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There is no single best OLED preset. The right HDR mode depends on your monitor’s firmware and the scene you are viewing; peak brightness figures usually describe a small highlight rather than a bright full-screen image; and the usable refresh rate depends on the monitor, input, graphics device, resolution and game. Start with the exact model’s manual, then configure the monitor, operating system and game as one system.
What “best settings” means on an OLED gaming monitor
OLED displays can control each pixel independently, so they produce very deep blacks and strong contrast. That does not mean every OLED should use the same brightness, HDR or refresh-rate values. Manufacturers tune their tone mapping, brightness limiting, HDR modes and on-screen display (OSD) controls differently.
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A useful setup has four goals:
- Use an HDR mode that suits the room and the type of scene you play.
- Match operating-system and game HDR settings to the monitor’s capabilities.
- Run the highest refresh rate that the complete monitor, cable, graphics device and game can actually deliver.
- Balance brightness and performance against power use and image-retention precautions.
Treat product specifications as boundaries, not as calibration instructions. A certification badge or a headline peak number does not tell Windows or a game which slider value is universally correct.
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Choose the HDR mode by scene, not by the biggest number
True Black 400 or 500
MSI describes True Black 400 and True Black 500 as certification levels with a minimum peak-luminance requirement of at least 400 or 500 nits and a maximum black-level luminance below 0.0005 nits. Those are descriptions of the VESA certification requirements as presented by MSI, not a promise that every scene will appear at that brightness.
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MSI’s August 7, 2025 guidance says its True Black modes can look brighter than Peak 1000 in scenes with a higher average picture level (APL)—in other words, scenes where a larger portion of the screen is bright. This can make True Black a sensible choice in a bright room or in games with daylight, snow, white interfaces and other broad bright areas.
Peak 1000
MSI says its Peak 1000 mode reaches the headline 1000-nit peak under an APL 3% condition. A 3% APL test window is a small bright area against a mostly darker image. It is useful for specular highlights such as a sun glint, muzzle flash or reflective metal, but it is not the same as sustaining 1000 nits across the whole panel.
MSI’s author Quan summarized the trade-off this way: “In real-world usage, many scenes have a much higher average picture level (APL), and in these situations, True Black 400 / 500 can appear brighter than Peak 1000 nits.” That is manufacturer guidance for MSI displays, not a universal rule for every OLED monitor.
EOTF Boost and other vendor controls
Some MSI monitors include EOTF Boost, a proprietary option intended to raise brightness at the same APL. If your model offers it, read the model manual and compare it with the monitor’s normal HDR modes. Do not assume that an option with a similar name on another brand behaves the same way.
For any brand, select the mode that preserves detail in both shadows and highlights in the games you actually play. A mode that produces a spectacular tiny highlight can make larger bright areas look less intense, while a True Black mode may look more convincing in a bright scene.
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Peak brightness is not full-screen brightness
OLED specifications often list several different brightness concepts. “Peak” generally refers to a limited bright area, while “typical” or “minimum standard brightness” describes a more sustained condition. The test window or APL matters as much as the number.
| Example | Published figure or condition | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Peak 1000 mode | 1000 nits at APL 3%, according to MSI | A small highlight can reach the headline value; a larger bright scene places different demands on the panel. |
| LG 27GS93QE-B | 250 nits minimum standard brightness; 275 nits typical standard brightness | These are the model’s stated standard-brightness figures, not a universal OLED target. |
| LG 27GS93QE-B | 1300-nit advertised peak; True Black 400 value specified at 10% APL | The peak is not sustained full-screen brightness, and the 10% APL qualification must stay attached to the True Black claim. |
When comparing monitors, ask what APL or test window accompanies a brightness claim. A 1300-nit peak and a 275-nit typical brightness can both be accurate for the same display because they describe different test conditions.
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LG 27GS93QE-B example
LG’s UK product page for the 27GS93QE-B suggests a brighter setup consisting of:
- Disable Smart Energy Saving.
