ASUS in partnership with NVIDIA announced at COMPUTEX 2019 their first Mini-LED powered PC monitor, which promises to bring the dimming zone game up to an unprecedented level - at least, on IPS technology. The usage of Mini-LED as lighting source for the ROG Swift PG27UQX means that there are many more areas that can be dimmed and brightened according to the displayed content: 576 of them, really, with each being comprised of mini LEDs that are a mere 200-300 micrometers in size.

The ROG Swift PG27UQX features a 27" panel with HDR support (HDR 1000 certification with up to 1,000 nits brightness). It's overclockable to a 144 Hz refresh rate, and color-wise offers DCI-P3 97% and Adobe RGB with quantum-dot technology for 99% coverage. ASUS says that the local dimming capabilities also allow for lower energy consumption (which does make sense). Connector-wise, we're looking at DisplayPort v1.4, HDMI (v2.0), 3x USB 3.0 and 1x 3.5 mm earphone jack. Being a G-Sync Ultimate panel, it features NVIDIA's latest G-Sync processor, which should bringing pricing to even higher levels than you are already expecting.

The title already says most of it, but here it is: the Acer EI491CR Amy be one of the most impressive monitors to grace this side of 2019, ticking most boxes considered relevant for a great gaming experience. The 49" monitor features a DFHD aspect ratio of 32:9. Those 40" of real-estate are populated by 38440 x 1080 pixels, in a VA panel with 8-bit color reproduction and 4ms gray-to-gray response time. A 1800R curvature keeps all parts of the screen within the same pupillary distance, enveloping your field of vision with what could otherwise be cropped screen edges.

The 144 Hz refresh rate (overclocked from a reference 120 Hz for the base panel this monitor employs) will enable ultra fluid gaming, especially when paired with FreeSync 2. FreeSync 2 that also makes an appearance in the monitor's display of HDR content, through its VESA HDR 400 certification. Typical contrast stands at 3000:1, and typical brightness at 400 cd/m² with color coverage hitting an impressive 90% DCI-P3 rating. 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI 2.0 and 2x HDMI 1.4 round out the inputs. The Acer EI491CR will be available, however, for a not-for-all-budgets $1199.

AOC today introduced what might be one of the most compelling arguments for a monitor upgrade I've ever seen in their CQ32G1 monitor. This seemingly checks all the boxes for either an AMD or NVIDIA (now that G-Sync has been opened up to FreeSync) users. The 31,5" VA, 1700R curved panel promises better image quality and color accuracy than a TN alternative, while the 2560 x 1440 resolution means there are a number of graphics cards that can run the latest games with above 60 FPS performance - and is a sweetspot resolution for those delicious, if rare, RTX effects. The 1 ms response time and 144 Hz refresh rate guarantee that users who want an even more fluid feel and pack serious graphics cards can do so on the cheap as well.

Sadly, the monitor doesn't support HDR content (maximum 300 cd/m² brightness), but for the price, I'd say users can't really complain about that. There's a 3000:1 static contrast ratio and 124% sRGB coverage; there are some AOC-exclusive technologies (such as Flicker-Free technology, LowBlue Mode, grey level control with AOC's Game Color, and AOC Dial). Image input is taken care of by 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x HDMI 1.4, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2. Cut corners include ergonomic capabilities (the stand only tilts (-4° ~ +21.5°).

ASUS today unveiled the obscenely wide ROG Strix XG49VQ 49-inch curved gaming monitor, with an aspect ratio of 32:9, or what you'd get if you put two 16:9 monitors side-by-side. With a resolution of 3840 x 1080, or half the pixels of 4K UHD, the monitor features an 1800R curvature. There are two notable branded features associated with this display: VESA DisplayHDR 400, and AMD FreeSync HDR. There are some impressive display specifications on tap, too, such as 144 Hz maximum refresh-rate, 178°/178° viewing-angles thanks to its VA panel, 4 ms (GTG) response time, and 450 cd/m² maximum brightness. Display inputs include DisplayPort 1.2a, and two HDMI 2.0 ports. The monitor features the full suite of ASUS GameFirst OSD utilities. You also get 5 W stereo speakers a 2-port USB 2.0 hub. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Display specialist AOC is proud to announce the arrival of the curved AG273QCG (Nvidia G-SYNC) and AG273QCX (AMD FreeSync 2 HDR) monitors of the third AGON generation. AOC's revamped and redesigned premium gaming monitor series is available starting from January 2019.

