To satisfy the enthusiast's never-ending lust for speed, hardware vendors roll out higher-clocked CPUs with more cores, complex graphics processors, fast solid-state storage, and evolving memory technologies able to push higher bandwidth. Almost ironically, the last frontier for speed-obsessed gamers is the display, which we interface with no matter what we're doing in front of our PCs.
A majority of LCD monitors are limited to 60 Hz, which is fine for smooth video and productivity. But when a high-performance rig is pumping out frame rates above that, you want a panel able to keep up.
Even though consumer TVs have offered 120 and even 240 Hz through frame interpolation for some time, the same technology isn't common in the computer world. It’s certainly not bleeding-edge. I remember seeing 120 Hz TVs in Circuit City years ago, and that place went out of business back in 2009.

Even though we've tested true 120 Hz displays in the past (particularly in conjunction with Nvidia's 3D Vision technology), Asus is hearing the call from power users for screens with even higher refresh rates. The company has 24- and 27-inch monitors able to operate at up to 144 Hz, and sent us its VG248QE, which has an amazing claimed response time of one millisecond. If you pick the 27" model instead, that increases to a still-amazing 2 ms. Not only is the screen draw time substantially reduced, but input lag (as we discover in the pages to come) is extremely low as well.
Asus achieves this performance with a two-part design approach. First is an overclocked input PCB. While you can modify the input board of any monitor to increase its refresh rate, many screens become unstable right around 72 Hz, though there are a few vendors online selling monitors they've tweaked up to higher frequencies. Asus uses its own parts to create a stable platform that can handle the higher rates. The second element is a six-bit TN panel manufactured by AU Optronics. That requires its own bit of explanation.
TN is generally faster at screen draws than IPS because the majority of panels have a six-bit native color depth. This means they are only capable of rendering 262,144 actual colors instead of the 16,777,216 possible from an eight-bit panel. Since the color information coming from the monitor’s processor requires far less bandwidth, the entire signal chain gets a boost in speed.
Of course, then we run into a problem of what to do with the eight-bit color information in the incoming signal. Displays with reduced color bit depth tend to exhibit banding in areas of similar color. The easiest way to see this is in an image of blue sky. There are many fine gradations that simply can't be rendered by a six-bit panel. Instead, you see unnatural transitions between colors.

This is an extreme example, and you shouldn't see anything so problematic on a modern display. But when a monitor operates at a reduced bit depth, banding is one of those artifacts that has to be dealt with.

