Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent product for price, though don't expect amazing color/black level.
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
First off: here's my recommended settings:
CONTRAST: 69
BRIGHTNESS: 60 (Adjust based on the light level around you)
COLOR: user color, Red = 95, Green = 95, Blue = 99
MANUAL IMAGE ADJUST:
SHARPNESS: 0
DYNAMIC CONTRAST: Off
ECO MODE: Standard
BLUE LIGHT FILTER: 0
ADVANCED IMAGE ADJUST:
VIEWMODE: Standard
SMARTSYNC: Off
FREESYNC: On (make sure to enable this through your GPU driver, and set Windows to 144hz via Settings>System>Display>Advanced Display Settings>Display Adapter Properties>Monitor>Screen Refresh Rate. Otherwise you will see neither freesync nor 144hz.)
RESPONSE TIME: Advanced
LOW INPUT LAG: Ultra fast
BLACK STABILIZATION: 3
ADVANCED DCR: 0
Alright, with that out of the way, let me say this: the XG2401 really delivers. It has almost everything you could expect, from super low input lag (measured by pcmonitors.info to be 3.38ms, which is incredibly fast for a modern display) to customization of color and response time (how fast pixels will change brightness/color). 144hz really does make a difference, and it's visibly much smoother even on the desktop or web browsing, let alone video games.
Speaking of video games, this monitor also supports freesync. If you have an AMD card that supports freesync, that means it will essentially force the monitor to adapt to the refresh rate of the graphics card. That means you can run your games at an unlocked frame rate (vsync off) and there will be absolutely no stuttering or tearing, as long as you don't go above 144fps. Some games are fairly easy to run at 144fps, like Rocket League, while others are much more demanding, but freesync means that anything you run at, up to 144fps, will look perfectly smooth.
This is a TN panel, so color and black level aren't particularly great compared to an IPS LCD. Despite that, this monitor actually has some pretty dang good color reproduction; nevertheless, colors might look a little dull. Don't let this put you off, though: the tradeoff with a TN panel is that while black level, color, and viewing angles suffer somewhat, the response time will be significantly faster, which is essential to a quality 144hz experience. A slow response time leads to a lot of ghosting and blurring, and the effect of 144fps won't shine through; a fast response time will make each individual frame stand out, and it'll look hyper-smooth. The optimal setting for response time at 144hz is "advanced," as "standard" is too slow and blurry, while "ultra fast" has too strong of an overdrive, causing distracting shadows behind fast moving parts of the image.
On the outside, the XG2401 is a sleek and unobtrusive monitor. It's not flashy and annoying, and red undertones are hidden behind the monitor and at its base. Also, the power LED is not visible from a normal angle, which is good, as it won't distract when you're playing in the dark. The monitor has a matte finish on the screen, which has its ups and downs; it cuts down on the bold glare of a smooth glass screen, but it also spreads it over the screen, dulling the image quality a bit if you're not playing in the dark. The monitor's control buttons are located under the screen, where they're somewhat easy to find and use.
Overall, the XG2401 is an excellent product and a great value. While the image quality (color, black level) won't blow you away, it delivers on a quality 144hz freesync experience, and the price is low considering this. Recommended.
