In this review, we are taking a closer look at the GIGABYTE GS27FA. This is a budget level gaming monitor from GIGABYTE, featuring a 27″ Full-HD IPS panel with a 180 Hz refresh rate.
Disclosure: GIGABYTE sent the GS27FA for the purpose of this review. As usual, the brand did not ask me to say anything particular about it.
Table of Contents
Technical Specifications
Specification wise, the GIGABYTE GS27FA is looking decent with its 27 inch IPS panel that also offers a 180 Hz refresh rate at Full HD resolution.
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Panel Size | 27 in |
| Panel/Backlight | IPS |
| Surface Treatment | Non-Glare |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) |
| Pixel Density | 81.59 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 180 Hz |
| Variable Refresh Rate | Adaptive-Sync |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Response Time | 1 ms (MPRT) |
| Color Coverage | 105% sRGB |
| Color Depth | 8-bit |
| Connectivity | |
| Display | 2x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 |
| USB | N/A |
| Audio | 3.5 mm (Headphone-out) |
| Ergonomics | |
| VESA Mount | 100 x 100 mm |
| Pivot | N/A |
| Swivel | N/A |
| Tilt | -5°/+20° |
| Lift | N/A |
| Anti-strain | Low Blue Light |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 619 mm |
| Width | 50.2 mm |
| Height | 365.5 mm |
| Weight | 4.1 kg (w/o stand) |
Packaging and Accessories
The GIGABYTE GS27FA is cradled by a two part styrene packaging.
Scope of delivery are as follows:
- GIGABYTE GS27FA monitor
- Power cable
- HDMI cable
- Documentation(s)
An acceptable amount of items are bundled with the GS27FA to get you started.
Design, Build and Connectivity
The GIGABYTE GS27FA is a basic or rather simple looking 27″ gaming monitor at a glance. For the most part it is, but there are still some surprising features in tow. Without the small stand, the monitor weighs in at a rather light 4.1 kilograms.
Looking at the back, the GS27FA still offers that gamer-centric look but without the unnecessary design bloat we used to associate with such. That said, the gaming monitor should fit fine even in an office-like environment.
The GIGABYTE GS27FA offers two HDMI ports, a single DisplayPort, and a 3.5mm audio out port. There are no internal speakers included, but it has an internal power supply to keep the setup a bit tidy.
For its price, the GS27FA offers a joystick – which is a plus in my book. This makes navigating the OSD easy enough.
Ergonomics
The GIGABYTE GS27FA is a 27-inch monitor with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, resulting in a pixel density of 81.59 ppi. This may be considered somewhat low, so it’s recommended to have a deep desk to compensate for the lower pixel density.
The GS27FA’s IPS panel delivers excellent viewing angles. However, the ergonomics leave much to be desired due to its small tilt-limited and flimsy base. On the plus side, the stock base allows for greater flexibility in positioning the monitor further back, and the option to mount it on a VESA mount is available for consideration.
OSD Menu
The GIGABYTE GS27FA’s OSD features six main menus, each with up to four layers of sub-menus depending on the complexity of the selected settings. The Gaming menu, as the name suggests, houses options like pixel overdrive, AMD FreeSync, and other gaming-related enhancements.
The Picture menu lets you choose a preset and adjust its detailed settings, including brightness, contrast, and color temperature when activated. Keep in mind that some settings might be unavailable depending on the selected preset.
The Display menu is also self-explanatory, however, it’s also where you’ll find the overclock option. This enables the already fast 180 Hz panel to run at even faster 190 Hz refresh rate.
Software
If you prefer not to use the joystick, you can download the GIGABYTE Control Center to adjust your OSD settings. I didn’t try this with this particular monitor as I wasn’t aware of its compatibility when I had the sample. Just a heads up in case you prefer working in a desktop environment.
OSD Presets
The GIGABYTE GS27FA features seven Picture presets, with ECO mode as the default option. Settings we chose for calibration is Custom.
| Spyder5 ELITE | OSD Settings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settings | Brightness (cd/m²) | Black Level (%) | Contrast (:) | White Point (K) |
| Standard | 240.0 | 0.30 | 810:1 | 7700 |
| Gaming | 224.9 | 1.57 | 140:1 | 8500 |
| Movie | 264.5 | 0.52 | 510:1 | 7800 |
| Reader | 176.8 | 0.26 | 690:1 | 6200 |
| sRGB | 99.7 | 0.12 | 810:1 | 7500 |
| Custom | 273.4 | 0.34 | 810:1 | 7700 |
| ECO (Default) | 192.0 | 0.24 | 810:1 | 7700 |
OSD settings are as follows:
- Preset = Custom
- Brightness = 34 (120 cd/m²)
- Contrast = 50
- Color Temperature = R100, G86, B89
- Gamma = Level 0
Send an email if you wish to try our color profile for the GS27FA.
