Alienware - AW2518H 25" LED FHD G-SYNC Monitor - Black

The Alienware AW251H is actually the first monitor specifically designed for gaming that I have personally used so I was quite eager to compare it with my current monitor (HP 2511x). At 240 Hz and a 1 millisecond response time, this monitor is sure to grab the attention of most gamers looking for high specifications. With the addition of G-Sync, the monitor should be free from any ghosting or tearing that would otherwise distract during gaming sessions. From a design perspective, I was actually quite surprised at how heavy and sturdy the stand was. The style of the stand was actually quite innovative, with two legs branching out and seemed secure and sturdy. On the back, the silver had a nice brushed finished and, while plastic, it did not feel cheap. In addition, there was a stylish alien logo in the back. Once the stand is installed, the monitor can be rotated to the left or right, as well as up or down depending on how high you want it. Lastly, the monitor can pivot around in 90-degree increments to fit your needs. At eye level, the monitor looked amazing and was actually more comfortable than the current viewing angle on my monitor. In the back of the monitor, you will note one HDMI 1.4 port and a Display Port 1.2 connection; a Display Port cable is included along with a bracket to cover up the cables once they are rerouted through the hole in the stand. There are two USB 3.0 ports and a audio jack directly underneath the Alienware logo. A USB 3.0 cable is included as well. In addition to the technical specifics, I would like to differentiate this G-Sync model (AW251H) with the Free-Sync (AW251HF) model as they do vary quite a bit. Image quality and performance during games remains the same and both are free from any ghosting or tearing. The first noticeable difference is that on the G-Sync model, the monitor has 3 LED lights on the back for a cool effect. They can be customized to various colors as well as different effects. In addition, the Alienware logo also illuminates corresponding to whichever color you set. Sadly, the Free-Sync model does not have this feature. The second variance on the G-Sync model is that you MUST use the Display Port to achieve the 240 Hz refresh rate. The HDMI is limited by its 1.4 revision, therefore, it is capped at 60 Hz. Conversely, not only does the Free-Sync model have an extra HDMI port, but both ports are version 2.0 and can both support the 240 Hz refresh rate. Both monitors have the same 1.2 revision of the Display Port. The last difference between the two monitors is that there are a few extra settings on the Free-Sync version including a Display menu to change the aspect ratio, color input (RGB/YPbPr), and dynamic contrast. Under the Game menu, the Free Sync version also has Hue and Saturation settings that are absent from the G-Sync version. On the monitor, there are several modes that are worth mentioning. First, there are several presets based on which type of game you are playing such as FPS, RPG, and RTS. Standard is default and implies both 75% brightness and contrast. On max contrast, the colors are actually quite vibrant especially for an anti-glare monitor. Additionally, max brightness was actually fairly bright especially at its rated 400 nits. Another feature that is worth noting is the dark mode, which improves viewing on dark images. However, I noticed it almost sharpens the image too much if your game is not extremely dark or your game's brightness is too high. In addition to those above, you will also find three custom game presets as well as warm, cool, comfort view, and custom color. Custom allows you to only adjust the standard red, blue, and green colors. However, on the three custom game presets you have additional color control over yellow, magenta, and cyan. As for image quality, overall I think most will be pleased with the image, provided that you know what to expect from an anti-glare monitor. For me personally, as my last 3 monitors have all had a glossy screen finish, the color reproduction can be