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Asus PQ321Q 4K Monitor Review: Top-Shelf Ultra HD For $3500

Asus PQ321Q 4K Monitor Review: Top-Shelf Ultra HD For $3500
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We recently got our hands on Asus’ highest-end Ultra HD-capable screen. The PQ321Q offers a native resolution of 3840x2160; and those 8.3 million pixels don’t come cheap. Our real-world and lab testing will tell you if this 4K display is worth $3500.

When the first production 4K displays appeared at the 2012 CEDIA Expo, computer enthusiasts everywhere wondered, “When will this land on my desktop?”

A number of 4K screens have launched between then and now (they were particularly prevalent at CES this year). But Asus was one of the first to offer 3840x2160 resolutions at up to 60 Hz through its tiled PQ321Q Ultra HD monitor. A lot of the other 4K screens we've been shown only do 30 Hz, or they employ lower-quality panels. You have to pay attention to those specifications; they especially matter when it comes to gaming.

Not only does Asus' PQ321Q offer the highest pixel count of any monitor I've reviewed to date, but it also delivers a generous 31.5-inch diagonal viewing area.

Of course, the products that show up first to market are invariably accompanied by their own challenges, too. There's a distinct possibility that you might need a new graphics card to feed the PQ321Q's two 1920x2160 panels, for starters. You also have to consider how tiny the objects on your desktop will become at 3840x2160. As we move through our review, we'll cover some of the gotchas we encountered and how to address them.

But first, let's dig into the PQ321Q's specs and underlying screen technology.

Brand
Asus
Model
PQ321Q
Street Price
$3499
Panel Type
IGZO
Backlight
W-LED, edge array
Screen Size
31.5 inches
Max Resolution
3840x2160
Max Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Response Time (GTG)
8 ms
Brightness
350 cd/m2
Speakers
2 x 2 W
VGA
-
DVI
-
DisplayPort
1 (v1.2)
HDMI
2 (v1.4a)
Audio In
1 (3.5 mm)
Headphone
1 (3.5 mm)
USB
-
Panel Dimensions
W x H x D w/base
29.5 x 19.3 x 10.1 in
750 x 489 x 256 mm
Panel Thickness
1.4 in / 35 mm
Weight
28.66 lbs / 13 kg
Warranty
Three years

There's nothing earth-shattering about the screen's specifications, except of course its 8.3 million-pixel count! Alright, the number is actually 8,294,400, corresponding to a density of 140 ppi. That’s still below the number Apple uses for Retina branding on its MacBook Pros, though the official minimum depends on how far away from the screen you're expected to sit. Regardless, 140 ppi is still quite a bit better than the 109 ppi we get from 27-inch QHD monitors.

The other technology we're reviewing for the first time at Tom's Hardware is IGZO (yes, we did use Asus' screen in Gaming At 3840x2160: Is Your PC Ready For A 4K Display?, but that wasn't a review of the panel specifically). While all of the QHD monitors we test are some flavor of IPS, this one is based on a panel based on IGZO technology, sourced from Sharp. Bear in mind that the low-cost 4K screens we reported on from CES 2014 utilize TN screens.

IGZO stands for Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide. It was invented in 2003, but didn’t find its way into production until 2012. IGZO’s main claim to fame is increased molecular mobility, which can be between 20 to 50 times greater than amorphous silicon. What are we talking about? The actual substance inside each sub-pixel of an LCD display.

LCD is a light valve technology, meaning that a constant light source (the backlight) is manipulated by millions of tiny valves to produce varying colors and intensities of light. Those valves are much of what differentiates the various panel types. TN and IPS panels use silicon as their valve material. The molecules in each sub-pixel are twisted to either block or admit light. The speed and efficiency at which this occurs is what drives progress. IGZO is simply a material that responds more quickly to input and requires less current. As a result, the controlling transistors can not only be smaller, but they can also be transparent. This means less power is consumed, and the panel is both thinner and lighter. It's no coincidence that Apple's iPad Air employs an IGZO display.