In order to combat it, TN-based panels use a process called dithering. The more technical term is frame rate control, but the process is the same. Random noise is inserted into the color gradations in order to fuzz-out, for lack of a better term, the color bands. With modern video processing, this technique can be very effective in reducing the effect.
The display in the example to the right can only render red or blue. To make purple, an increasing amount of red and blue noise is inserted into the image until the eye perceives the desired color, even though there is no actual purple in the bottom-right square. Obviously this is a gross over-simplification. The actual technique is far more complex, and the result is practically indistinguishable from an eight-bit panel.
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Model | VG248QE |
| Street Price | $270 |
| Panel Type | TN |
| Backlight | W-LED |
| Screen Size | 24" |
| Max Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1 ms |
| Brightness (cd/m2) | 350 |
| Speakers | 2 x 2 W |
| VGA | - |
| DVI | 1 |
| DisplayPort | 1 |
| HDMI | 1 |
| Headphone | 1 |
| USB | - |
| Max Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Dimensions w/base WxHxD | 22.4 x 19.7 x 9.1 in 569 x 500 x 231 mm |
| Panel Thickness | 2.3 in / 57.3 mm |
| Warranty | Three years |
In addition to superlative response and lag specifications, Asus provides a nice package that caters to the enthusiast. Let’s check out what else comes in the VG248QE’s carton, besides blazing speed.
While most monitors come in a suitcase-style box that keeps the screen upright, the VG248QE is laid down in a more traditionally-shaped carton. It’s very large, affording a lot of room for protective foam. Included cables are DisplayPort, dual-link DVI, stereo audio (1/8" mini-plug), and an IEC power cord.
The only assembly required is screwing on the round base with the integrated wingnut. Also in the box is a CD with a user's manual, drivers, and ICC profiles. The software package includes Nvidia 3D Vision support. To complete that package, you’ll need an appropriate Nvidia graphics card and the company's 3D Vision kit with glasses and an emitter.
VG248QE: A Product 360
The VG248QE has every possible position adjustment: four inches of height, 15 degrees of tilt, 90 degrees of swivel, and rotation to portrait mode. All the movements feel nicely balanced without excess play. And the panel stays where you put it. If you want to use your own bracket, four screws release the upright to reveal a 100 mm VESA mount. The upright also has a small cable management clip in back to keep things tidy. The clip and the top of the upright are finished in bright red, which makes for a racy little accent.
Otherwise, the monitor’s styling is fairly ordinary. The plastic has a glossy finish that falls a bit shy of piano black. The screen has an effective anti-glare layer that does a good job of rejecting light, without creating image artifacts like grain or clarity reduction.
The bezel is 17 mm wide on the top and sides, and 20 mm wide on the bottom. The bulge on the panel’s back isn’t too big. In fact, it's actually nicely tapered from side to side. The control buttons are found on the bottom-right, facing down. They have a high-quality feel when you click them, putting up just the right amount of resistance. Labels printed on the front convey their functions. The first one is a hotkey that cycles through the six Splendid modes. Next, for menu navigation, is the minus/down button. This one is also a hotkey for GamePlus (more on that below). Third is menu, fourth is both plus/up and the brightness hotkey. Fifth is the input selector. And last is the power toggle.

Pressing the GamePlus hotkey pops up a little menu with a couple of unique options. With this feature, you can put a hardware-generated aiming point in the screen center (there are four reticules), or display a countdown timer for use in real-time strategy games. You can’t have both at the same time, though. The timer can be placed on the top, middle, or bottom of the screen’s left side. The available presets are 30, 40, 50, 60, or 90 minutes. Pressing the first control key turns the feature off.

Subtle though it may be, you can see the red trim we’re talking about. It’s just a cable keeper, but it does make for a nice bit of bling in an otherwise industrial design. There's even a little more red on top of the upright that isn't visible in the photo. The base is two parts, similar to a lazy Susan. That way you can swivel the panel 45 degrees in either direction without anything rubbing on your desktop. Vents across the top are just for cooling; the speakers are actually on the lower half of the panel, just under the VESA mount.

Of course, there is a portrait mode that's just about ideal for word processing on a 24-inch monitor. It’s a little less convenient for Web browsing though, because most websites are formatted at 1200 pixels wide, while this monitor is only 1080. The best use would probably be in conjunction with another 24- or 27-inch screen in its landscape orientation.

Inputs face downwards and include one DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI connector. There is no VGA input and there are no USB ports. If you plan to game or watch in stereo, you’ll have to use the DVI connection with a dual-link cable and an Nvidia 3D Vision kit. For audio, there’s a stereo mini-jack (3.5 mm) and a headphone output. In the shot above, you can see the stereo speakers contained in a small housing just below the inputs. They are vented to the sides and rear. Their small size limits frequency response to the upper-mid-range. We wouldn’t call them tinny by any means, but their soundstage is pretty narrow. Aside from a separate desktop sound system, your best option for audio is going to come from a good pair of headphones.
The OSD has everything you need for a complete calibration, but the picture modes can cause a bit of confusion. The six presets are called Splendid, and each one enables and disables different options. The only one that allows all adjustments is Theater, so that’s where we’ll start our OSD tour.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, sRGB mode grays out all adjustments including Brightness and Contrast. While this mode has decent color accuracy, its brightness level is a little lower than we'd like. Oddly, we discovered the best calibration is possible in the Standard mode, and we'll tell you why at the end of this page.
We also figured out that, when you switch Splendid modes, the monitor resets the Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation controls to their defaults, even if you previously adjusted any of those settings. The workaround is to either choose one mode and use it exclusively, or record your settings in advance. Fortunately, the RGB and color temp settings are not affected.