Gamut
The GS27FA offers good coverage with the sRGB color space. DCI-P3 is decent, while the other remaining color spaces offers mediocre results. I do not see this particular monitor aimed at pro-level work so it shall pass.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Gamut, Percent (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Space | sRGB | AdobeRGB | DCI-P3 | NTSC |
| Measured | 99 | 80 | 84 | 77 |
Tone Response
Tone response at Gamma Levels 0 and 3 are spot on at 2.2. Level 1 has been measured at 1.7, Level 2 at 1.9, Level 4 at 2.4, and finally, Level 5 at 2.6.
Brightness and Contrast
SDR brightness peaks at a healthy 292.7 cd/m², which is a bit lower compared to the specified rating. Contrast ratio is measured at 880:1 at best.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Brightness and Contrast, SDR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settings | Brightness (cd/m²) | Black Level (%) | Contrast (:) | White Point (K) |
| 0% | 1.5 | 0.01 | 250:1 | 6200 |
| 25% | 36.4 | 0.15 | 250:1 | 6100 |
| 50% | 172.2 | 0.23 | 730:1 | 6400 |
| 75% | 244.6 | 0.28 | 860:1 | 7300 |
| 100% | 292.7 | 0.33 | 880:1 | 7300 |
The GS27FA includes an HDR mode option primarily to meet marketing requirements. On that note, we did not evaluate this feature during our testing.
Screen Uniformity
The color uniformity of the GS27FA is acceptable in its price category, achieving an average Delta-E of 1.59.
On the other hand, luminance uniformity could see some improvement, as multiple areas of the panel exhibits two-digit deviations.
Color Accuracy
The color accuracy of the GS27FA is great, achieving an average Delta-E of 1.34.
Response Time
The GIGABYTE GS27FA comes with an overdrive setting, but I find that it is best to leave it off due to unwanted RGB overshoot. At 180 Hz, the GS27FA has an average visual response time rating of 70.89 which is decent enough for fast paced gaming.
Overclocked at 190 Hz, the GS27FA offers way better result – now with an average rating of 87.51. Perceived response time is just better at this refresh rate with an acceptable RGB overshoot to boot.
Input Lag
The GS27FA has an average display lag of 15.4 ms at 180 Hz. Going 190 Hz overclocked, this could be reduced further to 8.2 ms. While not bad (at 190 Hz), I expected better from a gaming monitor.
Power
At 120 cd/m², the power consumption of the GS27FA was recorded at approximately 16.29 watts, which is efficient for its size.
Final Thoughts
The GIGABYTE GS27FA presents itself as a solid budget-friendly gaming monitor, offering a mix of performance, good connectivity options, and useful gaming features. While its design is simple yet functional, it avoids unnecessary gamer-centric aesthetics, making it suitable for both gaming setups and office environments.
In terms of ergonomics, the monitor falls short due to its limited adjustability and flimsy base. However, its VESA mount compatibility provides gamers with an alternative to improve flexibility in positioning. Image quality is respectable, with good sRGB coverage and great color accuracy (Delta-E 1.34). The IPS panel ensures excellent viewing angles, but its luminance uniformity could use some improvement.
Performance-wise, the GS27FA shines with its high refresh rate of 180 Hz (up to 190 Hz overclocked), making it a good choice for fast-paced gaming. However, while response times improve at 190 Hz, input lag remains somewhat underwhelming at 8.2 ms (15.4 ms @ 180 Hz), which may not meet the expectations of highly competitive gamers.
Other aspects, such as OSD menu navigation and preset options, are well-implemented. The brightness and contrast levels are acceptable but fall slightly short of their rated specifications, and the HDR mode appears to be more of a marketing addition rather than a truly functional feature.
Overall, the GIGABYTE GS27FA is a capable gaming monitor that provides strong value for its price of around $119 USD. It excels in high refresh rate and ease of use, but its ergonomics, input lag at 180 Hz, and HDR implementation leaves room for improvement. If you’re looking for an affordable 1080p, high-refresh-rate monitor with good color performance, this is a solid option—just be mindful of its limitations.
GIGABYTE GS27FA Gaming Monitor $119
Product Name: GS27FA
Product Description: The GS27FA is a 27-inch gaming monitor by Gigabyte, featuring a Full HD resolution, 180 Hz refresh rate, and 1ms* response time.
Brand: GIGABYTE
Summary
The GIGABYTE GS27FA is a budget-friendly 27″ gaming monitor with a high refresh rate backed by a few set of meaningful features at an attractive price. While it delivers a smooth gaming experience, it falls short in ergonomics and HDR implementation. A great choice for casual and fast-paced gaming, but not ideal for highly competitive players.
Pros
- High refresh rate (180 Hz, 190 Hz OC)
- Good color accuracy (Delta-E 1.34, sRGB coverage)
- IPS panel with excellent viewing angles
- Easy OSD navigation with joystick
- VESA mount compatibility
- Internal power supply for a tidier setup
- Great visual response time rating at 190 Hz
- Decent input lag at 190 Hz
Cons
- Limited ergonomics (flimsy base, tilt-only adjustment)
- Mediocre input lag (15.4 ms at 180 Hz)
- HDR is unimpressive (mostly for marketing)
- Luminance uniformity could be better
