Cooler Master GM25FP Gaming Monitor Review

The Cooler Master GM25FP is a compact gaming monitor that caters to the needs of entry-level 1080p gamers, allowing them to experience competitive gameplay at a low price. Featuring an IPS panel, this budget-friendly gaming monitor aims to provide greater colour accuracy than other 1080p displays, all while maintaining respectable performance levels. In this review, we’ll test the design, performance, and practicality of the Cooler Master GM25FP to see how it stacks up to the range of 1080p gaming monitors we’ve looked at previously.

With 1440p and 4K resolutions becoming more accessible to wider audiences, manufacturers have shifted their focus away from 1080p in recent years. Therefore, 1080p gaming monitors are typically reserved for two types of gamers: competitive and budget gamers. Many recent 1080p gaming monitors focus on providing ludicrously high refresh rates, which can’t be achieved on higher-resolution displays, in order to appeal to Esports players looking to optimise their gaming setups. However, the GM25FP is one of the few displays sticking to the entry-level approach, providing a budget-friendly option for those with limited funds.

But does the Cooler Master GM25FP provide the performance, visual fidelity, and functionality required to convince budget gamers to pick up this display rather than invest in an entry-level 1440p gaming monitor? To find out, we’ll be putting this monitor to the test in a range of gaming scenarios, as well as evaluating the pros and cons in great detail.

Specification

Unsurprisingly, the overall performance of the GM25FP is pretty lacklustre compared to the wide range of gaming monitors on the market. However, there are multiple areas where this display goes toe-to-toe with other displays we’ve tested, which are all significantly pricier.

Cooler Master has clearly prioritised performance on the GM25FP, as this is where the display is able to compete with other modern gaming monitors. For example, the 180Hz refresh rate is more than enough to enjoy smooth gameplay in a vast array of titles, especially when paired with the 1ms response time. With most low-end 1440p gaming monitors boasting a refresh rate between 144Hz and 165Hz, the GM25FP is a better choice for those prioritising a stutter-free gaming experience.

To bolster the focus on performance, the 180Hz refresh rate is paired with a 1ms grey-to-grey (GtG) and moving picture response time (MPRT). This ensures this display can keep up with fast-paced gameplay, allowing gamers to see and respond quickly to the on-screen action. In addition, the Adaptive Sync integration guarantees the image remains consistent, preventing issues like screen-tearing.

However, sacrifices needed to be made elsewhere to achieve the impressive performance parameters on such a budget-oriented display. In this case, the visual fidelity of the GM25FP has been weakened significantly. Despite utilising an IPS panel, which provides excellent viewing angles and improved colour accuracy over VA and TN panels, the colour accuracy on this display is pretty lacklustre.

Additionally, the 250 nits peak brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio mean this display will struggle to showcase environments in great detail. As a result, the image generated by this gaming monitor looks washed out and dull compared to most gaming monitors. But when compared to other displays available at a similar price point, the difference in visual quality is less noticeable, meaning the visuals should suffice for those used to a 1080p display.

In terms of connectivity, the GM25FP comes with the necessary ports to connect multiple devices. With a single DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.0 ports, this monitor can be used to hook up a gaming PC, as well as consoles and laptops. It is disappointing not to see any USB ports for connecting gaming peripherals, but these ports aren’t a requirement for most PC gamers, which is why their absence is understandable. The GM25FP does come with a 3.5mm audio jack, which lets you connect a speaker or a pair of headphones.

Overall, the specs show that the primary objective of the GM25FP is to provide the best gaming performance possible on a limited budget. The combination of a 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time is quite impressive for a monitor at this price point. However, this comes at the expense of visual fidelity and connectivity, which provide the bare minimum for a modern gaming monitor.

Cooler Master GM25FP Design

Given the budget restraints of this monitor, it’s not very surprising to see that the design is kept straightforward on the GM25FP. Unlike more expensive gaming monitors on the market, this display isn’t lavished with RGB lighting, angular shrouding, or cybernetic decals. Instead, the GM25FP opts for a more uniform design, which utilises a matte plastic throughout. Because of this, the GM25FP will have no issues blending into any environment, making it suitable for gaming rooms and offices alike.

Despite including ’25’ in its name, the GM25FP is technically a 24.5″ display, putting it amongst the smallest gaming monitors available. To match the compact nature of the screen, this monitor comes with a short stand that seamlessly slots into the back of the display. Because of this, the GM25FP is a suitable option for compact setups or those looking for a smaller additional display.

