Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU Review: Is It Worth Buying?
Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Today, we're diving deep into the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU, a monitor that's been buzzing in the gaming and productivity circles. If you're on the hunt for a new display that balances performance, features, and price, you've come to the right place. Let's break down everything you need to know to decide if this monitor deserves a spot on your desk.
First Impressions and Build Quality
When you first unbox the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU, you'll notice its sleek and understated design. It's not overly flashy, which is a plus for those who prefer a minimalist setup. The monitor features thin bezels on three sides, giving it a modern look and making it ideal for multi-monitor configurations. The stand is sturdy and offers a good range of adjustments, including tilt, swivel, pivot, and height, allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle for maximum comfort.
The build quality feels solid, with no noticeable creaking or wobbling. The materials used are mostly plastic, but they don't feel cheap. The matte finish on the screen helps to reduce glare, which is essential for long gaming sessions or workdays. On the back, you'll find a decent selection of ports, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA, providing compatibility with a wide range of devices. There are also built-in speakers, which are adequate for casual use but might not satisfy audiophiles. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU makes a positive first impression with its functional design and solid construction. The adjustability of the stand is a major plus, ensuring ergonomic comfort for extended use. The thin bezels are not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical for creating immersive multi-monitor setups, enhancing both gaming and productivity experiences. Whether you're a gamer, a content creator, or someone who spends long hours working at a computer, this monitor's design and build quality are sure to meet your needs. The inclusion of essential ports and built-in speakers adds to its versatility, making it a well-rounded option for various users.
Display Quality: Colors, Brightness, and Contrast
The display quality is where the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU truly shines. It boasts a 23.8-inch IPS panel with a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. While some might argue that 1080p is outdated, it's still a sweet spot for many gamers and users, especially when paired with a high refresh rate. The IPS panel delivers vibrant and accurate colors, making it suitable for both gaming and content creation. The color accuracy is impressive out of the box, covering a decent portion of the sRGB color spectrum. This means that colors appear realistic and lifelike, whether you're exploring vast open-world games or editing photos and videos.
The brightness levels are also commendable, ensuring that the screen remains visible even in well-lit environments. The contrast ratio is typical for an IPS panel, providing good distinction between dark and light areas of the screen. Viewing angles are excellent, thanks to the IPS technology, meaning you can view the screen from almost any angle without significant color distortion. This is particularly useful when sharing the screen with others or when using the monitor in unconventional setups. For gamers, the fast response time and high refresh rate contribute to smooth and fluid gameplay, reducing motion blur and ghosting. This results in a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience, allowing you to react quickly to in-game events. Overall, the display quality of the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is a major highlight, offering a balance of color accuracy, brightness, and contrast that caters to a wide range of users, from gamers to creative professionals. The IPS panel ensures consistent and vibrant visuals, making it a top choice in its class.
Gaming Performance: Refresh Rate and Response Time
For gamers, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU offers a compelling package. It features a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms Moving Picture Response Time (MPRT), which are crucial for a smooth and responsive gaming experience. The high refresh rate means that the screen updates 165 times per second, resulting in significantly reduced motion blur and a more fluid visual experience. This is particularly noticeable in fast-paced games like first-person shooters and racing games, where every millisecond counts. The 1ms MPRT ensures that pixel transitions are fast, minimizing ghosting and further enhancing clarity during fast motion.
The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium, which synchronizes the refresh rate of the monitor with the frame rate of your AMD graphics card. This eliminates screen tearing and stuttering, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience. The low input lag is another key factor that contributes to the responsiveness of the monitor, ensuring that your actions are translated to the screen with minimal delay. This is essential for competitive gaming, where even a slight delay can make the difference between winning and losing. In practice, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU performs admirably in a variety of games. Fast-paced action games feel incredibly smooth and responsive, while slower, more cinematic games benefit from the vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The combination of high refresh rate, low response time, and FreeSync support makes it a great choice for gamers who want a competitive edge without breaking the bank. Whether you're a casual gamer or a serious esports enthusiast, this monitor delivers the performance you need to stay ahead of the game. The smooth visuals and responsive gameplay will immerse you in your favorite worlds and give you a competitive advantage.