somewhat of an adjustment. Thus, I was actually surprised that on standard preset, the color is crisp and was not as dull as I was expecting. Whites were a bit muddy at first but after adjusting the settings, it improved. In addition, with a screen size of 25'', it was perfect for viewing 1080p content. At this resolution, I typically avoid anything higher than 25'' as it tends to look washed out to me. Additionally, the pixel pitch is listed at 0.2832mm by 0.2802mm. Usually, pixel pitch is listed with one number but I would assume the first number would be for the horizontal portion of the display (1920) though I could be wrong. In addition, I viewed and set several different wallpapers as backgrounds to view the color. The blacks were actually handled fairly decent, though understand they aren't the deepest or as rich as some of the IPS panels. Greens looked fairly deep as well. I also looked at some backgrounds with more orange and red and the color seemed fairly accurate. Dell also lists this as 90 pixels per inch. With these specs, text and color seemed perfectly adequate and everything was sharp and concise. As for game performance, all of the games played fluid and smooth and obviously, there was no evidence of ghosting. One feature I would like to mention is that the monitor has a built in frame rate display so while playing games I had that enabled as well as fraps. When you have the monitor's frame rate overlay enabled, it would seem that it only works while G-Sync is enabled. For my tests, I used my GTX 670 as it is the only card I have that supports G-Sync. First and foremost, at no fault to the monitor, my card could only see this monitor as 200 Hz instead of the 240 even though it has the proper Display Port on the back. Additionally, I tried different driver revisions to no avail and even created a custom resolution with the correct refresh rate, but it still only reported 200 Hz. Most should not have this problem as it looks like it was an isolated issue with my card since I successfully verified the monitor's 240 Hz on a different computer. Aside from this, I continued the test at 200hz. While playing the newest Doom with G-Sync, Fraps, and the monitor's FPS overlay enabled, I noticed that the monitor's rate matched the Fraps overlay counter. Conversely, when you have the G-Sync disabled, it would just display the monitor's 200 Hz refresh rate and never moved while Fraps moved accordingly. With all the graphics turned to low, Doom ran between 40-90 during multiplayer matches, and even during dips upper 40s, everything was still quite smooth. As for G-Sync itself, just like its Free Sync counterpart, I could not detect a noticeable difference even when it was disabled. Both tests were quite smooth. The feature, nonetheless, is great to have as it does seem to work while it was on, as evident by the monitor's frame rate overlay matching the Fraps counter. Still, the G-Sync feature is great to have and complements the monitor's high refresh rate wonderfully. In conclusion, I would recommend this monitor for those who are looking for a high performance gaming monitor that are not afraid of the price tag. Personally, while I have had always preferred monitors with glossy screens, this monitor surprised me more than I thought it would. Its image isn't as washed out as some others tend to be and the brightness is actually better than my current monitor. With that said, you will need adjust the image to your liking and I caution those especially who are coming from either gloss finish monitors or even IPS ones that it may take some time to get used to it. Perhaps the best feature for me was that ability to adjust and pivot the monitor to my needs. Playing at eye level is actually comfortable rather than having to look down at a monitor. At 240 Hz and a 1 millisecond response time, it offers everything that those who play games would require of such a monitor. Games were smooth and pictures looked as they should. As such, I think it would fulfill the needs of gamers at a price that most are willing to pay. Recommended.

