AOC’s 32-inch curved gaming monitor is $159.99 at Amazon, with up to 260Hz and $30 off

A fast gaming monitor doesn’t have to eat a huge part of your PC budget. Amazon has the AOC C32G42ZE for $159.99, which is $30 below its displayed $189.99 list price. For that money you’re getting a curved screen with a 240Hz native refresh rate that can be overclocked to 260Hz.

The offer I checked was for a new monitor, sold and shipped by Amazon, with stock available for delivery to a New York ZIP code. The displayed price didn’t require a coupon or Prime membership, though delivery and availability can change.

It’s a returning price rather than a new record as far as the history I found shows: RiverPrice recorded $159.99 for this listing on October 4. The tracker has its own limited observation period, so that shouldn’t be taken as a complete history of every retailer.

The AOC C32G42ZE has a curved Full HD VA panel. Image: AOC

A fast 32-inch screen with a clear resolution trade-off

AOC markets this as a 32-inch monitor; the viewable panel measures 31.5 inches. It uses a curved VA panel with a 1920×1080 resolution and a 1500R curve. That gives you a larger picture than a typical 24-inch Full HD display, but it also spreads the same number of pixels over more space.

AOC rates the curve at 1500R. Image: AOC

At roughly 70 pixels per inch, text and fine desktop details will look less sharp than on a similarly sized 1440p or 4K screen. If you spend most of the day reading documents close to the display, I’d weigh that compromise carefully. On the other hand, 1080p can be easier for a gaming PC to drive at high frame rates.

The panel runs at 240Hz natively and lists 260Hz as an overclocked setting. You’ll need a compatible connection, graphics hardware and game settings to take advantage of high refresh rates; the monitor alone won’t make a game run at 260 frames per second. AOC’s quick guide recommends returning to 240Hz if overclocking causes display problems.

The monitor has one HDMI and one DisplayPort input. Image: AOC

Check the connections and response-time figures

AOC lists one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 input and an audio output. That should cover a PC and one other source, but check your devices and cable arrangement before ordering if you plan to switch between several consoles and computers.

You may also see a 0.3ms number in the listing. AOC describes that as an MPRT motion-response figure; its page separately gives a typical 4ms grey-to-grey response time. They measure different things, and neither should be read as a guarantee of the same input latency or pixel response in every situation.

If your priority is a large, quick Full HD screen for less than $160, this is a useful deal to consider. For comparison, our coverage of Sony’s INZONE M10S looks at a much more expensive OLED option. Check the AOC listing for the current price and seller before buying.

Image credit: AOC.

Note: Links to online stores in articles can be so-called affiliate links. If you buy through this link, MIXED receives a commission from the provider. For you the price does not change.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.