ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q G-SYNC Gaming Monitor: IPS At 165Hz
Introducing The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q
Thanks to the emergence of NVIDIA’s G-SYNC, AMD’s FreeSync, i.e Adaptive Sync, 4K resolutions and various other display technologies, we’ve had the pleasure of evaluating a number of new monitors recently. One of our favorites from this past year was the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q. Although it featured a resolution of “only” 2560x1440, and employed a TN panel, the monitor’s design language, support for G-SYNC, and ultra-fast (at the time) 144Hz peak refresh rate made it a real pleasure to use, especially for gaming.
If you had asked us what we’d change on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q at the time, we would have said upgrading to a higher-quality IPS panel, without sacrificing on the refresh rate. More inputs would also be welcome, as would better cable management features. A couple of those features simply weren’t feasible last year, but as they say, times…they are a changing.
The brand new ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q we’ll be showing you here takes everything we liked about last year’s model and gooses things up quite a bit. This new monitor has an IPS panel and a max refresh rate of 165Hz. It also has multiple inputs and some cool new features, though it has a similar design language. Take a look at the specifications below and then we’ll dig in a little deeper on the pages ahead.
If you had asked us what we’d change on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q at the time, we would have said upgrading to a higher-quality IPS panel, without sacrificing on the refresh rate. More inputs would also be welcome, as would better cable management features. A couple of those features simply weren’t feasible last year, but as they say, times…they are a changing.
The brand new ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q we’ll be showing you here takes everything we liked about last year’s model and gooses things up quite a bit. This new monitor has an IPS panel and a max refresh rate of 165Hz. It also has multiple inputs and some cool new features, though it has a similar design language. Take a look at the specifications below and then we’ll dig in a little deeper on the pages ahead.
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| Panel Size (Diagonal) | 27in (68.6cm) Widescreen (16:9) |
| Panel Backlight / Type | WLED / IPS |
| Color Gamut | 100% sRGB |
| True Resolution |
DP: 2560×1440 (up to 165Hz) HDMI: 2560×1440 (60Hz) |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.233mm (109ppi) |
| Brightness (Max.) | 350cd/m² |
| Viewing Angle (CR>=10) | 178°(H) / 178°(V) |
| Display Colors | 16.7M (8-bit) |
| Response Time | 4ms (Gray to Gray) |
| ASUS Exclusives | 5-way OSD Navigation Joystick GamePlus (Crosshair / Timer / FPS Counter) GameVisual (FPS / RTS / RPG / Racing / sRGB / Cinema /Standard modes) Turbo key (60-120-165Hz) |
| Eye Care Technology | Low Blue Light (TUV-certified) Flicker Free (TUV-certified) |
| Stereo Speakers | 2W x 2 |
| Input / Output | 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 1.4, 2 x USB3.0, Earphone Jack |
| Ergonomic Design | Tilt: +20° ~ -5° Swivel: +60° ~ -60° Pivot: 90°(clockwise) Height adjustment: Yes (0~120 mm) VESA compatible: 100 x 100 mm mount Super-narrow bezel Smart Cable Management |
| Dimension | 619.77 x 552.53 x 237.9mm (WxHxD) |
| Weight | Net Weight (Est.): 7.0kg |
As its name suggests, the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is packing a 27” panel. And said panel has a native QHD resolution of 2560x1440, which equates to a pixel density of about 109ppi. At about 3.7MP, we’re not talking about the same kind of ultra-high pixel densities as a 4K panel, but 3.6+ megapixels on a 27” screen is still a relatively high resolution, and at a typical viewing distance, individual pixels are tough to discern. In addition, with all of the issues still associated with pixel scaling in Windows on HiDPI displays, and the sheer horsepower required to game at 4K resolutions, an argument could be made that 2560x1440 is currently the sweet spot for PC gamers and desktop users alike.
The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q also offers a relatively fast 4ms GtG response time, and a refresh rate as high at 165Hz when the DisplayPort input is used. Yes, you read that right—165Hz. Perhaps best of all, the panel is LED backlit and is of the IPS variety. The previous-generation ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q employed a TN panel, but this latest model gets a significant upgrade. For those unfamiliar, IPS – or In Plane Switching – panels generally offer better viewing angles and color reproduction than TN panels, usually at the cost of response time.
Brightness on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q is rated for up to 350 cd/m², it has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and it can display the full sRGB and 72% of the NTSC color gamut. Other features include support for NVIDIA’s adaptive refresh rate technology, G-SYNC, a ULMB (ultra-low motion blur) mode, built-in stereo speakers, HDCP, color temperature selection, and a highly adjustable stand, that also happens to be lighted.
Unlike first generation G-SYNC displays, the new ASUS ROG SWIFT PG279Q also packs multiple inputs, thanks to an updated G-SYNC module. This monitor has a DP 1.2 connector (which enabled full functionality), and HDMI 1.4 input for refresh rates up to 60Hz, and it’s got a headphone jack and a USB 3.0 hub built in too.
