ASUS Outs ROG Swift PG278QE: 27-inch WQHD with 165Hz

btarunr · Mar 25, 2019

ASUS today rolled out the ROG Swift PG278QE, a 27-inch planar gaming monitor with stellar gaming-grade specifications. To begin with, you get WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution, with 165 Hz refresh-rate, 1 ms (GTG) response time, and support for NVIDIA G-Sync. It also packs TÜV Rheinland-certified blue light reduction technology that reduces eye fatigue from extended gameplay sessions. ASUS did not mention panel type, however, looking at its 170°/160° (H/V) viewing-angles, we guess it could be TN-film based. Inputs include DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4. The company didn't reveal pricing.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

kastriot · Mar 25, 2019

G-Sync..

medi01 · Mar 25, 2019

btarunr said:
G-Sync

cucker tarlson · Mar 25, 2019

always failing to mention that all gsync panels support ulmb

Prima.Vera · Mar 25, 2019

btarunr said:
stellar gaming-grade specifications

And then it's a stellar TN-film type of LCD....
Stellar dust....

racer243l · Mar 25, 2019

Available sometime within the next two or three years. Just like the PG35VQ. Maybe they even add a DAC to it in the meantime... :wtf:

ShurikN · Mar 25, 2019

The company didn't reveal pricing

It's Asus, it's bound to be overpriced...

PanicLake · Mar 25, 2019

cucker tarlson said:
always failing to mention that all gsync panels support ulmb

So? That is one of the last priorities in a monitor to me.
1) Panel technology: IPS(must), VA(maybe), TN(no no)
2) Resolution
3) Refresh rate
4) Variable Refresh Rate (No G-Sync)
5) Size
6) Power comsumption
x) Other stuff

Dream Monitor: https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-38GL950G-B-gaming-monitor
Hope they make a FreeSync version, but it will be probably way too expensive.

bonehead123 · Mar 25, 2019

TÜV Rheinland-certified

Now this is a new one on me... is this supposed to actually mean something, anything, or just some silly marketing mumbo-jumbo ??????

wolar · Mar 25, 2019

IPS isn't superior for gaming, it has plenty of problems tbh. For just gaming a good tier TN panel is superior(i guess depending on games, i am speaking for fast paced one)

londiste · Mar 25, 2019

So, this is a PG278Q (released back in 2015) again, with the added E. What is the difference?

Caring1 · Mar 25, 2019

"looking at its 170°/160° (H/V) viewing-angles, we guess it could be TN-film based"
Most likely a wrong guess based on the previous model being IPS.

londiste · Mar 25, 2019

Caring1 said:
"looking at its 170°/160° (H/V) viewing-angles, we guess it could be TN-film based"
Most likely a wrong guess based on the previous model being IPS.

PG278Q is TN, PG279Q is IPS.
PG278QE with 170/160 viewing angles is definitely also TN.

ZoneDymo · Mar 25, 2019

wolar said:
IPS isn't superior for gaming, it has plenty of problems tbh. For just gaming a good tier TN panel is superior(i guess depending on games, i am speaking for fast paced one)

I guess that depends on what you consider being "gaming".
If its purely performance, ya know, the people that run state of the art hardware but turn all graphics to as low as possible just to get as many frames per second as they can, then sure a TN panel would be fine.

For me however, I dont care much for that, I want it all to look good and with IPS's better colour space/reproduction etc, id rather have that.

cucker tarlson · Mar 25, 2019

wolar said:
IPS isn't superior for gaming, it has plenty of problems tbh. For just gaming a good tier TN panel is superior(i guess depending on games, i am speaking for fast paced one)

True.had an ips but couldn't stand the blb even though there wasn't much.if you're paying so much for ips then any bleeding is unacceptable.plus ips have no black color.people may think what they see is black but it's far from what you get on a va.
You're correct,better to settle for a nice tn with good gamma control,i'm very satisfied with my acer predator.

GinoLatino said:
So? That is one of the last priorities in a monitor to me.
1) Panel technology: IPS(must), VA(maybe), TN(no no)
2) Resolution
3) Refresh rate
4) Variable Refresh Rate (No G-Sync)
5) Size
6) Power comsumption
x) Other stuff

Dream Monitor: https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-38GL950G-B-gaming-monitor
Hope they make a FreeSync version, but it will be probably way too expensive.