Designed for hardcore gamers, the AGON 3 models carry on with features of the past AGON displays such as refresh rates of up to 165 Hz, a high responsiveness of 1 ms, and now includes latest technologies such as AMD FreeSync 2 HDR and a refreshed sleek design, which in case of the AG273QCG has contributed to winning the "Red Dot Design Award 2018". Thanks to very high refresh rates of 165 Hz (AG273QCG) and 144 Hz (AG273QCX), very fast response times and variable refresh rate technologies both monitors are suited for fast-paced games.

After checking out MSI's newest graphics cards, we took a closer look at their laptops including the 17.3-inch GS75 Stealth which just so happens to be their most potent ultra-thin gaming notebook. It comes packing up to an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q to deliver the best possible gaming performance. In order to facilitate that MSI also used a 144 Hz 1080p display. The system also supports up to 32 GB of DDR4-2666 memory and has 2x NVMe M.2 / SATA-SSD combo slots and 1x NVMe M.2 SSD slot. It also features MSI's Cooler Boost Trinity+ technology which improves cooling for maximum performance. Meanwhile, the touchpad has a 35% larger surface area features a glass surface, and it also has support for multi-touch gestures. The keyboard is by SteelSeries and offers per-key RGB illumination, while sound is handled by Dynaudio using a passive radiator design. All in all, it has some beefy specifications for an ultra-thin to say the least.

GIGABYTE at CES 2019 took the lid of its ultra-secret AORUS monitor, which we covered earlier in January. It's now confirmed to be built around a 27-inch 1440p IPS panel with the flaunted 10-bit color and 144 Hz refresh rate with FreeSync support (here's hoping NVIDIA's G-Sync will support it as well). It is certified with VESA's DisplayHDR 400 (peak brightness of 400 nits). There's RGB lighting throughout the carcass of the monitor, a 90º swivel, gaming features such as Aim Stabilizer, Black Equalizer and Super Resolution, and the AORUS monitor is expected to roll out around $599.

Lenovo also showed off their Legion Y44w 3840x1200 ultra-wide monitor at CES and quite honestly it is vast measuring in at the 43.4 inches. The display makes use of a WVA borderless 1800R curved panel which offers a crisp image as it covers 99% of the sRGB, BT.709 and DCI-P3 color gamuts. Max brightness was listed as 450 cd/m2 with support for the HDR 400 (Vesa) standard. Naturally, in today's market, no gaming monitor would be caught dead at 60 Hz as such the Legion Y44w supports a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz with a gray to gray response time of 4 ms with Overdrive enabled. Oh, and it supports AMD FreeSync 2 technology just for good measure.

Creature comforts include a stand that offers lift, tilt and swivel functionality alongside detachable Harmon Kardon powered speakers. There is no shortage of input options either which consist of 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen2), 1x USB 3.1 Type-C(Gen1), Audio out, 4x USB 3.0 port Hub (1 with BC1.2). General availability is expected in April 2019. No information on pricing was available during our visit.

ASUS at CES showcased their upcoming lineup of ROG Strix gaming monitors specifically crafted for usage with AMD's FreeSync 2. The new monitors look to cater to most of the market with their diagonals and resolutions. These are premium solutions, with the smallest, the XG32VQR, sporting a 32" 1440p panel, 144 Hz native refresh rate, and VESA's HDR400 certification. The XG438Q ups the ante to a 43" panel and 4K resolution screen, with a 120 Hz base refresh rate (overclockable up to 144 Hz) and HDR 600, while the XG49VQ is of the ultra wide variety, featuring a DFHD (3840 x 1080) resolution, 144 Hz base refresh rate, and HDR 400.

