The thing with amenities is that once you’ve experienced them, it can be challenging to go back to the ordinary. Whether it’s fine wines, top-end hi-fi, or expensive cars, experiencing the good things often signifies that nothing else comes near. That’s why this Predator XB323QK 4k gaming monitor from Acer should come with a notice, lest somebody is tempted to pay $2000+ trying to get a machine powerful enough to drive it.
If money’s no object, this device has everything going for it. It’s a 4k top-notch display with an IPS panel, a giant 32-inch screen, a 144Hz refresh rate, and support for both Nvidia G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync. Those stats make it a fantasy monitor for gamers, delivering the most premium experiences short of a high-end 8k television or an OLED display.
The Predator XB323QK also has many beneficial features and extras, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, letting you hook a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series X simultaneously while taking benefit of their 4k 120Hz variable refresh rate signals. There’s even a USB-C port with 65W power delivery, implying you can link a laptop and power it simultaneously. It also has configurable RGB lighting on the backside for that pro gamer look, a headphone jack, built-in speakers, and two USB-A ports next to its video intakes. Unfortunately, these are located underneath the body and are rather cumbersome to access.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Screen Size | 31.5″ |
| Native resolution | 4K 13840×2160 |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| Panel technology | IPS |
| Response time | 1 ms |
| Color Supported | 1.07 Billion |
| Brightness | 400 cd/m² |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Connectivity | 2x HDMI 2.1, DisptayPort 1.4, USB-C |
| Display features | AMD Freesync, Nvidia G-SYNC |
| Contrast ratio | 100,000,000:1 |
| Dimensions | 71.6 x 30.9 x 53.4cm |
| Weight | 13.5kg |
| $1,000 , www.acer.com |
Thankfully, the monitor’s performance is as remarkable as its feature set. Image quality in games is spectacular, thanks to a display that boasts excellent detail and incredible responsiveness. Unfortunately, colors aren’t the most vibrant, but this can be alleviated by exploring tweaking the settings. Preset modes are also available for genres such as Sports and Racing.
As a gaming monitor, gamers are taken care of in almost every department, thanks to dual compatibility with Nvidia G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync. Combined with the 144Hz refresh rate, games steered by an appropriately powerful GPU look gorgeous on this monitor. Likewise, gaming console users can get the best out of their devices on the Predator XB3230K thanks to two HDMI 2.1 connections.
The display’s rated brightness of 400 nits is expected for gaming monitors and sufficiently bright for most uses, including work and gaming. Likewise, the 90 percent DCI-P3 color space rating will be good enough for most. However, content creators may like to invest in something more suitable.
The metallic stand feels sturdy, which is essential for this hefty 13.5kg monitor. The frame lets you move the screen up and down and tilt it 30°, but you can also VESA mount it if you desire. Unfortunately, it’s rare for a monitor to have built-in speakers, and though they sound loud, they begin to go rather tinny at over 30 percent volume. So make sure you set a budget aside for a decent set of headphones or speakers. Also, the 65W USB-C power delivery may not be adequate to power many gaming machines that will be used to drive this monitor.
The Acer Predator XB3230K is expensive thanks to its 4K IPS display, but it pays off for those looking to drive their high-end GPU to the maximum. Support for both FreeSync and G-SYNC means it will be compatible no matter what GPU you purchase in the future. In addition, a great set of connectivity options make this the perfect monitor for someone who uses laptops, desktops, and consoles for gaming. So if you have the desk space and a beefy PC, it’s an incredible 4K gaming monitor.