It's got nothing to do with your preferences.It's a great feature and if you put power consumption ovet ulmb you got your priorities wrong.

Caring1 · Mar 25, 2019

londiste said:
PG278Q is TN, PG279Q is IPS.
PG278QE with 170/160 viewing angles is definitely also TN.

Interesting how the power consumption has more than doubled on this screen and is exactly the same as the previous IPS version.
I'm not convinced adding an earphone jack accounts for that.

Vayra86 · Mar 25, 2019

GinoLatino said:
So? That is one of the last priorities in a monitor to me.
1) Panel technology: IPS(must), VA(maybe), TN(no no)
2) Resolution
3) Refresh rate
4) Variable Refresh Rate (No G-Sync)
5) Size
6) Power comsumption
x) Other stuff

Dream Monitor: https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-38GL950G-B-gaming-monitor
Hope they make a FreeSync version, but it will be probably way too expensive.

To each his own, but this is what you're looking at

Note how ULMB/strobe is four times as 'fast' as a 120hz native render.

Enterprise24 · Mar 25, 2019

londiste said:
So, this is a PG278Q (released back in 2015) again, with the added E. What is the difference?

PG278Q that was release in 2014 is the first version and still considered one of the best 1440p 144-165Hz G-Sync TN monitor. Probably only one model that is free from the famous color banding issue.
PG278QR was release in 2017 and was update to 165Hz. This model is inferior to the first version. It suffer from huge color banding and clouding issue. Also aggressive panel coating could be a deal breaker for many people (The first model only use medium coating).
I guess PG278QE may try to address the problem of PG278QR. The later 1440p 144-165Hz TN panel from AUO seem to be much better at banding than early model. For example the ASUS counterpart Dell S2716DG was also suffered from huge color banding issue on early revision. It was mostly fixed on A08 and later revision. Also Dell S2719DGF which continue to use TN from AUO is completely free from color banding issue.

PS. TN panel is not always bad. Once properly calibrated (2.2 Gamma / 6500K White Point / 120 cd/m^2) the colors can looks good especially on newer 8 bit TN. The remaining issue is still gamma shift but that is just a natural trait of TN. Also any blur reduction technology work best on TN. There is none to less strobe crosstalk compared to moderate crosstalk on IPS and severe crosstalk on VA.

When you buy a monitors you have to pick poison bottles anyways. I can't stand against black crush and slow response time on VA that cause ghosting / inverse ghosing / strobe crosstalk. While I can live with gamma shift on TN and moderate level of black light bleed / IPS glow. So it is only TN or IPS for me. In the end I choose TN because price different is big at that time. 1440p 144-165Hz G-Sync TN cost $500 here while I need to spend another $400 for the same specs but being IPS models.

Vayra86 · Mar 25, 2019

Enterprise24 said:
PG278Q that was release in 2014 is the first version and still considered one of the best 1440p 144-165Hz G-Sync TN monitor. Probably only one model that is free from the famous color banding issue.
PG278QR was release in 2017 and was update to 165Hz. This model is inferior to the first version. It suffer from huge color banding and clouding issue. Also aggressive panel coating could be a deal breaker for many people (The first model only use medium coating).
I guess PG278QE may try to address the problem of PG278QR. The later 1440p 144-165Hz TN panel from AUO seem to be much better at banding than early model. For example the ASUS counterpart Dell S2716DG was also suffered from huge color banding issue on early revision. It was mostly fixed on A08 and later revision. Also Dell S2719DGF which continue to use TN from AUO is completely free from color banding issue.

PS. TN panel is not always bad. Once properly calibrated (2.2 Gamma / 6500K White Point / 120 cd/m^2) the colors can looks good especially on newer 8 bit TN. The remaining issue is still gamma shift but that is just a natural trait of TN. Also any blur reduction technology work best on TN. There is none to less strobe crosstalk compared to moderate crosstalk on IPS and severe crosstalk on VA.

When you buy a monitors you have to pick poison bottles anyways. I can't stand against black crush and slow response time on VA that cause ghosting / inverse ghosing / strobe crosstalk. While I can live with gamma shift on TN and moderate level of black light bleed / IPS glow. So it is only TN or IPS for me. In the end I choose TN because price different is big at that time. 1440p 144-165Hz G-Sync TN cost $500 here while I need to spend another $400 for the same specs but being IPS models.

