Here’s what it’s like to use one of the most expensive 4K monitors out there

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Tech Insider

I've been using Acer's 32-inch 4K-resolution XB1 monitor with Nvidia's G-Sync technology for a few weeks now, and I can safely say that it's a fantastic monitor.

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Playing games in 4K resolution brings sharpness, clarity, and detail to my video games that my cheap $150 1080p monitor could only dream of. And after using a huge 32-inch monitor for a while, it's hard to go back to my old 24-inch monitor's comparatively minute size.

The inclusion of Nvidia's G-Sync technology makes for ultra-smooth gameplay that doesn't suffer from screen tearing or stuttering, too.

Its $1,300 price tag ($1,235 on Amazon at the time of writing) is likely a deterrent to most people, save for the most enthusiastic of enthusiasts. Yet, if you've poured a bunch of cash into a powerful gaming machine, there's little point in using a low-end or even middling monitor. 

If you want to do justice to your powerful PC parts and only the most advanced tech will do, that's where Acer's XB1 with 4K and N-Vidia G-Sync comes in. Check it out.

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The 32-inch model of the Acer Predator XB1 monitor is huge compared to the standard 24-inch monitor on the left.

32-inch monitor vs 24-inch
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

It's so large that bright things on the screen can strain the eyes in a dark environment, even with the "eco" setting turned on, which lowers the brightness.

pc gaming monitor
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

See that glowing box on the right? That's a PC that I made myself. It was fun and super easy to put together — and it's way cheaper than buying your own gaming PC. You can learn how to build your own gaming PC like the one above right here.

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It has metallic matte red feet made of metal, which looks and feels positively premium.

acer predator xb1 feet
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

Let's take a look at the difference between 4K and 1080p with the game "Battlefield 4." It's clear that the 4K screenshot is sharper than the 1080p screenshot. It's difficult to see the difference on a normal 1080p monitor, but I assure you the 4K monitor does look a lot better.

bf 4 4k vs 1080p bigger
Screenshot
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The same goes with "Star Wars: Battlefront."

star wars battlefront 4k vs 1080p
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The XB1 truly shines when it comes to keeping gameplay smooth. On some monitors, games can suffer from "screen tearing," which is the effect you see below where edges can appear staggered.

 

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But the XB1 has Nvidia's G-Sync technology, which eliminates stuttering and screen tearing.

 

 

The XB1 on the right also has an in-plane switching (IPS) display that produces better colors and deeper blacks than the regular LCD monitor on the left, where the black looks more gray and the cat's yellow eyes are a little washed out.

xb1 vs regular monitor
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider
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Is it worth it? The <a href="http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/predator-xb1-series"target="_blank">32-inch model</a> of the 4K XB1 with Nvidia G-Sync is very expensive at $1,300. At that price, it's geared more towards enthusiasts who have expensive gaming computers, as a regular monitor might not do justice to their powerful hardware. The XB1 is overkill for a casual gamer.

gaming pic and big screen
Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

However, there are <a href="http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/predator-xb1-series"target="_blank">other models</a> of the XB1 with 27 and 24-inch screens that cost less and come in 1080p and 1440p variations, and the models without G-Sync are even less expensive.

acer xb1 monitors
Acer
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