Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This replaced my Dell 2716DG, a gsync 144hz 2560x1440p TN monitor. I had always wanted to get an ultrawide, but couldn't bring myself to spend more than 500 dollars. This monitor was released and had the features I wanted at the price point I wanted. As with most monitors, the secret sauce is in the settings. I've never had a monitor that didn't look better after some settings tweaks. This monitor has freesync instead of gsync. When I first used gsync in 2016 it became a must have feature. Then I built a new rig and moved from Windows 7 to 10. Windows sometimes breaks gsync, making the price premium for it no longer part of my purchasing decision. While this monitor isn't gsync certified you can enable it via the Nvidia control panel. At first I would get intermittent black screens that would last a few seconds with gsync enabled. Needless to say this was ruining my gaming experience, so I looked for a solution. First I downloaded new drivers from AOC's website and manually installed them. Problem persisted. Then I updated the driver on my 1080ti. Problem persisted. I tried using a program to change the freesync range which some people claimed helped. No dice. Finally I found a solution that worked: 1. Make sure freesync is set to ON in your monitor's onboard controls 2. Right click on the desktop and go to the Nvidia control panel 3. Set up gsync in "Set Up G-Sync" 4. Select Manage 3D settings. 5. Change "Monitor Technology" to Fixed Refresh 6. Select the "Program Settings" tab within manage 3D settings 7. Select the game you want to run 8. Change Monitor Technology to G-sync 9. Do this for every game you want to play with G-sync For some reason this works. No more black screens! My rig is Windows 10, 9900K, 1080ti with latest drivers. Coming from a TN the colors were a bit better, but it wasn't a life changing experience. Apparently my previous monitor was dialed in pretty good. The pixel response isn't as fast as my old TN, but after a few days I don't notice it anymore. If you aren't Mr. E-Sports tournament guy it won't matter. If you are that kind of guy you probably aren't even looking at this monitor as an option. Now for the bad. The monitor often needs more brightness. Even with brightness set at 100 I still find myself upping the brightness in game settings. If a game doesn't have a brightness slider you can use "Picture Boost" in the monitor's on board settings. This is a great option. So why put it in the bad section of the review? The monitor doesn't remember this setting when you turn it off. If you need it for a game you have to reset it every damn time. AOC needs to update their firmware to fix this. It's keeping this good monitor from being truly great. Every time I want to play Assault Android Cactus I have to mess with this. Not cool. Beyond the black screen workaround and the picture boost not being saved I'm happy with this monitor. It was great step up from my 27 inch TN, and now I can never go back to regular sized monitors. Size does matter. It will probably be another four years until a 4K with comparable features is released at a reasonable price. I won't be allowed to purchase another monitor until then since my sister in law dimed me out and pointed out to the wife my new toy. That's the last time she stays with us during her spring break.