If you’re looking for a jumbo-sized gaming monitor, there are plenty of routes you can take. There are multiple sizes of ultrawide 21:9 screens ranging from 34 to 38 inches diagonal. Then there’s the mega-wide 32:9, 49-inch genre. Or you can stick with flat panels in the 16:9 aspect ratio and go 32 inches or larger. Many simply opt for a TV, opening up the field to extra large displays that can top 80 inches.
If you want to stick with a desktop configuration though, the 43-inch category is a good choice. It’s large but not so big that you can’t sit close. It’s possible to play from 3 or 4 feet away, see the entire screen, and fill your peripheral vision with the image. And the 16:9 aspect ratio that 43-inch monitors come in means plenty of height, something that ultrawide and mega-wide monitors don’t have.
You can typically put a 43-inch gaming monitor on your desktop for around $1,500. That’s more than many 55-inch TVs but a computer monitor delivers a few things, like DisplayPort and high refresh rates, that consumer TVs do not. The Gigabyte Aorus FV43U makes the comparison a little easier, however, as it’s going for $1,000 as of writing.
The FV43U is a 16:9 VA panel competing with the best 4K gaming monitors with a 144 Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync, HDR and a quantum dot backlight that’s specced to reach 1,000 nits brightness. It also delivers decent sound from its built-in speakers, thanks to multiple sound modes. Let’s take a look.
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Specs
| Panel Type / Backlight | VA / W-LED, edge array |
| Screen Size & Aspect Ratio | 43 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Resolution & Refresh Rate | 3840x2160 @ 144 Hz |
| FreeSync: 48-144 Hz | |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 10-bit (8-bits+FRC) / DCI-P3 |
| DisplayHDR 1000, HDR10 | |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits |
| Contrast | 4,000:1 |
| Speakers | 2x 12w |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 w/DSC |
| 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C | |
| Audio | 2x 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | 1x up, 2x down |
| Power Consumption | 54.3w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions | 38.1 x 25.1 x 9.9 inches |
| WxHxD w/base | (967 x 638 x 251mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 3.5 inches (88mm) |
| Bezel Width | Top/sides: 0.4 inch (10mm) |
| Bottom: 1 inch (25mm) | |
| Weight | 33.8 pounds (15.4kg) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
By starting with a VA panel, the FV43U is already ahead of many premium gaming monitors that rely on lower contrast IPS technology. Most IPS monitors are specced for around 1,000:1 contrast, while the FV43U boasts 4,000:1 on its sheet and topped that dramatically in our testing with SDR and extremely when it came to HDR. HDR is aided by the monitor’s 1,000-nit backlight enhanced by a quantum dot filter for greater color volume, which our testing will also confirm.
Video processing leaves nothing under the table. The FV43U is one of the few 4K displays that can run at 144 Hz. It manages this over a single DisplayPort cable using Display Stream Compression (DSC). That means it can process 10-bit color, though it uses Frame Rate Control (FRC) to achieve this. FreeSync operates from 48-144 Hz in SDR and HDR modes. G-Sync also works with the same signals as verified by our tests, even though it’s not Nvidia-certified. (You can see how by checking out our How to Run G-Sync on a FreeSync Monitor tutorial).
Peripheral features include two HDMI 2.1 ports, which support console operation, namely the PS5 and Xbox Series X, with variable refresh rates up to 120 Hz. The monitor’s USB-C port accepts Ultra HD signals up to 144 Hz. This is common among USB-C monitors as USB-C can replicate DisplayPort functions, but you’ll need a graphics card with USB-C, of course. The monitor’s USB-C port also allows for KVM switching (allowing you to control multiple PCs with a single keyboard, monitor and mouse) through additional USB 3.0 ports.
Assembly and Accessories
Two solid metal stand pieces bolt in place on the bottom if you set up on a desktop or entertainment center. Wall mounting is supported by a 200mm lug pattern in back. You’ll have to source your own bolts which should be part of any bracket kit.
