Acer Predator X45 review: The ultimate racing sim gaming monitor

The Acer Predator X45 is a big 45-inch OLED show that, for a number of causes, is actually a little bit of a poor match for a standard desktop gaming PC setup. Nonetheless, should you’re after a single, massive, wraparound display screen for a racing or flight sim rig, it’s a super alternative. Its 240Hz refresh charge, ultrawide 21:9 facet ratio, and dazzling picture high quality make for lots of enjoyable in loads of different eventualities too.

It’s this sim rig suitability that earns this show on our greatest gaming monitor information, although, because it actually is a top-tier alternative for these types of setups. Acer is focusing on an excellent wider viewers, nonetheless, so learn on to search out out precisely what this show can and might’t do.

Specs

Design

It ought to come as no shock to study that this monitor is large. If you happen to’re in any respect accustomed to gaming monitor sizes, you may basically consider this as an additional large 32-inch show, though even 32-inch screens aren’t fairly as tall as this one. The panel itself is sort of precisely 18-inches (455mm) tall and 39-inches (990mm) large, however when you account for the curve of the show, the panel itself has a 41.5-inch width (1,050mm).

What’s extra, the aggressive 800R curve provides depth to the show. From the very entrance fringe of the panel to the rear of the foot of the stand, this show takes up 16 inches (400mm). As a consequence of all these hefty dimensions, this display screen dwarves even a big standard laptop desk, such because the Secretlab Magnus Professional. This alone is one cause why the X45 isn’t a go-to suggestion for us in the case of a daily PC display screen. Shows with the identical ultrawide facet ratio and backbone, however at a smaller 34-inch measurement, are rather more wise choices.

Equally, although, that’s what makes this show so suited to sim rigs. You possibly can arrange the show a little bit additional away from you and never lose its visible influence or wraparound really feel. It could possibly’t actually cope with a multi-monitor setup, with screens proper alongside you, however it’s the following smartest thing.

It’s a sublime enough-looking show too, with its silver-painted pointy V-shaped stand and really skinny OLED panel edges. There’s a massive, thicker part on the again the place all of the connections and different electronics reside, and the bezels aren’t absolutely the narrowest (at round 8mm), however this nonetheless offers you that “wow, OLEDs are skinny” issue.

One function I’m much less eager on, although, is the large measurement of the stand. It tasks ahead and again by virtually a foot (30cm), and the entrance ft splay out to a ridiculous 27 inches (68cm). As such, not solely does the general show take up a big quantity, however the stand actually encroaches in your desk. I’d be inclined to mount this show on a monitor arm, such because the Secretlab Magnus Monitor Arm Heavy Responsibility, though this show makes use of a wider 200 x 100mm VESA mount, so that you’ll both have to get an adapter for the Secretlab’s 100 x 100mm mount or discover an alternate.

The X45’s show additionally has a semi-matte coating to maintain reflections in test, and this can be a notably helpful addition on a display screen with a curve resembling this one. The curve pulls in reflections from a wider vary of angles than a flat display screen so it’s vital to dampen them as a lot as attainable. Furthermore, the anti-reflective coating is especially efficient, with out introducing an excessive amount of of a grainy look, not like some anti-reflective screens.

The included stand gives 110mm of peak adjustment, in addition to the choice to swivel the panel left and proper by 15 levels and tilt up by 15 levels or down by -5 levels. It doesn’t incorporate a carry deal with, although – not like the AOC AG276QZD – which might be helpful for maneuvering such a big display screen.

Options

The massive function of this show is, in fact, its 44.5-inch OLED show. It boasts a 3,440 x 1,440 decision, which is sort of low for a show of this measurement, leading to a pixel density of simply 85ppi. That’s roughly the identical as having a 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) decision on a 27-inch show.

The panel makes use of LG’s WOLED expertise, versus Samsung’s QD-OLED, which suggests it kinds every pixel of the show from 4 colours – purple, inexperienced, blue, and white – quite than the three colours of QD-OLED (and as utilized in different show applied sciences, resembling LCD and CRT). The additional white pixel helps enhance white brightness, with out having to blast all three purple, inexperienced, and blue pixels at full brightness.

As with all OLED expertise, the most important picture high quality benefit is that you simply get true blacks, with every pixel of the show capable of change off absolutely. That’s in distinction to plain LCD shows the place the backlight can nonetheless shine via a bit, making for a gray-looking black degree. Which means this OLED show can basically boast an infinite distinction degree; Acer charges its distinction ratio at 1,500,000:1, whereas a typical LCD is 1,000:1.

