Gigabyte G32QC Gaming Monitor Review: 32 Inches of Class-Leading Contrast

Solid big-screen performance at a more accessible price

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Gigabyte G32QC
(Image: © Gigabyte)

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The G32QC automatically switches to HDR mode when an HDR10 signal is applied. The picture modes are not grayed out but changing them has no effect. There is then only a single preset which is quite accurate according to our measurements. 

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Gigabyte G32QC
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The G32QC easily earns its DisplayHDR 400 status with a 426.7216-nit score. It’s one of the very few monitors that allows brightness adjustment in HDR mode so if that is too bright for you, relief is available. If you like to game in a dark room, this might be the ideal screen for the job if you play HDR games. The black level is impressively low which results in over 5126:1 contrast. This is a native value achieved without the aid of a dynamic feature. Dell manages to crush the field with its variable brightness option but to get better performance than this, you’ll need a FALD monitor or an OLED.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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Gigabyte G32QC
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Gigabyte only provides a brightness adjustment in HDR mode, but our results clearly show there’s no need for color adjustments. Grayscale tracking is excellent with only tiny green errors in the steps above 65%. Luminance tracking is nearly spot-on as well with a transition to tone-mapping at 65% and a soft change from 60-70%.

HDR color shows a little over-saturation in the red and blue primaries but most targets are close to the mark. The HDR image shows vibrant hues that look natural and are never overblown. Detail stays true and sharp in all areas of the picture. Short of a high-end FALD monitor, HDR doesn’t get much better than this.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • warezme
    Looks nice for the price. This one is definitely worthy of consideration based on stats. I wish it was 4K but no big deal if it isn't.
    Reply
  • Carlos Enrique
    8 bit, VA, no USB hub...Next, please.
    Reply
  • milleron
    For my money, Carlos, you're exactly right. But I suppose this monitor is pretty good for the US$400-500 range.
    Reply
  • snowlock
    Don't do it.
    I had this thing 35 days before the backlight started failing. Gigabyte refuses to do return shipping on their defective items after 30 days. Return shipping was $300 via fedex. Skip the middleman and just burn your money instead.
    https://ibb.co/6XM72Yb
    Reply
  • BlackHoleBox
    The explosion of VA "gaming" monitors over the past few years is one of the worst things that could happen to people who value image and motion quality.

    Samsung and AUO flooded the market with low grade 32" VA panels leading to countless no-name companies dropping them into cheap cabinets with other substandard components and overpricing them in the name of "gaming" monitors. And since idiots bought them up in droves, the availability of IPS displays shrank and their prices skyrocketed.

    So screw you Samsung. Screw you too, AUO.
    Reply
  • TK31
    Had this monitor for about 3 months now... It's great! Sure the backlight isnt the best in the market if you really squint on a completely white screen but for the purpose it serves me (gaming/movies) its perfectly fine. Its hard to find a 165hz 1440p 32" monitor for this price (in my local market anyway).

    One gripe though is it takes ages for the monitor to wake up. From the time signal is given to when an image appears on the screen.

    I had doubts originally with Gigabyte and how much money I was about to sink in, but it was all good in the end. Admittedly my experience seems rare, or just nobody bothers sharing positive experiences.
    Reply
  • shaolin95
    BlackHoleBox said:
    The explosion of VA "gaming" monitors over the past few years is one of the worst things that could happen to people who value image and motion quality.

    Samsung and AUO flooded the market with low grade 32" VA panels leading to countless no-name companies dropping them into cheap cabinets with other substandard components and overpricing them in the name of "gaming" monitors. And since idiots bought them up in droves, the availability of IPS displays shrank and their prices skyrocketed.

    So screw you Samsung. Screw you too, AUO.
    Nonsense. And calling others idiots because they have different requirements just shows how childish you are.
    IPS with the blooming, pathetic contrast level and light gray blacks is not perfect either. Both have pros and cons depending on the user needs.
    Reply