All monitors feature a FreeSync 2 range of 48-120/144Hz, all employ a VA panel and a 4 ms response rating. The 43-inch sports 10-watt speakers, the 49-inch model has a pair of 5-watt speakers and the 32-inch XG32VQR lacks the completely. No pricing was available at time of writing, but these are ASUS' premium offering s for the FreeSync ecosystem, and with those specs, they likely won't come cheap.

Product context: HP showcased their new and upcoming Omen X Emperium 65 at CES, an NVIDIA BFGD (Big Format Gaming Display) with all the features the company deems premium and attractive to gamers: 4K resolution, a huge, 65" diagonal AMVA panel, HDR (1,000 nits of peak luminance and 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut) , G-Sync, and 120 - 144Hz refresh rate (144 Hz is overclocked) with a gray-to-gray response time is rated for 4ms. It features an incorporated sound bar with 120 W of power and three amps. An integrated NVIDIA Shield makes an appearance as well as a multimedia juggernaut solution. All of this in a $4,999 body, launching in February 2019.

Thoughts: Rollback. A $4,999 price-tag. Maybe this is just me, but NVIDIA seems to be finally introducing their BFGDs at the worst possible time, considering the company has just formally announced that their GeForce graphics cards would be finally supporting VESA's VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) standard. This brings with it FreeSync support - for monitors and, we'd expect, TV's as well, considering that the driver solution will be toggable by users even in a non-NVIDIA certified display.

Razer, the leading lifestyle brand for gamers, announced today its all-new 27-inch gaming monitor concept, the Razer Raptor. The desktop screen will be unveiled at CES 2019 as an early-design-phase model, with production units slated for release later this year. Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan says, "Razer has worked alongside partners in the past to bring the Razer experience to monitors, but the full potential was never fully realized. We have decided to tackle this space on our own and are very excited to expand our presence to include desktop displays."

In yet another entry to LG's (still upcoming) UltraGear lineup of gaming monitors, the curtains have been shoved aside for the 27GL850G to make its first appearance. While49" and 38" monitors are all well and good, and LG does have the specs on them to make them attractive buying options, some users don't really like to have that big a black mirror in front of them. And that's where the 27" diagonal of the LG 27GL850G comes in handy.

The panel is of the Nano IPS type, with a 2560 x 1440 (WQHD) resolution and support for a 160 Hz refresh rate (after overclocking, via the embedded OSD, from the native 144 Hz ). NVIDIA G-SYNC is present, supporting a variable refresh rate range of 30 - 160Hz. A 1000:1 static contrast ratio, 178° horizontal and vertical viewing angles, and a flicker-free enhanced phosphor backlight round out the specs.It's expected that the 27GL850G, via its Nano IPS tech, covers ~98% DCI-P3 (~135%) color space. Red LED lighting is present on the back of the monitor. A VESA mount is present, and tilt, height and pivot adjustments are possible. 1x DP, 1x HDMI, 2x USB 3.0 ports (with fast-charging - plus 1x USB 3.0 upstream port), a 3.5mm headphone jack and DC power input (external power brick) are present as well.

GIGABYTE's gaming brand AORUS has been expanding its product portfolio to just about any piece of kit a PC gamer can and will buy. From graphics cards to motherboards, RAM, and all manner of peripherals, there's little pieces of hardware that were missing - and AORUS is apparently preparing the last piece of the puzzle in the form of a FreeSync compatible monitor.

