of the identical, with equally speedy refresh charges, when you’re searching for a premium addition to your setup.
Verdict – 3/5
I can’t assist however really feel a contact upset in regards to the Zowie XL2586X. It’s spectacular, for positive, however its target market is simply not me. Mixed with the purely utilitarian design and horse blinders for optimum immersion, until you’re an esports group searching for a brand new monitor to equipment out your gamers with, the chances are you simply received’t want this.
The ROG PG248QP can be $100 cheaper than the $999 asking worth of the XL2586X, which means that even amongst its opponents, it may be outshone when it comes to pure specs.
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