The Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP is a particularly quick gaming monitor designed for skilled esports avid gamers. It boasts a large 540Hz refresh fee, serving as a powerful demonstration for the way forward for excessive efficiency, excessive refresh fee shows, which we hope will change into extra accessible within the coming years.
Presently, if you would like a 500Hz+ monitor, it is LCD panels with both IPS or TN know-how that present such speeds. Asus has opted for what they describe as an “E-TN” panel for this monitor, or “Esports TN,” claimed to be the world’s quickest TN panel and “roughly 50% extra responsive than conventional TN panels.” We already know that TNs are the quickest sort of LCDs out there, making them a logical alternative for a performance-focused show, regardless of some sacrifices in colour high quality and viewing angles.
Specs and Design
This show incorporates a 24.1-inch 1920 x 1080 TN panel, with 540Hz achievable via an overclocking characteristic within the OSD. It features a G-Sync module from Nvidia, offering adaptive sync assist, Extremely Low Movement Blur 2 know-how, and the Reflex Latency Analyzer. Asus has additionally listed DisplayHDR 400 assist, although precise HDR {hardware} assist is someplace between restricted and non-existent.
Priced at $900, we do not anticipate Asus to promote many of those, besides maybe to a choose few multiplayer avid gamers that need to attempt it out and have money to burn. Nevertheless, the first aim of this monitor appears to be to reveal the feasibility and worth of 500Hz+ refresh charges, in addition to to offer a little bit of a halo impact for different Asus screens.
Discussing the refresh fee, 540Hz is simply supported within the newest builds of Home windows 11. Earlier variations of Home windows capped at 500Hz, so updating to the newest model is critical for full performance. This can be a minor challenge for many avid gamers, nevertheless it’s price noting for these nonetheless on Home windows 10 or earlier variations.
We additionally observed variations in 540Hz compatibility between Nvidia and AMD GPUs, probably as a consequence of Nvidia’s proprietary G-Sync {hardware} module. Mainly, if in case you have an Nvidia GPU, nothing to fret about, 540Hz works with full variable refresh fee assist as much as that most. With an AMD GPU, 540Hz additionally works, however you will not get variable refresh fee assist at that most: even when every thing seems enabled, the monitor stays capped at 540Hz as indicated by its built-in refresh fee counter. It is solely at 500Hz and beneath that you’re going to get full VRR assist. Not the largest deal, 540Hz vs 500Hz is simply an 8% distinction, however one thing to concentrate on.
As for the advantages of the refresh fee itself, we’ll see the way it impacts movement readability a bit later on this evaluate, however even utilizing this monitor for desktop apps it is a large step up for responsiveness and smoothness over commonest refresh charges of right now.
Going from 144Hz to 540Hz is evening and day, I do know some individuals imagine that something above 144Hz is diminishing returns; I disagree, even for one thing so simple as searching the online and navigating via Home windows, 540Hz is considerably smoother and any motion you are taking or enter out of your mouse feels near-instantaneous in a method that turns into crystal clear when returning again to the a lot slower world of 144Hz.
We additionally assume it is a noticeable improve over 240Hz, the refresh fee right here is greater than doubled, which ends up in a corresponding enchancment to latency. Much less of a acquire than from 144Hz absolutely, however when evaluating 540Hz to 240Hz we expect the weaknesses in 240Hz turns into extra obvious than when that refresh fee first debuted. The one actual strategy to describe it’s that 240Hz feels slower to make use of than 540Hz – although it is in all probability not sufficient of a profit to justify the astronomical value enhance to entry 540Hz.
The Asus PG248QP makes use of the same design to earlier ROG screens of this measurement. Most of its outer surfaces are made of easy gray plastic, which, whereas well-constructed, does not fairly match the anticipated construct high quality for a $900 1080p monitor. The rear panel incorporates a gamery design with an RGB LED illuminated ROG brand, a typical sight in lots of current screens.
A singular and attention-grabbing facet to this design is the brand new base which is adjustable between a wider setup and a extra closed setup. The pondering right here is that esports avid gamers typically like to make use of fairly unconventional keyboard and mouse positions, so having this degree of adjustability caters to many several types of avid gamers. It is a clean and easy transition between the 2 positions, and you’ll set any place between the 2 maximums as properly.
