ASUS has launched one of the most technologically advanced monitors, the ROG Swift PG278Q. Its main feature is support for innovative G-Sync technology, which can significantly improve picture quality, especially in games. Apart from the marked option, the ROG Swift PG278Q monitor has a number of other noteworthy characteristics that determine its highest competitiveness in the corresponding market segment. What is their essence? What are the main technological advantages of this display from ASUS?
Characteristics
Consider the key features of the monitor ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q. The device is equipped with a matrix type TFT TN + FIlm. The number of inches in this ASUS display is 27. The PG278Q ROG Swift is a device that can work at a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels. The device can operate at a frequency of 144 Hz - this allows the device to display stereoscopic images, provided that special glasses are used. There is support for widescreen images. The proportion of image feed is 16 by 9. There is a USB hub. The total number of USB ports is 2, the interface version is 3.0. There are video inputs like DisplayPort.
The ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q monitor is one of the first devices to incorporate NVIDIA's G-Sync technology. We study in more detail its specifics.
What is the essence of G-Sync technology?
There are a number of technological problems inherent in modern monitors. Among them are frame breaks, which are displayed as the horizontal displacement of a part of the picture. Another difficulty is the appearance of the so-called friezes, which are failures during the frame change and appear most often with vertical synchronization - the main technology that allows you to eliminate frame gaps. It turns out that the two problems noted are very difficult to solve at the same time. However, G-Sync technology is among those tools that allow you to do this. A little later, we will examine the results of monitor tests that characterize the effectiveness of such a solution as G-Sync.
Now we can study in more detail the specifics of the main hardware component of the display - the matrix.
Monitor matrix
The ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q device has, as we noted, a TN-type matrix. It is manufactured by AU Optronics. Its key advantages are support for high resolution, brightness and contrast, a high refresh rate. This matrix also has a sufficiently short response time of about 1 ms. The matrix of the display in question has rather large viewing angles - 170 and 160 degrees, respectively, horizontally and vertically. However, when evaluating the corresponding parameter, specialists, as a rule, do not take into account the color distortion.
The matrix of the display ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q can display 16.7 million colors. This involves 8-bit encoding, which is not quite typical for the corresponding hardware components based on TN technology. Typically, the TN matrix operates using 6-bit encoding. The PPI of the display is 108.79, the color gamut is 72% NTSC. There is a backlight WLED. The maximum brightness of the monitor is 350 cd / sq. m. The static contrast of the device is 1000 to 1, the dynamic has an indicator of 100,000,000,000 to 1. The horizontal scan can operate at a frequency of up to 222 kHz.
So, we examined the main features of the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q, the characteristics of its matrix. We now consider other consumer aspects of the display.
Contents of delivery
Having bought the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q monitor, the user will find in the box:
- actually the device;
- a disk with a manual;
- Power Supply;
- cables - for connecting to power, as well as for ports.
Despite the fact that the device supports 3D, the corresponding glasses will have to be purchased separately. If necessary, you may also need to purchase another additional device - an emitter that supports the NVIDIA 3D Vision standard.
Design and appearance
What does the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q monitor look like? User reviews characterize the device as stylish and modern in terms of the design concept implemented in it.
The screen has a fairly thin frame - about 6 mm. The display matrix, thus, is located practically at the same level of the frame. This makes it necessary to carefully handle the device.
The monitor has a comfortable and fairly stylish stand. Among her most noteworthy design elements is a red ring that glows in the dark - if the corresponding option is activated in the display settings. The legs of the monitor are scattered around the stand, and this gives the user the opportunity to fix the device on the table in a very stable position.
At the bottom right of the display are several icons. The device controls are located on the back of the device. The corresponding area of the device has a very unusual design. So, the main ports are located at an angle.
If necessary, you can use the triangular cutout, which is located in the display leg - you can lay the cables connected to the device connectors into it.
The device’s screen can be tilted by about 20 degrees, and also raised to a height of 12 cm. The display can also rotate right and left - 60 degrees.
Program management
Monitor ASUS 28 PG278Q ROG Swift has a very convenient software menu. In it, as users note, there are not too many settings, however, in practice, frequent access is not required even to those that are presented in the structure of the corresponding menu. You can adjust the white balance, and according to the main colors - red, green, as well as blue. In the device’s menu, you can configure the Overdrive function, which determines the speed of the device. Among the most notable monitor options are ASUS GamePlus. Its use makes it possible to place additional elements, for example, a timer, on top of the main picture displayed by the display.
Testing
Let us now examine the results of the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q display tests conducted by IT specialists. Many modern experts prefer to use solutions like X-Rite as a tool for checking the capabilities of monitors. It can be used in conjunction with the Agryll CMS program. Both solutions work optimally in Windows 8. In the testing process, as experts say, it is not necessary to set the maximum screen frequency - you can limit yourself to 60 Hz.
Tests Before Calibration
So, what the tests of the innovative display from ASUS show in the mode when the device is not calibrated, that is, its parameters are not finely tuned.
