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Incoming: 144 Hz QHD IPS Panels from AUO

By - Source: TFT Central | B 25 comments
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It looks like we might finally be getting some IPS monitors that are also good for gaming.

If we tell you that AUO is working on a new display panel with the model number M270DAN02.3, we’d probably lose your interest, so we’ll just go right out and tell you that this is an IPS panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate and a 2560 x 1440 resolution. Caught you off guard? Yes, TFT Central reports that this is really an IPS panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate -- the first of its kind.

Okay, saying that it’s an IPS panel isn’t entirely accurate, as the so-called IPS displays from AUO are actually AHVA panels. They do have their differences, but how they work and the end result are nearly identical. A lot of manufacturers sell monitors with AHVA panels as IPS monitors.

There aren't many details about the panel available yet, but we do know that it’ll have a static contrast ratio of 1000:1, a 350 cd/m2 brightness, a sRGB color profile and horizontal and vertical viewing angles of 178 degrees. Considering that the panel has a refresh rate of 144 Hz, we’re particularly interested in the response times, as low response times can mean that we suddenly have a monitor that addresses both gamers and folks who simply want good image quality –- something that even today cannot be combined.

In its report, TFTCentral indicated that the panel would be entering production this month, so we’re very curious to see how long it’ll be before we see it implemented in monitors, and when these will be available.

Follow Niels Broekhuijsen @NBroekhuijsen. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

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  • 1 Hide
    dovah-chan , September 8, 2014 6:25 AM
    Seems too good to be true and I was not aware manufacturers marketed AHVA panels as IPS ones. That feels a little shady and misguiding in my opinion and should be dealt with. In fact that sounds like borderline false advertisement but I'm sure there is some kind of loophole :) 

    Anyways I don't know about this monitor. It's from a manufacturer I've not heard of before so I don't know about their quality control. I await good tidings of response time though.
  • -2 Hide
    airborne11b , September 8, 2014 6:28 AM
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.
  • 6 Hide
    NocelCrown , September 8, 2014 7:08 AM
    You might not have heard of AUO before, but chances are you've used a monitor with their panels before. They don't actually make the monitors themselves, just the panels that go into them. Companies from the likes of Acer, Benq, and NEC make monitors with AUO panels. Which is no surprise cause their parent company is Benq and they're co-owned by Acer as well.
  • Add your comment Display all 25 comments.
  • 0 Hide
    NocelCrown , September 8, 2014 7:11 AM
    You might not have heard of AUO before, but chances are you've used a monitor with their panels before. They don't actually make the monitors themselves, just the panels that go into them. Companies from the likes of Acer, Benq, and NEC make monitors with AUO panels. Which is no surprise cause their parent company is Benq and they're co-owned by Acer as well.
  • 1 Hide
    dovah-chan , September 8, 2014 7:24 AM
    I was not aware of that, thank you. :)  The only major panel OEMs I am familiar with are Samsung and LG.
  • 1 Hide
    haftarun8 , September 8, 2014 8:02 AM
    So are the panel characteristics more similar to other VA panels (high contrast ratios, deep blacks, good color accuracy, but input lag prone and worst ghosting), or to actual IPS panels (poor black levels / contrast, but high color accuracy and best off-angle viewing)? I personally prefer VA panels for everything except for critical image and video editing, VFX, etc. Contrast is the single most important factor for image quality and "pop". It just objectively looks better to have inky blacks, and makes colors jump out so much better.

    In short, if this is more like a 3000+:1 static contrast VA panel that's 144hz, has lower input lag and ghosting compared to other VA panels, and includes Gsync (or at least Displayport 1.2 with AMD's universal sync solution), then it'll be the first truly interesting monitor to come out that does gaming while actually delivering a good looking image that rivals the better HDTVs available.
  • 1 Hide
    icemunk , September 8, 2014 8:46 AM
    I wish the industry would name these monitor resolutions better.. 2560 x 1440 resolution is considered QHD+ - however some phone manufacturers release phones with "QHD" screens that are 960*540 pixels which is quarter-HD.
  • 0 Hide
    CraigN , September 8, 2014 8:58 AM
    Quote:
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.


