The Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP is a particularly quick gaming monitor designed for skilled esports players. It boasts an enormous 540Hz refresh fee, serving as a powerful demonstration for the way forward for excessive efficiency, excessive refresh fee shows, which we hope will grow to be extra accessible within the coming years.
At present, in order for you 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 kind of LCDs obtainable, making them a logical alternative for a performance-focused show, regardless of some sacrifices in coloration high quality and viewing angles.
Specs and Design
This show includes a 24.1-inch 1920 x 1080 TN panel, with 540Hz achievable by way of an overclocking function within the OSD. It features a G-Sync module from Nvidia, offering adaptive sync help, Extremely Low Movement Blur 2 know-how, and the Reflex Latency Analyzer. Asus has additionally listed DisplayHDR 400 help, although precise HDR {hardware} help is someplace between restricted and non-existent.
Priced at $900, we do not count on Asus to promote many of those, besides maybe to a choose few multiplayer players that need to attempt it out and have money to burn. Nonetheless, the first purpose of this monitor appears to be to reveal the feasibility and worth of 500Hz+ refresh charges, in addition to to supply a little bit of a halo impact for different Asus displays.
Discussing the refresh fee, 540Hz is just supported within the newest builds of Home windows 11. Earlier variations of Home windows capped at 500Hz, so updating to the newest model is important for full performance. It is a minor subject for many players, however 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, presumably resulting from 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 help as much as that most. With an AMD GPU, 540Hz additionally works, however you will not get variable refresh fee help at that most: even when all the things seems enabled, the monitor stays capped at 540Hz as indicated by its built-in refresh fee counter. It is solely at 500Hz and under that you’re going to get full VRR help. Not the most important deal, 540Hz vs 500Hz is simply an 8% distinction, however one thing to pay attention to.
As for the advantages of the refresh fee itself, we’ll see the way it impacts movement readability a bit later on this overview, however even utilizing this monitor for desktop apps it is a large step up for responsiveness and smoothness over commonest refresh charges of at the moment.
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 looking the net and navigating by way of Home windows, 540Hz is considerably smoother and any motion you’re 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 suppose 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 achieve than from 144Hz certainly, 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 technique to describe it’s that 240Hz feels slower to make use of than 540Hz – although it is most likely not sufficient of a profit to justify the astronomical worth enhance to entry 540Hz.
The Asus PG248QP makes use of an analogous design to earlier ROG displays 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 includes a gamery design with an RGB LED illuminated ROG emblem, a standard sight in lots of current displays.
A singular and attention-grabbing side 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 players usually like to make use of fairly unconventional keyboard and mouse positions, so having this stage of adjustability caters to many several types of players. It is a clean and simple 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 steadiness of the monitor although, it is a rock stable construct that additionally consists of full ergonomic adjustability for the show itself: all of peak, tilt, swivel and pivot is included right here. Nonetheless, the usage of the G-Sync {hardware} module does translate into energetic cooling with a sluggish spinning fan that is audible at shut vary.
You may have the ability to hear it in a useless quiet room, however I discovered it very troublesome 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 nice. It is these adjustments in velocity and quantity which might be essentially the most noticeable and most annoying; this fan is only a fixed low velocity that is close to inaudible.
Connectivity is considerably restricted as a result of 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 okay, however the usage of HDMI 2.0 on an costly 540Hz show just isn’t ok, because it limits these ports to only 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 help HDMI 2.1 so that every one ports are full refresh fee ports.
The OSD, managed by way of a directional toggle, features a complete function set, with gaming-specific choices like crosshairs and timers. The inclusion of crosshair help in a monitor concentrating on skilled players raises questions on truthful play – is that thought of dishonest? In the event 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 consists of 4 overdrive settings, the primary of which is off, take a look at the chart under – fairly a very good end result for no overdrive – this may beat most different displays 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 very suited to taking part in at 540Hz with refresh compliance at 86%. Typically the priority with these tremendous excessive refresh fee displays is that the transition velocity 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 obtainable, one is Esports which barely improves the common response to 1.6ms but in addition barely will increase overshoot. Visually this mode is not all that completely different to Regular and the cumulative deviation numbers are shut. Then we’ve the Excessive mode which pushes as much as 1.2ms on common, however does so at a a lot greater stage of overshoot, so I would not suggest 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 right for 540Hz gaming, can be wonderful throughout your entire 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 all the way down to 2.5ms on the decrease components of the vary, however both method that is wonderful efficiency that provides us an elite-tier single overdrive mode expertise.
In comparison with different displays the PG248QP is the quickest LCD that I’ve examined up to now. It is 0.5ms sooner than the PG27AQN at its highest refresh fee, and over 50% sooner than the XL2566K at a decrease stage of overshoot, confirming Asus claims about an roughly 50% extra responsive expertise than conventional TN panels. And these are a number of the quickest displays 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. Nonetheless general OLEDs are nonetheless sooner, holding a few 6x benefit, although no OLED is obtainable at 540Hz.
Common efficiency can be excellent 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 stage of overshoot which is extraordinarily spectacular and reveals that TN nonetheless has a spot out there for excessive velocity. It is also a transparent step forward of the BenQ XL2566K, which is predicted from a more recent technology of panel however maybe to not this diploma, and just about something that is not 360Hz or above has no hope of competing outdoors of OLEDs.
Common cumulative deviation additionally reveals the power of the PG248QP and its sturdy mixture of velocity 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 greatest vs greatest overdrive settings, the PG248QP produced a 39% higher cumulative deviation end result 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. Nonetheless 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 velocity.
I do not suppose 120Hz gaming is the goal marketplace for this monitor however the PG248QP performs properly there regardless. That is additionally a fantastic monitor for 60Hz gaming should you occur to wish this stage of velocity at a low refresh fee.
