{"id":5778,"date":"2017-03-15T11:31:06","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T01:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reckoner.com.au\/?p=5778"},"modified":"2017-03-15T13:15:34","modified_gmt":"2017-03-15T03:15:34","slug":"review-asus-rog-swift-pg279q","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reckoner.com.au\/reviews\/review-asus-rog-swift-pg279q\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q 27″ Monitor"},"content":{"rendered":"

The robotically named PG279Q from ASUS\u2019 \u201cRepublic Of Gamers\u201d (ROG) Swift product line is by no means the newest of monitors available on the market. In fact it was released over twelve months ago in late 2015, which begs the question: why am I reviewing it now at the beginning of 2017?<\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s release the PG279Q has received an inordinate amount of praise. Reviewers and consumers alike consider it to be one of, if not the<\/em> best, gaming monitor available today. Retailing at just under A$1200 it would want to be too and it’s for that reason\u00a0I had to get my hands on one to\u00a0see what all the fuss was about.<\/p>\n

\"The
The PG279Q’s IPS panel in all its high refresh rate glory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Brass tacks<\/h2>\n

The PG279Q is powered by a beautiful 27\u201d 2560×1440 (WQHD) IPS panel with a pixel density of 109 pixels per inch. IPS is the important acronym in that sentence (in case you wondering) and a distinguishing factor between this model and it\u2019s predecessor the PG278Q. By using an\u00a0IPS panel the new model now inherits\u00a0ultra wide viewing angles (almost 180 degrees horizontally), as well as an 100% sRGB colour gamut meaning it outputs\u00a0true colour representation, a feature enjoyed by professionals such as photographers and in printing services.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all fine and dandy but where the PG279Q\u2019s monitor\u00a0truly out-does itself is in its ability to run at an incredibly fast 165Hz refresh rate. This means that in a single second the monitor is able to draw a full image on its screen up to 165 times – providing your video card and rig can push it out that fast of course. That\u00a0may sound ridiculous but it can\u00a0have a large effect on games reducing motion blur and lag. The difference between what is a vastly more common monitor refresh rate of 60Hz compared to newer, often gaming focused ones running at 120Hz, 140Hz and now 165Hz is palpable – especially for those playing first person shooters or racing titles.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8231\"
The PG279Q all the more attractive with the inclusion of NVIDIA G-Sync<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ASUS\u2019 ROG line is also popular for it\u2019s continued Nvidia G-Sync integration of which the PG279Q also includes. Just as with its more open rival FreeSync (made use of by AMD video cards), G-Sync aims to remove any screen-tearing by syncing your display\u2019s refresh rate automatically with the output from your video card.<\/p>\n

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Enough about function, lets talk about form<\/h2>\n

Aesthetically, just like any ROG or gamer-marketed product for that matter, the PG279Q makes a definitive and loud statement. Thankfully things can be somewhat toned down, it\u2019s throbbing glowing red lighting scheme for example, easily disabled through the monitor\u2019s on-screen menu system.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say the monitor is unattractive, it\u2019s more a matter of does it fit in? It\u2019s enclosure is quite sleek and reminiscent of a stealth bomber with flat, angled surfaces for every component from its base to stand and of course the panel. The end result is quite effective but it does scream to a certain demographic and ultimately may not be the look you want when it’s sitting on a desk in the workplace or in an\u00a0open study area of a family home.<\/p>\n

\"The
The PG279Q’s swivel base<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The stand itself, which doubles as a cable management system by simply having a large hole in its centre, can be adjusted easily making it easy to find that perfect position. Height adjustable up to 120mm the panel can also be tilted from 20 degrees back to -5 and the entire screen rotated up to 60 degree in either direction. The screen can also be rotated a full 90 degrees for those wanting to use it in portrait mode but I can\u2019t imagine many wanting to do that.<\/p>\n

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Communication is key<\/h2>\n

Asus have certainly opted for a minimalist approach when it comes to connectivity for the PG279Q. It\u2019s actually kind of refreshing seeing so few ports on its under-belly. On it you\u2019ll find a single DisplayPort 1.2 port, one HDMI 2 port, 2 USB 3 inputs and a single USB 3 type B port for connecting them to your rig.<\/p>\n