Unfortunately, the included stand provides little adjustability. Even though Cooler Master claims this monitor contains a tilt adjustment of -5° to 17°, I couldn’t change the position of this display at all when placed on the included stand. The base of the included stand also takes up a significant amount of desk space, negating one of the main benefits of the compact design. The 100×100 VESA mounting does provide a workaround for these issues, but this will lead to additional costs.

One of the biggest surprises of this design is how lightweight it is. The GM25FP is possibly the lightest gaming monitor I’ve ever used, even when attached to the stand. What makes this more surprising is that the GM25FP doesn’t feel too flimsy, as the plastic on the panel and stand is well-equipped to withstand moderate damage. Although it is worth noting that the monitor wobbled a lot on the desk, so we’d suggest mounting this display onto a more sturdy and reliable stand if possible.

There are some benefits to picking up a compact and simplistic gaming monitor like the GM25FP, such as the minimal impact on desk space and the ability to blend into various environments. However, the design of this display leans towards simplicity too much, as it lacks the features and versatility required to provide an ergonomic and practical viewing experience.

Considering there are several 1080p gaming monitors within a similar price range to the GM25FP that still manage to provide a modern and ergonomic design, this display’s limited functionality is disappointing.

Features We Like

Lightweight & Compact

In some ways, the form factor of the GM25FP provides a major advantage over other gaming monitors. With the amount of technology and features being packed into modern displays, it often leads to them being bulky and cumbersome. However, the lightweight and compact nature of the GM25FP makes it incredibly easy to move around. As a result, this could be a great secondary monitor for gamers and professionals who have multiple setups around their homes and want a dedicated monitor to go alongside a laptop or gaming handheld to elevate the viewing experience.

OSD & Navigation

I’m a big fan of the On-Screen Display (OSD) and menu navigation found on most Cooler Master gaming monitors, and the GM25FP is no different. By utilising the 5-way navigational joystick on the back of the display, which is easy to reach thanks to the smaller form factor, adjusting settings is a very straightforward process. Each setting comes with clear icons and labels, and the included presets allow gamers to pick optimised settings according to the task being conducted or games being played.

Features We Don’t Like

Integrated Stand

The overall design of this monitor is below the standard we’d expect from a modern gaming monitor, with the stand being the biggest culprit. Frankly, the stand for the GM25FP is woeful. Not only is it very short, but it also lacks any form of adjustability, struggles to keep the panel from constantly wobbling, and takes up an unnecessary amount of desk space. For anyone who is interested in picking up this monitor, I strongly suggest using the 100×100 VESA mount to attach this display to an alternative stand or monitor arm.

Cooler Master GM25FP Colour Accuracy & Image Quality

To better understand the GM25FP’s visual fidelity, we decided to boot up several games, videos, and websites to see how this monitor handled a range of tasks. With it being pitched as a suitable option for gaming and workstation setups, it is important that the GM25FP can offer sufficient image quality to complete these tasks.

Along with a classic eye test, we used the Datacolor SpyderX Pro calibrator to accurately test this display’s coverage of several colour gamuts. This gives us a greater understanding of the GM25FP’s image quality and a point of comparison to other gaming monitors on the market.

After using the GM25FP for a range of tasks in the office, it was pretty clear (or unclear in this case!) that the visual quality of this display was below the standard we’ve come to expect from modern gaming monitors. Even compared to the 1440p gaming monitors on my desk, the colours on the GM25FP looked very washed out and lacked detail. While somewhat granted, given the drop in resolution, the contrast between this monitor and my daily drivers was much more apparent than with other 1080p gaming monitors I’d previously tested.

The specifications of this display seem to back up my initial thoughts, too, with Cooler Master’s claim of 78% DCI-P3 coverage being well below the other gaming monitors we’ve reviewed. However, our testing showed the results were less dire than expected.

Like most of the gaming monitors we’ve tested, the GM25FP had no issues providing complete coverage of the sRGB colour gamut. The only display that failed to achieve this was another Cooler Master monitor, the Tempest GP2711.

Additionally, the GM25FP exceeded expectations in DCI-P3, achieving 81% coverage, 3% more than Cooler Master states on the product page. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to compete with the other displays we’ve tested, as the GM25FP is firmly positioned at the lowest spot on our graph and by some margin.

Conclusion