GIGABYTE M32U 32" 4K 144Hz Gaming Monitor with IPS, 1ms Response Time, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.0 - Black

I bought this monitor for $600, $200 cheaper than msrp and at least $200 below the competition for 4k 144hz monitors. If you see it at this price, and are in the market for a 32 inch monitor for gaming, buy it immediately before stock runs out. I didn't want to spend this much, but it's worth every penny.Pros:- 4k at 32 inches is just perfect (see review below for details)- 144hz is excellent for gaming (although 4k requires a good computer or next gen console to drive)- Bright IPS panel looks stunning (I can't speak for color accuracy, but it looks fantastic to my eyes)- Hdmi 2.1 for next gen consoles (I use with a series x, it is amazing)- Good stand (It's plastic, but it has good adjustment and is very understated for a gaming monitor)- Usb hub (I thought I wouldn't care about this, but it is actually immensely useful)- Usb c input (Haven't tested this yet, but I plan to soon once I get the right cable)Cons:- Some backlight bleed (Not really noticeable unless HDR is on though, and most will not use HDR anyway)Neither:- HDR - it exists, but with like 12 dimming zones, it's really a personal preference whether or not to use it. I enjoy it with bright games as it makes the colors pop a bit more, but I don't think I'll use it for dark games or movies. It's better than I expected, so it's not quite a con, but don't but this monitor for HDR.I was in the market for a 32 inch monitor. Having used different monitor sizes, I've found 32 inches to be the sweet spot for me in terms of screen real estate for desktop usage. At the same time, it is also fantastic for more casual gaming. If you are competitive, go 27 inches and 240 hz, but for the casual gamer 32 inches is much more immersive. I was all set to purchase the Gigabyte M32Q, which is essentially the exact same monitor as this but with a 1440p resolution instead of 4k. It retails for around $400 on sale, so about half the price of this M32U without a sale. I was actually using a placeholder budget 1440p 32 inch office monitor with a VA panel before I purchased this. So I experienced 1440p at 32 inches. Then, I saw this monitor on sale for $600; it was such a good deal that I went for it. I cannot go back. 4k looks so much better than 1440p at this screen size for desktop use it is hard to describe. Text is so much sharper and the monitor is much more enjoyable to use. Now, there is some backlight bleed, but this is unfortunately fairly typical for ips panels, and it is only obnoxious in HDR mode. In all other circumstances, the monitor looks fantastic. For gaming, it also looks insane, although it is extremely difficult to run games at 4k 144fps, so you will often have to rely on DLSS or running at non-native resolutions (that's what my series x usually does). So in conclusion, if you want a 32 inch monitor for both productivity and gaming, get this. Even at $700-$750, get it. It is hard to describe how much better the pixel density is. However, if you want a monitor exclusively for gaming, and you have anything less than a next gen console or rtx 3070, get the m32q. But, for those who can afford it and utilize it properly, this monitor is amazing.

Edit: Be careful reading my review. It shows me as purchasing Curved|4K|IPS but this is an error on this listing's part, it's the VA Panel - M32UC which is in the actual product description.Update (7/29/23): CalibrationI went to rtings site to get info on applying some small calibrations. Out of the box, the color accuracy is pretty good, but I noticed a blue tint on whites. The white balance was also off. I selected the "Custom 1" color setting and also applied rting's icc color profile. It made my eyes feel a million times better and whites looked "true". For most people this may suffice, but I am very sensitive and took the brightness down additionally (after doing these things) to 53. You can ONLY adjust the brightness when using the custom profile.This is NOT a Vesa-certified HDR. I know some people may knock a start off for this, but I didn't. If you need to make adjustments to the monitor (as I described), you cannot use HDR anyway. HDR will force you to view everything at higher brightness anyway.Understanding what a VA panel monitor is and isn't:If you don't know much about VA monitors, understand that this type of monitor tends to work better for people that game/work in dimlight settings. They also tend to have better colors. Otherwise, IPS panels may be better all around for most other settings and they have better viewing angels. I also see some reviews talking about ghosting and smearing. There is zero point in getting this monitor if you don't go 120hz or higher. Bad VA monitors will suffer the worst in this case, but the Gigabyte does not. I dare say, I find it better than a comparable Samsung VA.Reasons I threw out my Samsung G5 and decided to go with the M32UC:I was getting fed up with my fishbowl looking Samsung 32 in G5. The curvature of the M32UC is an inch deep from the center point while the Samsung is a whopping two inches. At a 32 in size, you do NOT need that type of radical curvature. Mounting the M32UC was also a breeze unlike the Samsung.I play action RPGs, MMOs, and a few FPS games. I have a decked out system that easily handles 4k, and I wanted to continue sticking with a VA panel type monitor. I wanted something that was good and balanced for all types of games. I can’t stand IPS panels (they hurt my eyes) and I’m not some competitive esport player - but I still want an edge where I can while enjoying onscreen graphics.If you want a VA monitor with immersive graphics while playing games like Diablo 4, deep beautiful contrast, this is the monitor to get. I shopped around for a long time before settling on this monitor. My Radeon 6950 xt handles it beautifully at 4k 144hzMake sure you use a VESA-certified DP cable with it!! It comes with a good one, but it was too short for mounting purposes. This is not the type of monitor you want to run in HDMI even though it has the ports for it (unless you attaching other monitors for the KVM capability).KVM Switch: While it was not the reason I bought this monitor, the KVM switch surprised me at how well it works. In fact, it helped me get rid of my dual office setup. There are people that have been ranting about it, but there is a specific way to use it. First off, I did not download/use the software. I can't even install it anyway on my work laptop (it's restricted).Part 1 - Plugging in the commonly shared peripherals to be used between two computers sharing the same monitor- Plug Mouse into one of the 3 USB 3.0 ports on the monitor- Plug Keyboard into one of the 3 USB 3.0 ports on the monitorPart 2 - Connecting my main desktop/gaming/personal rig for KVM use- Plug in the DP cable between the monitor on the desktop- Plug in (included with monitor purchase) the USB type B (square-looking end) into the monitor, and plug in the other end (USB type a) into the desktop computer- Note that this alone should allow you to use your peripheral devices attached to the monitor regardless if you choose to use the KVM switch or notePart 3 - Connecting my company laptop for KVM use- Plug in an HDMI cable between the laptop and the monitor- Use a type C to C connector (must be bought separately). Plug in one end into the type c port on the monitor, and plug in the other end to the type c port on the laptop- Note you will also need to plug in a separate ethernet cable to the laptop, unless you use WIFI or whateverPart 4 - Final step to switch between the two computer- Go into your main menu on the monitor and then to the KVM settings- Assign your main/desktop using the Displayport cable to one switch- Assign your laptop/whatever using the HDMI (port 1) cable to the other switchYou can now use the KVM button to swap between the two computer. Note, it can take several seconds while you stare at a black screen.