The bottom design does not compromise on the soundness of the monitor although, it is a rock strong construct that additionally contains full ergonomic adjustability for the show itself: all of peak, tilt, swivel and pivot is included right here. Nevertheless, using the G-Sync {hardware} module does translate into lively cooling with a gradual spinning fan that is audible at shut vary.
You would possibly be capable to hear it in a lifeless quiet room, however I discovered it very tough to listen to over my PC’s quiet followers throughout regular operation. The fan did not ramp up and down aggressively throughout my time testing it, which is sweet. It is these adjustments in pace and quantity which might be essentially the most noticeable and most annoying; this fan is only a fixed low pace that is close to inaudible.
Connectivity is considerably restricted because of the G-Sync module, packing one DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC and two HDMI 2.0 ports, in addition to a two-port USB hub. The DisplayPort is ok, however using HDMI 2.0 on an costly 540Hz show will not be ok, because it limits these ports to simply 240Hz, lower than half of the utmost. I believe most individuals will probably be hooking up over DisplayPort however nonetheless, it is actually about time the G-Sync module is up to date to assist HDMI 2.1 so that every one ports are full refresh fee ports.
The OSD, managed via a directional toggle, features a complete characteristic set, with gaming-specific choices like crosshairs and timers. The inclusion of crosshair assist in a monitor focusing on skilled avid gamers raises questions on honest play – is that thought of dishonest? In case you’re a professional gamer, tell us within the feedback – the Reflex Analyzer, helpful for Nvidia GPU customers, assesses whole system latency while not having exterior {hardware} and produces extra correct outcomes than PC-side latency instruments.
Response Time Efficiency
The Asus PG248QP contains 4 overdrive settings, the primary of which is off, have a look at the chart beneath – fairly a great outcome for no overdrive – this could beat most different screens with overdrive enabled. However for 540Hz gaming I feel most individuals will need to use the Regular mode at a minimal.
Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – Off – 540Hz
Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – Regular – 540Hz
That is what the Regular mode appears to be like like, it is extremely quick. With only a 1.8ms common response time and subsequent to no overshoot, the PG248QP is extremely suited to enjoying at 540Hz with refresh compliance at 86%. Typically the priority with these tremendous excessive refresh fee screens is that the transition pace is not quick sufficient to maintain up with the refresh fee however that completely is not the case right here, even with our comparatively strict measurement standards. This results in very low cumulative deviation for an LCD.
Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – Esports – 540Hz
Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – Excessive – 540Hz
There are two different modes out there, one is Esports which barely improves the typical response to 1.6ms but additionally barely will increase overshoot. Visually this mode is not all that totally different to Regular and the cumulative deviation numbers are shut. Then we’ve got the Excessive mode which pushes as much as 1.2ms on common, however does so at a a lot greater degree of overshoot, so I would not advocate utilizing this mode.
Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – Regular – 480Hz, 360Hz, 240Hz, 144Hz, 100Hz, 60Hz
What’s nice to see is that the Regular mode, which I imagine is good for 540Hz gaming, can be wonderful throughout the complete refresh fee vary because of variable overdrive. There’s actually no refresh fee the place this show performs poorly, at 360Hz it is available in at 1.9ms, at 240Hz 2.3ms, at 144Hz 2.5ms and 60Hz 2.5ms as properly with principally no overshoot at any level. Overdrive is not fairly as aggressive at these decrease refresh charges which is why we go from 1.8ms right down to 2.5ms on the decrease elements of the vary, however both method that is wonderful efficiency that provides us an elite-tier single overdrive mode expertise.
In comparison with different screens the PG248QP is the quickest LCD that I’ve examined thus far. It is 0.5ms sooner than the PG27AQN at its highest refresh fee, and over 50% sooner than the XL2566K at a decrease degree of overshoot, confirming Asus claims about an roughly 50% extra responsive expertise than conventional TN panels. And these are a number of the quickest screens going round, relative to a extra normal 240Hz IPS to even some older TN shows, the PG248QP is over twice as quick in each refresh fee and response time. Nevertheless general OLEDs are nonetheless sooner, holding a few 6x benefit, although no OLED is out there at 540Hz.