Here’s where you’ll find the calibration controls. Depending on the Splendid mode you choose, Contrast reacts a little differently. In Standard, you can turn it up to 80 before any image detail is clipped. In Theater mode however, you have to turn it down to 35 to avoid clipping. This was the main reason we used Standard for our calibration.
If you use the Skin Tone Control, it only affects flesh tones. Primary and secondary colors don’t seem to change. In Standard, this control is grayed out. Smart View is a gamma and black level shifter. Turning it on makes the monitor brighter. But the gamma rises too, resulting in a washed-out image. Its intent is to improve off-axis viewing, which it does.

These are the RGB controls. Like most computer monitors, they start at their highest setting. We prefer to see them start in the middle to give maximum adjustment flexibility.

We usually set Sharpness to its lowest value. Like HP's E271i, though, this softens the image unacceptably. The default setting of 50 is just fine. Push it any higher and edge enhancement results.
Trace Free should be set to 100 for the quickest screen draw time. This visibly reduces motion blur and cuts response time in our tests by around two milliseconds.
ASCR is the dynamic contrast control, and should be left off.

You can manually select inputs if your VG248QE is connected to multiple sources. Otherwise, the monitor’s auto-sense function quickly detects the active input and switches accordingly.

In the System Setup menu, you’ll find the rest of the VG248QE's ergonomic functions. The Splendid Demo shows a split-screen of two modes, facilitating comparison. This is the only place to adjust the volume. There isn’t a hotkey among the control buttons. ECO Mode dims the backlight, which is convenient for use as a nighttime mode in a dark room, letting you leave all of your other image controls alone.
OSD Setup takes you to the sub-menu shown below. In the Language sub-menu, there are an astounding 21 choices. And Information pops up a window with the input signal’s resolution, refresh rate, input type, and monitor model number. All Reset returns everything to its factory state. Be careful with this one; there’s no “Are You Sure?” prompt. One press and all user-entered settings are erased.

The first three controls position the OSD and set its timeout value. It’s always nice to be able to get the menu off the center of the screen and away from test patterns. DDC/CI should be left on if you want to allow your computer to have two-way communication with the VG248QE. And transparency fades the menu out so you can see the image behind.
At first glance, Theater mode seems to be the best choice for calibration, since it unlocks all image adjustments. But the Contrast control, at its default setting of 80, clips information at the bright end of the scale. In fact, you have to turn it down to 35 to correct this, making the image look flat and dull. In Standard mode, however, you can run Contrast up to 80 without penalty. And you still have access to the RGB controls. There is no gamma setting in any mode, but that didn't have a negative effect on our test results. Unless you want to improve off-axis image quality, leave the Smart View option off. And again, we recommend leaving the ASCR dynamic contrast setting off as well.
| Asus VG248QE Calibration Settings | |
|---|---|
| Splendid Mode | Standard |
| Contrast | 80 |
| Brightness | 35 |
| Color Temp | User |
| RGB | Red 96 / Green 94 / Blue 88 |
Let’s move on to the benchmarks.
To measure and calibrate monitors, we use an i1Pro spectrophotometer and version 5.1.2 of SpectraCal’s CalMAN software.

For patterns, we employ an AccuPel DVG-5000 video signal generator. This approach removes video cards and drivers from the signal chain, allowing the display to receive true reference patterns. Connections are made via HDMI.

