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The BenQ Zowie XL2540 is the first native 240Hz gaming monitor you can buy here

By Koh Wanzi - on 16 Feb 2017, 10:07pm

The BenQ Zowie XL2540 is the first 240Hz gaming monitor you can buy here

BenQ Zowie XL2540

Is there such a thing as too smooth? BenQ Zowie today announced the local availability of its XL2540 gaming monitor, a 24.5-inch panel with a native 240Hz refresh rate, effectively putting the range of 144Hz monitors on the market today to shame.

Still, the difference in moving from 144Hz to 240Hz is probably not as huge as moving from 60Hz to 144Hz (there are diminishing returns after all), so the XL2540 will be most attractive to those currently running plodding 60Hz screens.

In addition to its blistering refresh rate, it features something called Black eQualizer – this increases the brightness of dark areas on screen without blowing out the bright areas – which should help to improve visibility. There are also options to boost color vibrancy, and you can choose from up to 20 different levels.

All these settings can be accessed using a dedicated external controller called the S switch, which lets you quickly switch between different profiles as well.

Having said that, the 1,920 x 1,080-pixel monitor is capable of 400 cd/m2 of brightness, a slightly higher than average value for a TN panel.

One interesting inclusion is the pair of removable blinkers at the sides. It may not be immediately apparent, but these are there to block out distractions in players’ surroundings, such as the cameraman at a tournament.

BenQ Zowie XL2540

A built-in three-port USB hub also helps to facilitate the connection of your various gaming peripherals.

However, if you’ve been keeping an eye out for any mention of G-Sync or Free Sync support, you’ll be disappointed. The monitor supports neither, which is quite intriguing considering the way it is positioned.

That said, you could argue that the high 240Hz refresh rate reduces the need for variable refresh rate technologies, especially as their target audience is likely to have powerful gaming rigs capable of pushing out hundreds of frames per second on games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

The XL2540 will find itself in competition with the likes of the ASUS ROG Swift PG258Q if the latter debuts here. The ASUS monitor sports a 240Hz refresh rate as well, but it also supports G-Sync.

The BenQ Zowie XL2540 is available now at S$799, joining the recently released 27-inch XL2735 (S$1,049) in appealing to the burgeoning eSports crowd.

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