Features and Connectivity
The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU comes packed with a range of features that enhance its usability and versatility. As mentioned earlier, it includes built-in speakers, which, while not audiophile-grade, are perfectly adequate for casual listening or video conferencing. The monitor also features a headphone jack, allowing you to connect your headphones directly for a more immersive audio experience. One of the standout features is the Blue Light Reducer, which filters out harmful blue light emissions, reducing eye strain during long gaming sessions or workdays. This is particularly useful for those who spend many hours in front of a screen, as it helps to minimize fatigue and improve overall comfort.
Connectivity options are plentiful, with HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA ports, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices. This makes it easy to connect your gaming console, PC, and other peripherals without having to constantly switch cables. The monitor also includes a USB hub with two USB ports, allowing you to connect your peripherals directly to the monitor for added convenience. The on-screen display (OSD) menu is intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing you to adjust various settings, such as brightness, contrast, color temperature, and game modes. The game modes are pre-configured settings that optimize the display for different types of games, such as FPS, RTS, and racing games. These modes can be easily customized to suit your preferences. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU offers a comprehensive set of features that enhance its usability and make it a versatile choice for both gaming and productivity. From the Blue Light Reducer to the multiple connectivity options, this monitor has everything you need to create a comfortable and efficient workspace or gaming setup. The inclusion of a USB hub and customizable game modes further adds to its appeal, making it a well-rounded option in its class.
Price and Value
One of the most compelling aspects of the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is its price. It typically retails for around $200, which is incredibly competitive for a monitor with these features. When you consider the 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, IPS panel, and FreeSync support, it's clear that this monitor offers excellent value for money. In comparison to other monitors in its price range, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU stands out for its superior gaming performance and color accuracy. Many competing monitors sacrifice one or the other, but the Iiyama manages to strike a good balance between the two.
For gamers on a budget, this monitor is an excellent choice. It provides a smooth and responsive gaming experience without breaking the bank. The high refresh rate and low response time ensure that you can enjoy fast-paced games without motion blur or ghosting, while the FreeSync support eliminates screen tearing and stuttering. For those who also use their monitor for productivity tasks, the IPS panel and accurate colors make it well-suited for photo editing, video editing, and other color-sensitive applications. The adjustable stand and Blue Light Reducer further enhance its value, making it a comfortable and ergonomic choice for long hours of use. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU offers exceptional value for money, making it a top contender in the budget-friendly monitor market. Whether you're a gamer, a student, or a professional, this monitor provides a compelling combination of performance, features, and price that's hard to beat. It's a smart investment that will enhance your gaming and productivity experiences without emptying your wallet.
Final Verdict: Who Is This Monitor For?
The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is a fantastic monitor that caters to a wide range of users. If you're a gamer looking for a budget-friendly option that doesn't compromise on performance, this monitor is definitely worth considering. The 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and FreeSync support provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience that will immerse you in your favorite games. If you're a student or professional who needs a monitor for both work and play, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is also a great choice. The IPS panel delivers accurate colors and wide viewing angles, making it suitable for tasks like photo editing, video editing, and graphic design. The adjustable stand and Blue Light Reducer ensure that you can work comfortably for long hours without eye strain.
Ultimately, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is a well-rounded monitor that offers excellent value for money. It's not the flashiest or most feature-packed monitor on the market, but it excels in the areas that matter most: performance, image quality, and ergonomics. If you're looking for a reliable and affordable monitor that can handle both gaming and productivity tasks with ease, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is an excellent choice. It's a smart investment that will enhance your computing experience without breaking the bank. So, is it worth buying? Absolutely! This monitor delivers a compelling combination of features, performance, and price that makes it a top contender in its class. Whether you're a casual user or a hardcore gamer, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is sure to impress.
