Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU Review: Is This Gaming Monitor Worth It?

Are you in the market for a new gaming monitor that won't break the bank? Then listen up, gamers! We're diving deep into the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU, a monitor that's been making waves in the budget-friendly gaming scene. Does it live up to the hype? Let's find out!

First Impressions: Sleek Design and Solid Build

Right off the bat, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU makes a good impression. The design is clean and modern, with a matte black finish that won't distract you during intense gaming sessions. The bezels are relatively thin, giving you a more immersive viewing experience. The build quality feels surprisingly solid for a monitor in this price range; there's no excessive wobble or creaking when you adjust the stand. The stand itself is also quite versatile, offering tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle for your setup. This is a huge plus, as many budget monitors skimp on ergonomic features. The monitor also includes built-in speakers, which are decent for casual use but probably won't satisfy audiophiles. For serious gaming, you'll definitely want to invest in a good headset or external speakers. The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU connectivity options are adequate, with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, catering to both older and newer graphics cards. There's also a headphone jack for convenient audio connectivity. Navigating the on-screen display (OSD) is relatively straightforward, thanks to the physical buttons located on the bottom bezel. The menu is well-organized and easy to understand, allowing you to quickly adjust settings such as brightness, contrast, and color temperature. One minor gripe is that the buttons can feel a bit mushy, but it's not a major issue. Overall, the initial impressions of the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU are positive. It's a well-designed, well-built monitor with a decent set of features, especially considering its affordable price tag. The adjustability of the stand and the comprehensive OSD menu are particularly noteworthy, making it a comfortable and user-friendly option for gamers.

Image Quality: A Visual Feast for Gamers?

Now, let's get to the heart of the matter: image quality. The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU features a 23.8-inch VA panel with a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. While some gamers might prefer a higher resolution like 1440p, 1080p is still perfectly adequate for most games, especially at this screen size. The VA panel technology offers a good balance of color accuracy, contrast, and viewing angles. Colors appear vibrant and punchy, making games look visually appealing. The contrast ratio is also excellent, resulting in deep blacks and bright whites. This is especially noticeable in dark scenes, where you'll be able to see details that would be lost on a monitor with a lower contrast ratio. Viewing angles are also decent, although there is some slight color shifting when viewing the monitor from extreme angles. However, this is unlikely to be an issue during normal use. One of the standout features of the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is its fast response time. With a rated response time of 1ms MPRT, this monitor is incredibly responsive, minimizing motion blur and ghosting. This is crucial for fast-paced games where every millisecond counts. In practice, the monitor feels very snappy and responsive, with minimal blurring even in fast-moving scenes. The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU also supports AMD FreeSync, which helps to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. This technology synchronizes the monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card's frame rate, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience. However, it's worth noting that FreeSync only works with AMD graphics cards. If you have an Nvidia graphics card, you'll need to use Nvidia's Adaptive Sync technology instead. Overall, the image quality of the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is impressive for a budget gaming monitor. The vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and fast response time make it a great choice for gamers who want a visually immersive and responsive gaming experience.

Gaming Performance: Does It Keep Up With the Action?

When it comes to gaming performance, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU truly shines. The combination of a fast response time, high refresh rate, and adaptive sync technology results in a smooth, responsive, and immersive gaming experience. The 1ms MPRT response time ensures that motion blur and ghosting are kept to a minimum, allowing you to track fast-moving objects with ease. This is especially important in competitive games where split-second reactions can make the difference between victory and defeat. The 165Hz refresh rate is another key factor in the monitor's excellent gaming performance. A higher refresh rate means that the monitor updates the image on the screen more frequently, resulting in a smoother and more fluid gaming experience. This is particularly noticeable in fast-paced games where the action is constantly changing. With a 165Hz refresh rate, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU delivers a noticeably smoother and more responsive gaming experience compared to a standard 60Hz monitor. AMD FreeSync support further enhances the gaming experience by eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. This technology synchronizes the monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card's frame rate, resulting in a tear-free and stutter-free gaming experience. This is especially important in games with variable frame rates, where screen tearing and stuttering can be particularly distracting. In addition to its excellent response time, refresh rate, and adaptive sync support, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU also features a low input lag. Input lag is the time it takes for the monitor to display an image after it has been sent by the graphics card. A low input lag is crucial for gaming, as it ensures that your actions are reflected on the screen as quickly as possible. The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU has a very low input lag, making it feel incredibly responsive and snappy. Overall, the gaming performance of the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is outstanding for a monitor in this price range. It delivers a smooth, responsive, and immersive gaming experience that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers. Whether you're playing fast-paced shooters, racing games, or strategy games, this monitor will keep up with the action.

Features and Extras: What Else Does It Offer?

Beyond its core performance, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU packs in a few extra features that sweeten the deal. The built-in speakers are a convenient addition, especially if you don't have external speakers. While they won't blow you away with their audio quality, they're perfectly adequate for casual listening and provide a decent soundstage for everyday use. The Blue Light Reducer function is a welcome feature for those long gaming sessions. It reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the screen, which can help to reduce eye strain and fatigue. This is especially beneficial if you're prone to headaches or eye discomfort after spending long periods in front of a screen. The monitor also includes a selection of pre-set gaming modes, which are designed to optimize the image settings for different game genres. These modes can be useful if you're not comfortable manually adjusting the image settings yourself. However, it's worth experimenting with the different modes to see which one you prefer. The OSD menu is well-organized and easy to navigate, allowing you to quickly adjust settings such as brightness, contrast, color temperature, and gamma. The physical buttons on the bottom bezel are responsive and provide tactile feedback, making it easy to navigate the menu. The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU also supports VESA mounting, which allows you to mount the monitor on a wall or monitor arm. This can be useful if you want to save desk space or create a more ergonomic setup. The monitor's stand is also quite versatile, offering tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments. This allows you to find the perfect viewing angle for your setup and reduce neck and back strain. Overall, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU offers a decent selection of features and extras that enhance the overall user experience. The built-in speakers, Blue Light Reducer function, and pre-set gaming modes are all welcome additions, and the versatile stand and VESA mounting support provide added flexibility.

Conclusion: Is the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU Worth Buying?

So, the big question: Is the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU worth your hard-earned cash? In my opinion, absolutely! For the price, you're getting a fantastic gaming monitor that punches well above its weight. The image quality is excellent, the gaming performance is smooth and responsive, and the design is sleek and modern. The Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU isn't perfect, of course. The built-in speakers are nothing special, and some gamers might prefer a higher resolution. However, these are minor quibbles compared to the monitor's overall strengths. If you're looking for a budget-friendly gaming monitor that delivers excellent performance and features, the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU is definitely worth considering. It's a great choice for both casual and competitive gamers who want a visually immersive and responsive gaming experience without breaking the bank. So, go ahead and treat yourself to the Iiyama G-Master GB2470HSU. You won't be disappointed!