Sceptre C305B-200UN Review

Sceptre’s C305B-200UN is a towering ultrawide beast amidst low-budget gaming monitors. Packing a 30-inch display, 200Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time, the C305B-200UN is a ridiculously fast monitor at its price range.

The monitor is founded upon a VA panel with superior contrast and color depth.  On paper, it seems to be a strong contender for the Best Gaming Monitor Under 300 dollars.

We have reviewed this monitor to help you find out whether the C305B-200UN is worth your money!

Sceptre C305B-200UN REVIEW SUMMARY

Specifications

Screen size: 30-inch | Panel Type: VA | Resolution:  2560×1080 px | Refresh rate: 200Hz | Brightness: 270cd/m2 | Response time (G-t-G) : 5 ms |  Color SRGB coverage: 90% | Aspect Ratio: 21:9 | Curved: 1800R |Signal Input:   1 x DisplayPort (200Hz) , 1 x HDMI 2.0 (165Hz), 2 x HDMI 1.4 (75Hz) |  Audio output:  Headphone out (3,5mm)

PROS Display Port with 200Hz refresh rate AMD FreeSync capability Ultra-wide screen with thin bezels Picture-in-Picture Mode available CONS VA panel with low color accuracy May exhibit ghosting at high refresh rates Check Price On Amazon

Image Quality

The C305B-200UN monitor renders out a startlingly defined resolution of 2560 x 1080 pixels.

The monitor exhibits a 90% sRGB palette, producing a more diverse range of colors in each of the RGB arrays. It delivers bright colors with good uniformity making the image quality refreshingly more realistic. The monitor’s color reproduction is pretty good for its price point. The C305B-200UN exhibits a superior contrast which is typical of VA panels. The darks are more detailed and clear which is a big plus for gamers during dark scenes. You will not be bothered by a dim backlight in the C305B-200UN, as it is powered by an industrially modified, Sceptre-exclusive light source that adapts readily to any environment.

That said, it is not one of the brightest monitors in the market (250 nits peak brightness), but it gets bright enough to be used comfortably in moderately lit rooms.

The extra pixels (2560×1080) packed in the panel provide for an a pixel density of 94 PPI, which makes it suitable for general productivity . However, pixel density above of 100ppi is best if you intend to use a monitor for heavy text work.

Overall the monitor has a satisfactory image quality that is more than adequate for gaming and decent enough for mixed usage

Performance

The C305B-200UN offers the coveted blend of ultrawide gaming (30 inches @ 2560x1080p,  21:9 aspect ratio) and ultra-high refresh rates at an affordable price.

As promised, the monitor manages with exceptional agility a refresh rate of 200 Hz over the Display Port, 165Hz over the HDMI 2.0 port and 75Hz over the remaining two HDMI ports.

The panel offers a panoramic view stretching across the entire width of the display whilst playing games that support the 21:9 aspect ratio. 

Our hands-on testing of the monitor included playing several AAA titles like PUBG, Witcher 3. CS:GO and here is what we found. The monitor is remarkably responsive and leaves no negative impressions as far as the input lag is concerned. The 5ms response time is a tad towards the higher side for our liking. At high refresh rates, the monitor is vulnerable to a little bit of ghosting (which isn’t an anomaly amongst budget VA panels). This doesn’t prove to be a deal-breaker for us as the monitor offers plenty of gaming goodness. Visibility in the dark scenes is pretty good. The pixels display heightened contrast which makes this monitor particularly useful for games like CS:GO where one has to quickly spot enemy players hiding in shadowy zones.

Also, the high refresh rate and wider field of view make this monitor a perfect choice for first-person shooters.

While a mid-range graphics card might struggle to drive this beast, the monitor’s freesync technology competently handles frame rate fluctuations to eliminate stuttering and tearing for a smoother gaming experience.

There is an obvious downside to the performance, given the magnanimous task of producing 200 frames per second at 2560 x 1080p quality. Only the most powerful graphics cards can fully utilize the monitor’s potential. Therefore, you require a powerful GPU and CPU setup to get the most out of C305B-200UN.