- Select the Gamer 1 picture mode.
- Set Brightness to 100.
- Set Peak Brightness to High.
LG warns that these choices can increase power use and may increase burn-in risk. They are instructions for that specific model, not a universal starting preset for all OLED monitors. If your display has different labels, do not map them one-for-one to these values.
Why copying another model’s numbers fails
OSD names such as Peak Brightness, HDR Tone Mapping, Smart Energy Saving and Gamer modes can control different processing stages from one manufacturer to another. Firmware revisions can also alter behavior. Use the values above only when you own the 27GS93QE-B and have confirmed the same menu labels and firmware context.
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Set refresh rate and adaptive sync from the whole signal chain
Choose the highest refresh rate that your monitor, input, graphics device, resolution and game can sustain together. A 240Hz panel does not guarantee 240Hz in every connection or application.
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|---|---|---|
| LG 27GS93QE-B | QHD at 240Hz over HDMI 2.1; NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible; AMD FreeSync Premium Pro; VESA AdaptiveSync | Use a compatible PC output and a connection that supports QHD at 240Hz. The game still must render enough frames to benefit from that rate. |
| MSI MAG 272UP QD-OLED X24 | 4K at 240Hz; HDMI 2.1 with 48Gbps bandwidth; VRR and ALLM; console play up to 120Hz | PC and console limits differ. A console can be limited to 120Hz even though the panel is specified for 240Hz. |
Adaptive sync reduces tearing by varying the display refresh to follow the graphics output within the supported range. Enable the feature on the monitor and in the graphics device’s display controls when both support it. Then verify the game is using the intended resolution and refresh rate rather than assuming the desktop setting carries over.
On a console, check the console’s own video-output screen, the monitor input specification and the game’s performance mode. The MSI example explicitly lists console play up to 120Hz; that is a device-path limit, not evidence that every console can use 240Hz.
A practical setup sequence
1. Confirm the display path
- Check the monitor manual for the maximum refresh rate at your target resolution and for the ports that support it.
- Check the graphics card or console output specification.
- Use an input and cable rated for that combination. For the MSI MAG 272UP QD-OLED X24 example, HDMI 2.1 is specified with 48Gbps bandwidth.
- Connect directly to the monitor while configuring it; adapters, docks and older receivers can impose lower limits.
2. Configure the monitor OSD
- Choose the monitor’s HDR mode that matches your room and games. Start with the manufacturer’s model-specific recommendation rather than a generic internet preset.
- Enable the monitor’s adaptive-sync or VRR control if the manual requires a separate switch.
- Set the desired picture mode. On the LG 27GS93QE-B, LG’s brighter example uses Gamer 1.
- Review energy-saving and OLED-care options. Disabling an energy-saving feature can raise brightness and power use, and LG cautions that its brighter settings may increase burn-in risk.
3. Select the operating-system refresh rate
Open the system display settings, select the OLED monitor, and choose the highest refresh rate that is actually offered at your target resolution. If the highest value disappears when HDR is enabled, re-check the connection, port mode and bandwidth before lowering other image settings.
4. Turn on HDR in the operating system
Enable HDR only after the display is in its HDR mode. The operating system can expose a different brightness slider or calibration step in HDR than in SDR. Follow the on-screen calibration for your display and avoid treating a value from another monitor as a universal reference.
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5. Configure each game
- Enable the game’s HDR mode if it has one.
- Use the game’s black-level, paper-white or logo-visibility test so dark details are barely visible rather than crushed.
- Adjust the peak-brightness or luminance target only when the game asks for one, and keep it consistent with the monitor’s documented capability and selected HDR mode.
- Select the intended resolution and refresh rate, then enable the game’s VRR option if it provides one.