A few notes about crosstalk. I'm not seeing any of it on my VA here; two key elements: 120hz instead of 144 or higher, and (ambient) temperatures. A warmed up VA is noticeably better at it, it gets 'faster' and that also eliminates quite a bit of the smearing you see in darker hues.

But you're absolutely right otherwise, every panel tech is a trade off.

PanicLake · Mar 25, 2019

cucker tarlson said:
True.had an ips but couldn't stand the blb even though there wasn't much.if you're paying so much for ips then any bleeding is unacceptable.plus ips have no black color.people may think what they see is black but it's far from what you get on a va.
You're correct,better to settle for a nice tn with good gamma control,i'm very satisfied with my acer predator.

Funny how some people assume that other will ONLY game on their monitor...

cucker tarlson said:
It's got nothing to do with your preferences.It's a great feature and if you put power consumption ovet ulmb you got your priorities wrong.

My priorities are straight on point on what I need. Who are you to say otherwise, you don't know what I do, where I live nor who pays my electrical bill.
Cheers!

The Terrible Puddle · Mar 25, 2019

So a normal flat monitor is called planar now...

PanicLake · Mar 25, 2019

Vayra86 said:
To each his own, but this is what you're looking at

Note how ULMB/strobe is four times as 'fast' as a 120hz native render.

Still...
Without reading an in dept review, ULMB can either look:
very good — with beautiful CRT-style motion clarity, no microstutters, and no noticeable double images.
or
very bad — with distracting side effects such as double images (strobe crosstak), poor colors, very dim, very microstuttery, flickery.

Source: https://www.blurbusters.com/faq/motion-blur-reduction/

Vayra86 · Mar 25, 2019

GinoLatino said:
Still...
Without reading a in dept review, ULMB can either look:
very good — with beautiful CRT-style motion clarity, no microstutters, and no noticeable double images.
or
very bad — with distracting side effects such as double images (strobe crosstak), poor colors, very dim, very microstuttery, flickery.

Source: https://www.blurbusters.com/faq/motion-blur-reduction/

Yes, but it is as so many things an option. And if you're in the market for a high refresh rate display with variable sync you're already in a situation where you would be switching display modes and options all the time, and prices are similar.

ULMB / strobe implementations do differ, as do all other monitor qualities. It just seems strange to omit a key feature for a high refresh rate display, because simply put, IPS without strobe can't even properly keep up with 144hz in G2G, all the high refresh gets you is more blur - or more ghosting from overdrive, which really looks about the same.

Enterprise24 · Mar 25, 2019

GinoLatino said:
Still...
Without reading an in dept review, ULMB can either look:
very good — with beautiful CRT-style motion clarity, no microstutters, and no noticeable double images.
or
very bad — with distracting side effects such as double images (strobe crosstak), poor colors, very dim, very microstuttery, flickery.

Source: https://www.blurbusters.com/faq/motion-blur-reduction/

On the bad side.
Strobe Crosstalk = Can't really do much on most monitor. Some that can adjust overdrive level may help reduce crosstalk. But most likely you will depend on panel type and manufacturer's mercy. The only blur reduction tech that allow user optimize to reduce crosstalk is BenQ DyAc. While ULMB is more like plug and play.
Poor colors = Not so much for modern blur reduction. This is not the day of Nvidia Lightboost. Gamma may skew a bit like from 2.2 to 2.3. Solution is calibrate monitor both normal mode and ULMB mode.
Very dim = On older models like PG278Q (2014) I would still say not likely. These old models still capable of hitting 120 cd/m^2. Should work find on most room unless you want to use monitor outdoor. On newer models like 1080p 240Hz TN G-Sync they can hit 250-275 cd/m^2. Overkill anyways.
Very microstuttery. Yes if you play unoptimized games that have poor / not smooth frametimes because in ULMB mode there is no "blur" to mask those stutter.
Flickery = depend. It is not as high as older monitor that don't use some kind of flicker free. This is personal preference. Some may OK with it while some may avoid it.

Xuper · Mar 25, 2019

Vayra86 said:
To each his own, but this is what you're looking at

Note how ULMB/strobe is four times as 'fast' as a 120hz native render.

wow CRT is still king ?