Common efficiency can be superb from this Asus monitor, once more confirming its place because the quickest LCD I’ve examined. It is 33% sooner on common than the PG27AQN and achieves this at a decrease degree of overshoot which is extraordinarily spectacular and exhibits that TN nonetheless has a spot available in the market for excessive pace. It is also a transparent step forward of the BenQ XL2566K, which is anticipated from a more moderen era of panel however maybe to not this diploma, and just about something that is not 360Hz or above has no hope of competing exterior of OLEDs.
Common cumulative deviation additionally exhibits the energy of the PG248QP and its sturdy mixture of pace and lack of overshoot. We’re nonetheless seeing a 31% hole between the PG248QP and PG27AQN, and a 50% benefit over the XL2566K. Even at the very same 360Hz refresh fee evaluating finest vs finest overdrive settings, the PG248QP produced a 39% higher cumulative deviation outcome than the XL2566K, and mixed with the PG248QP’s higher tuning at decrease refresh charges, we see a fairly sizable general win to the Asus mannequin. Nevertheless we’re nonetheless a good method off from LCDs matching OLEDs, a typical OLED panel has a 5x benefit on this metric over the quickest LCD, so it is nonetheless the case that an OLED at a decrease refresh fee can match an LCD at a better refresh fee in movement readability. They cannot shut the hole between 240Hz and 540Hz although regardless of their pace.
I do not assume 120Hz gaming is the goal marketplace for this monitor however the PG248QP performs properly there regardless. That is additionally an incredible monitor for 60Hz gaming for those who occur to wish this degree of pace at a low refresh fee.
One of many huge promoting factors to the PG248QP along with the 540Hz refresh fee is assist for backlight strobing via Nvidia ULMB 2. The mixing into this monitor is a bit more suitable than with the PG27AQN because it does work with each AMD and Nvidia GPUs: on Nvidia GPUs at a number of refresh charges, and on AMD GPUs at 540Hz. It’s because as I mentioned earlier, enabling 540Hz on an AMD GPU stops adaptive sync from working, and ULMB 2 requires adaptive sync to be disabled for it to perform in any respect. So there is a small quantity of fine information there for AMD avid gamers that need to pair this show with their GPU.
For Nvidia GPU homeowners there’s better compatibility and assist for a number of refresh charges, though you may nonetheless want to make use of ULMB 2 at fastened refresh charges, and there is a surprisingly restricted vary of decisions. ULMB 2 solely works right down to 360Hz, at 240Hz and decrease refresh charges the choice is greyed out, compared to the PG27AQN that supported it right down to 144Hz. BenQ’s XL2566K with DyAc+ works right down to 100Hz. So for those who needed to make the most of the center a part of the refresh vary and backlight strobing concurrently, say your recreation does not run at 500 FPS in your GPU, then you definitely’d be significantly better off with the XL2566K as a substitute.
When you possibly can allow it, the movement readability supplied by the PG248QP and ULMB2 is superior to that of the BenQ XL2566K utilizing DyAc+ each at their most refresh fee, 540Hz and 360Hz respectively. The PG248QP has barely much less strobe crosstalk and a barely clearer picture, though each are nice. When turning the PG248QP right down to 360Hz to get a matched refresh fee comparability, the hole narrows between the 2 fashions however I might nonetheless give the general edge in readability to the PG248QP, it actually does have wonderful movement readability that must be one of the best I’ve seen. Something beneath this refresh fee the BenQ wins by default because it really helps strobing at these refreshes.
However the advantage of the PG248QP extends past backlight strobing because the non-strobed 540Hz picture can be extremely spectacular by way of readability. Evaluating the 540Hz picture right here to 360Hz, whether or not from the XL2566K or the PG248QP turned right down to 360Hz, the 540Hz picture is noticeably sharper and fewer blurry; the textual content for instance whereas not crystal clear is extra readable on the 540Hz picture. In comparison with 240Hz the distinction in blurriness could be very apparent in favor of 540Hz.
