I’ve been reviewing monitors for long enough, but every once in a while there’s a “remember when it was” moment. Remember when all monitors refreshed at a fixed 60Hz? Remember the 144Hz Asus VG248QE was the forefront with a TN panel and a fixed refresh rate? You can also purchase a board to add G-Sync.
We have come a long way since then. I now have the privilege of testing the world’s first 500 Hz monitor, Alienware’s AW2524H. Using an IPS panel running at FHD resolution using G-Sync, Nvidia Latency AnalyzerHDR400, and what most ultra-fast monitors lack, high contrast, and an extended color gamut.
Alienware AW2524H Specifications
| Panel type/backlight | IPS/W-LED, edge array |
| 16 dimming zones | |
| Screen size/aspect ratio | 25 inch/16:9 |
| Maximum resolution and refresh rate | 1920×1080@480Hz |
| 500 Hz with overclock | |
| G-Sync & FreeSync compatible | |
| Native color depth and color gamut | 10bit (8bit+FRC) / sRGB+ |
| HDR10, Display HDR 400 | |
| Response time (GTG) | 0.5ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 400 nits |
| Contrast (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
| speaker | none |
| video input | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| 2x HDMI 2.0 | |
| audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB3.2 | 1x up, 4x down |
| power consumption | 30.5w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| panel dimensions | 21.9 x 15.4 to 19.7 x 9.6 inches |
| Width x Height x Depth with Base | (556×390～500×244mm) |
| panel thickness | 3.3 inches (84mm) |
| bezel width | Top/Side: 0.2″ (5mm) |
| Bottom: 0.6 inch (16mm) | |
| weight | 14.5 lbs (6.6kg) |
| guarantee | 3 years |
One thing that hasn’t changed from the VG248QE is the FHD resolution. Even the fastest monitors use fewer pixels to keep frame rates high. On a 25 inch panel (24.5 inch display) that means a density of 90ppi. It’s not bad, but if you sit closer than 3 feet, you’ll see pixel structure. The additional motion resolution provided by these high frame rates means that no matter how fast you pan the camera, the image will always be sharp. Motion blur isn’t a problem at all above 200 fps.
How much do you get when you compare the AW2524H’s 500 Hz and 360 Hz displays? It’s enough to see the difference, but the main draw is almost no control lag. Alienware makes some of the fastest monitors I’ve tested so far, and they really do have their advantages. In fact, the panel responds so quickly that I wish I could turn off the overdrive. it is not necessary.with the latest G-Sync module Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, But these extensions are also unnecessary. Frame rates above 400 fps will not cause frame tearing or motion blur. And yes, you need a serious gaming rig to hit those numbers.
Photographically, the AW2524H doesn’t cut corners. It has a little extra color unlike other panels in this category. It’s not quite enough to call it a DCI-P3 display, but it’s certainly a 360 Hz monitor or better. HDR is also gaining attention. The backlight is an edge array that uses zonal dimming to enhance contrast. Dimming is available in both SDR and HDR modes. The latter produces a dynamic range of over 82,000:1. This is also a big advantage over the 360 Hz screens available today. In my testing, it proved color-accurate without the need to calibrate in the monitor’s default picture mode.
The AW2524H will initially sell for $830, which is almost double the price of the AW2524H. AW2523HF reviewed in October 2022. The AW2524H is every bit better, but is it twice as good?
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The AW2524H is decked out in Alienware’s familiar shapes and accents, but doesn’t draw too much attention. The front view is all business with his ultra-thin 5mm bezel and “500Hz” on the bottom strip. A soft glow rings the power toggle on the right. Below the center is a joystick that controls all monitor functions.
There is a lighting function on the back. The Alienware head logo and the number 25. You can choose from multiple colors and effects, or turn them all off. It’s not too bright, so you don’t have to worry about it even in a dark room.
The stand is a sturdy piece that snaps into place. Underneath is his 100mm VESA mount with a zipper. Adjustments include 4.3″ (110mm) height, 5/21 degree tilt, 20 degree swivel, and portrait mode with panel swivel in either direction. The movement is well made, and the quality is good enough for a monitor in this price range.
Inputs include one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 and USB ports located under the main jack panel and bezel. Get 1 upstream and 4 down. One is labeled for the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer and connects a compatible mouse. There is also an earphone jack under the bezel. HDMI port is limited to 240 Hz but includes VRR for consoles.
Speaking of headphones, the hook protrudes from the upper left, and its movement is attenuated. It’s a small feature, but the attention to detail here is impressive.
OSD function
Pressing the joystick on the AW2524H will display the quick menu at the bottom of the screen and the status window at the top. Click to open full OSD. It contains many options for image control and video processing.
