Never has there been a better time to purchase a 1080p gaming monitor. With 4K still yet to reach its peak, bargains can be found with some top-spec FHD monitors. But there is another good reason, too, if you’re a gamer.
These monitors are still favored by many gamers, even though there is a lower pixel density. With super high refresh rates, low input lag, and lightning-fast refresh rates, this can give a competitive edge.
In our AOC G2590FX review, we have an in-depth look at this model to see how it stacks up in this highly competitive field, as well as find out if it could be the perfect monitor for you?
Contents
Design Features And Connectivity
We found the design sleek and attractive. In what AOG calls ‘3-sided frameless’, the bezels on the top and sides are very slim, making it perfect for a multiple display set up. The bottom bezel is an eye-catching but not too aggressive red color.
Constructed from high quality, mostly matte-black, hard plastics, the monitor feels sturdy and well-made. The stand has a round base and a flat-faced semi-circle neck that includes a cable management hole.
Movement and mounting…
Adjustment of the screen can only be made with a front or back tilt of -3.5° to 21.5°. A little disappointing as far as movement options are concerned; however, there is one saving grace if you really need more flexibility.
It is possible to use a wall mount or a third party stand. This is thanks to the 100 x 100 mm VESA pattern on the rear of the monitor. We’re satisfied with the included stand given the affordability, and it’s something most are probably happy to overlook.
Connection Options
For linking your screen to your PC or console, there is a range of options at the rear. These include a DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 1.4 ports, a VGA port, and there’s also a 3.5 mm headphones jack for sound output.
Both Displayport and HDMI support the 144Hz refresh rate and AMD Radeon’s FreeSync technology. If you are an Nvidia Geforce GPU user, though, G-Sync is only supported via DisplayPort.
Menu Options And Features
Navigating the OSD (on-screen display) menu is made easy by using a joystick located at the screen’s rear. There is an intelligent shortcut system to access specific menus. Up changes input settings, down makes a crosshair appear, and left opens game mode presets.
The game presets include FPS, Racing, RTS, and three customizable profiles. Of course, there are all the regular options to adjust, such as brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc. Those are to be expected, but AOC has taken an extra step just for gamers.
Gaming dedicated features…
We loved the VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) because it has a fantastic range of between 30 – 144 Hz. Most other monitors only offer between 40 – 144 Hz. On top of that, if the frame rate does drop below 30 fps, LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) multiplies the low frame rates until recovered.
Another great feature we like is the Shadow Control and Game Color. This allows you to adjust darker objects to make them more clearly visible—a great way to find those hidden treasures and collectibles.
And that’s not all…
In addition, AOC has included ‘Low Input Lag,’ which bypasses particular image processing, further reducing lag. Paired with the ‘Overdrive’ response time settings, being Off, Weak, Medium, and Strong, you can be assured of smooth, dynamic gameplay.
We did mention both FreeSync and G-Sync earlier. What both of these do is match the frame rates of the monitor to your GPU. By both monitor and GPU working in sync, this basically eliminates any screen tearing.
Performance Specifications
The AOC G2590FX uses a TN panel. This allows for fast response times and high refresh rates, but often at the cost of color accuracy and viewing angles. But we will address this in detail a little later.
Speaking of fast response times, this screen is like lightning at only 1 ms. This will really be appreciated by gamers who enjoy fast-paced games like first-person shooters and driving simulators.
So fast, others lag behind…
Many other monitors on the market offer 1 ms response times. But they often don’t have impressive lag times. That is how long it takes for the GPU to send its signal to the monitor, and affects how responsive your inputs are.
Professional gamers expect a lag time of at least 6.94 ms or less. Well, we did say that this monitor was lightning fast, as it boasts an impressively low 4 ms. This will satisfy even the most critical of gamers.
Pixels, hertz, and giving flicker the flick…
Being an FHD display means a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. With a screen size of 25-inches, that makes for excellent pixel density. If you want to try to identify each individual pixel, you’re going to have to get really close and probably squint a bit.
Being capable of up to 144 fps (frames per second) means that gameplay is fluid, smooth, and immersive. You can enjoy this for hours on end because the screen is flicker-free by regulating brightness without the need for PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation).
Image Quality
As we touched on before, this is a TN panel. One of the drawbacks is usually color accuracy. Featuring 8-bit color depth with dithering, we found the images to be rich, vibrant, and better than what is usually experienced from this technology.
The other typical drawback is the loss of contrast, brightness, and colors when viewed from an angle. While this is still the case, it isn’t as drastic as other screens we’ve used in the past. And being a gaming monitor, you’re usually sat directly in front when playing anyway.
Bright and vibrant…
A peak brightness of 400-nits is not the highest we’ve ever seen, but it is still well above average. Most monitors are around 300-nits. We could still clearly see the details on-screen even with the sun coming in from the window.
While you may not want to be doing professional color grading for photo or video editing, that’s not what this was designed for. We found the colors to be vibrant and plentiful, making for a beautiful and enjoyable gaming experience.
Pros And Cons Of AOC G2590FX
Pros
- Very low input lag.
- High frame rates.
- Fast response times.
- Dedicated gaming features.
- Super thin bezels for multi-monitor displays.
Cons
- Tilt-only stand.
- Limited viewing angles.
- Lower color accuracy because of TN panel.
Wanna Check Out The Competition?
If so, you may be interested in reading our ASUS VG248QE Gaming Monitor review or our ASUS VG279Q review? Or if you’re not an ASUS fan, check out our Samsung C 32HG70 review or our Aurus AD27QD review!
Browsing by budget? We have just the solution for you! Take a look at our Best Gaming Monitor Under 300 dollars or our Best Gaming Monitors Under 200 dollars reviews… We even have a Best Gaming Monitor Under 100 review if you’re really strapped for cash!
And we know you’ll enjoy our Best Racing Wheel reviews for 2023!
Ok, back to today’s review…
AOC G2590FX Review Final Thoughts
There are many 1080p monitors with 144 Hz on the market today. So many in fact that we are really spoiled for choice. Not all of these monitors offer the same experience, though. While some claim to have fast response times, they often lag. This is not the case with this model.
There’s also a lot on offer with the AOC G2590FX’s attractive super-thin bezel design, gaming-specific features, and impressive specifications. We would expect to pay much more to enjoy all the advantages this product delivers.
We can easily say that the AOC G2590FX is a stand-out in a crowded marketplace.
Happy gaming!