Japanese company IO Data has announced a pair of monitors with a blazing fast 240 Hz refresh rate and a sub-1 ms response time. Part of the reason the response time is so low is the usage of TN (Twisted Nematic) panels on the design, which have historically presented faster response times than other mainstream panel technologies. These are available in a 24" size with varying specs according to the refresh rate: there are 60 Hz, 144 Hz, and 240 Hz panels, each with a maximum brightness of 250, 350, and 400 cd/m². Response times vary in 0.8, 0.7, and 0.6 ms, respectively. It's unclear which technology was used to achieve these response times - either some sort of strobe-based lighting, or an impressive overdrive function.

IO Data only makes its monitors available to their domestic market of Japan, so it's likely these won't be available for the global market. However, since these panels aren't manufactured in-house, but are purchased from a supplier (the amount of companies that have the capability to produce their own LCD panels is thin, to say the least), other companies are bound to introduce products based on these panels. IO Data's GigaCrysta-series displays with a sub-1 ms response time are currently available for $142 (60Hz), $265 (144 Hz) and $380 (240 Hz) on Amazon japan.

LG at CES 2019 is set to announce two new monitors on its "Ultra" lineup, which includes the UltraWide and UltraGear product lines. The UltraWide is pretty self-explanatory, and will be populated by the 49WL95 monitor, a 49" IPS, dual QHD (5120 x 1440) resolution panel with a 32:9 aspect ratio (there's support for up to three PbP modes simultaneously, thus making this a triple monitor setup, should you so choose). 99% coverage of the sRGB color space ensures faithful color reproduction. There's also support for HDR10 content, though the typical brightness of the monitor stands at 350 nits (peak brightness not disclosed). Connectors stand at 1x USB-C, 2x HDMI 1x DP, and 4x USB 3.0.

The second monitor is on LGs UltraGear lineup. The 38GL950G features LG's Nano IPS technology and support for NVIDIA G-Sync and 144 Hz refresh rate. It has a 38" diagonal across a curved panel, a WQHD+ (3840 x 1600) resolution, and a more standard (or is that less wide?) 21:9 aspect ratio. A typical 450 nits brightness means this monitor also supports HDR content, and connectors include 1x HDMI, 1x DP, and 3x USB 3.0 (1 up / 2 down). If any of these monitor ticks your "I want it now" boxes, you might want to wait until CES for the actual announcement and availability info.

You know RGB LED lighting as a"feature" has hit critical mass when it starts getting integrated into monitors. Enter ViewSonics XG240R with it's ELITE RGB accent lighting, which is part of the ELITE RGB Alliance that includes; Thermaltake, Razer, and Cooler Master. Supposedly the accent lighting on this monitor can be synced with other peripherals. However, no details have been given on how that will work just yet. Still, love it or hate it RGB LED illumination is helping sell products, and now ViewSonic is ready to join the party, as for the panel itself it is the same 144 Hz, 1080p, WLED backlight, TN offering used in the XG2402 monitor released previously. No high refresh rate monitor is complete without some form of adaptive sync, with this model, in particular, using FreeSync with a range of 48 Hz to 144 Hz and has a 1 ms response time with Overdrive enabled and a 5 ms response time without.

Viewing comfort with the XG240R and the XG2402 was a priority for ViewSonic with both monitors having height, tilt, pivot, and swivel adjustment options. Connectivity is also quite robust featuring 2x USB Type A 3.0 ports, 1x USB Type B 3.0 port, 2x HDMI 1.4 ports, 1x DisplayPort, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Overall the XG240R has a good set of features, excellent connectivity and a high refresh rate all at a suggested MSRP of $272.99. Meaning the inclusion of the RGB accent lighting will only cost you $10 more over the XG2402.The full specification list follows.

NVIDIA today released the latest version of GeForce software suite. Version 417.22 refines optimization for "Battlefield V," with specific game-ready tuning for Battlefield V Tides of War Chapter 1: Overture Update. The drivers also introduce fixes to a number of bugs, including display corruption noticed on some high refresh-rate monitors connected via DisplayPort, and a blank screen noticed on BenQ ZOWIE XL2730 monitors when the refresh-rate is set to 144 Hz. A game crash noticed on "Hellblade" with RTX 2080 Ti is also addressed. Also fixed are incorrect memory clock speed reporting, and incorrect application of RGB color formats in NVIDIA Control Panel.DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 417.22 WHQL

The change-log follows.