I went from an Alienware Optx 120Hz to an LG 4K 60Hz because I wanted my games to look amazing. Initially, I couldn't stop but admire how beautiful 4K was and literally stood still in one spot to look how beautiful the scenery looked in Rise of the Tomb Raider. Then, I started to play the game and frankly, if you move fast there is definitely screen tearing and motion blur. As I started to play, I realized that yes, it does look pretty but when you play video games you aren't really going to stop and enjoy the scenery that much. My KD ratio in CS:GO and other FPS games literally turned bad but once I adjusted to the blurs and lag, it wasn't so bad. Fast forward to today, just 1 day using the Alienware 240Hz with Gsync and I wonder, why in the world did I have to adapt to blur and lag???? This monitor is hands down INSANELY smooth (expected come on, it's 240Hz). The picture quality isn't bad either once you get used to it, but these days we are spoiled kids used to looking at a screen like QLED/OLED TVs, OLED Cell phone screens, Retina laptop screens, etc. that this TN panel can't even come close to that type of screen quality. But remember, you are buying this monitor for the gaming performance, NOT to have the best quality screen. I started my post mentioning Alienware OptX because I literally purchased that monitor back in 2010 and it still performs flawlessly. The durability and quality control of Alienware despite people making fun of the name is SUPERB; can't believe that monitor is still going past 9 years. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Asus has a 27UQ 4K 144Hz HDR1000 Gsync 2 IPS monitor; but what I realized is that gaming with that high level of HDR and brightness is not ideal when gaming for hours, as well as that monitor has fans inside of it that makes me question the lifespan of that monitor. Anyways, in summary: PROs: -240 Hz with Gsync = EXTREMELY SMOOTH -Stand is metal, enough said -Tilts and Rotates EASILY -Cord management system on the base -Easier on the eyes when gaming -Packaged VERY well -I expect this monitor to last a long time like my other Alienware OptX CONs: -Coming from a 4k and OLED generation, the picture quality takes a huge hit and gets some time to get used to. It's not bad, it's just I am spoiled from insanely sharp and blinding colors from the LG 4K IPS. -Had to manually adjust computer settings to get 240Hz in the nVidia control panel -Default settings aren't that great. I recommend callibrating with the setting below I got from a post, seems pretty solid. CALLIBRATION: Picture Mode: Custom Color Brightness: 56-58 Contrast: 68-70 Dark Stabilizer: 0 Colors: Red 98, Green 99/100, and Blue 97/98 Response Time: Super Fast Closing Thoughts: Again, if you are buying this for gaming, 240Hz 1MS makes games super smooth and more enjoyable because you no longer have to squint and be like what did I just see because you turned too fast. While the picture quality is still amazing, don't expect it to be anywhere close to IPS 4k Displays; I cannot stress this enough. I didn't deduct a star for this because this monitor frankly wasn't designed for that specific niche; it's designed for gamers in mind. Gaming, gaming, gaming. It's a gaming monitor designed for gamers who play long hours and gamers who play competitively.

The monitor is rich in features and will certainly add some street cred to your gaming rig. Although its high in price, it does have 240hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. 240hz! That’s crazy fast and buttery smooth. These are the reasons why one would even gravitate to this caliber of a gaming monitor. The G-sync/freesync, adaptive sync technology is also the latest in gaming monitors as this allows the video card to control the refresh rate of your monitor to prevent screen tearing. The 25” screen size is just the right size where you feel fully immersed the moment you turn it on. The colors are vibrant straight out of the box. You will need to calibrate it if you want color accuracy but its pretty close to begin with. There are a bit more buttons on it then you will find on a standard monitor. You have a dedicated button for profile setups, brightness & contrast, dark details slider, and full menu. I’m pleased with the black levels but it may not wow the hardcore contrast ratio junkies. The USB 3.0 ports are a bonus. In summary, I do recommend this monitor if you’re building your gaming rig to play the latest and greatest. The performance is outstanding. Just make sure your video card and your games can even take advantage of the capabilities of this monitor. It does take the latest AMD or Nvidia video card to take advantage of the g-sync/freesync technology. The price is a bit steep for a 1080 and not 4k but it does do 240hz and that’s no easy feat. ON A MORE TECHNICAL NOTE: Do note that there is two versions of this monitor. While they might look the same, it’s a bit different. The AW2518H is the Nvidia version and the AW2518HF is the AMD version. There is a price difference of the two and I will briefly note why. The Nvidia version has the g-sync enabled chip that does g-sync only via displayport and supports nvidia 3d games. This also has the alienware FX lighting where the back side of the monitor glows whichever color you choose. The slightly cheaper AMD version doesn’t have the alienware FX lighting but it does have the Freesync over HDMI 2.0 instead of displayport. While both monitors have HDMI and displayport, they both prefer one over the other. Nvidia prefers displayport and only has HDMI 1.4. The AMD prefers HDMI and is equipped with HDMI 2.0. This may sound confusing at first but just match the monitor version to the video card. If you have neither video card that supports the g-sync/freesync technology, aka adaptive sync, then decide if the “FX lighting” the Nvidia has is worth the extra money. I would just get the AMD version as it has the same 1920x1080, 240hz, and 1ms that you’re longing for anyways. Game on!