6. Verify with real scenes
Check a dark scene with small highlights and a bright scene containing large white or daylight areas. If highlights look impressive but broad bright scenes look muted, compare the monitor’s True Black and Peak modes; the APL trade-off may explain the difference. If the image is washed out or shadow detail vanishes, return to the game’s calibration pattern and the monitor’s documented HDR behavior instead of raising every brightness control.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare OLED monitors or HDR modes
Use the same questions for every candidate. This avoids choosing a display solely because its peak number is larger.
| Comparison axis | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Highlight peak versus bright-scene output | Peak value, APL or test-window qualification, and typical or minimum standard brightness | A higher small-window peak may not look brighter in a mostly bright game scene. |
| HDR certification | Certification level and the vendor’s stated test conditions | Certification names are not universal calibration values. |
| Refresh rate at target resolution | Resolution, port, color mode and maximum refresh rate | A panel’s headline rate may require a particular input and graphics output. |
| Variable refresh | VRR technology, supported range and device compatibility | Adaptive sync must work across the actual monitor, GPU or console and game. |
| OSD and care controls | Energy saving, peak-brightness modes, tone mapping and OLED-care features | Controls affect image level, power use and retention-management trade-offs. |
The LG and MSI examples demonstrate why there is no universal winner: one lists QHD at 240Hz with several PC adaptive-sync standards, while the other lists 4K at 240Hz, 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 and console VRR up to 120Hz. Choose according to the resolution and device you use, not the badge alone.
Troubleshooting common results
HDR looks dim in bright scenes
- Compare the monitor’s True Black and Peak modes. MSI specifically notes that True Black 400/500 can appear brighter at higher APL.
- Check whether the selected mode’s peak claim uses a small APL window.
- Confirm that the operating system and game are both in HDR and that no energy-saving control is reducing output.
Highlights clip or look less detailed
- Re-run the game’s HDR logo or luminance calibration.
- Check the game’s peak-luminance value against the monitor’s model documentation rather than entering a generic 1000- or 1300-nit number.
- Try the monitor’s alternative HDR mode; a different tone-mapping curve may preserve highlight detail better for that game.
The monitor will not show 240Hz
- Verify the target resolution and refresh-rate combination in the monitor manual.
- Check that the selected port and cable support the required bandwidth.
- Confirm the graphics device output and the game’s own display setting.
- On a console, check whether the platform is limited to 120Hz; the MSI MAG 272UP QD-OLED X24 specification lists that console ceiling despite its 240Hz panel rate.
VRR causes unexpected behavior
- Confirm that VRR is enabled in both the monitor OSD and the graphics device or console.
- Use a connection and resolution listed as compatible by the monitor manufacturer.
- Test the game at a stable frame-rate range supported by the display; adaptive sync cannot create frames the system does not render.
The image is bright but power use or retention is a concern
Reconsider whether maximum brightness is necessary for your room. LG’s 27GS93QE-B guidance explicitly warns that disabling Smart Energy Saving and using Brightness 100 with Peak Brightness High can increase power use and may increase burn-in risk. Keep OLED-care features enabled unless the model documentation gives a specific reason to change them, and avoid leaving static bright elements on screen for long periods.
A concise decision guide
- Bright room or mostly bright games: start by testing the monitor’s True Black mode, because MSI says it can appear brighter than Peak 1000 at higher APL.
- Dark room with small, intense highlights: test Peak 1000 where the model supports it, remembering that MSI’s 1000-nit figure is tied to APL 3%.
- LG 27GS93QE-B owner seeking LG’s brighter example: use Gamer 1, Brightness 100 and Peak Brightness High with Smart Energy Saving disabled, while accepting LG’s power and burn-in cautions.
- Competitive PC gaming: use the highest refresh rate available at the desired resolution and enable compatible adaptive sync.
- Console gaming: verify the console’s actual output ceiling; a 240Hz monitor may still operate at 120Hz on a console.
The best result is the one that keeps shadow detail, highlight detail, broad-scene brightness and motion clarity balanced for your hardware and room. Manufacturer figures and modes are valuable starting points, but they must be interpreted with their APL, resolution, input and device qualifications intact.
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