Model: Alienware AW2521HFL, Alienware AW2521HF. Latency is going to be identical. It's often not worth using the Overdrive setting anyway, since the difference in 1ms to 2ms is negligible. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This product literally is for no one when there are 1080p 144hz panels for $200 or less. The Sony model also supports HDR from any source, which the Dell monitor doesn't, but it doesn't add much because it has limited HDR performance. Visibility shouldn't be an issue in most well-lit rooms and the brightness is remarkably consistent when displaying different content. The Dell Alienware AW2521HF is much better than the Samsung T55, mainly due to its 240Hz refresh rate. The pixels look blurry due to the monitor's matte anti-reflective coating. A great monitor, but not one that should be treated as a catch-all for any PC gamer, as it has a very specific audience. Gamma doesn't follow the target curve all that well, as most scenes appear brighter than they should. Dell Alienware AW2521HF 25" (24.5" Viewable) FHD 1920 x 1080 240 Hz HDMI, DisplayPort, USB, Audio FreeSync Premium & G-Sync Compatible Flat Panel Fast IPS Monitor . However, the ViewSonic has a backlight strobing feature that the Dell doesn't have. Plus, the panel's 240Hz refresh rate will please all but the most discriminating esports types, who will thrill to its fluidity for fast-twitch action games. On the back, most of the monitor is white plastic, with black inserts where the ports can be found and on the joint where the stand connects to the screen. We measure luminance and color on gaming monitors using a Klein K-80 colorimeter(Opens in a new window), a Murideo SIX-G signal generator(Opens in a new window) connected over HDMI, and Portrait Displays' Calman software(Opens in a new window). The Gigabyte has more features, like HDRsupport, USB-C input, a Picture-in-Picture mode, and a built-in KVM switch. This isn't particularly high, and can result in dull colors when watching movies. Along with Alienware's signature alien-head logo on the top-right corner of the back of the screen, it can be programmed to light up however you want, including dynamic lighting effects that reflect activities in games. Naturally, an Alienware gaming PC (opens in new tab) would be a good match too. 4K Gaming with HDMI 2.1 for gamers that want only the best Meet the premium 32" Dell monitor built for your next PC or console gaming experience. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. The update contains changes to maintain overall system health. This could be because the Alienware 25s G-Sync Compatible capabilities arent native G-Sync, and so their adaptive-sync performance isnt quite as good. The upcoming battle pass for Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 2 has leaked, including eight character skins. This article provides information about built-in self-test (BIST, also called built-in diagnostics or BID) and self-test feature check (STFC) diagnostic tests available on Dell monitors. However, the issue seems to have resolved itself the following day. G-Sync or not over $500 for a 1080p monitor this size is just overpriced. The response time is very good when playing at 60Hz, much better than the Alienware AW2720HF, and great for console gaming. We tested the Dell Alienware AW2521HF, which is essentially a smaller variant of the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, as it has identical features and similar performance, except for its smaller screen size andblack finishon the back. Category: Monitor. It is known as AlienFX Lighting. However, since it's on a smaller screen, it has a higher pixel density, making images and text look sharper and with less jagged lines. The 1080p resolution is decent for its 25 inch screen, but the smaller screen size also makes it less ideal for multitaskers, as there's less room to have multiple windows open at the same time. The monitor stand sits on a wide, V-shaped foot that supports a central pillar. Alienware - AW2521HFL 25" IPS LED FHD FreeSync and G-SYNC Compatible Gaming Monitor (DisplayPort, HDMI, USB) - Lunar Light Model: RNHC4 | SKU: 6406940 4.7(667 Reviews) 4 Expert Reviews 143 Answered Questions Highly rated by customers for: Design, Price, Color $249.99 Customer reviews 4.7 (667 customer reviews) Write a Review 5 555 4 70 3 17 2 11 Mobile: +254 798 368 561. The Dell has a better response time both at its max refresh rate and at 60Hz, it handles reflections better, and its ergonomics are better. This article provides information about how to troubleshoot and fix common display or video issues on a Dell monitor. Well provide greater detail on page four. It also has wider viewing angles for sharing content,a USB hub with four USB 3.0 inputs, and it gets brighter to fight glare. The Sony INZONE M3 and the Dell Alienware AW2521HF are both great 240Hz gaming monitors. All in all, the design is top class. In saturation I lowered Red to 48% and Yellow to 