System Name	RBMK-1000
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
Cooling	DeepCool Gammax L240 V2
Memory	2x 8GB G.Skill Sniper X
Video Card(s)	Palit GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GameRock
Storage	Western Digital Black NVMe 512GB
Display(s)	BenQ 1440p 60 Hz 27-inch
Case	Corsair Carbide 100R
Audio Device(s)	ASUS SupremeFX S1220A
Power Supply	Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W
Mouse	ASUS ROG Strix Impact
Keyboard	Gamdias Hermes E2
Software	Windows 11 Pro

System Name	My PC
Processor	4670K@4.4GHz
Motherboard	Gryphon Z87
Cooling	CM 212
Memory	2x8GB+2x4GB @2400GHz
Video Card(s)	XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS Black Edition 1425MHz OC+, 8GB
Storage	Intel 530 SSD 480GB + Intel 510 SSD 120GB + 2x500GB hdd raid 1
Display(s)	HP envy 32 1440p
Case	CM Mastercase 5
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Power Supply	Antec 620W
Mouse	G502
Keyboard	G910
Software	Win 10 pro

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Storage	500GB SSD
Display(s)	14" OLED screen of the laptop
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Benchmark Scores	3050 scores good 15-20% lower than average, despite ASUS's claims that it has uber cooling.

System Name	Purple rain
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Memory	16GB 4133 CL16-16-16-31 Viper Steel
Video Card(s)	RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
Storage	SU900 128,8200Pro 1TB,850 Pro 512+256+256,860 Evo 500,XPG950 480, Skyhawk 2TB
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Case	P600S Silent w. Alpenfohn wing boost 3 ARGBT+ fans
Audio Device(s)	K612 Pro w. FiiO E10k DAC,W830BT wireless
Power Supply	Superflower Leadex Gold 850W
Mouse	G903 lightspeed+powerplay,G403 wireless + Steelseries DeX + Roccat rest
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Benchmark Scores	A LOT

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Cooling	Noctua NH-D15
Memory	32GB(2x16) DDR5@6600MHz G-Skill Trident Z5
Video Card(s)	ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3080 AMP Holo
Storage	2TB SK Platinum P41 SSD + 4TB SanDisk Ultra SSD + 500GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD
Display(s)	Acer Predator X34 3440x1440@100Hz G-Sync
Case	NZXT PHANTOM410-BK
Audio Device(s)	Creative X-Fi Titanium PCIe
Power Supply	Corsair 850W
Mouse	Logitech Hero G502 SE
Software	Windows 11 Pro - 64bit
Benchmark Scores	30FPS in NFS:Rivals

System Name	Shiny Beast 2.0
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5950x
Motherboard	Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
Cooling	Corsair H150i Elite Capillex
Memory	32GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB 3600Mhz CL17
Video Card(s)	Asus Strix RTX 3090 OC
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro 1TB, Samsung 970 Evo 1TB, Samsung 860 Evo 1TB, Crucial MX500 2TB, WD Black 2TB
Display(s)	Asus PG35VQ 3440x1440 200Hz GSync
Case	Corsair 500D SE RGB
Audio Device(s)	Logitech Z906
Power Supply	Corsair HX1000 Platinum
Mouse	SteelSeries Rival 600
Keyboard	Logitech K750

Processor	Ryzen 5600
Motherboard	X570 I Aorus Pro
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Power Supply	Ion SFX 650
Mouse	G703 (TTC Gold 60M)
Keyboard	Keychron V1 (Akko Matcha Green) / Apex m500 (Gateron milky yellow)
Software	W10

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Motherboard	AZW SEI
Cooling	Fan w/heat pipes + side & rear vents
Memory	64GB Crucial DDR4-3200 (2x 32GB)
Video Card(s)	Iris XE
Storage	WD Black SN850X 8TB m.2, Seagate 2TB SSD + SN850 8TB x2 in an external enclosure
Display(s)	2x Samsung 43" & 2x 32"
Case	Practically identical to a mac mini, just purrtier in slate blue, & with 3x usb ports on the front !
Audio Device(s)	Yamaha ATS-1060 Bluetooth Soundbar & Subwoofer
Power Supply	65w brick
Mouse	Logitech MX Master 2
Keyboard	Logitech G613 mechanical wireless
VR HMD	Whahdatiz ???
Software	Windows 10 pro, with all the unnecessary background shitzu turned OFF !
Benchmark Scores	PDQ