Product 360
From the front, the FV43U looks like any modern television with a narrow bezel around the top and sides and larger bit of molded trim across the bottom. The Aorus logo and a power LED are visible in the center. The stand puts the panel a bit less than 3 inches from the table, so it’s a good height for a desktop if you plan to sit around 4 feet back. The anti-glare layer is more reflective than most smaller screens, so plan placement accordingly if you have windows in your room.
A joystick for controlling the on-screen display (OSD) menu joystick is prominently situated on the panel’s bottom center but the easiest way to control the FV43U is with its tiny remote. It only has a few keys but they’re enough to zip through the OSD, change inputs and control the gaming features.
The back is where you’ll find most of the styling elements. Two slanted shapes are rendered in shiny plastic, along with an Aorus logo in the center. The rest of the finish is matte and features some brushed textures. Angles and straight lines are the order of the day with a generous grill at the top for heat dissipation. Speakers fire from the bottom vents and deliver 12W apiece (more on that in the Hands-on section).
The input panel is on the right side which makes it easily accessible. You get two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C, which also supports 144 Hz and Adaptive-Sync. The HDMIs are limited to 120 Hz but support Adaptive-Sync and 4K resolution, making it fit for console gaming.
OSD Features
The OSD looks just like the menu found in all Aorus monitors but you can make it larger so it can be more legible from across the room.
The Gaming sub-menu has everything needed for competitive gameplay. At the top is Aim Stabilizer Sync, which is a backlight strobe for blur reduction. It’s one of the rare implementations that can work in concert with Adaptive-Sync, and it manages to do this without reducing brightness too much out of the box (of course, you can always turn the brightness up).
Black Equalizer makes shadow detail more visible; Super Resolution adds edge enhancement (not in a good way), Display Mode changes the aspect ratio and Overdrive offers four options. Balance is the best one, as it has good blur reduction, no visible ghosting and allows you to toggle Adaptive-Sync on or off.
The Picture menu offers an extensive array of image modes (eight, plus three custom memories), along with color temp and gamma presets and something we normally see only on professional screens: selectable color gamuts. You can choose between Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, sRGB or Auto, but in our tests, Auto did not automatically switch the color gamut for different signal types. That means that if we wanted to watch SDR content in the sRGB it’s made in, we had to select the gamut manually.
You also get Local Dimming, which increases contrast significantly. It makes the picture very bright as well, but highlight and shadow detail remain solid, so it is perfectly usable. However, we recommend leaving it off unless your room has a lot of ambient light because you can’t reduce brightness when it’s on. If you prefer a Low Blue Light mode for reading, that feature is in the OSD too.
A single press of the large button in the center of the remote’s nav pad brings up a quick menu. Pressing left opens the Aorus dashboard, which can display your PC component’s internal temperatures and fan speeds. You’ll need a USB connection for this, but most motherboards will transmit the information to the FV43U.
A right press brings up Game Assist, which offers timers, counters, refresh rate info and aiming points. You also get a single cross in the OSD and can create additional reticles if you download the Aorus desktop app. Additionally, the OSD offers alignment marks in case you plan to set up additional FV43Us in a multi-screen configuration. Now that would be super cool! We’re thinking ultimate desktop flight simulator.
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Calibration Settings
The FV43U comes set to its Green (yes, that’s the term used in the OSD) picture mode. It has nothing to do with the color green but is fairly accurate out of the box – enough to make our Calibration Not Required list. But if you’re a perfectionist and want to tweak the image, choose the User Define color temp and adjust the RGB sliders. Gamma presets and color gamut options are also available. For the full native gamut, choose Auto or Adobe RGB. Either will deliver just over 100% of DCI-P3 coverage. sRGB is also very accurate, but we found it better to choose the sRGB picture mode rather than the sRGB gamut mode. Below are our recommended calibration settings for SDR on the Gigabyte Aorus FV43U.
| Picture Mode | Green |
| Brightness 200 nits | 13 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 4 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 2 (min. 89 nits) |
| Contrast | 50 |
| Gamma | 2.2 |
| Color Space | Auto or Adobe |
| Color Temp User | Red 100, Green 97, Blue 99 |
When HDR content is present, there are four additional picture modes available: HDR1000, HLG, Game and Movie. HDR1000 is the most accurate, but locks out all image controls. Game and Movie allow for brightness and contrast adjustments and toggling and local dimming. We’ll explain that in more detail in the HDR tests.
