Earlier this year, we got our hands on Alienware’s 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524H), the first 500Hz gaming display. And while it proved to be a capable monitor, we had a few gripes with it—namely, its high price and overall niche appeal. Now, just a few months later, an updated variant of the esports-focused monitor has arrived in PC Labs. The Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) has a price drop to $649.99 (from the $829.99 AW2524H), AMD FreeSync Premium instead of Nvidia G-Sync, and another DisplayPort connector for additional throughput. This time around the price is certainly an easier pill to swallow, and while it’s still very much a monitor for a small percentage of PC gamers, if you're one of them, you will be getting one of the fastest monitors available—just make sure you have the appropriate PC hardware to take advantage of it.
A 500Hz Monitor, Refreshed
The new Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) is nearly identical to the AW2524H, which is hardly a bad thing. The 24.5-inch monitor features the same clean futuristic aesthetic as other Alienware products. The hexagon stand returns, ideal for gamers with smaller keyboards who prefer to situate their boards right against the monitor. The retractable headphone hanger hidden on the monitor's left flank is also here, perfect for hanging your favorite gaming headset for easy access. But the AW2524HF makes some cuts, too. Among them is the the AlienFX RGB lighting along the back of the AW2524H, which is gone from this model.
Measurements are identical, as the AW2524HF measures 12.9 by 21.8 by 3.3 inches (HWD) without its stand. In weight it’s basically the same as well, weighing 15 pounds with stand. The compact footprint is even smaller than the MSI Oculux NXG253R, and is ideal for gamers trying to maximize their gaming space.
Turning to the monitor's port hub, you’ll find one HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-A connectors, a USB-B port, a security lock, and perhaps one of the biggest changes—the inclusion of not one, but two DisplayPort jacks. Tapping into the screen’s 500Hz refresh rate requires a DisplayPort connection, as even HDMI 2.1 ports can’t handle more than 240Hz. Just under the screen, you’ll find an additional two USB-A ports beside the screen’s control stick. Down here, you'll notice one other omission: the AW2524H's headphone jack, axed in this refresh.
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The final difference between this monitor and the AW2524H is the inclusion of AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive Sync certification—the previous model supports Nvidia G-Sync instead. Both technologies aim for the same goal—to eliminate screen tearing caused by fluctuating frame rates. The difference lies in compatibility with your computer’s GPU; AMD FreeSync Premium is designed to work best with AMD hardware, although it also works with Nvidia GPUs.
The 500Hz full HD (1,080-by-1,920-pixel) monitor once again makes use of a Fast IPS display, which allows for low response times and a higher color gamut than normal IPS monitors. The monitor claims HDR10 certification, up from the previous model's VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification.
Testing the Alienware 500Hz (AW2524HF): Some Display Déjà Vu
The Alienware 500Hz is more interested in performance over resolution, but when you're spending this kind of cash, that doesn’t mean you should have to deal with compromised picture quality. To find out if there are any issues, we test color gamut, brightness, color accuracy, and contrast ratio using our Calman monitor calibration software, Murideo Six-G signal generator, and Klein K-80 colorimeter.
Our first test measures the monitor’s brightness over an SDR signal in its default picture mode. The AW2524HF reached 360 nits of brightness, slightly below its 400-nit rating and the older model’s 381 nits, but still bright enough for a gaming den. To measure peak HDR brightness, we use the VESA DisplayHDR compliance tests, available for free on the Microsoft Store. Here, the AW2524HF recorded 435 nits.
Examining the monitor’s color-gamut coverage next, the AW2524HF spanned 100% of the sRGB color gamut, 81% of Adobe RGB, and 84% of DCI-P3. Those are good readings, and nearly identical to the the older model.
Color accuracy was also similar between the two monitors. The AW2524HF recorded a Delta E of 1.8 (the AW2524H measured 1.5). The higher the Delta E, the more the colors tend to stray from their intended hue. A value under 1 is ideal, though most gaming monitors tend to hover closer to 2, especially with out-of-the-box settings.
Finally, we look at the contrast ratio, which indicates the difference in luminance between the brightest white and darkest black that a monitor can produce. It makes a difference in picture quality, especially during dark scenes in gameplay. The AW2524HF measured 935:1 with a black level of 0.23, which essentially matches the static contrast ratio of 1,000:1 advertised on the monitor’s product page, and is not much different than the previous model’s 840:1.
Game Performance
Brightness and color measurements are useful, but the audience Alienware is courting is way more interested in the input lag and frame rates they can expect. In short, the higher the refresh rate, the higher the frame rate ceiling, and more frames equal a smoother picture displayed on your screen. The difference is palpable, especially with fast-paced shooters where speed and accuracy are most important.
But you'll need the right input to reach those blazing-high refresh rates, of course, so be sure to take a look at your personal rig to ensure your GPU, CPU, and RAM can handle exceptionally high frame rates that take advantage of the Alienware's capabilities. For our real-world game testing, we ran Rainbow Six: Siege on an NZXT Player: Three desktop PC, which has an Intel Core i7-13700KF, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, and 32GB of RAM.
Also, something to note regarding Alienware's high refresh rate: Like the previous model, the monitor is only capable of 480Hz natively. To reach a full 500Hz, you have to overclock the monitor. The process, enabled in either the Nvidia or AMD control panel, creates a custom resolution that the monitor will run at, allowing you to pump out the additional 20Hz.
We were easily able to send high enough frame rates to max out the Alienware's 500Hz ceiling. Rainbow Six: Siege reached a recorded peak of 658fps in benchmarks. No visible screen tearing was observed, though there was some noticeable warbling during a screen tearing test.
Using the HDFury 4K Diva HDMI matrix, we recorded less than 1 millisecond (ms) of input lag for the AW2524HF at default settings, versus a recorded 7.7 milliseconds on the AW2524H. We can't test input lag up to 500Hz, because we can’t measure input lag over a DisplayPort connection using the Diva matrix, and HDMI connections are limited to 240Hz. (Learn more about the differences between HDMI and DisplayPort.) We are working to update our test suite to accommodate input-lag measurement for panels running at above 240Hz on DisplayPort.
Verdict: A Worthy Pick-Up for the Esports Faithful
Alienware’s refresh of its 500Hz-refresh-rate monitor keeps all of the good stuff we saw in the previous iteration of this hardcore gaming monitor, and drops the price from $829 to $649. Admittedly, it’s still pretty expensive for a 1080p monitor. As we said in our previous review, the monitor is for the hardest-core of the hardcore, and the cadre of hardcore competitive players is already a niche. If you’re looking for a casual gaming monitor, the HP Omen 27k will serve you better. But if you’ve got the cash, a powerful PC, and your use case fits, the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) offers the absolute fastest performance you can get from a monitor.
The Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) trims some of the fat from its build and price to deliver super-high refresh rates to the most hardcore of gamers.
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