The finest 4K gaming screens stay on the premium finish of the pricing scale however over the previous 12 months, they’ve come down a bit in price. However, they haven’t added many options, and the primary sticking level is their 144 Hz max refresh charge. Granted, it takes plenty of processing energy to push the fps rely of 8.3 million pixels past that determine, however with QHD screens topping 240 Hz, it’s excessive time for some motion within the upward route.
The ViewSonic Elite XG320U is a 32-inch IPS panel with Adaptive-Sync, prolonged shade (very prolonged) and HDR. It runs natively at 144 Hz like the remaining however can also be the primary Ultra HD monitor we’ve seen with an overclock characteristic, and it provides — anticipate it — 6 Hz. Yes, you’ll be able to overclock it to 150 Hz. Is that sufficient to make a distinction? That’s what we’re right here to find.
ViewSonic Elite XG320U Specs
| Panel Type / Backlight | IPS / W-LED, edge array |
| Screen Size / Aspect Ratio | 32 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Resolution & Refresh Rate | 3840×2160 @ 144 Hz |
| 150 Hz w/overclock | |
| FreeSync: 48-144 Hz | |
| G-Sync Compatible | |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3+ |
| Response Time (MPRT) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 600 nits |
| Contrast (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
| Speakers | 2x 5w |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| 1x HDMI 2.1 | |
| 1x HDMI 2.0 | |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | 1x up, 3x down |
| Power Consumption | 37w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 28.6 x 19-23.7 x 10.4 inches (726 x 483-602 x 264mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 3.4 inches (86mm) |
| Bezel Width | Top/sides: 0.3 inch (8mm) |
| Bottom: 1 inch (25mm) | |
| Weight | 22.2 kilos (10.1kg) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
The XG320U begins with an IPS panel sporting a claimed 1ms MPRT response time. It runs natively at 144 Hz, however should you flip off Adaptive Sync, it could possibly run at 150 Hz. I’ll get into the specifics of that peculiarity under. Otherwise, it’s much like different Ultra HD gaming screens with an edge backlight. It helps HDR10 alerts and has one of many largest shade gamuts I’ve but measured, over 116% protection of DCI-P3. I’ve personally termed this gamut as DCI-P3+. It isn’t fairly giant sufficient to say it covers Rec.2020 (I measured 78.1% there), however solely two different screens I’ve examined have bigger shade areas and solely by a slim margin.
HDR alerts are supported with peak gentle output nicely over 500 nits. Also, there’s dynamic distinction, which suggests HDR photographs have a considerably extra dynamic vary with vivid highlights and deep shadow areas. Adding in that huge shade saturation ought to imply a vivid picture. And it’s correct with out-of-box take a look at outcomes that counsel no calibration is critical.
The XG320U contains gaming options on the within and the skin. You get an LED lighting characteristic each within the again and on the desktop with colours and results programmable by the person. Headphones will be saved on a fold-out hook, and there’s even cable administration for the USB ports to maintain mouse and keyboard wires from tangling. And the strong construct high quality is what I’ve come to count on from ViewSonic; it fully befits a premium product.
In the OSD, you’ll discover Adaptive-Sync, in fact, with FreeSync and G-Sync operation. The XG320U has not been licensed by Nvidia at the moment. Blur discount can also be included beneath a heading referred to as “PureXP”. Like most different gaming screens, it really works as an alternative of Adaptive-Sync by strobing the backlight to beat LCD’s inherent movement blur.
The Elite XG320U seems to be like a strong performer on paper and at present sells for round $1,000.
Assembly and Accessories
The XG320U comes securely packed in a big clamshell-style carton. The panel, base and upright go collectively with out instruments to create a strong chassis with out wobble or play. In addition to the IEC twine for the interior energy provide, you get very good HDMI, DisplayPort and USB cables. A snap-on cowl goes over the enter pack to tidy up the again of the panel.
Product 360
The XG320U presents a easy and trim look with a skinny flush bezel of 8 mm across the high and sides and 25 mm on the underside. The solely graphic is a futuristic Elite brand positioned entrance and middle. Underneath that may be a energy toggle, management key and OSD joystick that makes simple work of all monitor features. Reach across the left aspect and also you’ll discover a headphone hook that folds out when wanted. It’s substantial sufficient to accommodate giant cans if you want.
The base is constructed from strong metallic and is a stylishly skinny plate. It’s greater than large and deep sufficient to maintain the massive display regular. The upright encompasses a 120mm peak adjustment, 25 levels swivel to both aspect and 5/20 levels tilt. There is not any pivot for a portrait mode. Movements are clean and agency, as you’d count on from a monitor referred to as “Elite”.
In again, you’ll be able to see the headphone hook and the LED lighting which kinds a hexagon across the upright’s attachment level. Additional lights are on the underside fringe of the panel and shine on the desktop. You can management all of them from the OSD with a myriad of colours and results.
The enter panel is stocked with two HDMI inputs, one 2.0 and one 2.1, that assist refresh charges as much as 144 Hz. To make the most of the 150 Hz overclock, you’ll want to make use of the only DisplayPort 1.4 enter. You additionally get USB 3.0, one upstream and three down, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Internal audio system are powered by 5-watt op-amps and play moderately loud with out vital distortion. They sound higher than most screens’ built-in models.
OSD Features
The XG320U’s OSD is in depth and generally is a bit complicated at first. There are image modes and separate sport modes that every one have an effect on the picture in numerous methods. I additionally needed to delve in to seek out fundamental brightness and distinction sliders. But every part wanted for an ideal image is there, together with just a few gaming options like aiming factors, blur discount and refresh overclock.