Gaming and Hands-on
A question that should be answered when one considers buying a 43-inch gaming monitor is, will it function as a TV? Since some FV43Us will wind up in living rooms or entertainment centers, it’s important to know whether it can play well with things like disc players or streaming boxes.
There is no internal tuner so technically, the FV43U is not a TV. But its HDMI 2.1 inputs can accept input from any cable or satellite receiver, as well as a 4K disc player or streaming box like Apple TV. We tried a Philips BDP-7501 player and an Apple TV source. SDR and HDR10 signals were supported fine with one omission, 24p. Film cadences are present on any Blu-ray and in many streamed shows and movies from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime (in addition to 50 and 60 Hz). The FV43U converted these streams to 60 Hz, which caused a bit of stuttering here and there. It wasn’t pervasive, but we occasionally saw artifacts. Note that the FV43U, like most computer monitors, doesn’t support Dolby Vision. We’ve only seen a few pro screens that includeDolby Vision.
As a monitor for controlling Windows, the FV43U was a joy to use. With its vast area, we could clearly view four or five documents simultaneously. Sitting about 4 feet back, the pixel structure was invisible, but if we sat closer we were just able to see the dots. Color, meanwhile, was beautifully saturated, great for watching YouTube and browsing the web. If you want perfect accuracy for web browsing, the sRGB mode is available with a few clicks of the remote.
Gaming is also a blast with a screen this big. SDR games like Tomb Raider rendered in vivid hues with deep blacks, bright whites and superb contrast. The large dynamic range and accurate gamma mean that you’ll see all the detail present in the original content. That lends a realism seen on only the very best computer monitors.
HDR games, like Call of Duty: WWII, also showed tremendous depth on the FV43U. We played exclusively in the HDR1000 picture mode because of its very accurate luminance and grayscale tracking. The FV43Us large color gamut was put to good use here. It was readily apparent in skin tones and natural earth shades, like brown and green. That, coupled with nearly 39,000:1 contrast, made surfaces and textures pop with a tactility that we’ve only seen from premium screens like the Acer Predator CG437K or the Asus ROG Swift PG43UQ (both go for $1,500 as of writing). Without a full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight like that Acer Predator X27 and Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ have, the FV43U doesn’t quite make the very top tier of the best HDR monitors. But it comes awfully close to their image quality while delivering a lot more screen area.
The monitor’s two 12W speakers deliver sound that’s better than what you’ll hear from smaller monitors with much more bass and overall presence. Five audio modes help you tailor sound to your preference. If you’d rather use your best gaming headset, there’s a 3.5mm jack and an additional analog output for external systems.
To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors.We cover brightness and Contrast covered on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
We couldn’t quite fill our comparison group with 43-inch screens, but we do have the Acer Predator CG437K and Asus ROG Swift PG43UQ representing. At 55-inches is Philips Momentum 558M1RY. In the mega-wide, 32:9 category is the AOC Agon AG493UCX and Viotek SUW49DA. All are VA panels running at 120 or 144 Hz.
Except for the Viotek, light output is prodigious among our comparison group. You won’t want to turn the FV43U’s brightness up much past 15% though because 892 nits is beyond searing.
The FV43U takes the black level crown by a nose over the Viotek mega-wide while running comfortably more darkly than the Asus and Acer 43-inchers. Since the Aorus’ gamma is very accurate, there is no reduction in shadow detail. Resulting contrast is an impressive 6,518.1:1. This is a native figure with no picture enhancements engaged. It doesn’t get much better than that.
After Calibration to 200 nits
After calibration to a more manageable 200 nits brightness (see our recommended calibration settings on page 1), the FV43U is still at the top of the pack with an excellent black level of 0.0328 nit and 6,095.6:1 contrast. If you want even greater dynamic range, turn on Local Dimming. This doubles the brightness to 408 nits, and you can’t change it, but it also reduces the black level and produces an astounding 31,497.5:1 contrast ratio with no detail clipping.