The ULMB2 implementation additionally helps totally different strobe timing and lengths so you possibly can modify the place of finest readability and the general readability, though truthfully the distinction between 100 and 10 for readability could be very exhausting to identify. Utilizing the default strobe timing the center part was clearest and the underside was barely blurrier, though the vary to which you get good readability is usually wonderful.
Now a non-strobed 540Hz picture does look nice however it will probably’t beat a strobed 360Hz picture, so one of the best picture high quality will at all times be discovered with 540Hz and strobing used on the identical time. However the greater refresh fee choice is extra versatile as you possibly can select to make use of strobing at a hard and fast refresh, or get the nonetheless wonderful readability on provide at a variable refresh close to 540Hz. Opting to not use strobing might be the higher alternative if you cannot constantly hit 500 FPS, as strobing solely actually works properly when the refresh fee and body fee are matched.
Enter latency with the PG248QP is elite, providing slightly below a 1ms processing delay together with an excellent excessive refresh fee and quick response instances. This provides the PG248QP wonderful responsiveness together with an general low latency expertise, matching the quickest OLEDs which acquire a bonus as a consequence of their elite response instances. We’re speaking about lower than 5ms of whole latency, which is extremely good.
Energy consumption is nothing superb at 36 watts, which is generally attributable to the G-Sync module which isn’t very environment friendly. It makes use of round 12 watts greater than the BenQ XL2566K, however lower than the PG27AQN for example.
Colour Efficiency
Colour Area: Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – D65-P3
For colour high quality you could be stunned to find this panel is extensive gamut, sporting 95% protection of DCI-P3 and an general 70% protection of Rec. 2020. This is not the widest gamut, it is just about the minimal form of protection wanted for a correct extensive gamut expertise, nevertheless it does present one the place the XL2566K and a number of other different 1080p screens don’t.
Default Colour Efficiency
Manufacturing facility colour efficiency is respectable, greyscale deltaEs might be somewhat tighter however general fairly cheap, whereas saturation and ColorChecker outcomes are wonderful because the monitor makes use of sRGB gamut emulation for SDR content material by default. This prevents oversaturation from the manufacturing unit, so usually the picture high quality is fairly correct in comparison with most different gaming screens.
And you will see that in these charts, the PG248QP is above common for grayscale from the manufacturing unit, and top-of-the-line screens for ColorChecker. So regardless of providing a TN panel and being primarily geared in the direction of esports avid gamers, Asus are nonetheless guaranteeing the visible expertise is respectable from the manufacturing unit.
OSD Tweaked Colour Efficiency
Calibrated Colour Efficiency
This monitor additionally provides full management over white stability and different settings within the sRGB mode, and lets you change between sRGB and extensive gamut utilizing the OSD settings. This allowed me to tighten up efficiency barely utilizing {hardware} controls. Nevertheless for one of the best expertise you may must carry out a full software program calibration, I used Calman for this and the outcomes have been fairly good because the panel has full protection of sRGB and was comparatively properly calibrated from the manufacturing unit. I would not advocate it for colour correct extensive gamut work however even for the occasional little bit of extensive gamut viewing it is not horrible.
Brightness is excellent at 420 nits after calibration which is within the ballpark of most different 1080p screens although notably higher than the XL2566K. With backlight strobing enabled you may get simply over 300 nits with the longest pulse width, round 30 nits on the shortest pulse, and 150 nits with the center 50 setting. The XL2566K does 330 nits strobed so both method there may be sufficient brightness right here whether or not strobed or not strobed. Minimal brightness of 41 nits is fairly good as properly.
Distinction is surprisingly good from this TN monitor, my unit hit 1376:1, 26% greater than the XL2566K and an all spherical nice quantity from a non-VA LCD panel. Black ranges aren’t particularly darkish and naturally to get this outcome you have to view the panel lifeless on, however you will not be getting a distinction drawback simply because it is a TN monitor.