The panel may rocket alongside at a 240Hz refresh charge and benefit from OLED’s different huge boon, which is a really quick response time. The pixels can change colour in simply 0.03ms, which is roughly 100x quicker than an LCD.

Apart from the panel, the X45 in all fairness well-appointed with options for a gaming monitor. It helps AMD FreeSync, and it’s suitable with Nvidia G-Sync, so it may take away picture tearing and stutter in your video games.

Its connections are respectable too, with one DisplayPort 1.4 enter being sufficient to care for your foremost PC’s connection, whereas two HDMI 2.0 ports present further inputs for consoles, with help for top refresh charges. There’s additionally a USB-C video enter, so you may join your laptop computer. The show makes use of an inside energy provide with an IEC C13 (kettle lead) enter too, so that you don’t must cope with an influence brick.

A USB hub can be included, with a USB-B uplink and two USB-A downlink ports, which offer you sufficient ports to attach your keyboard and mouse through the monitor, as an illustration. There’s additionally a headphone jack and a pair of 5W audio system. The latter are only a contact worse-sounding than we hoped, contemplating the house on this display screen’s rear part. Sound high quality isn’t any higher than audio system on a lot smaller shows, and actually they distort at fairly low volumes. They’re helpful for shortly sharing a YouTube or TikTok clip and never rather more.

Picture high quality

Let’s minimize to the chase. This show isn’t very best for desktop work. Not solely does its low pixel density imply it’s not notably sharp at regular viewing distances, however the usage of WOLED additionally makes it even worse than a typical LCD with the identical pixel density. The 4 sub-pixel colours simply don’t align effectively with the sides of high-contrast onscreen parts, resembling textual content, leading to fuzzy, typically multi-color edges. It’s tremendous distracting if you’re attempting to learn or simply navigate the desktop.

The opposite issue that actually hampers the usability of this display screen for desktop use is the best way its brightness always adjustments relying on what’s being proven on the display screen. If the entire display screen is white/shiny, it would have a decrease total brightness than a small shiny window on an in any other case darker picture.

You possibly can see this within the picture under the place the highest half exhibits the show with half the display screen darkish and half white, whereas the underside half is with the show absolutely white. You possibly can see how dramatically darker the decrease white degree is than the higher white degree, and the impact is exaggerated much more with a smaller white window.

It is a frequent incidence on OLED shows, as lowering total brightness every time attainable helps scale back energy consumption and improves the longevity of the display screen (lowering the pure degradation from which OLED panels endure over years of use). Whereas it’s frequent, although, it’s additionally extremely distracting. As you turn between home windows in your desktop, the display screen brightness jumps round all over. It’s much less of an issue in video games and video, the place brightness adjustments are typically extra fluid and pure, however it’s horrible for desktop use.

Some shows, such because the AOC AG276QZD, provide an choice to show off or scale back the severity of this impact, making it far much less distracting, however there’s no such setting on this show.

With all these caveats out of the best way, we are able to lastly take a look at the place this show excels, which is within the sheer measurement, brilliance, colour saturation, and total influence of its picture. Fireplace up a racing or flight sim – or some other recreation – or watch an ultrawide video (it’s the proper match for many films) and your imaginative and prescient is stuffed with an unbelievable view.

Positive, the general decision and pixel density means it doesn’t have absolutely the sharpest picture when considered up shut, however it nonetheless works wonders for films and extra cinematic-feeling video games. Extra intricate video games the place element issues – Frostpunk 2, as an illustration – would profit extra from an excellent increased decision however should you’re intent on sitting again and simply taking within the view, this display screen is excellent.

Crucially, its out-of-the-box picture high quality is pretty correct, with no determined want for a extreme adjustment of colour stability to get colours wanting excellent. A small tweak right here and there helps to dial it in, however most avid gamers will likely be completely proud of the out-of-the-box picture.

That stated, the preliminary brightness is sort of low. With a full white display screen, it hits simply 104nits brightness with the monitor menu’s default 70/100 brightness setting. Up the brightness degree to 100/100, and this rises to 141nits, which is a way more usable degree.