The FV43U completes its sweep of the luminance and contrast tests with a win in the ANSI benchmark. It’s safe to say that among jumbo computer monitors, the Aorus offers the greatest dynamic range, best black levels and most image depth for SDR content.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
The FV43U can be enjoyed without calibration in its default Green picture mode. You can also view SDR content in the correct sRGB gamut by choosing the sRGB picture mode or the sRGB Color Space.
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe those our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
Measuring the FV43U in its default state, we found no visible grayscale errors. Our i1 Pro meter showed a slight red weakness but this could not be seen by the naked eye in either test patterns or actual content. Gamma tracking is slightly dark, but this is not a problem, thanks to the panel’s high native contrast.
After our calibration (see page 1), grayscale tracking is near perfection with all errors below 1 Delta E (dE). That is pro-level performance. Gamma is slightly improved as well and tracks very close to the 2.2 standard.
The sRGB picture mode (third chart) runs a bit warm with slightly visible errors in brightness steps over 50%. There are no adjustments available to fix this, but in actual content, the error wasn’t a major issue.
Comparisons
With a 2.12dE average grayscale error, there is no need to calibrate the FV43U if you choose the Green picture mode. Meanwhile, the Acer CG437K is one of the most accurate monitors we’ve reviewed out of the box. With calibration though, the FV43U is its match, as is the Asus PG43UQ.
None of the monitors here have any significant gamma issues. The FV43U keeps its range of values tight at just 0.16 and it runs 2.73% off the 2.2 spec with a 2.28 actual value. The errors are dark rather than light, which is a good thing for high contrast panels. VA can typically operate at a slightly higher gamma value and still maintain greater picture depth than IPS or TN monitors.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
The FV43U has a huge color gamut and covers it with good accuracy. Generally, it’s a little oversaturated but not overly so. Red and green have a little more punch than the rest, but hue targets are on or close to the mark. Our calibration (second chart) changed little in the gamut test. The average error is only slightly lower (2.3dE versus 2.5dE) and looked the same to the naked eye. Gamers shopping for a colorful monitor won’t be disappointed.
Choosing the sRGB picture mode (third chart) delivers a superb sRGB color gamut that has no visible flaws. Red is slightly oversaturated, but the errors are below the visible threshold. This is excellent performance.
Comparisons
The FV43U lags slightly behind the other screens in our gamut accuracy test, but none of the monitors have visible errors. Gigabyte’s screen has the largest gamut, so that will put it in the win column for most users.
With over 107% DCI-P3 coverage, the FV43U is one of the most colorful monitors we’ve tested. In our database, it’s only bested by the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD (112% DCI-P3) and the professional Acer ConceptD CP7271K (110% DCI-P3). The FV43U’s sRGB mode also completely fills the gamut at over 102% volume. Just add in a software profile, and this screen is ready for color-critical work.
Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.
The FV43U supports HDR10 signals and automatically switches modes when one’s detected. Four picture modes are then available, offering different interpretations of the luminance curve with slight variations in color.
HDR Brightness and Contrast
The FV43U carries VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification, which calls for a max brightness of at least 1,000 nits. It achieved this in our tests using a 25% window pattern, while full-field measurements were around 920 nits. To say this is plenty bright would be an understatement. The 43 and 55-inch screens in our comparison group all manage to deliver over 1,000 nits, so comparisons on this basis are a wash.
You’ll get the FV43U’s best HDR black levels and HDR contrast in the HDR1000 mode, which uses the local dimming feature to be the best screen in the group with a very dark 0.0281 nit black level and 38,888.4:1 contrast. If you’re looking for good HDR, the Aorus can deliver.
Grayscale, EOTF and Color
We compared the four HDR modes and found HDR1000 to be the best for all types of HDR content. You can see in the first image above that the grayscale chart is pretty close to the mark with just slight red errors in the brighter steps. The EOTF starts out a bit too dark, then transitions to tone-mapping about 5% too early. This is only a minor issue.