Processor	13700KF - 5.7GHZ
Motherboard	Z690 UNIFY-X
Cooling	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 (NF-A12x25)
Memory	2x16 G.SKILL M-DIE (7200-34-44-44-28)
Video Card(s)	XFX MERC 7900XT
Storage	1TB KINGSTON KC3000
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Software	Windows 11
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Storage	2TB Samsung 980 PRO, 4TB WD Black SN850X
Display(s)	42" LG C2 OLED, 27" ASUS PG279Q
Case	Thermaltake Core P5
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion+ Platinum 760W
Mouse	Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
Keyboard	Corsair K100 RGB
VR HMD	HTC Vive Cosmos

System Name	H7 Flow 2024
Processor	AMD 5800X3D
Motherboard	Asus X570 Tough Gaming
Cooling	Custom liquid
Memory	32 GB DDR4
Video Card(s)	Intel ARC A750
Storage	Crucial P5 Plus 2TB.
Display(s)	AOC 24" Freesync 1m.s. 75Hz
Mouse	Lenovo
Keyboard	Eweadn Mechanical
Software	W11 Pro 64 bit

System Name	Cyberline
Processor	Intel Core i7 2600k -> 12600k
Motherboard	Asus P8P67 LE Rev 3.0 -> Gigabyte Z690 Auros Elite DDR4
Cooling	Tuniq Tower 120 -> Custom Watercoolingloop
Memory	Corsair (4x2) 8gb 1600mhz -> Crucial (8x2) 16gb 3600mhz
Video Card(s)	AMD RX480 -> RX7800XT
Storage	Samsung 750 Evo 250gb SSD + WD 1tb x 2 + WD 2tb -> 2tb MVMe SSD
Display(s)	Philips 32inch LPF5605H (television) -> Dell S3220DGF
Case	antec 600 -> Thermaltake Tenor HTCP case
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite 2i4 (USB)
Power Supply	Seasonic 620watt 80+ Platinum
Mouse	Elecom EX-G
Keyboard	Rapoo V700
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64bit

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Cooling	CPU: Thermalright Peerless Assassin / Case: Phanteks T30-120 x3
Memory	32GB Corsair Vengeance 30CL6000
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Case	Lian Li A3 mATX White
Audio Device(s)	Harman Kardon AVR137 + 2.1
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Mouse	Steelseries Aerox 5
Keyboard	Lenovo Thinkpad Trackpoint II
VR HMD	HD 420 - Green Edition ;)
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Motherboard	Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master
Cooling	Thermaltake TH420 V2 White
Memory	KLEVV CRAS V RGB DDR5 48GB (2x24GB)7200 MT/s 34-44-44-84 @ 8000 MT/s 36-49-46-76 1.52V VDD/1.4V VDDQ
Video Card(s)	ASUS Strix RTX 4090 LC OC with two more T30 @ +100mv +150Mhz core +1963Mhz mem (~3045Mhz core)
Storage	990 Pro 4TB (Game) Transcend 220S 1TB (Win) WD 250GB (Linux) Galax 120GB (OC test) Seagate HDD 4TB
Display(s)	Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 49" 5120x1440 240Hz calibrated by X-Rite i1 Display Pro Plus
Case	Coolermaster HAF 700 White with 9x Phanteks T30
Audio Device(s)	Q Acoustics M20 HD speakers with Q Acoustics QB12 subwoofer
Power Supply	Thermaltake PF3 1200W 80+ Platinum
Mouse	Logitech G Pro Wireless
Keyboard	Logitech G913 (GL Linear)
VR HMD	Logitech G923 with Logitech Driving Force Shifter
Software	Windows 11, Ubuntu 24.10

System Name	Home PC
Processor	Ryzen 5900X
Motherboard	Asus Prime X370 Pro
Cooling	Thermaltake Contac Silent 12
Memory	2x8gb F4-3200C16-8GVKB - 2x16gb F4-3200C16-16GVK
Video Card(s)	XFX RX480 GTR
Storage	Samsung SSD Evo 120GB -WD SN580 1TB - Toshiba 2TB HDWT720 - 1TB GIGABYTE GP-GSTFS31100TNTD
Display(s)	Cooler Master GA271 and AoC 931wx (19in, 1680x1050)
Case	Green Magnum Evo
Power Supply	Green 650UK Plus
Mouse	Green GM602-RGB ( copy of Aula F810 )
Keyboard	Old 12 years FOCUS FK-8100

ASUS Outs ROG Swift PG278QE: 27-inch WQHD with 165Hz

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