One of many massive promoting factors to the PG248QP along with the 540Hz refresh fee is help for backlight strobing by way of 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 operate in any respect. So there is a small quantity of fine information there for AMD players that need to pair this show with their GPU.
For Nvidia GPU homeowners there’s larger compatibility and help for a number of refresh charges, though you will nonetheless want to make use of ULMB 2 at mounted refresh charges, and there is a surprisingly restricted vary of decisions. ULMB 2 solely works all the way down to 360Hz, at 240Hz and decrease refresh charges the choice is greyed out, compared to the PG27AQN that supported it all the way down to 144Hz. BenQ’s XL2566K with DyAc+ works all the way down to 100Hz. So should you wished to make the most of the center a part of the refresh vary and backlight strobing concurrently, say your sport does not run at 500 FPS in your GPU, then you definately’d be significantly better off with the XL2566K as an alternative.
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 all the way down to 360Hz to get a matched refresh fee comparability, the hole narrows between the 2 fashions however I would nonetheless give the general edge in readability to the PG248QP, it actually does have wonderful movement readability that must be the very best I’ve seen. Something under 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 all the way 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 completely different strobe timing and lengths so you possibly can modify the place of greatest readability and the general readability, though truthfully the distinction between 100 and 10 for readability could be very onerous 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 mostly wonderful.
Now a non-strobed 540Hz picture does look nice however it might probably’t beat a strobed 360Hz picture, so the very best picture high quality will at all times be discovered with 540Hz and strobing used on the identical time. However the greater refresh fee possibility 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 could possibly 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 just under a 1ms processing delay along side a brilliant excessive refresh fee and quick response occasions. This offers the PG248QP wonderful responsiveness together with an general low latency expertise, matching the quickest OLEDs which achieve a bonus resulting from their elite response occasions. We’re speaking about lower than 5ms of whole latency, which is extremely good.
Energy consumption is nothing superb at 36 watts, which is usually 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 instance.
Coloration Efficiency
Coloration House: Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP – D65-P3
For coloration high quality you may be shocked to find this panel is broad 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 type of protection wanted for a correct broad gamut expertise, however it does present one the place the XL2566K and several other different 1080p displays don’t.
Default Coloration Efficiency
Manufacturing unit coloration efficiency is first rate, greyscale deltaEs could possibly be a bit of 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 facility, so usually the picture high quality is fairly correct in comparison with most different gaming displays.
And you will see that in these charts, the PG248QP is above common for grayscale from the manufacturing facility, and probably the greatest displays for ColorChecker. So regardless of providing a TN panel and being primarily geared in direction of esports players, Asus are nonetheless guaranteeing the visible expertise is first rate from the manufacturing facility.
OSD Tweaked Coloration Efficiency
Calibrated Coloration Efficiency
This monitor additionally presents full management over white steadiness and different settings within the sRGB mode, and lets you change between sRGB and broad gamut utilizing the OSD settings. This allowed me to tighten up efficiency barely utilizing {hardware} controls. Nonetheless for the very best expertise you will have to 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 facility. I would not suggest it for coloration correct broad gamut work however even for the occasional little bit of broad gamut viewing it is not horrible.
Brightness is superb at 420 nits after calibration which is within the ballpark of most different 1080p displays although notably higher than the XL2566K. With backlight strobing enabled you will 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’s 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 end result it’s essential view the panel useless 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 must view this show useless on to get a very good expertise, any slight off-axis viewing angle within the horizontal or vertical path results in a big 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 unhealthy subsequent to an IPS or different kind of LCD, as you possibly can view an IPS from a barely off-axis angle and nonetheless get a fantastic expertise, whereas a TN appears to be like comparatively horrible beneath the identical circumstances. So be certain 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 seen 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 an alternative 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 shortage of backlight strobing help under 360Hz additionally lets it down.
Asus additionally bizarrely advertises this as being HDR succesful with DisplayHDR 400 help, though I do not suppose any esports gamer shopping for this panel would really care about HDR in any respect.
The show does not help true HDR, because it does not help any type of native dimming, resulting in a really low distinction ratio for HDR and weak brightness. Nonetheless I did not spot any points or defects with the panel, and typically the panel high quality is kind of good.
540Hz Gaming is Superior
General, the Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP is a type of displays that actually 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 affect of even greater refresh charges. Whereas some may 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 contemplate a excessive refresh fee at the moment.
Whereas some may argue that we’re within the realm of diminishing returns, we disagree.
Along with the excessive refresh fee, the PG248QP boasts the quickest response occasions we have measured on an LCD panel. It considerably outperforms earlier leaders on this class, just like the BenQ XL2566K, providing a wonderful, 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. At present, 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 the very best movement readability we have seen on this 540Hz panel, making the PG248QP the best choice for each strobed and non-strobed readability. This function’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 might have highly effective PC {hardware}.
I used to be additionally pleasantly shocked by some points to picture high quality, together with its good distinction ratio, broad gamut help and nice manufacturing facility calibration. Nonetheless, the poor viewing angles, a attribute of TN panels, usually nullify these advantages. Until seen head-on, you are prone to expertise a extra washed out picture, so it is onerous to suggest it for something apart from its velocity 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 suggest to the common gamer. Even for these looking for 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 possibility for a lot of, particularly for players occupied with backlight strobing the place the PG248QP presents solely a slight enchancment. We imagine the Asus ROG Swift Professional PG248QP must be priced no greater than the present XL2566K, prompting a worth discount for the BenQ. That will most likely tempt a portion of the esports crowd to think about it. At $900 although, take pleasure in this look into what’s going to come sooner or later, however maybe look ahead to that future to reach quite than leaping in proper now.