    Being that the GSYNC DIY kit is only for the VG248QE, and was only done for that monitor because a version of it pre-installed can be purchased and as a test-run for GSYNC, it is probably safe to assume this monitor will not be moddable with GSync, as the other similar-specc'd monitors from BenQ and Acer have not received any GSync kits. I would not hedge your bets on that, personally, given Nvidia's track record for G Sync kits with other monitors (read: nonexistent) at the moment.
  • 1 Hide
    CaptainTom , September 8, 2014 9:47 AM
    Make it in 4K with FreeSync, DP 1.3, and HDMI 2.0. Then you will have the enthusiasts lining up...
  • 5 Hide
    Integr8d , September 8, 2014 10:18 AM
    Quote:
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.


    My Christie 4230 4K cinema projector is awesome for gaming too. But I may have to give it to the homeless guy that passes out on the corner of my street, if this monitor is as respectable as my Christie 4230 4K cinema projector.

    If this monitor doesn't accept HFR dual stream HDSDI, it'll be out of the question as my Christie 4230 4K cinema projector doesn't even know how to play a fiddle (or what one is).
  • 3 Hide
    Zepid , September 8, 2014 10:53 AM
    I can't think of an instance where AHVA is marketed as IPS. The only major seller of AHVA right now is BenQ and they clearly label them. AHVA is for sure not IPS. It has poorer color accuracy but greater contrast due to blacks being blacker.

    I can't tell if Tom's is talking out of the side of its mouth or its ass here, but I don't like it.
  • 0 Hide
    SessouXFX , September 8, 2014 11:01 AM
    I'll take one in 29in, w/ 3ms< thank you...
  • -1 Hide
    airborne11b , September 8, 2014 11:45 AM
    Quote:
    Quote:
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.


    Being that the GSYNC DIY kit is only for the VG248QE, and was only done for that monitor because a version of it pre-installed can be purchased and as a test-run for GSYNC, it is probably safe to assume this monitor will not be moddable with GSync, as the other similar-specc'd monitors from BenQ and Acer have not received any GSync kits. I would not hedge your bets on that, personally, given Nvidia's track record for G Sync kits with other monitors (read: nonexistent) at the moment.


    Ya I know that Gsync mods are probably not in the cards for this monitor. I was just kinda commenting on how this monitor really misses the mark in terms of a "gaming monitor" without it. High refresh rate is great, but you also need good response time and now that Gsync is here, anything without it (or upcoming freesync) is simply sub-par.

    This monitor could have 100% color accuracy and have the best possible monitor picture in the world and it still wouldn't matter unless it has Gsync or Freesync.

    It's also noteworthy to point out that response time was not included in the preview specs, which leads me to believe that this thing will have something pretty terrible in terms of response time. Probably something in the 5 - 12ms range.

    ROG Swift is already 2560 x 1440, 8bit color, 1ms response, Gsync, 144hz at $799.

    Unless this monitor is sub 3ms response time and priced cheaper than the Swift it wouldn't make any sense to buy this as a primary gaming monitor.
  • 2 Hide
    balister , September 8, 2014 1:12 PM
    Quote:
    2560 x 1440 resolution is considered QHD+ - however some phone manufacturers release phones with "QHD" screens that are 960*540 pixels which is quarter-HD.


    No

    960x540 is qHD (small q indicates quarter)

    1280x720 is HD

    1920x1080 is FHD

    2560x1440 is QHD (capital q indicates quad)

    3840x2160 is UHD

    5120x2880 is UHD+
  • 2 Hide
    kyuuketsuki , September 8, 2014 2:51 PM
    If one of these panels gets put in an actual monitor for $300-500, they have my money. Bonus points if it supports Freesync.

    The distinction between IPS and AHVA is only important in that AHVA is actually probably superior to IPS for gaming and general usage (but inferior for photo-editing and other professional uses). Like another poster mentioned, I'm actually not aware of any cases where AHVA is advertised as IPS anyway.
  • 2 Hide
    jasonelmore , September 8, 2014 3:55 PM
    Quote:
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.


    if i were you, i'd be regretting my ROG Swift Purchase right about now. IPS with way better viewing angles and wayyyy better colors at the same resolution. you know there will be a gsync version.
  • 0 Hide
    soldier44 , September 8, 2014 5:28 PM
    Waiting on LG's 31 inch 4K IPS display coming soon.
  • -2 Hide
    airborne11b , September 8, 2014 6:05 PM
    Quote:
    Quote:
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.


    if i were you, i'd be regretting my ROG Swift Purchase right about now. IPS with way better viewing angles and wayyyy better colors at the same resolution. you know there will be a gsync version.


    I have IPS monitors for my workstation and the color isn't that much better than compared to my properly calibrated, 8-bit color panel on my ROG Swift. Viewing angles also don't really matter on a desk, sitting directly in front of the monitor and not using it as a portrait or as a side monitor in a multi-monitor setup.