Up until recently, IGZO was found in all of the 4K displays we were hearing about, including HTDVs from Samsung, Sony, and LG. That's not to say all of the panels were made by Sharp; the technology is simply licensed to other panel manufacturers. And remember that IGZO only refers to the transistor and liquid crystal layers of the screen. The backlight and arrangement of pixels differ from display to display. IGZO simply makes smaller pixels possible, simultaneously offering theoretically better response times.

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  • 9 Hide
    cynic77 , January 23, 2014 1:05 AM
    "We’re sure it’s only a matter of time before an Ultra HD panel becomes available in wide-gamut form."That time is now. The Dell 24" UP2414Q and 32" UP3214Q are Ultra HD monitors that cover 100% sRGB and 99% AdobeRBG. This Asus you've reviewed has already been outclassed.
  • -6 Hide
    cynic77 , January 23, 2014 1:12 AM
    "We’re sure it’s only a matter of time before an Ultra HD panel becomes available in wide-gamut form."That time is now. The Dell 24" UP2414Q and 32" UP3214Q are Ultra HD monitors that cover 100% sRGB and 99% AdobeRBG. This Asus you've reviewed has already been outclassed.
  • 2 Hide
    cats_Paw , January 23, 2014 1:34 AM
    Dat Price...Good thing is you need a crazy GPU to use that resolution anyway so by the time the 4k Monitors and tvs drop down in price we might have gpus that manage them in the upper midrange of the GPU segment.
  • 2 Hide
    Shneiky , January 23, 2014 2:24 AM
    In the last chapter of the article, last paragraph:" crop of TN-based panels were announced at CES for sub-$1000 prices, and as those become available to test, you can be we'll review them. "Shouldn't that "be" be "bet"?
  • -1 Hide
    lockhrt999 , January 23, 2014 2:30 AM
    If they are putting that much resolution on this screen then why not make it 3D too (polarized)? I think it's perfectly doable and won't exceed budget.I'm talking from professional point of view. I bored of using anaglyph 3D for content creation.
  • -3 Hide
    panzerknacker , January 23, 2014 3:43 AM
    For me this is just a gimmick that can't be taken seriously. The way they had to logically divide the screen in 2 because there are no scalars yet simply screams 'niche product that you pay way too much for only to be the first person on earth using it'. Also for gaming this screen is completely useless to me with a input lag of 80ms, you take this to a LAN party and get crapped upon by those using a $100 tn panel. In the end I think this screen is a step in the right direction but for me personally they could rather revert to producing crt's again.
  • 1 Hide
    wtfxxxgp , January 23, 2014 3:48 AM
    Wow. That's pricey. O,o
  • 1 Hide
    huilun02 , January 23, 2014 4:08 AM
    Tiled screens but at least its 60Hz goodness. And proof that no bezel is possible.
  • -2 Hide
    zodiacfml , January 23, 2014 4:50 AM
    Good job but too pricey. The backlight used is for cheap TN screens. There still is no single port/cable in the market. The cutting edge is too inconvenient.
  • 2 Hide
    AMD Radeon , January 23, 2014 5:00 AM
    i bet no one will use the internal speaker
  • 1 Hide
    santiagoanders , January 23, 2014 5:51 AM
    That resolution comparison chart is quite misleading, I think owing to the 4k label with 3840x2160 underneath. The sizes show that 2k is half (in both dimentions) of 4k, but that 2k is larger than 1080p, leading to the conclusion that 3840x2160 is more than 4 times the pixels of 1080p (which it is not).
  • 1 Hide
    santiagoanders , January 23, 2014 6:10 AM
    I see that you lifted the image from wikipedia, where Accuruss made the mistake. He supposedly extended the 4k image from here, which equates 4k to 4,096 × 2,304 (the RED ONE format), but he mislabeled it as 3840x2160.
  • 3 Hide
    clownbaby , January 23, 2014 7:18 AM
    I'm seeing a lot of shallow criticism to this monitor. Many of the "problems" are not problems on the professional end as I would view them. High accuracy monitors have always demanded a substantial premium and been designed with only the professional sector in mind. This is certainly not a piece of hardware with gaming in mind. I see the dual hdmi input option as a secondary input. Lots of monitors still have VGA inputs, but nobody complains about them. Anyone with the thought of buying a $3500 monitor and not matching it with an appropriate system is putting the cart before the horse.It wasn't but 2 years ago that I started replacing my 16:10 1920x1200 IPS panels with 2560x1440 IPS/PLS panels. Color accuracy isn't of the utmost importance for me, so this model reviewed won't be on my radar, but 4k screen real estate is something I'm very much looking forward to. I'm also very much looking forward to monitors with similar pixel density in a 21:9 ratio, maybe 39" width. I'm sure there will very shortly be 4k TN options designed for gaming, and the top of the next generation of graphics cards will be ready for them. For now however, the only benefit to 4k is in the professional sector as consumer level gaming and video content are quite a ways off.
  • 0 Hide
    geok1ng , January 23, 2014 7:32 AM
    Just to add about the cheap 4K TVs: The Seiki 39" is only 30hz at 4k, but true and real 120hz at 1080p, and this without the "tiled display" cavets.
  • 0 Hide
    dgingeri , January 23, 2014 8:09 AM
    To cynic77: Those Dell monitors are only 30Hz at 3840X2160, so they aren't going to be nearly as good as this Asus. The Asus outclasses everything right now. Asus also outclasses Dell's 2560X1440 monitors because it's capable of 144Hz refresh rate, where the best Dell can do it 60Hz. It is looking more and more like Dell's days as the average user near top tier monitor supplier are ending, with Asus taking over. Sure, there are higher end monitors, but not that most people could afford.
  • 0 Hide
    Sparq17 , January 23, 2014 8:14 AM
    At this price, really more interested to see if Asus will plan to release a 4k at 120Hz refresh rate? I think this sort of future proof would justify an upgrade for a lot of people. Just wish we knew when??
  • 0 Hide
    Sparq17 , January 23, 2014 8:18 AM
    At this price, really more interested to see if Asus will plan to release a 4k at 120Hz refresh rate? I think this sort of future proof would justify an upgrade for a lot of people. Just wish we knew when??
  • 1 Hide
    ceberle , January 23, 2014 8:35 AM
    Quote:
    "We’re sure it’s only a matter of time before an Ultra HD panel becomes available in wide-gamut form."That time is now. The Dell 24" UP2414Q and 32" UP3214Q are Ultra HD monitors that cover 100% sRGB and 99% AdobeRBG. This Asus you've reviewed has already been outclassed.