Design & Build Quality

With an 1800R curved screen bearing a 30-inch display, the C305B-200UN monitor becomes a prominent fixture in a room setting. It’s purposefully designed shape is targeted towards gamers, allowing increased customizability for those who spend long hours rooted to the screen.  

In terms of appearance, the C305B-200UN radiates a distinctly “gamery” look. It is colored in metal black with an aesthetic triangular backbone, which is illuminated by dual red LED strips. The monitor comes equipped with decent built-in speakers to eliminate any immediate need for an external audio setup.

The C305B-200UN can support simple wall mounting equipment, as well as a VESA mount with 75 x 75mm measurements. Along with that, the monitor’s weight is an admirably low 12 lbs. This is to be expected, of course, but given the monitor’s ultra-wide screen, the low weight makes it easy to be mounted and carried without risk of damage.

Although the screen is marred by noticeable black bars across the sides, the bezel thickness is significantly reduced as compared to conventional monitors, which grants gamers an even more immersive experience.

Connectivity

The C305B-200UN has an installed connectivity panel with 3 HDMI input ports and 1 Display Port. The Display Port enables refresh rates up to 200 Hz, which is not a trait you would find in many low-priced monitors. You would, of course, need a PC that can support DisplayPort input in order to actually utilize this feature, but it’s nice to have DP capability nonetheless. Moreover, Sceptre provides a DP cable within the initial product itself, so you won’t need any external cable investment if that’s a concern.

The only downside is that there is only 1 Display Port, so those looking to plug in more than one 200Hz inputs might have to tie down their refresh rates to 165Hz over HDMI. The HDMI ports, on the other hand, can pump some striking refresh rates ranging from 120Hz and even up to 165Hz, and can be chained to multiple input sources.

Features

The C305B-200UN is packed to the brim with excitingly innovative features that will enhance the ease and enjoyment of your gaming experience. To start off, the monitor possesses FreeSync capability, which is an important element for balancing the side effects of large refresh rates.

If your PC has an AMD GPU, you can activate FreeSync and match the monitor’s refresh rate with the graphics card’s frame rate, thereby removing any stuttering or tearing you may experience in your games. This feature is essential for those gamers hoping to course through 200Hz refresh rates.

Another great feature of C305B-200UN is the wardrobe of installed display presets. From FPS (first person shooting) to RTS (real time strategy), these presets can be swiped on according to the type of game you play, and will adjust the monitor’s display and control settings to facilitate your gaming mode.

Moreover, Sceptre gives you a free hand in tinkering with your display’s gamma/contrast settings. You can now manipulate the image quality to your preference with far greater options.

Also, the C305B-200UN has a blissfully handy Picture-in-Picture mode installed within. If you plan to set up multiple inputs without the extra monitors, you can now plaster both inputs on to the same screen, all with adjustable margins.

When it comes to gamer’s health, Sceptre leaves no stone unturned in providing the best features. The C305B-200UN is fitted with an agile blue light filter, which moderates the amount of eye-straining aura emitting from the screen. Apart from shifting the gradient to warm, soothing colors, the filter also works intuitively with the VA panel’s inherited contrast, making the display quality so much more engaging and relaxing.

Additionally the Anti-Flicker feature prevents the annoying screen flicker that adds to the viewing comfort of the user.

Summary

Considering the vast pile of features and abilities, the C305B-200UN stands certainly as a monitor to be respected. Under the umbrella of 300 dollar budget, this Sceptre product is one of a kind; ultra-wide, Full HD, 200Hz refresh rates and a curved screen: Who wouldn’t love it?

While, understandably, Sceptre did ignore certain features like G-sync to lower the monitor price, the overall performance and durability makes C305B-200UN a worthy bang for your buck!

The Sceptre C305B-200UN’s closest competitor in this price bracket is the AOC CQ27G1 with 2k resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate.

Some 1080p gaming monitors worth considering in this price bracket include the ASUS VG278Q, MSI OPTIX G27C2, and Acer Nitro VG271 that all support a 144 Hz refresh rate.