The AccuPel DVG-5000 is capable of generating all types of video signals at any resolution and refresh rate up to 1920x1080 at 60 Hz. It can also display motion patterns to evaluate a monitor's video processing capabilities, with 3D patterns available in every format. This allows us to measure color and grayscale performance, crosstalk, and ghosting in 3D content via the 3D glasses.
The i1Pro is placed at the center of the screen (unless we’re measuring uniformity) and sealed against it to block out any ambient light. The Accupel pattern generator (bottom left) is controlled via USB by CalMAN, which is running on the Dell XPS laptop on the right.
Our version of CalMAN Ultimate allows me to design all of the screens and workflows to best suit the purpose at hand. To that end, we’ve created a display review workflow from scratch. This way, we can be sure and collect all the necessary data with a concise and efficient set of measurements.
The charts show us the RGB levels, gamma response, and Delta E error for every brightness point from zero to 100 percent. The table shows us the raw data for each measurement. And the area in the upper-left tells us luminance, average gamma, Delta E, and contrast ratio.

Every primary and secondary color is measured at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent saturation. The color saturation level is simply the distance from the white point on the CIE chart. You can see the targets moving out from white in a straight line. The further a point is from center, the greater the saturation until you hit 100 percent at the edge of the gamut triangle. This shows us the display’s response at a cross-section of color points. Many monitors score well when only the 100 percent saturations are measured. Hitting the targets at lower saturations is more difficult, and factors into our average Delta E value (which explains why our Delta E values are sometimes higher than those reported by other publications).
Uncalibrated
Before calibrating any panel, we measure zero and 100 percent signals at both ends of the brightness control range. This shows us how contrast is affected at the extremes of a monitor's luminance capability. We do not increase the contrast control past the clipping point. While doing this would increase a monitor’s light output, the brightest signal levels would not be visible. It'd result in crushed highlight detail. Our numbers show the maximum light level possible with no signal clipping.
Our comparison group for this review includes the last six displays Tom's Hardware reviewed.

At over 412 cd/m2, Asus' VG248QE is one of the brightest monitors we’ve tested. In fact, only the HP ZR2740w edges it out among screens reviewed this year. While you might not want to maximize brightness in many tasks, this kind of light output can significantly reduce off-axis falloff.
Let’s see if it affects the maximum black level, though.

This is still an excellent result for such a light powerhouse. At .2949 cd/m2, the VG248QE runs with the majority. Even at maximum settings, you get a decent black level. TN screens have always had a small advantage in this area, and this measurement demonstrates that.
Asus’ wide dynamic range should generate an excellent contrast result.

The VG248QE takes second place in our comparison group, and third place overall for the year. The only other monitor we’ve tested that maintains such a high contrast ratio at maximum brightness is Samsung's S27B970D, which would take second place here.
For the next group of measurements, we turn down the brightness control to its minimum setting, and leave the contrast unchanged. The VG248QE measures 80.0679 cd/m2, which is well above our minimum standard of 50 cd/m2. We recommend staying above that level to avoid eyestrain. At this low brightness setting, we often see amazing black level numbers.

A minimum black level of .0121 cd/m2 is really low. Only the HP E271i measures lower, and that monitor only has half the max output at minimum brightness. It doesn’t get any better than this, at least for now!

This minimum on/off contrast ratio number is simply astounding. Remember that the HP is below our minimum white standard of 50 cd/m2, while Asus is not. With the tremendous dynamic range of this monitor and its wide control range, you can easily make it work in any imaginable viewing environment. We expect this to be a very useful feature for gamers using their rigs at LAN parties and other off-site venues. All you have to do is set your Brightness control to taste.
After Calibration
Since we consider 200 cd/m2 to be an ideal average for peak output, we calibrate all of our test monitors to that value. In a room with some ambient light (like an office), this brightness level provides a sharp, punchy image with maximum detail and minimum eye fatigue. It's also the sweet spot for gamma and grayscale tracking, which we'll look at on the next page.
We start with the calibrated black level. This can sometimes rise a bit from the monitor’s default state. The tradeoff in contrast is well worth the gain in color accuracy.