DISCLAIMER: This review is very similar to my own review on the AW2518HF. There are only a few differences, one of which is major, and these are covered here. Also, this monitor works best with an NVIDIA graphics card. This will allow you to get the most out of it, including the G-SYNC feature. It doesn't get much better than this gaming monitor by Dell. Built into this 25-inch 1080p monitor is plenty of versatility and vividity. The monitor comes in a large box, most of which contains a structured firm cushioning foam that protects the monitor on all sides. I was rather impressed when I saw this, as I've never seen a sensitive product with such magnificent packaging--not even my much more expensive TV. The AW2518 is beautiful. It's super stylish, and the slim bezels allow the monitor to showcase almost nothing but gorgeous gameplay. There are also AlienFX RGB lights on the back of the monitor, and they can be customized through the monitor settings. That said, if the monitor is going to sit against a wall, the lights are largely unnecessary and it can become a distraction, so it's better then to have them off. It's packaged with an DisplayPort cable, and includes one DisplayPort and one HDMI port. Because the ports are on the underside of the monitor, it's better if you aren't frequently connecting different devices, as it can be a tedious and frustrating task. Along with the HDMI ports, you get one USB upstream and three USB downstream ports, two of which are 3.0, and another that features power charging, perfect for your phone. When connected to your PC, the upstream port powers the other ports, which can all be utilized by any other devices you might have, such as a keyboard and mouse This gives you everything you need right in front of you without any more background wiring mess between the monitor and the PC. Be sure to save the ports for anything but a headset (unless it's USB-only), because the monitor is equipped with its own 3.5mm headphone jack. This also frees up the mess of connections to the PC itself. And if you use speakers, there's a line-out port for you, too. Next up, the adjustability. I was impressed with this monitor's range of movements. It can pivot up to 90 degrees, and tilt and swivel up to 20 degrees left or right, 25 degrees up, and 5 degrees down. The height is also adjustable by nearly six inches, so you don't have to do so much tilting. Whatever your viewing angle and preference, this monitor will achieve it. Now onto refresh rate and response time. The AW2518 packs an incredible 240Hz refresh rate. Add in Ultra Low Motion Blur, and your game or desktop is looking even nicer. It's a bit overkill, and isn't necessary for your average gamer, but if you can utilize it, then do it. However, it could also mean that this monitor could last you for a long time as newer games demand more and more power. While on the subject of refresh rate, this monitor is equipped with G-SYNC. If you've never been able to experience adaptive refresh rate technology before, this is a great monitor to do that. You don't get any screen-tearing with this feature, and this may possibly be the best thing about this already powerful monitor—it just makes it more powerful. With the high refresh rate mentioned earlier comes a really fast response time of 1 ms, which is especially significant in twitch shooters. Again: perhaps it's not important for your average gamer, but it should be common knowledge that Alienware products aren't tailored to them. The 3D feature is something I was unable to try at the time of this writing. I'm sure it's as standard as any other 3D display, but don't quote me on that. One major downside to this monitor is its high asking price. These are features that are going to be around for a while, making the monitor last a long time, and so it may be worthwhile to some. The 1080p resolution is solid, and for a 25-inch display, it's hard to argue any reason for there to be 4K. As other components of PC gaming become stronger and better, the 240Hz refresh rate will last. The response time is as good as it gets. Its DisplayPort gives you access to daisy-chaining if you use multiple displays or later upgrade to more than one monitor. In short, the technology packed into this monitor is far from obsolete, and if you're serious about gaming, this is one of the best monitors you can get currently get your hands on.