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Begin your journey in the game menu with 12 image modes to choose from. Standard is the default and is accurate enough to be used without calibration. G-Sync Esports uses the G-Sync Processor. More on this later. Three game modes allow for his six color adjustments and custom settings for Overdrive and Dark Stabilizer. Custom Color has his RGB sliders for precise grayscale calibration, the mode I used for testing.
Game Enhance displays a timer, frame rate counter, and alignment marks for multiscreen setups. Aimpoint not included.
Turn on the overclock to run at full 500 Hz. The panel’s native rate is 480 Hz, which in my eyes displays the same performance. I quickly realized that the response times were overdriven and completely unnecessary at frame rates above 400fps. In fact, I was disappointed that there was a slight amount of ghosting on the lowest setting, and it wasn’t easy to turn off. It also features a 3-level variable backlight that effectively enhances contrast. In SDR mode it went from around 1,000:1 to over 8,000:1. HDR contrast is over 82,000:1 in mode 1, which is impressive.
AlienFX lighting can be used to control the behavior of the power button and two graphics on the back of the panel. Each can have a different color and you can change the effect to your liking.
The G-Sync processor offers Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer. When paired with a proper mouse, real-time input lag is visible on screen. You can also use ULMB, a blur-reducing backlight strobe at refresh rates of 360Hz and below. G-Sync must first be turned off for the controls to be usable. Then you can vary the pulse width to find a balance between blur reduction and brightness. Less blur means less brightness. As I said earlier, it is unnecessary for frame rates above 400fps. Even 300fps is too smooth to turn on ULMB.
The quick menu has five shortcuts to set preferences. This makes it easy to jump to things like brightness and image modes. It has volume control but no built-in speakers. That slider only controls the headphone output.
Alienware AW2524H Calibration Settings
The AW2524H can be enjoyed in standard definition mode right out of the box without any adjustments. If you want a slight improvement, go to Custom Color like I did and tweak the RGB sliders. It measures good tracking, but there is no gamma option. It would be nice to have the option, but if fine shadow detail is hard to see, you can change the Dark Stabilizer. Below are the settings I used for SDR. HDR locks all image controls except contrast, but it’s best to leave it alone. The AW2524H is also very accurate in HDR mode.
| picture mode | custom color |
| Brightness 200 nits | 79 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 47 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 36 |
| Brightness 80 nits | twenty four |
| Brightness 50 nits | 5 (minimum 40 nits) |
| contrast | 75 |
| color temperature user | Red 100, Green 99, Blue 96 |
Games and hands-on
I used an Alienware Aurora R15 Gaming PC with GeForce RTX 4090 Test the AW2524H. I also have an RTX 3090 system on hand, so I started with some comparisons. Obviously, you need a lot of power to get the most out of this monitor. The RTX 3090 is very capable, but Doom Eternal With HDR mode set to Full Detail, the best I could get was around 200fps.
Once R15 was up and running I was able to play Doom Eternal 450-500 fps detail maximized experience. First, the resolution he will not realize is FHD only. Movement is perfectly smooth. There was no blur, and the ghosts I saw in the test pattern did not appear in the game. I’d like an option to turn off the overdrive, but as it stands, that’s fine.
I spent hours mowing monsters Dooms Enjoyed the horde mode and instant control response. It’s not a huge jump from the 360 Hz screen, but I did notice a more precise connection between my mouse hand and the screen. Not only is your input converted instantly, but you can also stop movement exactly where you need it. This means more efficiency as you spend less time overcorrecting when the action gets intense. Changing direction is also a more natural and fluid process.
Image quality rivals the best HDR monitors I’ve played with. The AW2524H stands out among its 360 Hz competitors with more saturated colors and better contrast, especially for HDR content. At this speed and resolution, it offers more color volume than any other product.
As an everyday screen, FHD resolution is acceptable at 25 inch size. I’m a little spoiled by his 4K monitor, but I had little trouble reading fine text in Microsoft Edge or distinguishing stylish fonts in Word. The spreadsheet takes a little longer to scroll than I’m used to. I prefer larger, pixel-dense monitors for Photoshop. But with the AW2524H, you can get the job done.
I briefly experimented with ULMB and did not see immediate improvement at any pulse width setting. This value should be set to 30% or higher. Otherwise the image will be too dark. Also, when the frame rate is above 300, there is no difference in motion resolution.
A final takeaway from the AW2524H’s video processing is that it works best when high frame rates are available. Above 400 fps you don’t need overdrive, ULMB or even Adaptive-Sync.
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