Does this mean the Asus VG248QE is our new calibrated black level champ? It does for this comparison group, but it takes second place overall for the year. ViewSonic's VX2770Smh, which we tested back in January, enjoys that honor. The margin is quite small, however (a difference of only .0064). Asus obviously engineered this panel for maximum dynamic range, and achieved its goal. This should bode well for its calibrated contrast ratio.

Once again, the VG248QE leads this group, but remains in second place overall behind ViewSonic's VX2770Smh for the year. There aren’t many monitors that can maintain such high contrast after calibration. Again, the engineering here is top-notch.
ANSI Contrast Ratio
Another important measure of contrast is ANSI. To perform this test, a checkerboard pattern of sixteen zero- and 100-percent squares is measured. This is somewhat more real-world than on/off measurements because it tests a display’s ability to simultaneously maintain both low black and full white levels, and factors in screen uniformity. The average of the eight full-white measurements is divided by the average of the eight full-black measurements to arrive at the ANSI result.

We see many screens falter in this measurement. ANSI contrast is an extremely demanding test. For the VG248QE to do so well speaks to the quality of the grid polarizer used in its construction. This part is responsible for preventing light bleed between the darkest and lightest pixels in an LCD display. We’ve come to expect great ANSI performance from LG-based panels. Now we can add AU Optronics to the list. Asus made an excellent choice there.
The majority of monitors, especially newer models, display excellent grayscale tracking (even at stock settings). It’s important that the color of white be consistently neutral at all light levels from darkest to brightest. Grayscale performance impacts color accuracy with regard to the secondary colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Since computer monitors typically have no color or tint adjustment, accurate grayscale is key.
Because of the issue we discovered with the Contrast control, we feel Standard is the best mode to use, regardless of whether you calibrate or not. We also recommend the User color temperature preset, even if you don’t adjust it.

The VG248QE’s grayscale runs towards blue at every brightness level. All measurement points have visible errors. Fortunately, blue errors are the least detrimental to image quality. The white point error we really don’t want to see is green, and there’s obviously no problem there.
The tracking is fairly linear, so it should dial in well with calibration.

Aside from slight aberrations at 0, 10, and 100 percent brightness, this is an excellent chart and a significant improvement over the stock configuration. All the Delta E numbers are below two, except for 10 percent brightness. Forty through 80 are well under one.
Let’s bring our comparison group back into the mix.

The VG248QE is on the high side of average in this test. HP's E271i is exceptional, while the majority of monitors tested do have some visible grayscale error out of the box.
Things look much better after calibration.

At a Delta E of 1.3, Asus demonstrates excellent calibrated performance. Even the most particular gamers will be more than satisfied with the grayscale accuracy of this monitor. Speed isn't its only strength. Rather, Asus offers solid performance in all areas.
Gamma Response
Gamma is the measurement of luminance levels at every step in the brightness range from 0 to 100 percent. This is important because poor gamma can either crush detail at various points or wash it out, making the entire picture appear flat and dull. Correct gamma produces a more three-dimensional image, with a greater sense of depth and realism. Meanwhile, incorrect gamma can negatively affect image quality, even in monitors with high contrast ratios.
In the gamma charts below, the yellow line represents 2.2, which is the most widely accepted standard for television, film, and computer graphics production. The closer the white measurement trace comes to 2.2, the better.

The VG248QE doesn’t have a gamma control. But apparently it doesn’t need one. The measurement trace stays nice and flat until 90 percent brightness, where it takes a bit of a dip. This is a slight error, and is only 1.34 cd/m2 higher than the target value. One thing we noted during the testing: at higher brightness settings, the gamma dip at 90 percent increases a little. For the best gamma performance, you’ll want to stick to around 200 cd/m2 max output.
Here’s our test group again for the gamma comparisons.

At a value range of .35, the VG248QE is squarely in the middle of this pack, and also mid-pack among the screens we've tested this year. In short, gamma tracking is very good (well below the point where it negatively impacts image depth or detail).
We calculate gamma deviation by simply expressing the difference from 2.2 as a percentage.

