The monitor offer has become very wide and even more so if we take into account those models oriented to the gaming sector or PC enthusiasts, where buyers demand models with good refresh rates and acceptable response times.
Dell's bet that we
address here is valid for both Nvidia and AMD graphics environments by
combining compatibility with both AMD FreeSync technology and Nvidia G-Sync. Let's
see what all its strengths and weaknesses are.
Design and qualities
We start from the fact that we have in our hands an elegant monitor that uses premium materials in its finishes. To this is added how well thought out its base system is, which remains firm even when you place it at its maximum height.
In this sense, the ergonomics of the Alienware AW2521HFA is one of its
outstanding characteristics, since you can vary its height, angle of
inclination, rotation with a pivoting base, as well as the fact of varying its
display in the vertical plane while its base remains immovable.
The V-shaped foot has
its vertical arm on which the screen is hung with a lever system that makes it
possible for you to do without the use of screws and a screwdriver. The
height marker allows you to have a reference as if it were a bike saddle.
It is not that it is
something you do daily, releasing the panel from the base, but it is always
appreciated that the handling is intuitive. Everything is incredibly
simple with no tools required, taking it out of the box and getting started in
no more than 5 minutes.
But the successful
installation experience continues when you connect it to your computer or game
console. It has a multitude of connections that we will talk about later,
but it has a system to collect the cables from the back and hide them in the
arm.
Those who have an
iMac will know what I'm talking about, although here the Alienware gives a
thousand turns to the system used by Apple, since they are hidden to exit through
the back. An extra cap that you can remove also makes connection easy.
Also highlight the
lighting details that the monitor has. The main arm has a system that runs
along it, in addition to the typical 'Alienware' logo that is located at the
top rear of the screen.
The color of this
lighting is customizable through the OSD menu, so that with AlienFX Light we
can modify the lighting spectrum to our liking. These are details that can
be part of your gaming desktop, matching your Dell PC.
To finish with the
design section, the arm is high enough so that we can rotate the 24.5-inch
screen 90 degrees and use it in portrait mode. This can be more convenient
for working with web pages or office documents.
The system complies
with the VESA 1000 specification in case you need to use a specific articulated
arm system, or hang it from a wall bracket to configure it together with other
additional displays.
Specifications
The Alienware
AW2521HFA is not exactly a cheap monitor, so it does not skimp on the use of
advanced technologies. In fact, it uses a higher quality IPS panel but
achieving latencies similar to those offered by TN technology screens.
These screens are also
usually blamed for a weaker contrast, something that we have not appreciated in
this model, with a color coverage of 99% RGB that will allow you to enjoy the
widest range of colors.
With hardly any
frames and with very small edges in its frame, except in its lower part, the
color representation lets us see that this monitor could be used even in design
environments if it is calibrated with precision.
Now, let's not kid
ourselves. With the OSD menu we can customize each parameter of the
display, but all the modes are very geared towards games, so you will not find
specific color temperatures or numerical Gamma settings.
The Alienware screen
is compatible with both AMD's FreeSync technology and Nvidia's G-Sync, which
means you sync your monitor with the most advanced graphics to ensure smooth,
lag-free gameplay.
The maximum refresh
rate value is spectacular, reaching the value of 240 Hz for both the
DisplayPort signal and for HDMI, which is accompanied by a response time of
less than 1 millisecond.
It's not HDR, but it
still delivers fantastic images for a 1080p display. In fact, Dell loads
this monitor with a gamer-centric on-screen display, including a frame rate
counter.
Connectivity and handling
Among the
connectivity offered by the Alienware AW2521HFA, the 3 USB 3.0 ports stand out,
an additional one to provide power charging, two HDMI connections and a
DisplayPort. Along with all this, there is the electric current and a
mini-jack input.
Already in the lower
central part, and in order to make these ports more accessible, we have the
port hub that offers a headphone output and two USB 3.0 ports with charge to
connect the mobile if we want to charge its battery while we use it .
A total of 4 buttons
and a joystick are located on the rear right of the monitor, in order to
operate the OSD menu comfortably. It has been quite intuitive for us when
it comes to moving through the settings or going back in the menu.
One of the buttons
allows instant access to more than 12 predefined display modes, including 3
customizable game modes, the usual warm and cold settings, as well as the
ComfortView or the RPG.
To fix some of these
additional features, you will need to use a USB connection to your PC or Mac,
in order to update the monitor's firmware . However,
the vast majority of functions can be managed through the DisplayPort
connection.
Image quality and performance
According to the
manufacturer, this panel offers a typical brightness of 400 nits, with a high
contrast ratio of 1000: 1. Our tests corroborated these figures, aided by
a calibration tool like Spyder X from Datacolor .
Perhaps the only one
but that we can comment on about this monitor model is the low level of
contrast in low-light imaging conditions, to the point that the blacks do not
look convincing.
We tried lowering the
brightness, but without a localized backlight, the IPS technology simply cannot
emulate the blacks that we are used to seeing on panels with OLED technology. Now
this is something the typical gamer won't notice.
Price
We have already
commented previously that it is not a cheap monitor, but it is not one of the
most expensive models, especially now that Dell has decided to reduce its
recommended purchase price by almost € 120 with respect to the price with which
it was released.
Thus, the 24.5-inch Dell
Alienware AW2521HFA is currently priced at € 385.99. You can
also find it in other distributors and stores such as PcComponentes at
a similar price.
Take a look at our
special on the best gaming monitors of
2021 , with more than 8 models to choose from, where the one
analyzed here has already earned a place for the benefits we have seen.
Verdict
We have been able to
verify that the Dell Alienware AW2521HFA is an extraordinary team for its price
and more so for a model with an IPS panel with which you can achieve latencies
similar to those offered by lower quality TN panels.
It eliminates the
compromises that we see on other screens in relation to the representation of
colors, and demonstrates its versatility when using it for games, as well as
for any other productivity or editing environment.
It is something that
is evident in the fact of being able to rotate its panel 90 degrees if you want
to use it with office environments, or configure it in cascade with other
additional monitors that you have connected to your graphics card.
It is compatible with
both FreeSync and G-Sync, so that your purchase does not depend on the
equipment or PC that you have in your possession at a certain moment, but is
positioned as a purchase that you can make profitable over time.
It also surprises
with the 240 Hz refresh rate figure, something that many other competitors are
limited to offering much lower values. The only aspect to improve would be
to include HDR10 support for displaying this type of content.
Specifications
- 24.5-inch screen and 16: 9
format
- IPS panel with LED backlight
- Full HD resolution 1920 x
1080 pixels
- 240 Hz refresh rate
- 1 millisecond response time
- 400 cd / m2 brightness
- 1000: 1 contrast ratio
- 178 degree vertical viewing
angle
- AlienFX lighting and USB 3.0
hub
- Connections: DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.2 mode)2 x HDMI
- 2 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 3.0 with charging
- Headphone and audio jack
- VESA 1000 bracket
- 20.4 W consumption
- Dimensions 526 x 556.3 x
251.9 mm
- Weight of 3.55 Kg