The largest draw back to picture high quality from this panel are the viewing angles, that are horrible. You actually need to view this show lifeless on to get a great expertise, any slight off-axis viewing angle within the horizontal or vertical route results in a major gamma and brightness shift, resulting in a very washed out picture. Colours are additionally affected at off angles. That is the place a TN panel can look very dangerous subsequent to an IPS or different sort of LCD, as you possibly can view an IPS from a barely off-axis angle and nonetheless get an incredible expertise, whereas a TN appears to be like comparatively horrible underneath the identical circumstances. So be sure your setup is optimized the place you might be viewing the panel precisely in that very slim viewing angle candy spot.
Exterior of viewing angle points uniformity is affordable, definitely ok for gaming and when considered optimally you should not see an excessive amount of backlight bleed.
HUB Necessities Guidelines
Asus advertises this monitor properly, though together with HDMI 2.0 as a substitute of HDMI 2.1 is annoying. The colour efficiency specs are fairly good, though promoting a 0.2ms response time is a bit deceptive regardless of this being a really quick panel – on common the show is extra like 2ms. The dearth of backlight strobing assist beneath 360Hz additionally lets it down.
Asus additionally bizarrely advertises this as being HDR succesful with DisplayHDR 400 assist, regardless that I do not assume any esports gamer shopping for this panel would really care about HDR in any respect.
The show does not assist true HDR, because it does not assist any type of native dimming, resulting in a really low distinction ratio for HDR and weak brightness. Nevertheless I did not spot any points or defects with the panel, and basically the panel high quality is kind of good.
540Hz Gaming is Superior
Total, the Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP is a type of screens that really will get to impress us with its distinctive movement readability. As the primary 540Hz show we have used, its responsiveness and smoothness are a delight.
This monitor stays remarkably clear when gaming at its highest refresh fee, and we proceed to be amazed by the influence of even greater refresh charges. Whereas some would possibly argue that we’re within the realm of diminishing returns, we disagree. The variations in comparison with 360Hz have been noticeable for us, and much more so in comparison with 240Hz, which many think about a excessive refresh fee right now.
Whereas some would possibly argue that we’re within the realm of diminishing returns, we disagree.
Along with the excessive refresh fee, the PG248QP boasts the quickest response instances we have measured on an LCD panel. It considerably outperforms earlier leaders on this class, just like the BenQ XL2566K, providing a superb, quick, low overshoot expertise in any respect refresh charges.
It is greater than able to dealing with 540Hz, it is elite at decrease refresh charges and it has low enter latency as properly. Presently, solely OLED panels are sooner, however with OLEDs maxing out at 240Hz, you get superior movement readability from a 540Hz LCD.
Asus enhances this with ULMB2, which delivers one of the best movement readability we have seen on this 540Hz panel, making the PG248QP the best choice for each strobed and non-strobed readability. This characteristic’s limitation at decrease refresh charges like 240Hz or 144Hz is a minor setback, however we suspect anybody buying this show is aiming to play at or above 500 FPS – which is feasible in some multiplayer video games supplied you could have highly effective PC {hardware}.
I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned by some features to picture high quality, together with its good distinction ratio, extensive gamut assist and nice manufacturing unit calibration. Nevertheless, the poor viewing angles, a attribute of TN panels, typically nullify these advantages. Until considered head-on, you are prone to expertise a extra washed out picture, so it is exhausting to advocate it for something aside from its pace and movement efficiency.
Whereas the picture readability is spectacular, the PG248QP feels extra like a glimpse into the way forward for show applied sciences. Priced at $900, it is difficult to advocate to the typical gamer. Even for these in search of a premium esports monitor, the worth is steep, relegating it to a distinct segment market.
Although it surpasses the BenQ XL2566K in efficiency, the BenQ’s $600 price ticket – already excessive for a 1080p monitor in 2023 – makes it a extra enticing choice for a lot of, particularly for avid gamers taken with backlight strobing the place the PG248QP provides solely a slight enchancment. We imagine the Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP must be priced no greater than the present XL2566K, prompting a value discount for the BenQ. That might in all probability tempt a portion of the esports crowd to contemplate it. At $900 although, get pleasure from this look into what’s going to come sooner or later, however maybe watch for that future to reach moderately than leaping in proper now.
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