The AW2725DM spends its pixels on a 27-inch picture and its speed on a 180 Hz DisplayPort connection. That mix suits the person who plays a shooter after work but also wants small interface elements to look less coarse during the day.
In depth
Alienware AW2725DM review
Published
Best forSomeone moving from a 1080p desktop to a sharper gaming screen without taking on the demands of 4K.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 27 inches
- Panel technology
- Fast IPS
- Native resolution
- 2560 × 1440
- Refresh rate
- 180 Hz
Pros
- 1440p leaves room for a game and legible desktop text.
- DisplayPort reaches 180 Hz without lowering the native resolution.
Cons
- HDMI tops out at 144 Hz at the native resolution.
- High refresh still depends on how quickly the PC draws each frame.
Display
- 27 inches
- Fast IPS
- 2560 × 1440
Compared with a 1920 × 1080 screen, the Alienware has about 78 percent more pixels. Thin outlines and distant game objects have more room for detail. The extra rendering work also explains why a PC that held 180 frames per second at 1080p might fall short here.
Gaming
- 180 Hz via DisplayPort
- Adaptive sync
For variable frame rates, adaptive sync lets a compatible graphics card and monitor agree when to show the next frame. Dell’s gray-to-gray response specification describes pixel transitions. It cannot tell you the delay from a mouse click through the game engine to the screen.
RTINGS found that the earlier AW2724DM handled motion better with variable refresh enabled. If you already use that monitor for games with fluctuating frame rates, the newer model offers little reason to switch. 1
Connectivity
- 144 Hz via HDMI at QHD
- USB upstream connection
Use DisplayPort for the full 180 Hz on a desktop. HDMI still makes a useful second connection, especially for a console limited to 120 Hz. The monitor’s USB ports also need their upstream connection if you want to plug a mouse or receiver into the display.
Alternatives
Alienware’s AW2525HM trades the larger 1440p workspace for 1080p at 320 Hz. That trade suits someone who already gets several hundred frames per second in a competitive title. If your current 1440p screen reaches 144 Hz, compare how often your PC exceeds that rate before replacing it.
Verdict
This is a practical first high-refresh 1440p monitor. Keep the DisplayPort cable for your gaming PC and check the frame rate at the resolution you intend to use.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- RTINGSDell Alienware AW2724DM and AW2725DM compared (opens in a new tab)https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/compare/dell-alienware-aw2724dm-dell-alienware-aw2725dm/40848/96305
Motion handling with variable refresh enabled on the AW2725DM and AW2724DM.