ASUS has a new premium display about to be released: the 32-inch ASUS ROG Strix XG32VQR is already listed on its website, and it is an evolution of its existing ROG Strix XG32VQ. Both share 1440p resolution, VA panel, 4ms grey-to-grey response time and 1800mm curvature. The difference between both is the HDR support: the new XG32VQR has both DisplayHDR 400 and FreeSync 2 HDR certifications. The latter offers improvements in usability but also in gaming scenarios that are not covered in the VESA DisplayHDR specifications.

The peak brightness of the new monitor also goes further than its predecessor and goes from 300 to 450 nits. The display has support for a range of FreeSync refresh rates ranging from 48 to 144 Hz, which allow it to work seamlessly with Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) technology from AMD. Company spokepersons clarified a few weeks ago the confusion with the FreeSync 2 certification, and explained that "it is possible for a display to meet the FreeSync 2 HDR requirements but fail the DisplayHDR 600 minimums. Such a display may have the DisplayHDR 400 logo and the FreeSync 2 HDR logo, but it would be exceeding the minimum requirements of DisplayHDR 400".

Introducing the brand-new AOC G2590PX G2 Esports Signature Edition gaming monitor. Created in partnership with G2's sponsor and favorite display provider AOC, this special edition monitor combines performance, style and affordability into one package ensuring a smooth, tear and stutter-free gameplay experience. AOC designed this specialized G90 monitor specifically for the G2 Esports professional teams and all gamers who want to upgrade the look of their battle station.

ASUS showcased their XG49VQ, a behemoth of a monitor with a 49" diagonal across a 32:9 aspect ratio panel. This aspect ratio and the panels' size are married to a 3840 x 1080 resolution (2x 1080p) with a 144 Hz refresh rate. There's a 1800R curvature (which is likely essential in such wide panels), support for Freesync 2, 125% RGB coverage, and ASUS' Shadow Boost feature which makes it easier to spot anything in darker corners of any given game. There's HDR support via VESA's HDR400 certification.

With those features, ASUS is catering to two markets at once: professional and gamer. The added resolution and screen real-estate will feel right at home with users that do much horizontal work (my 2560 x 1080 panel is already plenty enough for two pages to sit comfortably side to side). The increased frequency response won't do much for professional work, but does tick one of those gaming checklists of late. With the specs and exotic streak on this monitor, though, don't expect pricing to come cheap.

Acer has announced two incoming budget-yet-premium gaming monitors to power AMD's FreeSync-supporting graphics cards. The new XZ1 series will come in 27" (XZ271U) and 31.5" (XZ321QU), thus appealing to two different market segments. The new monitors both sport a 144 Hz, 1 ms, 16:9 VA panel with WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution. Both are curved affairs; contrast stands at 3000:1; color coverage is at 85% of the NTSC color-space; and we're saying they are HDR10 ready because with their maximum brightness of 250 and 300 cd/m², respectively, they'll never be able to showcase the tiniest amount of HDR10 detail. Like the initial HD ready TVs which only supported 720p resolution but could process higher-density images, so does this HDR10 badge not mean there's an actual ability to properly display HDR10 content as it was meant to be.

Connectivity stands at 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x mini DisplayPort 1.2, and 2x HDMI 2.0 headers. There are two 7 W stereo speakers and a headphone jack in each monitor, as well as a quad-port USB 3.0 Type-A hub. The stands can tilt between -5 to 25 degrees, swivel +/- 25 degrees, and provide height adjustments of up to 120 mm. Both panels can now be purchased at Amazon.com, with pricing set at $527 and $550 respectively (not final retail pricing for the Americas).

