Iiyama G-Master GB247: Is This Gaming Monitor Worth It?

by Jhon Lennon 56 views

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving deep into the Iiyama G-Master GB247, a gaming monitor that's been buzzing around the tech world. If you're on the hunt for a new display to level up your gaming experience without breaking the bank, you've probably stumbled upon this model. Well, buckle up because we're going to explore everything this monitor has to offer, from its sleek design to its performance in the heat of battle.

First Impressions and Design

Let's kick things off with the aesthetics. The Iiyama G-Master GB247 sports a modern, no-nonsense design that will fit seamlessly into any gaming setup. The monitor features slim bezels, which not only look great but also make it ideal for multi-monitor configurations. The matte black finish gives it a professional look, ensuring it doesn't distract you with unnecessary reflections during intense gaming sessions. The stand is sturdy and offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments, allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle for maximum comfort. This ergonomic flexibility is a huge plus, especially for those long gaming marathons. The build quality feels solid, and the materials used don't give off a cheap vibe, which is always reassuring. Iiyama has clearly paid attention to the details, ensuring that the GB247 not only performs well but also looks the part. Setting up the monitor is a breeze, with a simple snap-on mechanism for the stand. The on-screen display (OSD) is intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing you to tweak settings to your heart's content. From adjusting brightness and contrast to fine-tuning color profiles, the GB247 offers a wealth of customization options. Connectivity is also well-covered, with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB247 makes a strong first impression with its sleek design, ergonomic flexibility, and user-friendly interface. It's a monitor that looks and feels like it belongs in a serious gaming setup.

Display Quality: Visuals That Pop

Now, let's get to the heart of the matter: the display quality. The Iiyama G-Master GB247 boasts a 23.8-inch VA panel with a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. While some might argue that 1080p is outdated in today's world of 1440p and 4K, it's still a sweet spot for gaming, especially if you're aiming for high frame rates without needing a top-of-the-line graphics card. The VA panel technology delivers excellent contrast and deep blacks, making for a more immersive viewing experience. Colors are vibrant and accurate, bringing games to life with rich detail. The monitor also features a wide color gamut, covering a significant portion of the sRGB color space, which means you'll enjoy vivid and realistic visuals. One of the standout features of the GB247 is its 165Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate, combined with a 1ms response time, ensures incredibly smooth and fluid motion, minimizing motion blur and ghosting. This is crucial for fast-paced games where split-second reactions can make all the difference. Whether you're playing first-person shooters, racing games, or MOBAs, the GB247 delivers a competitive edge with its responsiveness. Viewing angles are also decent, thanks to the VA panel, although they're not quite as wide as those on an IPS display. However, unless you're viewing the monitor from extreme angles, you shouldn't notice any significant color shifting or contrast reduction. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium, which helps to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering by synchronizing the refresh rate of the monitor with the frame rate of your graphics card. This results in a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience, especially in demanding titles. In summary, the Iiyama G-Master GB247 offers impressive display quality for its price range. The combination of a VA panel, high refresh rate, and fast response time makes it a great choice for gamers who prioritize performance and visual fidelity.

Gaming Performance: Where the Magic Happens

Alright, let's talk about what really matters: gaming performance. The Iiyama G-Master GB247 is designed with gamers in mind, and it shows in its responsiveness and visual clarity. The 165Hz refresh rate is a game-changer, providing silky-smooth motion that makes everything feel more fluid and responsive. Whether you're tracking targets in a fast-paced shooter or navigating a sprawling open-world environment, the high refresh rate enhances the overall gaming experience. The 1ms response time further reduces motion blur and ghosting, ensuring that you can react quickly to on-screen action. This is particularly important in competitive games where every millisecond counts. The GB247's low input lag also contributes to its responsiveness, minimizing the delay between your input and the action on the screen. This ensures that your actions feel immediate and precise. AMD FreeSync Premium support is another key feature that enhances gaming performance. By synchronizing the monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card's frame rate, FreeSync eliminates screen tearing and stuttering, resulting in a smoother and more immersive gaming experience. This is especially noticeable in games with fluctuating frame rates. The monitor also offers various gaming presets that optimize the display settings for different game genres. These presets adjust brightness, contrast, and color settings to enhance the visuals and provide a competitive edge. For example, the FPS mode boosts visibility in dark areas, making it easier to spot enemies lurking in the shadows. The GB247 also features a Black Tuner, which allows you to adjust the black levels to your liking. This can be useful for improving visibility in dark scenes without washing out the colors. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB247 delivers excellent gaming performance thanks to its high refresh rate, fast response time, low input lag, and AMD FreeSync Premium support. It's a monitor that's built for speed and responsiveness, making it a great choice for gamers who demand the best possible performance.

