ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q G-SYNC Monitor Review
by Chris Heinonen & Jarred Walton on February 13, 2015 10:00 AM ESTDisplay Uniformity
The ASUS ROG display is a bit dim at the top of the display. Overall light levels fall close to 20% compared to the center of the screen. The lower-right corner also has as issue here, as light output falls up to 16% compared to the center. The center of the display is very good overall for light output, just the top 20% and the lower-right corner are dim.
Thankfully the black uniformity shows the same issues here, with drops in black level in the same areas that white level falls. This will provide blacker-blacks here, but more importantly it keeps the contrast ratios similar across the screen. Blacker-blacks are always good, but it could lead to a bit of shadow crush if the backlight is too low for the gamma curve and black floor.
Contrast uniformity is very even across the display. The lowest contrast ratio is 777:1 and the maximum is 947:1 with a median value of 865:1. This is very close to the center measurement so while parts of the screen have an issue with the backlight not being bright enough, overall the uniformity between black and white is good.
The biggest issue is with color uniformity. Since the dE2000 reading takes into account the luminance level of the color, this light fall-off causes the error levels to rise around the screen. The center of the screen is very good, but the top and lower-right cause the median dE2000 error to rise up to 1.65 with an overall average error of 2.15. This certainly isn’t up to the levels of a professional display, but is in line with a gaming display right now. Again, fine for gaming but not for photos.
The ASUS ROG has some definite issues with backlight uniformity that manifest themselves through being too dim at the top and lower-right. This causes a rise in the dE2000 errors for colors as the luminance is too low. The center of the screen, where you’ll look most, is nice and uniform but overall the display is just fair here.
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OrphanageExplosion - Saturday, February 14, 2015 - link
You know what - I own this monitor and I see where you're coming from. Initially I was quite disappointed. Then I played Battlefield 4 with a decent gaming mouse and you quite literally *feel* the difference then.doggghouse - Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - link
I think if you saw the two side-by-side, you would recognize the difference. But some people really can't tell much of a difference between the two, regardless. One area that really is impacted by higher frame rates is motion blur; if you track the movement of an object on a 60Hz display, it gets blurry due to image persistence (see blurbusters site for more info), but on a 120Hz display the blur is reduced significantly due to the image changing faster to match where it should be relative to your eye movement.nos024 - Saturday, February 14, 2015 - link
Monitor is still on high demand, despite being high priced and QA issues.redmist77 - Sunday, February 15, 2015 - link
I got one of the first ones many months ago. No issues and worth every cent.OrphanageExplosion - Saturday, February 14, 2015 - link
"Even when falling down to 25-30fps, the G-SYNC displays manage to remain smooth when compared to a standard 60Hz display."G-Sync doesn't work under 30fps, or rather it doesn't do anything when frame render time is over 33ms, so not sure where this comment comes from.
I own this monitor and it's stunning for gaming. Sub-60fps though, there's a tight window where the G-Sync illusion (if you can call it that) works. Below 50fps and things start to look a bit wonky. I tried it with 980 SLI where frame-rate zooms up to 90-140fps, and it does a great job there.
Aikouka - Saturday, February 14, 2015 - link
I have a ROG Swift, and I must have been quite lucky to not have any issues... I think. The only weird thing that I ever see with the monitor is that there are times when I'll touch something on my desk or just my desk itself, and the monitor's picture goes black for a second. I've never really figured out exactly what's going on, but it seems like a harmless issue so far.The only complaint that I really have about the monitor is probably the lack of inputs, but I knew that going into it. I had been using my desktop setup with my work laptop where I'd just switch inputs on demand. Well, unless I feel like swapping cables, that's not an option anymore. Although, I did swap from 2x 1080p to 2x 2560x1440, so using a single monitor isn't too bad.
bebimbap - Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - link
I used to have that issue, it was from the DP plug not being in all the way on my vid card.sometimes the case where the vid card sits gets in the way of the DP plug because the housing for the DP cable is thick and needs to be plugged in all the way.
the plug on the monitor side or power plug might have fallen out since most people would plug up their monitor first, then move it back, which might cause unexpected tension on the cables.
yeah, i must have been lucky too, i can't find any dead, stuck pixels and it's been working great. same with my vg248qe, but i did "pray" that my monitor comes without issues for the pg278q
redmist77 - Sunday, February 15, 2015 - link
This is the best monitor I've ever used but only after color calibration. If you can borrow an I1 Display Pro, you'll be in heaven. If you're a full-time desktop publisher you'll probably still want an IPS until OLED monitors become a reality but for anyone else, this is the monitor to own....especially if you appreciate smooth motion, no blur and virtually zero input lag.Hlafordlaes - Sunday, February 15, 2015 - link
I have no issue with mine, except I also had wonderful EU VAT taxes to pay. Well, the USB ports on the back do seem buggy, so I've stopped using them, but otherwise, so glad I chose this monitor for gaming. Unless you really nitpick, movies look fine, too.entrecote - Sunday, February 15, 2015 - link
I am mainly gaming.Before reading further than the headline I scroll down to the stat table and read it is a TN panel. I read no more.
Unless it is a pure LAN machine on a budget I rather look elsewhere than TN.