    We are aware of Dell's new 4K screens. In fact, both the UP3214Q and UP 2414Q are sitting in our lab right now!

    - Christian -
  • 2 Hide
    ceberle , January 23, 2014 8:37 AM
    Quote:
    To cynic77: Those Dell monitors are only 30Hz at 3840X2160, so they aren't going to be nearly as good as this Asus. The Asus outclasses everything right now. Asus also outclasses Dell's 2560X1440 monitors because it's capable of 144Hz refresh rate, where the best Dell can do it 60Hz. It is looking more and more like Dell's days as the average user near top tier monitor supplier are ending, with Asus taking over. Sure, there are higher end monitors, but not that most people could afford.


    Dell's UP3214Q will handle 60 Hz via DisplayPort 1.2. We've had this monitor in the lab for a few weeks now and it's quite impressive! Reviews of it and the UP2414Q are coming soon!

    - Christian -
  • -2 Hide
    panzerknacker , January 23, 2014 8:56 AM
    For me this is just a gimmick that can't be taken seriously. The way they had to logically divide the screen in 2 because there are no scalars yet simply screams 'niche product that you pay way too much for only to be the first person on earth using it'. Also for gaming this screen is completely useless to me with a input lag of 80ms, you take this to a LAN party and get crapped upon by those using a $100 tn panel. In the end I think this screen is a step in the right direction but for me personally they could rather revert to producing crt's again.
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