Display is the place you’ll discover a lot of the wanted controls for picture adjustment and video processing. FreeSync/Adaptive-Sync will be toggled on and off. HDR works effective with its Auto mode switching seamlessly between sign sorts.
PureXP is the blur-reduction characteristic. It has 4 ranges the place extra blur discount means much less gentle. Even the lightest setting diminished brightness by round 30%. It is efficient, however there’s slight ghosting seen.
The higher various is to make use of Adaptive-Sync and the five-level overdrive. Its second setting, Fast, strikes steadiness between ghosting and readability, sustaining strong movement decision when the motion will get intense.
On the second display of the Display Sub-menu, you’ll discover the calibration choices and a blue gentle filter. There are six shade temp presets, which embody a set of RGB sliders. You’ll additionally discover an sRGB mode that doesn’t scale back the dimensions of the large shade gamut. If you need true sRGB shade, the XG320U doesn’t supply it. You can modify gamma with six correct presets from 1.8 to 2.8. This is among the few screens that appears higher set to 2.4 moderately than 2.2.
There are two menus that have an effect on picture modes: Game Modes and ViewMode. It’s a bit complicated, however you may get the perfect image should you depart the XG320U on its defaults. That’s the Custom1 Game Mode and the Standard ViewMode.
In the Setup menu, you discover a number of aiming factors, three shapes in three colours for 9 whole selections. There is not any body counter characteristic. Also right here is the Elite RGB lighting management. You can select from three totally different results and all the colours of the spectrum for each again and base lighting.
The Setup menu has three screens, and should you preserve scrolling, you’ll discover the PIP and PBP choices. These are nice for big screens like this and the XG320U helps simultaneous show of two enter alerts.
ViewSonic Elite XG320U Calibration Settings
Left at its manufacturing facility default settings, the XG320U doesn’t want calibration. But should you select to, RGB sliders can be found within the Color Temp menu. The default gamma is ready to 2.4 and I discovered that to be the only option. It delivers monitoring simply over 2.3 which helps improve shade saturation. My solely gripe is there isn’t any solution to management the dimensions of the colour gamut. It covers over 116% of DCI-P3 which is nice for HDR content material, however SDR video games and video ought to have a real sRGB or Rec.709 possibility out there. If you wish to tweak the grayscale, my advisable settings are under.
In HDR mode, there aren’t any image choices out there, however I discovered it to be very correct as nicely with an efficient dynamic distinction characteristic included.
| Picture Mode | Standard/Custom 1 |
| Brightness 200 nits | 98 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 29 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 16 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 3 (min. 78 nits) |
| Contrast | 70 |
| Gamma | 2.4 |
| Color Temp User | Red 99, Green 100, Blue 100 |
Gaming and Hands-on
As an HDR show, the XG320U impressed me immediately. It’s one of many few screens that appears good in HDR mode on the Windows desktop. It controls shade, so element is just not misplaced, which is typically a difficulty with prolonged shade panels. I used to be in a position to handle spreadsheets and paperwork and even edit graphics with no downside. HDR provides brightness which I didn’t want in my workspace, however some customers with sunlit rooms may choose to run Windows HDR on a regular basis.
Tomb Raider is a go-to for evaluating shade. It options many various environments with palettes that vary from heat and pink to chilly and blue. The XG320U’s giant shade gamut was an asset within the cooler elements of the sport like constructing interiors or wintry out of doors scenes. Anywhere the predominant tint was blue appeared incredible with vivid highlights and deep shadows with pure hues. Warmer areas like seashores and jungles had been a bit overblown. Detail was nonetheless finely rendered, however greens and reds appeared too vivid. It didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the sport, however I’d have favored the choice to cut back saturation for simply pink and inexperienced.
The XG320U is nicely suited to HDR titles. Doom Eternal and Call of Duty WWII appeared wonderful with their absolutely realized shade palettes and wealthy element. The blue skies and inexperienced forests of Nineteen Forties Europe had been fully plausible. Soldiers’ flesh tones had been vibrant however completely pure. The Ultra HD decision introduced out tremendous small bits like razor stubble and particular person beads of sweat. The textures of closely used weapons or scuffed armor plate appeared like I may truly really feel them if I touched the display. While greater refresh charges are higher for final gaming efficiency, there’s no denying the beautiful picture delivered by 4K monitor.
Video processing was strong in all respects. Adaptive-Sync labored completely on each AMD and Nvidia platforms with HDR and overdrive intact. PureXP is offered for gamers who need a backlight strobe as an alternative of AS. It reduces blur to nearly nothing, however I noticed some slight ghosting in finely detailed textures. It additionally reduces brightness an excessive amount of on its greater settings. The Light possibility was the perfect.
Trying out the overclock didn’t produce a lot impression. In truth, I couldn’t detect its operation aside from the random body tears that appeared as a result of AS was turned off. That further 6 Hz wasn’t sufficient to make up for its loss. And precise body charges hovered round 120fps, so I’d have wanted extra graphics processing energy to utilize that further pace.
The overdrive could be very efficient when coupled with Adaptive-Sync. It has 5 settings, of which Fast, the second, is finest. I didn’t see any ghosting or breakup of textures, and it diminished blur to a minimal. Doom Eternal has loads of effective element in constructing interiors and it was all nicely preserved as I battled my means by hordes of enemies.
The XG320U is a really succesful Ultra HD gaming monitor with strong video processing and ridiculously good shade saturation. Though just a few areas in SDR video games appeared too vivid, I’d fortunately play for hours on finish with this ViewSonic anchoring my system.
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