If you happen to don’t change some other settings, the display screen peaks as excessive as 400nits should you’re solely displaying a small shiny space on a black background, although, demonstrating the severity of the brightness variance. That’s nice for making HDR look punchy, however I don’t know why Acer hasn’t included a setting to barely rein in these extremes. A extra wise variance vary of, say, 200nits for full-screen brightness to 300nits for small window brightness (for non-HDR) would make all of the distinction for desktop use.

In any other case, colours are very well saturated with out wanting unnatural and, as hinted at above, HDR actually pops. The power of OLED tech to point out true black ranges means pictures just like the above one in every of a lightbulb turning on hits with such punch. Peak HDR brightness can’t compete with nanoLED LCD screens – they’ll hit 1500nits – however the low black ranges considerably make up for this. The under picture of racing at night time additionally demonstrates the absorbing nature of the picture – it seems even higher with the lights off.

Gaming efficiency

As talked about above, there are merely some video games that aren’t all that effectively suited to this show, as its big-screen, middling decision presentation doesn’t offer you that crisp, up-front element that’s so helpful for real-time technique video games or comparable. The display screen can be a bit too large and curved for my liking in the case of first particular person shooters. You need to transfer your head round a lot to maintain up with what’s occurring onscreen.

As such, it truly is in additional sit-back-and-relax forms of video games the place this display screen excels. Fireplace up Forza or transfer over to Microsoft Flight Simulator, and this display screen is a pleasure to make use of, particularly you probably have a racing wheel or flight stick that usually inherently wants you to sit down again a little bit out of your desk. The wraparound impact of the display screen additionally works effectively in these video games, as you want that slight further peripheral view to get essentially the most from them. Most different controller-controlled video games additionally work very well, with once more that little bit of additional viewing distance serving to quite a bit.

What’s extra, the 240Hz refresh charge and 0.03ms response time mix to create a fantastically quick picture. It makes for an extremely easy and responsive really feel when racing and flying, or should you do use the display screen for FPS gaming.

Value

The Acer Predator X45 value is formally $1,599.99 however the show is extensively accessible at $1,269.99. At both value, it’s lots of display screen for the cash however the decrease one actually helps make this a extra compelling purchase.

We’re beginning to get 34-inch ultrawide OLEDs accessible for effectively beneath $1,000, although, and these have the identical decision as this mannequin, so it truly is all about whether or not you want the large display screen measurement as as to whether this display screen will likely be value it for you.

Verdict

The Acer Predator X45 is one spectacular gaming monitor, with its sheer measurement and dazzling OLED picture high quality making a big impact in sure video games and when sitting again to observe a film. Its blazing-fast 240Hz refresh charge and nippy response time imply it may additionally maintain its personal in aggressive, fast-paced gaming eventualities. Its value can be affordable for the scale of this display screen.

All of the above mix to make this monitor a improbable alternative for these searching for a single show for a devoted flight or racing sim rig, or that similar to to sit down again a little bit when gaming. Nonetheless, for extra regular desktop gaming use, the display screen measurement is a bit a lot, notably because the ratio of display screen measurement to decision makes for a low pixel density. Textual content readability can be not excellent due to that low pixel density and the quirks of present OLED/WOLED panels. The fixed brightness adjustments are additionally a significant irritation for desktop work.

As such, whereas this display screen comes extremely beneficial for sure gaming setups, it’s not one we suggest as a general-purpose improve. As a substitute, 49-inch superwide screens or 34-inch ultrawide screens are a greater wager.

Options

MSI MPG 491CQP

With its 49-inch superwide display screen measurement, the MSI MPG 491CQP is even wider than the X45 however will get you an additional 1,680 pixels of display screen width, whereas being not as needlessly tall because the X45. Its tighter pixel density, coupled with its use of QD-OLED panel tech, makes for a lot crisper-looking textual content too, and all for much less cash than the X45. Its superwide form isn’t as effectively suited to some video games or standard widescreen films, although.

Learn our full MSI MPG 491CQP overview.

LG 32GS95UE

If you happen to’re in search of a extra general-purpose large-screen gaming monitor, the LG 32GS95UE is a perfect alternative. Its 32-inch display screen measurement offers you a extra impactful view than smaller display screen sizes (although not as all-encompassing because the 491CQP and X45) however, due to its 4K decision, it additionally seems pin sharp. Its 240Hz refresh charge at 4K additionally ensures you get improbable gaming efficiency. Its occasion piece, although, is that it may additionally flip to run at 1080p at 480Hz for blazing-fast efficiency that’s very best for first particular person shooters.

Our full LG 32GS95UE overview is coming quickly.