A variation of 1.36 percent puts Asus in second place today, and fifth overall. Numbers like these mean the VG248QE has no gamma issues to speak of. It tracks a 2.2 value well as long as you work around a max brightness level of 200 cd/m2 or less.
Color gamut is measured using a saturation sweep that samples the six main colors (red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow) at five saturation levels (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%). This provides a more realistic view of color accuracy. Since there are no color management controls on the HP E271i, we're only showing the post-calibration graphs (although we’re sure they'd look pretty much the same out-of-box).

We’ve seen the oversaturation of blue on a few other screens, so this chart is not out of the ordinary. You can also see that green, yellow, and magenta are clocked slightly away from their targets. The errors are fairly small, as shown on the bottom Delta E chart. In fact, things look pretty good until you pass the 60 percent saturation level. Color luminance (middle chart) also dips for red, magenta, and blue as the saturation level rises.

Thanks to its excellent mid and low saturation color accuracy, the VG248QE’s color error average stays just below the visible level of three. HP's ZR30w is the only screen we’ve tested this year that finishes over three. This tells us that most monitors out there are pretty close to either the Adobe RGB 1998 or sRGB standard. It’s getting harder to buy a bad screen these days!
Gamut Volume: Adobe RGB 1998
There are basically two categories of displays in use today: those that conform to the sRGB/Rec 709 standard (like HDTVs) and wide-gamut panels that show as much as 100 percent of the Adobe RGB 1998 spec. We use Gamutvision to calculate the gamut volume, based on an ICC profile created from actual measurements. The chart is also expanded from previous reviews to include the sRGB gamut volume.

None of the sRGB-compliant screens we’ve tested reach the 100-percent mark. At 93.1 percent, the VG248QE does pretty well. This is more than adequate performance for any sort of entertainment use, from movies to games.
Aside from GeChic's On-Lap 2501M, this is the only TN monitor we’ve tested this year. Off-axis viewing is the weak point of any non-IPS or PLS screen. For a high-refresh rate display like the VG248QE though, TN is the best choice for stability and fast screen draw performance.
Side to side, the image quality is pretty solid. There is a little discoloration in the brighter signal areas, but blacks remain stable and you can still tell the darkest bars apart. Top to bottom is another story. Viewed from 45 degrees below the screen center, the image is almost completely wiped out. From 45 degrees above, the bars are very light, though still defined. When we shoot these photos, we set our camera to manual exposure so each shot is taken with the same aperture and shutter speed. The side to side performance is exceptional for a TN screen. The top to bottom is fairly typical.
To measure screen uniformity, zero percent and 100 percent full-field patterns are used, and nine points are sampled. In a change from previous reviews, we’re now comparing the results to other monitors we’ve measured. First, we establish a baseline measurement at the center of each screen. Then the surrounding eight points are measured and their values expressed as a percentage of the baseline, either above or below. This number gets averaged. It is important to remember that we only test the review sample each vendor submits. Other examples of the same monitor can measure differently in this metric.
First up is black field uniformity:

Out of the 12 monitors we’ve reviewed this year, exactly half are above 10 percent and the other half are below. At 7.98, the Asus is comfortably in the better-performing segment. You shouldn't see any bright or dark spots in a black field.
Here’s the white field measurement:

Looking at the 100-percent white field, there's a slight hotspot in the center of the screen and a slight dark area in the upper-left. These are admittedly pretty minor, and don't impact the quality of content.
Screen Uniformity: Color
Starting with our review of the AOC Q2963PM, we added a new uniformity test to our benchmark suite: color. The above measurements only address luminance. Now we’re measuring the white balance variation in an 80-percent white field pattern. The results are expressed as a variation in Delta E, in other words, the difference between the highest and lowest value.

