Nvidia’s screen-smoothing G-Sync tech has dominated the high-end gaming monitor space for several years. But AMD’s competing FreeSync 2 tech looks to be making a strong showing here at CES 2019.
Asus’ new Strix XG monitor lineup is made up of a trio of premium panels, all sporting AMD’s screen-smoothing tech (with a generous variable refresh window of 48-120/144Hz), along with HDR support (HDR 600 for the top-end 43-inch model and HDR 400 for for the other two), and a top refresh rate of 144Hz. They’re also all VA panels.
In case it wasn’t obvious, these are high-end gaming screens. Asus isn’t talking pricing yet, but the top-end XG438Q is a massive 43 inches, with 4K resolution, 120Hz refresh and support for 90 percent of of the DCI-P3 gamut.
The Strix XG49VQ is even wider (though narrower) at 49 inches diagonally and a 3840x1080 resolution paired with 144Hz refresh. It can display three inputs simultaneously and also supports 90 percent of DCI-P3.
Lastly, the Strix XG32VQR is a 32-inch, 1800R curved display with 2560x1440 resolution and an even better 94-percent DCI-P3 coverage. All three displays have a 4ms response rating, and the 43-inch sports 10-watt speakers, the 49-inch model has a pair of 5-watt speakers and the 32-inch XG32VQR lacks speakers completely.
Specifications
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | XG438Q | XG49VQ | XG32VQR |
| Panel Size (Diagonal) | 43" (16:9) | 49" (32:9) | 31.5" (16:9) |
| Panel Type | VA panel | VA panel | VA panel |
| Color Gamut | DCI-P3 90% | DCI-P3 90% | DCI-P3 94% |
| Brightness | 450cd/m2 (typical) | 450cd/m2 (typical) | 450cd/m2 (typical) |
| Response Time | 4ms (GTG) | 4ms (GTG) | 4ms (GTG) |
| Resolution/ Refresh Rate | 3840x2160 @ 120Hz | 3840x1080 @ 144Hz | 2560x1440 @144Hz |
| HDR Support | Radeon FreeSync 2 HDR | Radeon FreeSync 2 HDR | Radeon FreeSync 2 HDR |
| DisplayHDR 600 compliant | DisplayHDR 400 compliant | DisplayHDR 400 compliant | |
| Stereo Speaker | 2x 10W | 2x 5W | X |
| I/O Ports | DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI (v2.0), USB 3.0 (1x upstream, 2x downstream), Audio input, Earphone jack | 2x HDMI (v2.0), 1x DisplayPort (HDMI & DP support Adaptive-Sync/ FreeSync 2 HDR), Earphone Jack, USD 3.0 ports | 2x HDMI (v2.0)x2, DisplayPort (v1.2) x1 (HDMI & DP support Adaptive-Sync/ FreeSync 2 HDR), Earphone Jack, USB 3.0 ports |
While we’ll have to wait for pricing and put these screens through our tests before passing final judgement, these Strix screens look to take AMD’s FreeSync further into the ultra-premium monitor space. And if they can significantly undercut Nvidia’s pricing (which they should, as G-Sync panels usually demand a stiff premium over the competition), Asus and AMD could have a compelling lineup here.
We should know more important details soon, as Asus says the 49- and 32-inch models will be available in January, while the top-end 43-inch 4K XG438Q should land sometime later this spring.