For comparison, we also measured HDR Game mode with local dimming turned on. Grayscale tracking is fine, but the EOTF is well off the mark. This is due to the panel’s slow response to changing picture levels (the average brightness level of a given frame, usually expressed in percent). We could see the patterns pulse as the measurements were taken. In actual content, speedy action will cause the changes in luminance to lag behind, which is usually seen as flickering. Even though local dimming can’t be turned off in the HDR1000 picture mode, its operation is invisible.
In the HDR gamut tests, both modes show slight oversaturations. Both picture modes track the DCI-P3 gamut well and in practice, show vivid and natural color that will please nearly everyone. The final takeaway: use the HDR1000 mode for best results.
Viewing Angles
Large VA panels give up some off-axis image quality to their IPS competition, and the FV43U demonstrates this. You can see that even in the front view, there is a slight red shift at the sides, but this is because we do this testing with our camera 30 inches away, which is too close to sit in front of a 43-inch monitor. If you sit a more appropriate distance away, about 4 feet, the picture looks perfectly uniform in color and brightness. The red shift is more apparent at 45 degrees to the sides. The top view is also red with a significant reduction in gamma.
Screen Uniformity
To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.
A 12.38%, deviation is not too bad for such a large panel. Though the FV43U is in fifth place here, it is not a problem screen by any means. We saw slight hotspots in three corners of our sample when displaying a black field pattern. Higher brightness steps erased the issue, and we never saw a problem when playing games. Color uniformity is perfect, according to our measured tests.
Pixel Response and Input Lag
Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.
The main reason to consider a 43-inch monitor like the FV43U over a TV is speed. 144 Hz may not seem a lot faster than 120 Hz, but it does make a visual difference. That said, the Aorus is 1ms slower than its Acer and Asus 144 Hz counterparts. It is however significantly quicker than the 120 Hz Philips 55-inch screen. When total input lag is considered, the FV43U beats the 120 Hz monitors here and has much quicker response than most consumer TVs.
Gaming on a jumbo screen is a lot of fun. The sense of immersion and suspension of disbelief is about as good as it gets short of one of the best VR headsets. Console gamers already know this because Xboxes and PlayStations are usually connected to a big TV rather than a desktop monitor. But when considering the newest generation of products, the lines have become blurred. Consoles now support variable refresh rates, 120 Hz and Ultra HD resolution. PCs still have the upper hand in speed though with 240 Hz screens being commonplace and 360 Hz available from some high-end, 25-inch panels.
A large monitor that does it all is certainly a desirable product, and that’s where the Aorus FV43U and its like come in. It’s a little smaller than the average TV but significantly larger than most desktop monitors. At 43 inches and with a simple stand, it can grace a desk, entertainment center or wall with equal competence.
In our benchmark and hands-on tests, the FV43U performed admirably as a gaming monitor. It’s one of the few 4K screens that can run at 144 Hz and provides perfect Adaptive-Sync support with SDR and HDR. Plus, it delivers blur reduction from a backlight strobe that works with Adaptive-Sync -- something only a handful of monitors can do. Console gamers can also interface with it through HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 120 Hz, HDR and 4K. As a gaming screen, it truly can do it all.
When considering the FV43U against a traditional TV, you’ll miss out on a couple of things that we consider important. 24p support is a big one for anyone who enjoys watching movies. Even if you stream content, 24p is used in many shows from Netflix, Amazon and others. The FV43U converts all incoming 24p signals to 60 Hz. The other missing element is Dolby Vision support. Though this isn’t really a factor for gaming, it’s quite common in streams from Netflix and on 4K Blu-ray.
Aside from its weaknesses as a TV replacement, the Aorus FV43U amply fulfills its design goals as a premium gaming monitor. With solid speed and response, along with class-leading contrast and a huge color gamut, it’s our pick in the 43-inch genre. Users looking for the ultimate jumbo monitor experience should definitely check it out.
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