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. Nevertheless, for those who’re after a single, giant, wraparound display for a racing or flight sim rig, it’s an excellent alternative. Its 240Hz refresh fee, 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 kinds of setups. Acer is concentrating on a fair 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 be taught that this monitor is large. In case you’re in any respect aware of gaming monitor sizes, you may primarily consider this as an additional huge 32-inch show, though even 32-inch screens aren’t fairly as tall as this one. The panel itself is nearly precisely 18-inches (455mm) tall and 39-inches (990mm) huge, 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 dwarves even a big standard pc desk, such because the Secretlab Magnus Professional. This alone is one motive why the X45 isn’t a go-to suggestion for us relating to an everyday PC display. Shows with the identical ultrawide facet ratio and determination, however at a smaller 34-inch measurement, are way more wise choices.

Equally, although, that’s what makes this show so suited to sim rigs. You’ll be able to arrange the show slightly additional away from you and never lose its visible influence or wraparound really feel. It may’t actually cope with a multi-monitor setup, with screens proper alongside you, but it surely’s the subsequent smartest thing.

It’s a chic enough-looking show too, with its silver-painted pointy V-shaped stand and really skinny OLED panel edges. There’s a giant, 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 provides you that “wow, OLEDs are skinny” issue.

One characteristic I’m much less eager on, although, is the massive measurement of the stand. It tasks ahead and again by nearly a foot (30cm), and the entrance toes 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 Obligation, 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 another.

The X45’s show additionally has a semi-matte coating to maintain reflections in verify, and this can be a significantly helpful addition on a display with a curve similar to this one. The curve pulls in reflections from a wider vary of angles than a flat display 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 presents 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.

Options

The massive characteristic of this show is, in fact, its 44.5-inch OLED show. It boasts a 3,440 x 1,440 decision, which is kind 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 know-how, versus Samsung’s QD-OLED, which suggests it varieties every pixel of the show from 4 colours – purple, inexperienced, blue, and white – relatively than the three colours of QD-OLED (and as utilized in different show applied sciences, similar to LCD and CRT). The additional white pixel helps increase white brightness, with out having to blast all three purple, inexperienced, and blue pixels at full brightness.

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

The panel can even rocket alongside at a 240Hz refresh fee and make the most of OLED’s different large 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 within reason well-appointed with options for a gaming monitor. It helps AMD FreeSync, and it’s suitable with Nvidia G-Sync, so it could take away picture tearing and stutter in your video games.

Its connections are respectable too, with one DisplayPort 1.4 enter being sufficient to deal with your foremost PC’s connection, whereas two HDMI 2.0 ports present additional inputs for consoles, with help for prime 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 need to 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 example. 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 area on this display’s rear part. Sound high quality isn’t any higher than audio system on a lot smaller shows, and in reality they distort at fairly low volumes. They’re helpful for shortly sharing a YouTube or TikTok clip and never way more.

Picture high quality

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

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

You’ll be able to see this within the picture beneath the place the highest half reveals the show with half the display darkish and half white, whereas the underside half is with the show absolutely white. You’ll be able to see how dramatically darker the decrease white stage is than the higher white stage, and the impact is exaggerated much more with a smaller white window.

This can be a widespread incidence on OLED shows, as lowering total brightness at any time when attainable helps scale back energy consumption and improves the longevity of the display (lowering the pure degradation from which OLED panels undergo over years of use). Whereas it’s widespread, although, it’s additionally extremely distracting. As you turn between home windows in your desktop, the display 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, but it surely’s horrible for desktop use.

Some shows, such because the AOC AG276QZD, supply 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 will 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 every other recreation – or watch an ultrawide video (it’s the right match for many motion pictures) and your imaginative and prescient is crammed with an unimaginable view.

Positive, the general decision and pixel density means it doesn’t have absolutely the sharpest picture when considered up shut, but it surely nonetheless works wonders for motion pictures and extra cinematic-feeling video games. Extra intricate video games the place element issues – Frostpunk 2, as an example – would profit extra from a fair greater decision however for those who’re intent on sitting again and simply taking within the view, this display is great.

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 good. A small tweak right here and there helps to dial it in, however most players might be fully pleased with the out-of-the-box picture.

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

In case you don’t change every other settings, the display peaks as excessive as 400nits for those who’re solely exhibiting a small vivid 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 flexibility of OLED tech to point out true black ranges means photos just like the above one among 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 beneath picture of racing at night time additionally demonstrates the absorbing nature of the picture – it appears to be like even higher with the lights off.

Gaming efficiency

As talked about above, there are merely some video games that aren’t all that properly 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 can be a bit too huge and curved for my liking relating to first individual shooters. You must 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 excels. Fireplace up Forza or transfer over to Microsoft Flight Simulator, and this display is a pleasure to make use of, particularly if in case you have a racing wheel or flight stick that usually inherently wants you to sit down again slightly out of your desk. The wraparound impact of the display additionally works properly in these video games, as you want that slight additional peripheral view to get probably 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 lots.

What’s extra, the 240Hz refresh fee 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 for those who do use the display for FPS gaming.

Value

The Acer Predator X45 worth is formally $1,599.99 however the show is broadly obtainable at $1,269.99. At both worth, it’s plenty of display for the cash however the decrease one definitely helps make this a extra compelling purchase.

We’re beginning to get 34-inch ultrawide OLEDs obtainable for properly 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 massive display measurement as as to if this display might be price 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 huge effect in sure video games and when sitting again to observe a film. Its blazing-fast 240Hz refresh fee and nippy response time imply it could additionally maintain its personal in aggressive, fast-paced gaming eventualities. Its worth can be cheap for the dimensions of this display.

All of the above mix to make this monitor a unbelievable alternative for these looking for a single show for a devoted flight or racing sim rig, or that identical to to sit down again slightly when gaming. Nevertheless, for extra regular desktop gaming use, the display measurement is a bit a lot, significantly because the ratio of display 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 serious irritation for desktop work.

As such, whereas this display comes extremely really useful for sure gaming setups, it’s not one we suggest as a general-purpose improve. As an alternative, 49-inch superwide screens or 34-inch ultrawide screens are a greater guess.

Alternate options

MSI MPG 491CQP

With its 49-inch superwide display measurement, the MSI MPG 491CQP is even wider than the X45 however will get you an additional 1,680 pixels of display 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 properly suited to some video games or standard widescreen motion pictures, although.

Learn our full MSI MPG 491CQP evaluate.

LG 32GS95UE

In case you’re on the lookout for a extra general-purpose large-screen gaming monitor, the LG 32GS95UE is a perfect alternative. Its 32-inch display measurement provides you a extra impactful view than smaller display sizes (although not as all-encompassing because the 491CQP and X45) however, due to its 4K decision, it additionally appears to be like pin sharp. Its 240Hz refresh fee at 4K additionally ensures you get unbelievable gaming efficiency. Its celebration piece, although, is that it could additionally flip to run at 1080p at 480Hz for blazing-fast efficiency that’s very best for first individual shooters.

Our full LG 32GS95UE evaluate is coming quickly.