LG unveiled their new UltraGear lineup of desktop, gaming-oriented monitors, which bring top of the line features for gamers. The monitors both feature a 34" diagonal and a 3440x1440 resolution. They both feature a 21:9 aspect ratio; brightness is left at a relatively sparse 400 nits (with VESA's DisplayHDR standard compliance) and static contrast only reaches 1000:1. The G-Sync panel (UltraGear 34GK950G-B) offers up to 120 Hz refresh rates with 4 ms GtG response times (via overclocking, only 100 Hz out-of-the-box), while the FreeSync 2 monitor (34GK950F-B) brings that up a notch to 144 Hz with 5 ms GtG response times.

The usage of nanoparticles applied to the screen's LED backlighting serves to absorb excess light wavelengths and improve intensity, purity, and accuracy of the on-screen colors - LG claims that both LCDs can display 1.07 billion colors while covering 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. There's ULMB support for the NVIDIA monitor and a similar technology for the FreeSync 2 display; LG's proprietary DAS (Dynamic Action Sync) which follows TV's Game Mode to cut post-processing of images to reduce lag; and there are brightness presets according to game types (FPS, RTS) for the G-Sync panel, while the FreeSync 2 features a black stabilizer tech.

Lenovo is mincing no words to talk about NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce 11-series graphics processors being part of its future GPU options for desktops and notebooks. LaptopMedia reports that the company is planning to make the mid-range GeForce GTX 1160 an option for its Legion Y530 15-inch gaming notebook. It features a 15.6-inch IPS display with Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution, and a 144 Hz option for this display. Back to the GTX 1160, and LaptopMedia seems to confirm that the GPU will feature 6 GB of dedicated memory. If NVIDIA is doubling memory with this generation, this could indicate 6 GB to be a successor to the GTX 1060 3 GB; and the likelihood of a better endowed 12 GB GTX 1160 to succeed the GTX 1060 6 GB. It could be an action-packed 2H-2018 for PC graphics.

Remember that awe-inspiring 4K monitor from Philips - the one with Ambiglow and that earned the world's first HDR 1000 monitor certification? It's up for grabs as we speak in multiple markets, and pricing is somewhat lower than predicted - a rare, momentous occasion (see that?). The Momentum 436M6VBPAB monitor packs an 8 bit + FRC 43" MVA panel affair that supports 4K resolution, features true Display HDR with 1000 maximum nits brightness, and also features AMD's FreeSync specification up to 80 Hz (overclocked) from its 60 Hz base frequency (minimum refresh rate is unknown, as is unclear whether it supports LFC). Additionally, the monitor features Quantum Dot technology to increase its color range (97.6% of the DCI-P3 color gamut as well as 100% of the sRGB color range)

What's more impressive though, is that Philips' Momentum monitor doesn't seem to be using local dimming to achieve its 1000 nits flash maximum brightness (required for HDR 1000 certification, with a baseline full-screen 600 nits for continuous content). Instead, Philips is apparently employing a 32-zone edge-lit solution. This is without a doubt one of the reasons this panel manages to undercut NVIDIA's 144 Hz, 4K panels, which use a 384-zone local dimming panel (besides the added G-Sync module royalties, of course). The Philips Momentum is available mostly through Amazon, and carries a €799 MSRP, which translates to around $1000 in the US.

PCPer had the opportunity to disassemble the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ 27", a 4K 144 Hz G-Sync HDR Monitor and found that the G-Sync module is a newer version than the one used on 1st generation G-Sync monitors (which of course do not support 4K / 144 Hz / HDR). The module is powered by an FPGA made by Altera (Intel-owned since 2015). The exact model number is Arria 10 GX 480, which is a high-performance 20 nanometer SoC that provides enough bandwidth and LVDS pins to process the data stream.

The FPGA is sold in low quantities for $2000 at Digikey and Mouser. Assuming that NVIDIA buys thousands, PCPer suggests that the price of this chip alone will add $500 to monitor cost. The BOM cost is further increased by 3 GB of DDR4 memory on the module. With added licensing fees for G-SYNC, this explains why these monitors are so expensive.