    I'm not texturing models or professionally editing photos on my gaming rig either.

    So why would I regret buying the current best gaming monitor in the world? I wouldn't and I don't. This monitor isn't out yet and I've had my ROG Swift already for nearly 2 months now. Gsync isn't on this version and there is no news of it being included in the future. This monitor also probably has bad response time to boot.

    Then there's price to consider as well if they do create one with low response and Gsync. Is it going to be $799 like the Swift? Is it going to be $999? $1200? Will it be less? Doubtful since IPS panels are more expensive than similar sized TN panels.

    Even if they somehow managed to make a 1ms response panel with gsync and they release it a year from now at a reasonable price (doubtful), I still enjoyed the best possible gaming monitor for a long time and even then, the difference in picture quality probably wouldn't be noticeable when it comes to gaming, so it wouldn't even be a true upgrade and I wouldn't even bother buying it.

    Maybe I'll feel like upgrading when I can get 3 30" IPS monitors with 1ms response, 144hz, Gsync/Freesync with 2560 x 1600 for $500 each and enough GPU power to push that at over 120fps consistantly.
  • 1 Hide
    Solandri , September 8, 2014 10:02 PM
    Quote:
    Seems too good to be true and I was not aware manufacturers marketed AHVA panels as IPS ones. That feels a little shady and misguiding in my opinion and should be dealt with. In fact that sounds like borderline false advertisement but I'm sure there is some kind of loophole :) 

    IPS is trademarked by LG, might be patented too. The AUO equivalent tech is called AHVA. The Samsung equivalent is called PLS. They all work a bit different, but have pretty much the same end effect - better colors and viewing angles than TN. "IPS" is the term the retail market uses to refer to these better screens, so companies other than LG use that as a loophole to advertise their panels as IPS (well, the laptops and monitors which use AHVA and PLS panels do so at least).

    There's sort of a multi-way détente between the different manufacturers where they take the others' tech, improve on it, release it as their own, that gets borrowed and improved, etc, which is driving the phenomenal rate of technological progress. There was a minor patent scuffle a few years back when LG borrowed Samsung's PLS ideas and used it to improve IPS, and released that as AH-IPS.
  • -1 Hide
    CraigN , September 9, 2014 4:59 AM
    Quote:
    Quote:
    My ROG Swift is really awesome for gaming. If this monitor could be modded with Gsync and has a respectable response time I could pass my ROG Swift to my wife and get this one.

    But if it has poor response and gsync is out of the question, then this monitor will still be 2nd fiddle to the ROG Swift.


    if i were you, i'd be regretting my ROG Swift Purchase right about now. IPS with way better viewing angles and wayyyy better colors at the same resolution. you know there will be a gsync version.



    I'm with Airborne on this one, as a PG278Q owner myself.

    I can't imagine any reason I would regret my ROG Swift purchase. Calibrated, it looks great. Viewing angle is unimportant as I'm sitting directly in front of the 27" behemoth on my desk. Not sure why I need viewing angles for that. I don't dip and move my head around like I'm using an Oculus Rift in front of it, because my Swift doesn't track my head and it doesn't change how i'm playing the game, so I don't notice any vertical color change either.

    I'm not sure why people get so bent out of shape over this, especially for gaming, which is what the Swift, and arguably this monitor, are designed for. You sit in front of it in a relatively stationary position and look directly at it. The color reproduction is more than good enough for not doing professional work. The response time is better, and it comes with GSync, and it beats the response time and motion blurriness of any IPS panel that's out there right now.

    To address your last point, No, we don't know there will be a GSync version. We know for sure of only two other GSync monitors coming to market other than ASUS' two that are already here. One is going to be a 4K Gsync 60Hz from Acer, and BenQ is cooking up one that we haven't seen yet. The 4K GSync has already been confirmed to be TN. And we've heard nothing of monitors supporting the new DP standard for FreeSync either, as despite what AMD will have you believe, it's not "free" because the change in hardware internal to the monitor they would have to do for the monitor scaler is just as expensive as investing in Nvidia's solution. It's not as simple to implement as soldering a DP port version that supports it (1.2b? 1.3?) onto a silicon board and saying "bam, now I support freesync!"

    By the time FreeSync solutions come to market, and an IPS panel that has a respectable response time comes to market, I'll have gotten more than my money's worth out of my ROG Swift. No regrets here.
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