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ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q Monitor Review [T-break Tech (Middle East)]
[September 02, 2014]

ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q Monitor Review [T-break Tech (Middle East)]


(T-break Tech (Middle East) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Whenever I see a product from ASUS' Republic Of Gamers (ROG) lineup, I know that it means serious business. They don't just stamp it on everything that they make, and the ROG lineup of products is specifically tailored to the rather finicky gamer market. I say finicky simply because gamers aren't always easy to please, and the more seasoned ones can have some pretty specific requirements when its comes down to the PC hardware they use. This time around ASUS has introduced the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q gaming monitor, which is the first monitor we've seen to use NVIDIA's new G-Sync technology.



Build Quality & DesignThis 27" display is absolutely gorgeous to look at – its sheer size demands attention on your desk, yet its matte finish ensures that it doesn't stand out too much. The finishing is absolutely perfect, with a thin bezel around the display panel, and subtle hints of red around the base of the unit, thanks to a faintly glowing ring.

The stand that supports the display is also very well built, and supports a good level of height adjustment. You can even flip the screen around to a portrait orientation if you like, which is useful in some design scenarios. What's also great is that this unit ships together as one piece – no assembly required at all, so you just pop it out of the box, get it on your desk, and you're ready to go.


One area the PG278Q might surprise you is with the connectivity. While there are USB 3.0 ports available for connectivity, there is only one full-sized DisplayPort available, which is necessary to take advantage of G-Sync. This means that you can't use this monitor to connect a secondary device such as a gaming console, which is a bit of a shame. Still, if you're buying this purely for PC gaming, then you won't really mind the lack of inputs.

As seen on some other displays I've tested, ASUS has moved the display controls to the rear, which I still find very irritating to use. While this may have been done for design purposes, I really think that ASUS should keep the OSD controls on the front of the device.

PerformanceThe PG278Q's biggest selling point is that it supports G-Sync, which is a technology from NVIDIA that allows the display to match its refresh rate with the actual framerate being produced in a game. This is often critical in PC gaming because it eliminates on-screen tearing and visible graphical glitches. The option to select higher refresh rates really makes the PG278Q shine, and games look butter-smooth on it.

However to really take advantage of G-Sync, you'll need a compatible graphics card. Typically an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti or better will do – our test bed was equipped with a GTX 780 Ti, which was more than adequate.

It's really incredible just how much of a difference G-Sync makes, especially on games like Tomb Raider. There's already a lot of things going on in the game in terms of particle effects, so keeping the game looking smooth is often a challenge, despite having a powerful rig. With G-Sync enabled and outputting to the PG278Q, the resulting output was much better and more enjoyable. Switching over to Titanfall produced similar results, with the game  staying in sync at all times with the action. I dare say that I even got a little bit better at the game as a result… There are also other modes and configurations you can play around with on the PG278Q. The ULMB Pulse Width allows you to adjust the panel's background lighting a bit, so to reduce motion blur. The only point to note is that you can't use it if you're also using G-Sync. There's also a GamePlus mode which puts a targeting reticle on your screen, which comes in handy for FPS games.

ConclusionHands down, the PG278Q is one of the best monitors for PC gaming, simply because its G-Sync capabilities will quite literally take your gaming to the next level. Priced at $750 (AED 2,770 ) it's a worthwhile investment if you're looking for a comfortably sized panel which will deliver exceptional performance whether you're gaming, designing, or watching movies on your PC.

The post ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q Monitor Review appeared first on tbreak.ae.

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