The Alienware - AW2518H 25" LED FHD GSync Monitor - Black is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to gaming and performance! This monitor does it all by offering minimal bezel and maximum viewing, completely customizable for your viewing preferences, and is sleek and looks amazing; it also offers LED accents on the back of monitor to maximize the gaming experience and style. I never noticed any display issues at all while watching videos or playing demanding games, the NVidia G-Sync technology components withstood everything I threw at it with plenty of power left to spare. PROS - Amazing technology and design - 240 MHz refresh rate - Anti-glare screen with minimal bezel - Easy to change from profile to portrait viewing - Can be synced with other monitors for a wide viewing/multi-screen experience with ease - Set up is a breeze - The stand is solid and allows for physical screen adjustments in multiple directions without compromising the security of the screen - Amazing look, design, and style... The back lit LEDs scream "look at me!" CONS - My only complaint is that while the bezel is minimal, the actual viewing area does not fully extend to the bezel and leaves about a 1/8 to 3/16" border around the screen which seems strange for such a high-end monitor and is very noticeable at first. It disappears into the experience however once you start your movie or game. I highly recommend this monitor and if you are a serious, multi-screen gamer, you will want two or three of these to maximize your gaming experience and to have the best viewing set up anywhere! If you do not have to have the LED back lit monitors to make your gaming station complete, then you can get the little brother AMD Freesync version monitor. Both are amazing, one will save some cash if you trim the options! I did not notice any difference in viewability or performance between the two models, however.

The main difference between the AW2518H and the AW2518HF is the syncing technology used The Alienware AW2518H is the G-Sync version of the Alienware 25” gaming monitor, it uses a module from Nvidia to accomplish the smooth graphics during game play. With the Nvidia technology comes a price, the G-Sync monitor costs $200 more the the Freesync AW2518HF version. One other difference between the 2 monitors, the G-Sync monitor has three strips of LED lighting on the back of the monitor. These lights can change color as well…very cool. Not sure why this detail was left off the Freesync version. Otherwise these monitors look identical. The design of this Alienware monitor is very unique. From the V-shaped metal pedestal, to the way the LCD is mounted to the pedestal, it’s got a nice high tech look to it. The ultra thin bezel design makes this great if you plan on having multiple monitors. There are many adjustments to get the monitor in the exact position you want, you can move it higher/lower, tilt up /down, pivot left and right and swivel 90 degrees in either direction. The monitor has many connections, more than I’ve seen on normal office monitors: (2x) HDMI port Line-out and headphone jack USB downstream port with Power Charging (3) USB 3.0 ports DisplayPort Note: there are no built in speakers, initially I thought the line-out port was line-in. The specs of this monitor are quite impressive, it features a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, a refresh rate of 240hz and a response time is 1ms. Refresh rate is the number of times per second a display refreshes its image, so in this case, the Alienware refreshes 240 times per second. A higher refresh rate is great for games where the action is fast moving. This would reduce the blurs. It’s brightness is rated at 400 nits. Most importantly, it supports ”Nvidia G-sync”, a technology that synchronizes the GPU and monitor to display images when both are ready. Without this technology, the images are prone to “tearing”, in issue when you’re playing games where the graphics card is refreshing faster than the rate of the monitor. When this occurs, the new frame updates in the middle of the last frame resulting in a horizontal “break” in the image. Since the setup I was using had AMD chip in it, I was not able to test the monitor to the fuels with the G-Sync technology on. Even without the G-sync enabled, I had no issues, this monitor is excellent. I tested it for hours with Battlefield and Overwatch. The graphics were smooth, image quality and colors were excellent overall, there was no ghosting, tearing or artifacts. I’m using this with a Radeon RX580 graphics card. Overall, I would highly recommend this monitor if you’re looking for a gaming monitor. It’s a solid monitor with great specs and features. At $699, it seems a bit pricy but it is comparable with other brands with similar specs. The unique design and cool lighting is an added bonus!

