However, gaming performance meets the standards of significantly higher priced 31.5-inch curved 1440p displays.
Expect a 1ms response time alongside the ability to overclock the display to 170 Hz for more in-game performance.
Through its price point, there are some obvious sacrifices.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Then there are other missing things like a lack of internal speakers and USB connectivity.
Again, at this price point, those issues are excusable.
That doesnt mean that the gaming monitor is a no-frills package.
Its quite far from it.
The GS32QC does have some significant extras thatll impress game enthusiasts outside of performance.
Alongside PC gamers, multi-console gamers have a few HDMI ports for good measure outside the singular DisplayPort.
Thankfully, SDR image quality is good for this price.
The Gigabyte GS32QC does enough magic to compete with some of thebest gaming monitorsthat sell for twice its price.
Just be mindful of the caveats as one manages expectations.
Though it doesnt have any HDR capabilities, it has better posability.
Considering its also around 13 lbs, maneuverability makes the process even simpler.
The simplicity of putting the GS32QC together relates to the generally boring all-black plastic design.
Dont expect any aggressive angles or RGB lighting.
This gaming monitor is meant solely for functionality.
That also lends to the inputs located on the back panel.
On the right near the neck is the power port that thankfully doesnt require a battery pack.
This is perfect for PC gamers who own multiple consoles as well.
Considering the price, it makes sense for extras such as external speakers and USB hubs to be absent.
Just understand that this is a true plug-and-play machine.
One of the most significant design flaws is the fact that the GS32QC can only tilt up and down.
This means there isn’t any height or tilting to the side.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Holding the nub for several seconds will turn the monitor off and on.
The GS32QC does have three main game assist functions that will help gamers gain an advantage.
Then theres the aim assist that reduces motion blur in speedier games likeF1 2023.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Be mindful that it wont work if the refresh rate is below 100Hz and if FreeSync is activated.
One way to avoid using aim assists altogether is by turning in-game motion blur off.
Finally, there is an on-screen timer which works wonders for speed runners.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Dont expect any lag or legacy issues even when FreeSync is turned on.
Games run fine and having assists like crosshair overlays helps with hitting targets in shooters.
General SDR image quality is more than solid for this throw in of budget gaming monitor.
Contrast is fantastic at 3500:1 and the monitor makes the most of its 300 cd/m2 brightness.
Colors are bold and crisp while blacks are deep.
Visuals pop appropriately when playing more visually arresting games likeAlan Wake II.
However, it wont matter much for those who are more concerned with winning than image quality anyway.
The biggest thing that holds back the Gigabyte GS32QC is the HDR.
Toggling HDR in Windows monitor tweaks lends a flat and drab image.
The only way to slightly fix that is through GPU color configs.
Using creative software likeAdobePhotoshopand Premiere, color correction was pretty much impossible.
This means that creatively-minded gamers are probably going to either stick to SDR controls or look elsewhere completely.
Should you buy the Gigabyte GS32QC?
There isnt any height adjustment which can be a problem for certain desk set-ups.
You require solid HDR capabilitiesSDR is fine but HDR is far from great.
Itll take some messing around with the controls just to get decent visuals.
You want extrasOutside of gaming assist and FreeSync, dont expect much like speakers or USB hubs.
During the day, the monitor was used during general tasks includingGoogleDocs, Asana, and Adobe Suite.
To test video capabilities, variousYouTubevideos were played to get a play of image quality as well.
As a way to test streaming and input capabilities, various picture-in-picture modes as well.
To test image quality, I playedHogwarts LegacyandAlan Wake II,among other titles.
Tests for general tasks and gaming were done in both SDR and HDR modes.
Ive spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for Techradar.
