AOC C24G1A Gaming Monitor Review and Specs. The AOC C24G1A is a 24-inch gaming monitor developed for gamers who want a responsive gaming panel without compromising too much on picture quality. Similar to the Samsung CFG70 we reviewed in early 2018, this panel uses Vertical Alignment (VA) technology to deliver the best of both worlds– superb contrast ratio, good picture quality and fast response time– but with some limitations.
AOC C24G1A Gaming Performance
You’re buying a gaming monitor, and its performance is rather a mixed bag. If you’re a pro-gamer, you’ll want to set the monitor’s response time to Boost mode, which might lower the visuals making you squint to pick finer details, so we ‘d recommend setting the response time to Strong, although it might be a bit sluggish during intense gaming.
Modern Triple-A titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will load a bit slowly, but it’s the same experience you get with the Samsung CFG70, meaning both monitors aren’t suited for competitive gaming outside the fastest setting, and with the AOC being super dim, it isn’t the best option for most pro-gamers.
On the plus side, no matter the overdrive setting you choose, there aren’t signs of inverse ghosting or excessive impact on the input lag. The monitor’s 144Hz and 1ms response rate make for butter smooth gaming, and with AMD’s FreeSync Premium technology built-in, you’ll enjoy tear-free gaming with compatible AMD graphics card.
You’ll have to use V-Sync to eliminate tearing if you’re using a PC with an Nvidia graphics card. I won’t sacrifice the panel’s responsiveness for a better visual experience, as V-Sync adds lots of unwanted input lag. Still, you’ll have the ability to run the monitor in Full HD at 144Hz.
AOC C24G1A Design
Our AOC C24G1A review unit has a 1500R curvature, in addition to a three-sided borderless design that will look great on your desk, especially the thin bezels. It looks identical to the larger 27-inch AOC C27G1 and will take almost the same amount of space on your desk.
It is supported by a triangular stand that raises the display by 130mm and provides -4 ° to 21.5 ° of tilt and 34 ° of swivel changes. It also provides for VESA mounting on a stand or wall, as it comes with 100 x 100mm VESA mounting holes.
Aesthetically, the case is red and black, with a familiar aggressive gamer aesthetic– something most gamers will appreciate as they are buying something for play, and it needs to have the looks.
The OSD control buttons can be accessed via the lower-right edge, whereby you can adjust the panel’s response time, select the color profile and enable AOC’s Bright Frame Feature, through which you can manually adjust the brightness and contrast ratio among other settings.
Connectivity comes via a VGA port, DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 1.4 ports. It lacks a USB hub and audio speakers, but if you want to really have your audio via the monitor, you can do it via your headphones into its 3.5 mm jack.
Image Quality
The monitor uses a curved Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) VA panel, with an exciting 3,848:1 contrast ratio and 1ms refresh rate. The AOC C24G1A achieves near-perfect accuracy on sRGB mode, with a 95.8% sRGB gamut coverage, which is quite impressive.
On this, the AOC matches the Samsung CFG70 that achieves 99.6% sRGB color gamut coverage. However, both panels look washed out when compared with class-leading IPS panels like the Acer XF270HUA, but for the price it’s still a good deal. There exist a few differences between the AOC and Samsung monitor: while the C24G1A gets perfect contrast ratio, the CFG70 gets around 2,501:1, still a great value compared to IPS panels that struggle to achieve half that figure.
The Bottom Line
The AOC C24G1A is a great gaming monitor that has a lot going for it: a fast 144Hz panel, 1ms fresh rate, excellent contrast ratio excellent color reproduction and great bezeless design. Its peak brightness isn’t the best around, especially when compared to the Samsung CFG70, which outshines it in every response time mode. Still, for the price, this would be the ideal midrange gaming monitor you’re looking for.
The AOC’s VA technology delivers stunning contrasts that outstrips rivals, but those impressive figures are held back by color accuracy, temperature and uniformity that’s worse than rivals. You also lose out on audio speakers and USB ports with this screen.
The Samsung CFG70 offers better color accuracy for around the same price, making is a better choice overall. The Sceptre C275B-1858RN is a curved alternative, that doubles up for gaming and general purpose use.
That said, if you’re not much into pro-gaming at the highest settings, the AOC C24G1A is a great choice. The ASUS TUF VG279QL1A is a great alternative gaming monitor to check out if you ‘d rather have best image quality over all other features.
AOC C24G1A Verdict
The AOC C24G1A is just one of the best budget gaming monitor in the market, with good color quality and a few other gaming extras, including AMD FreeSync, pleasant design at an appealing price.
PROS
- 144Hz AMD FreeSync Premium
- Great contrast
- Solid modification options
CONS
- No audio speakers or USB port