Features and Connectivity: What Else Does It Offer?

Beyond its core performance, the Iiyama G-Master GB247 comes packed with a range of features and connectivity options that enhance its versatility. As mentioned earlier, the monitor boasts a fully adjustable stand, allowing you to tilt, swivel, and adjust the height to find the perfect viewing angle. This ergonomic flexibility is a welcome addition, especially for those who spend long hours gaming or working at their desk. The on-screen display (OSD) is intuitive and easy to navigate, providing access to a wide range of settings and customization options. You can adjust brightness, contrast, color temperature, and gamma settings to fine-tune the display to your liking. The OSD also includes various gaming presets that optimize the display settings for different game genres. The GB247 also features a built-in blue light filter, which reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the screen. This can help to reduce eye strain and fatigue, especially during long gaming sessions. The monitor also includes flicker-free technology, which eliminates screen flickering to further reduce eye strain. Connectivity is well-covered, with two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort input. This allows you to connect multiple devices to the monitor, such as a gaming console, PC, and streaming device. The GB247 also features a headphone jack, allowing you to connect your headphones or headset directly to the monitor for immersive audio. Unfortunately, the monitor does not have built-in speakers, so you'll need to rely on external speakers or headphones for audio. The GB247 also supports VESA mounting, allowing you to mount the monitor on a wall or monitor arm. This can free up desk space and provide a more ergonomic viewing experience. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB247 offers a comprehensive set of features and connectivity options that enhance its versatility and make it a great choice for both gaming and everyday use.

Pros and Cons: Weighing the Options

Before you make a decision, let's break down the pros and cons of the Iiyama G-Master GB247 to give you a clear picture of what you're getting.

Pros:

  • High Refresh Rate: The 165Hz refresh rate provides incredibly smooth and fluid motion, enhancing the gaming experience.
  • Fast Response Time: The 1ms response time minimizes motion blur and ghosting, ensuring that you can react quickly to on-screen action.
  • AMD FreeSync Premium: Eliminates screen tearing and stuttering for a smoother gaming experience.
  • Excellent Contrast: The VA panel delivers excellent contrast and deep blacks, making for a more immersive viewing experience.
  • Adjustable Stand: The fully adjustable stand allows you to find the perfect viewing angle for maximum comfort.
  • Affordable Price: The GB247 offers excellent value for money, making it a great choice for budget-conscious gamers.

Cons:

  • 1080p Resolution: While 1080p is still a sweet spot for gaming, some users may prefer a higher resolution for sharper visuals.
  • No Built-in Speakers: The lack of built-in speakers means you'll need to rely on external speakers or headphones for audio.
  • VA Panel Viewing Angles: While decent, the viewing angles are not quite as wide as those on an IPS display.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

So, here's the big question: should you buy the Iiyama G-Master GB247? If you're a gamer on a budget looking for a monitor that delivers smooth, responsive performance, then the answer is a resounding yes. The 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium support make it a great choice for fast-paced games. While the 1080p resolution may not be for everyone, it's still a sweet spot for gaming, especially if you're aiming for high frame rates without needing a top-of-the-line graphics card. The excellent contrast and vibrant colors also make for an immersive viewing experience. The adjustable stand and range of features further enhance its versatility. Of course, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the lack of built-in speakers and the VA panel viewing angles. However, these are minor issues that are easily outweighed by the monitor's strengths. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB247 offers excellent value for money and is a great choice for gamers who prioritize performance and affordability. So, if you're in the market for a new gaming monitor, be sure to give the GB247 a serious look. You won't be disappointed!