Now that PAX West is underway and all the Alienware cats are out of the bag, Dell has introduced a new gaming monitor that’s based on last year’s $800 27-inch S2716DG panel. The just-launched S2417DG model is smaller and easier on the wallet, measuring a mere 23.8-inches and priced at $500 (originally $570). That’s still not exactly cheap, costing more than Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, which just so happens to get a little extra love from this panel thanks to built-in G-Sync technology.
If you’re not familiar with G-Sync, this is a tech developed by Nvidia to reduce image tearing on the screen, image stuttering, and input lag. Essentially, the panel flashes a number of images each second while the graphics chip in a desktop or laptop outputs a number of images per second as well. If the monitor and graphics chip aren’t producing images simultaneously, then you’ll see those anomalies. However, G-Sync will synchronize the refresh rate of the panel to the output of the graphics card, producing fluid imagery on the screen.
Of course, you need a compatible Nvidia GeForce graphics card in order to take advantage of the panel’s G-Sync capabilities. Customers need a GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost or higher GeForce graphics card with a DisplayPort connector in order to enjoy the visual benefits of G-Sync. If you play on Team AMD, you’ll need to hunt down a panel that supports AMD FreeSync instead.
“With the S2417DG, gamers can rig their ideal setup with ultra-thin bezels creating a seamless panoramic multi-monitor view for the ultimate gaming experience,” Dell’s Vinay Asdhir said on Friday. “Get comfortable because the Dell 24 Gaming Monitor is fully adjustable with tilt, pivot and swivel plus a flicker-free screen so you have a more comfortable view that optimizes eye comfort.”
According to the specs, the panel boasts a native resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 at 165Hz, meaning this panel is capable of flashing images at this resolution a hefty 165 times per second. Even more, the panel has a response time of a super-low 1 millisecond, eliminating motion blur effects and other artifacts that can stem from slow transitions between pixel colors. That’s presumably possible because this panel uses a TN (Twisted Nematic) screen, which has a better brightness and consumes less power than the newer IPS panels used today.
While the product page doesn’t detail any additional information about special features provided with this panel, Asdhir said that it comes with customized gaming modes that are designed specifically for first-person shooters, real-time strategy games, and role-playing games. These provide optimized display settings so that the player can immediately jump in and enjoy their game without having to manually tweak the settings.
That all said, here are the hardware specs in a nifty list:
- Weight: 12.72 pounds
- Device Type: LED-backlit LCD monitor
- Color Support: 16.7 million colors
- Built-in Devices: USB 3.0 hub
- Response Time: one millisecond (gray-to-gray)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 @ 165Hz
- Pixel Pitch: 0.2058mm
- Brightness: 350 nits
- Contrast Ratio: 1,000:1
- Video Input: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
- Panel Type: TN
- Position Adjustments: Height, Rotation, Swivel, and Tilt