34% and left the others at 50%. The Dell Alienware AW2521H works well with recent MacBook Pros. It includes everything a competitive gamer could want. There are RGB lighting zones on the back and on the stand, which can be controlled using the AlienFX software. I also used the windows color management tool and the below linked tool while tweaking the settings. Higher settings have significantly more overshoot, so they're not recommended. Product Details. by Chief Blur Buster 04 Apr 2020, 17:35, Return to Eliminating Motion Blur LightBoost / ULMB / ELMB / DyAc, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited, Who you gonna call? Dell is known for manufacturing quality products. There's also a standard VESA mount if you want to forego the stand and stick this bad boy on the wall. My main issue with these settings is the whites are a bit too white, especially white webpages with black text make my eyes strain a bit too quick. My settings at the moment are: Custom color, RGB | 93 | 93 | 100 | 41 Brightness and 75 contrast. The Alienware AW2521HF monitor is a wonderful purchase for those interested in competitive gaming. The Dellhas a smaller 25 inch screen and a 1080p resolution, while the Gigabyte has a 27 inch screen with a 1440p resolution. When comparing the Dell Alienware AW2521HF with its bigger sibling, the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, these two monitors are nearly identical except for screen size and a different color on the back of the monitor. Tom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the monitor showed some vertical sync errors while the game pushed frame rates of 300fps-plus. Four of the bezel keys can be programmed to monitor functions like picture mode, Game Enhance, Dark Stabilizer, or Luminance. Alienware AW2521HFL review specs: Screen size: 25in Resolution: 1920x1080 Panel: IPS Refresh rate: 240Hz Extras: AMD Freesync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, height-adjustable stand, 4x USB3 ports (one with power charging), RGB lighting Price: 329 / $385 The Alienware AW2521HFL is the latest version of Dell's 240Hz gaming monitor, taking over The Alienware 25, in its so-called Lunar Light color scheme we tested (model AW2521HFL), is white and black, just like Alienwares recent Aurora desktops (as well as the Sony PlayStation 5). Banding is most visible when displaying shades of gray and there's also some banding in dark greens and dark reds. The monitor has a total of four USB 3.0 ports, including one that's powered, allowing you to charge your mobile devices even when the monitor is off. Response time and input lag are outstanding, and color accuracy is good, although its coverage of the Adobe RGB color space may not be wide enough for content creators. I've bought the monitor couple of days ago and so far I am enjoying it. All are used for navigating the monitors menus. Heres how it works. In saturation I lowered Red to 48% and Yellow to 34% and left the others at 50%. You can also see our recommendations for thebest gaming monitors, thebest ultrawide gaming monitors, and thebest 240Hz monitors. There's a small cutout near the bottom of the stand that serves as cable management. The action is nice and smooth, with no noticeable motion artifacts. Resolution: 1920 x 1080 . There is a light display just behind the Alienware 240Hz Monitor. Nearly everything you need is in the first menu, appropriately titled Game. First up are 11 picture modes, including Custom Color, which is the only way to access the RGB sliders. This article provides general information about Dell Gaming and Alienware monitors. Gamma follows the target curve for the most part, but dark scenes can appear a bit brighter than they should. FreeSync works over DisplayPort or HDMI, but G-SYNC only works through a DisplayPort connection. I left the Gain settings at 100% for all three colors. Im an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and Im here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you dont need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years). This is a common problem with monitors that advertise 1ms response times and the Alienware AW2521HF is no different. Alienware is Dell's gaming-focused brand and has been doing the rounds for a long time. 1996-2023 Ziff Davis, LLC., a Ziff Davis company. The three bars and alien logo can light up in one of 20 colors or cycle through the spectrum automatically. It will thrill twitchy esports hounds, but its colors don't. I am hoping that other users that have the IPS AW2521HF will share some opinions about the best settings that work for them. OMG what is this thing and would someone please kill it!! Two HDMI inputs, a DisplayPort input, and a 3.5mm audio output can be found in the recess on the opposite side of the stand. Dell Alienware AW2521HFL [2521-0797] Additional equipment Built-in speaker system Ability to play audio using built-in speakers in the monitor. Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. Speaking of the stand, you can really show off your gamer energy with the AlienFX lighting system built into the stand. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM is better than the Dell Alienware AW2521HF. da4f7b3fa3972785540621021607cf985abf6fb903486669be37bca29738eafd. Though neither of the two support HDR, both exhibit an impressively high SDR peak brightness level that exceed 400 nits. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The monitor driver enables the monitor to communicate with the operating system by supplying configuration information in the form of an INF file. Decent text clarity. Its IPS panel provides wider viewing angles, so the image stays accurate from the side. Finally, two more USB downstream ports, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, face straight down on the bottom edge of the monitor itself, centered in front of the stand. I didn't notice any ghosting artifacts when testing the monitor. It also has faster response times at both its max refresh rate and 60Hz, while the ASUS performs significantly worse at 60Hz than it does at its max refresh rate. Audio controls are limited to a volume slider for the headphone output. Elevate your gaming experience with Alienware's first Cryo-Tech enabled gaming desktop. Adaptive-Sync support is included, allowing AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia's 'G-SYNC Compatible Mode' to be used. We suggest that you stick to Custom Color because it allows for customization of the RGB sliders. Do you have any settings that i can try to reduce ghosting ? Finally, there's the usual headphone jack and audio line-out port. The Alienware AW2521HF is a good monitor for most uses. I used the built in settings and also used the nvidia control panel color settings for this so I apologize to anyone with an AMD card. Here are our recommended settings for Custom Color in the G-Sync mode. In every game I played Sea of Thieves, Minecraft Dungeons, and The Witcher 3 the uneven darks were noticeable and the fast response time much less important. The main power button also sits on the bottom edge of the monitor, near the lower-right corner. This is only achieved by changing the response time in the settings from "Fast" to "Overdrive" though, which can sometimes result in inverse ghosting. This 25-inch 1080p monitor boasts an input-lag measure of just a millisecond at its peak refresh, which helps justify its $509.99 list price. Its color performance (notably, for movies) doesnt impress, and its G-Sync Compatible adaptive-sync feature didnt prove quite as silky-smooth as native G-Sync can be. If those dont suffice, you can choose Input Selector or Volume. If the monitor is not connected, the installer preloads the driver on your system, and operating system installs the driver when the monitor is connected. It's not just colour settings you get on the AW2521HFL, though. The 240Hz Alienware 25 is a reasonably priced 25-inch 1080p gaming monitor with a fairly bright picture and extremely low input lag. Hopefully anyone else experiencing this issue can use these settings and achieve similar results. However, dark room gaming is less ideal due to some visible backlight bleed and a mediocre contrast ratio. It includes four buttons and a joystick to navigate the monitor's on-screen menu. Thanks to Fortnite content creator Shiina and Hypex, we know who Youll see the best settings for your new Alienware 240Hz Monitor in this post. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The operating system uses this file to apply features and settings. Home; Professional Development; About Us; Contact us Find out more about how we test. The Alienware AW2521HF has great horizontal viewing angles, making it a good choice for co-op gaming or for sharing content. It can't display dark colors well due to its low native contrast ratio, very similar to the Dell Alienware AW2720HF. The Alienware AW2521HF has a flicker-free backlight, which can help reduce eye strain. According to Tom's Hardware the AW2518HF was able to reach a peak brightness level of 418.6 cd/m 2, while according to Rtings.com the AW2521HF exhibited an SDR Real Scene peak brightness level of 406 cd/m 2. BETTER. The Dell has slightly better motion handling, and the Dell is slightly better for bright rooms because it gets a bit brighter and has better reflection handling. Motion blur is a common feature in games that a lot of players like to turn off, but if the game itself doesn't support that option, you can't enable it through the monitor this time. Great gradient performance. The monitor driver enables the monitor to communicate with the operating system by supplying configuration information in the form of an INF file. Alright, so at the end of the day, how does it actually perform? Response time is set to "Fast" . The Alienware AW2521HF has sub-par black uniformity. It's slightly higher when playing at 60Hz, but it shouldn't be noticeable for most people.