I was very excited to get my hands on the Alienware AW2518H 25” GSync monitor. It arrives packaged nicely with the monitor nested very securely inside. Assembly is literally a snap with the monitor simply snapping onto the high quality metal base. Included is an hdmi cable and a USB 3.0 upstream cable. Connect both and install the monitor drivers and you're up and running. The AW2518H has 2 hdmi ports, 1 display port, 1 headphone jack, and 4 USB ports. I really like having these additional USB ports and love the convenience of their location. The monitor stand is well constructed and surprisingly all metal. The monitor is highly adjustable on this base. You can easily adjust the height as well as tilt or swivel the monitor to your liking. The monitor is super sleek looking with nearly no bezel except for on the bottom edge. Unlike the FreeSync version of monitor this GSync monitor has some cool Alienware FX LED lighting on the back panel. Not really visible while in use but it does cast a nice glow behind the monitor. The AW2518H has a multitude of settings which can be configured to your desires. The onscreen display is accessible by the control panel controls along the lower right bottom of the display. Here you can easily change the standard settings for color, saturation, brightness, contrast, etc. There are also presets that can be selected by game type of fps, rts, or rpg. You can additionally create your own preset based on your own image preferences. I found the on screen display and controls much easier to use than other monitors I've owned. Much less confusing. I do like the setting for fps which shows an overlay display over your game of your current game fps. Very cool feature. Lets talk performance. This monitor is intended for use with an Nvidia video card in order to support GSync. With GSync enabled and while connected via display port this monitor can dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate rendered by your video card. Please note that GSync does not work via HDMI. The fact is this is a gaming monitor. One that massively improves your gaming performance through its ultrafast 1ms response time and it's incredible 240hz refresh rate. These two specs in combination with GSync totally eliminated the horrible effects of blurring, ghosting, and texture tearing which I experienced using other monitors. I was in the midst of replaying Call Of Duty Advanced Warfare when I switched monitors to this Alienware AW2518H. What an immediate and amazing transformation. Gone are the all the artifacts that detract from your gameplay. What good is it to have a top notch video card if you can't clearly see the images it produces? With the AW2518H now you see crisp clear fluid imagery but this isn't all about pretty images it's about effectively kicking butt at games. All these amazing specs let you see your opponent clearer and faster than before and likely sooner than your opponent sees you. Resulting ultimately in better gaming and more frags! The Alienware AW2518H is yet another weapon in your gaming hardware arsenal. This Nvidia GSync monitor has a premium price but is well worth it if you're serious about your gaming

So I was gaming on an LG 4k monitor and never really got caught up in the high refresh rate fad.... until now. Holy cow. When I started gaming at 4k I thought I'd never look back.... that is again until now. For first person shooters or games with lots of moving transitions, refresh rate is definitely the better choice over sheer detailed resolution; this was hard for me to swallow at first. I never realized how much my inputs were delayed during first person shooters running 4k @ 60Hz. I tried playing on the 4k monitor after spending time with this Alienware and it felt choppy (at 60 FPS/Hz... running a 1080TI), mushy and nowhere near as responsive. My only concern now is I wish this were a 2k monitor. I tried the 27" Dell gaming monitor and it was grainy looking and had a banding and chain linking effect when scrolling, reading text, etc. The colors also looked washed out (include the 24" 2k versions) on the 24/27" Dells. The alienware (yes, I know, manf. by Dell) while being a lower resolution that what was in store definitely looked much nicer in terms of color reproduction and overall clarity. Also worth mentioning is the stand/monitor's build quality are excellent utilizing metal and plastic. Fit and finish are superior. There are lighting effects on the back I disabled and could care less about. No dead or stuck pixels either... a HUGE pet peeve of mine. There was slight light bleed in the bottom left corner, but being a TN panel it's hardly noticeable.... again, another pet peeve of mine, but I'll live with it considering it has to be looked for and cannot be seen head on while gaming. While not 2k, it's still a winner in my book. I'm looking forward to future monitors running 4k at 144Hz+ For now, this 1080p @ 240hz will do.