Experts have found that the maximum brightness of the monitor is about 404 cd / sq. m, which is even more than the value declared by the manufacturer. This figure is quite optimal for monitors with 3D support - in the corresponding mode, the picture is usually delivered with significantly reduced brightness. The static contrast of the display is within the same parameters as declared by the manufacturer. The brightness of the black field of the monitor is about 040 cd / sq. m, and experts rate this indicator as quite decent. Thus, the noted characteristics of the display are quite at the level of IPS models, despite the fact that the matrix type is TN on the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q device.
The color gamut of the monitor is at a fairly high level, about 107.1% for sRGB. The white point is located in the D65 area. Regarding color rendering testing - in games, experts rate the corresponding monitor characteristic as highly competitive. Regarding the use of the monitor in graphical applications, experts have comments.
The fact is that when processing photos in professional editors, experts believe, difficulties can arise due to a small oversaturation of colors. However, this feature may not be considered a drawback, since it is just the gaming monitor that is being tested. ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q has a decent indicator of color temperature - about 6000 K. This is slightly below the norm, that is, when viewing light tones, you will notice some warm colors.
Testing the color curves showed that the red tones displayed by the display are very close to the standard, blue and green - slightly deviate from the norm. In this case, the gamma of gray is displayed well. The color accuracy of the monitor according to Delta E is 2.08 units, the marginal indicator is 7.07. Experts characterize such results as being sufficiently suitable for gaming displays. Specifically for the monitor in question, they can be considered quite decent, since on the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q the type of matrix, as we defined above, is TN.
Tests after calibration
It will be useful to consider the results of testing the device after calibration. As experts note, after its implementation, as a rule, the brightness of white is significantly reduced. However, when testing a monitor from ASUS, its decrease amounted to about 3%. The statistical contrast decreased, thus, to 970 to 1, the brightness of the black field did not change. These indicators can be described as quite competitive.
The position of the red, green, and blue color curves of the monitor after calibration generally does not change. Gray display improved. The color temperature increases slightly. The color gamut upon calibration of the monitor does not change. However, the procedure under consideration can significantly optimize the color accuracy of the device. So, the average for Delta E fell to 0.36 units, the limit was 1.26 units. Experts rate these characteristics very highly - especially considering that the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q monitor is equipped with a 27-inch TN-type matrix.
G-Sync Tests
We will now examine the results of testing innovative technology, which is implemented in the display. The results of its activation can be most clearly seen in games in which frames are displayed at a speed of about 40-60 FPS, as well as a screen refresh rate of about 60 Hz. The fact is that it is with the indicated combination of display operation modes that the greatest number of “friezes” is formed if the gap elimination mode is activated. In turn, if you increase the refresh rate of the display to 144 Hz, then the frequency of occurrence of gaps is minimal, therefore, it is not necessary to use the technology of counteraction to such.
G-Sync: gaming performance
G-Sync features can be tested in games such as Assasin's Creed: Black Flag. As tests conducted by IT specialists showed that without the anti-tearing and G-Sync modes enabled, the corresponding imperfections in the image are very noticeable on the screen - with almost any movement in the game. As soon as the anti-tearing mode, V-Sync, was activated, “friezes” appeared. In turn, after turning on G-Sync, they disappeared, and the gameplay became noticeably more comfortable. Thus, the tests showed the high efficiency of the technology in question.
High Frequency Importance
It is worth noting that it is possible to significantly improve the picture quality of the ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q display without activating the V-Sync and G-Sync technologies - simply increasing the refresh rate to 144 Hz. With an appropriate monitor mode, the number of breaks is significantly reduced. In turn, if you turn on V-Sync at a high frequency, “friezes” appear. Which, in turn, disappear as soon as G-Sync technology is activated. The most noticeable improvement in the picture when using all the options supported by the display, as experts say, is achieved by increasing the frame rate in the game, for example, to the level of 60 FPS. True, downloading the game in the required mode may require a high-performance video card in the computer.
The importance of network hardware
It can be noted that in network games the display speed is largely determined by the quality of the network infrastructure. First of all, this is, of course, bandwidth. The quality of the network equipment also matters. At high ping, the picture may freeze one way or another - no matter how productive the display and other hardware components of the PC are.
Monitor Reviews
Let's learn what users say ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q. Responses of monitor owners can be classified into those that:
- reflect the opinion of the color quality of the display;
- relate to assessing the use of the G-Sync option and other device capabilities, for example, playing a picture at a frequency of 144 Hz;
- reflect the opinions of users about certain functions of the device, for example, about displaying a picture in 3D.
The quality of color reproduction by users, even without having at hand the necessary equipment and programs for its measurement, is rated very highly. Many are surprised that a relatively outdated TN-type matrix, which is installed in the display, can provide a similar level of color reproduction. Regarding the availability of unique monitor options ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q - 144HZ, G-Sync, the owners of the device note their highest usefulness and effectiveness. Concerning the display of images in 3D mode, opinions are also quite positive. The main thing, as users note, is to choose comfortable 3D glasses, as well as a high-quality multimedia file designed for playback in the appropriate format.