Since this metric is so new, we only have results for the last three monitors we reviewed. With a Delta E variation of only .29, the VG248QE performs extremely well. There is no visible variation in color at any point on the screen.
To perform these tests, we use a high-speed camera that shoots at 1000 frames per second. Analyzing the video frame-by-frame allows us to observe the exact time it takes to go from a zero-percent signal to a 100% white field.
We had to do things a little differently for this review because our pattern generator only goes up to 60 Hz. So, we filmed a mouse movement that triggers the field pattern appearance. Since this is less precise than using the generator, we averaged five measurements.
If you skipped straight to any page of our review, this is probably it. Prepare to be impressed.

This is the reason for the VG248QE’s existence. A fast screen draw time means motion is super-smooth with nary a hint of motion blur or judder. Games are almost eerily fluid, no matter how fast you move the mouse. Of course, you need a speedy graphics card in order to maintain the performance this display is capable of shining a spotlight on. But even the basic Windows experience improves. Moving open apps around the screen looks much better than it does at 60 Hz. It’s almost like sliding paper around on a real desktop.
Of course, input lag number is correspondingly low.

Our previous first-place monitor was AOC's I2757FH, tested in January, at 52 milliseconds. The VG248QE comes in at less than half that time. Even those rare few humans whose reaction time is less than 100 milliseconds should find this monitor responsive enough. Want to test yourself? Obviously no 60 Hz monitor is going to operate at these speeds. We’ll just have to test a few more high-refresh screens to make a fair comparison!
There’s no question that Asus achieved its design goals for the VG248QE. This is a gamer's display, through and through. Once all of your other subsystems are suitably cutting-edge, display technology surfaces as the final bottleneck in the ultimate system's performance. With a 144 Hz refresh rate, that limitation is no more. Most enthusiasts are perfectly accustomed to 60 Hz. But the most hardcore gamers, with lightning-fast reflexes to match, need more. You can spend thousands on CPUs, graphics cards, high-speed memory, and SSDs. If your monitor doesn't respond fast enough when you pull that trigger, you're not getting the most from your machine.
To be fair, you pay a price for this kind of display performance. TN technology does cause some issues if you're in the market for uncompromising image quality. Foremost is image degradation when the screen is viewed off-center. You can see from our photos that the VG248QE does much better from one side to the other compared to many TN screens. But it doesn't do well top to bottom. With such excellent side to side performance, though, at least you won't have a problem using three of these displays in a Surround or Eyefinity setup.
The other obstacle is the panel’s six-bit native color depth. On some screens, this results in obvious banding artifacts. However, Asus does a superb job minimizing the issue. It was only noticeable a tiny number of times, and even then only when we were deliberately looking for it. Obviously, the dithering algorithm in play is very effective. Don't be put off by this; it's just not a problem that'd stop us from using the VG248QE.
According to our measurements, Asus didn't skimp on any of the VG248QE's quantifiable performance characteristics. Contrast is most impressive, returning fantastic numbers for both on/off and ANSI. And this is one bright monitor. There is no situation where you won’t be able to dial in a vibrant picture, regardless of ambient light. Grayscale, gamma, and color performance aren’t the best we've seen. But then again, selling for a street price of $270, the display acquits itself well. While a graphics professional will likely seek out a higher-res, eight-bit IPS panel, this monitor should satisfy a majority of desktop enthusiasts with solid image quality and accuracy. And if 3D is important to you, Asus has you covered with Nvidia 3D Vision support.
Of course, we hope to see displays like this based on IPS panels in the near future. And we suspect we will. The aftermarket has already produced overclocked IPS monitors with refresh rates up to 120 Hz. For now though, the VG248QE serves as a benchmark for gamers looking to remove one more choke point from the signal chain. And it represents a terrific value. Among the seven 120 Hz-or-higher screens we found in our research, Asus' VG248QE is the least expensive, and the only one reaching up to 144 Hz. For that reason, we’re giving it Tom’s Hardware 2013 Smart Buy award.




