ASUS VG279Q Review

The ASUS VG279Q is aimed at the gaming market and you can expect to pay a premium price for the extra gamer ready features.  And packed with features it is.  This is a 1080p IPS screen that can run at a massive 144hz – the gold standard for any discerning game player.  Throw in some fast response times and this is going to be an interesting prospect for monitor buyers looking for a high performance model.

At 27″ in size it should appeal to most, this is fast becoming the standard size and looks good on a home desk.  At only 1080p (HD) you might want to consider a higher resolution screen, but you would need a faster PC to run games at a higher level of detail, so traditional HD might be perfect for your needs.

Build Quality

You know what you’re going to get when you see a monitor aimed at the gaming market.  The usual angular styling is present and you’ll have your own opinion on whether this will suit your home environment or not.  There are gaming monitors out there that look a little more elegant but it’s all down to personal taste.

The stand itself has the full range of ergonomic adjustments, including up to 130mm height, 90° pivot,  a +/- 90° swivel and a -5°/33° tilt.  If the stand doesn’t work for you then 100 x 100 VESA attachment fittings are present.  I’m a big fan of 3rd party monitor arms myself, my own screens are mounted on two brackets that give me extra desk space.

As you’d hope, the full range of modern inputs are available,  DisplayPort 1.2a (for 144Hz and Adaptive-Sync), HDMI 1.4a (FreeSync over HDMI up to 120Hz), and if you have a need for it, there is even the older style Dual-Link DVI-D (for 144Hz and ELMB).

For sound, there is a built in headphones jack, and two basic 2W integrated speakers should you have a need for them.

Performance

The ASUS is backed by a AU Optronics IPS panel, for those not familiar with the terminology, this means this model is based on “in plain switching” technology, which has a good reputation for bright vibrant colours and wide viewing angles.  They tend to be more expensive but higher quality than cheaper alternatives.

IPS technology can sometimes be slower but this model has a quoted 3ms grey to grey response time which is perfect for fast games.  This is actually faster than the first generation of IPS gaming monitors that used to struggle to go below 5ms.  With a 400nit peak brightness this screen is going to look good.

At 1080p (HD quality) some might be looking for a higher resolution on a 27″ screen.  At this size you might start to expect 1440p (QHD quality) but HD will be OK for most needs.

The VG279Q is compatible with AMD’s FreeSync adaptive sync technology, this means that the monitor can change its refresh rate to match the number of frames your PC is able to output thus reducing screen tearing and stuttering, allowing for a smoother clean image.  This model can operate FreeSync over a window of 40-144 frames per second, so as long as your computer doesn’t dip below 40 fps you’re good.  Below 40 fps Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) will kick in to ensure a smooth game play can continue.