\"The
The number of ports on the PG279Q are limited but is that a bad thing?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some might argue having a single HDMI limits the monitor\u2019s appeal but realistically those buying a monitor with an up-to 165Hz refresh rate aren\u2019t those likely to be using it as a monitor for plugging in multiple HDMI devices like a Chromecast or an Apple TV. This is unapologetically aimed towards PC gamers that may happen to want to add another PC or device via HDMI should they need to.<\/p>\n

For example I had the monitor connected to my Apple MacBook Pro via the HDMI and then my gaming rig over the more suited DisplayPort. Noticeably annoying should you be using both inputs however was the sad exclusion of automatic input switching and the requirement to then trudge through it\u2019s simple, yet somewhat antiquated\u00a0menu system.<\/p>\n

\"The
The on-screen menu system for the PG279Q<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The menus were quite easily accessible and navigable courtesy of the positioning of the monitor\u2019s large quick-access buttons and menu navigation joystick at the rear of the right hand side of the panel. Its user interface seems somewhat antiquated after playing with more recent models from LG. Options seemed buried and slightly unclear not to mention the failure to even tell you which of the monitor\u2019s game mode colour presets was its default (It\u2019s \u201cRacing\u201d BTW). With that said I much preferred the ASUS\u2019 hardware button size and placement over any other manufacturer I\u2019ve tested thus far.<\/p>\n

Beneath the monitor\u2019s menu joystick are four more quick access buttons, the first is simply a \u201ccancel\u201d or \u201cexit\u201d button, the next is dedicated to opening it\u2019s \u201cGamePlus\u201d features, which I\u2019ll talk about in a moment, a power button and a fourth to directly toggle between it\u2019s available refresh rates without having to go into your operating system\u2019s connected hardware settings.<\/p>\n

\"The
The GamePlus menu and FPS counter at the top right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

GamePlus is a set of three loosely gaming related features baked directly into the hardware. The most useless of these a timer feature that I assume is for speed-runners or gaming while waiting for an egg to boil? The second, an FPS counter, which was actually quite good to have enabled when testing the monitor\u2019s refresh rate and how my GPU was going but largely there for bragging rights I\u2019d say and then finally a crosshair overlay that can be toggled through a variety of colours and is placed in the centre of the screen to ensure you know exactly what you\u2019re pointing at.<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s great but is it any good?<\/h2>\n

The 165Hz 1440p IPS panel on the PG279Q is without a doubt the only reason this continues to remain \u201cthe\u201d monitor to buy\u2026 if<\/em> you\u2019re a gamer. Not that I can\u2019t imagine there being too many people out there considering the ROG line if you were otherwise.<\/p>\n

No longer the fastest, nor the highest resolution, it remains atop due to a solid combination of all aspects; speed, resolution and colour. Where others have better refresh rates the PG279G has better panel technology and resolution, where others have higher or wider resolutions it offers faster refresh rates, all of this plus the added bonus of G-Sync tech baked in.<\/p>\n

\"Unapologetically
Unapologetically built for gamers – ROG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s not without it\u2019s teeny tiny problems though. Automatic input detection and switching for example, an issue for me but likely not all who might be buying one. The quality and even inclusion of a speaker system is another oddity for my reckoning, only someone truly desperate for an audio source might find a reason to use them.<\/p>\n

Lastly, being an ROG product that is \u201cbuilt for gamers\u201d it could do a better job of accommodating input devices and their still prolifically corded connections. Connection of devices is easy enough and the \u201ccable management\u201d does allow the routing of cables but I\u2019d like to see them thought about in an aesthetically and functional way like LG has done of late in providing a loop for the mouse cord to route through or even better a pathway for my keyboard\u2019s USB cord to go directly into the base of the monitor instead of around it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s when you have to go those depths to find something \u201cwrong\u201d with a product you realise just how good and it is at its job though. The PG279Q provides fantastic colour depth at a high resolution and an amazing refresh rate, and for now, deserves to remain King.<\/p>\n