Asus Unveils Two New ROG Swift Displays With G-Sync Support

At ROG Unleashed, Asus announced two new members of the ROG Swift family, featuring Nvidia's G-Sync technology.

With these new displays, Asus is seeking to expand upon the success it had with the Asus ROG PG278Q display that was released some time ago. It was one of the first G-Sync enabled displays, and it featured a fast 144 Hz refresh rate and a WQHD resolution, which made it a hit with gamers.

Both of these new displays are similar to the PG278Q, as they are G-Sync enabled 27" displays, but they attempt to improve on the PG278Q in at least one aspect. The ROG Swift PG279Q uses the same 2560 x 1440 resolution as the older display, but it enables up to a 165 Hz refresh rate. As this display uses an IPS panel instead of a TN panel, this refresh rate is rather impressive. The display gains a few benefits of being an IPS panel that the older display lacks such as a wider viewing angle, but it also features a slower 4 ms response time, which may drive some gamers away.

The ROG Swift PG27AQ takes a different tactic and features a much higher 3840 x 2160 resolution, but at the expense of dropping to a 60 Hz refresh rate and a 4 ms response time.

A slight negative aspect about both of these displays is that they lack support for HDMI 2.0. Although this would be a serious issue on most displays, G-Sync is only capable of running through a DisplayPort connection. Because the G-Sync displays carry a heavy premium, and this feature is the main reason for someone to buy one of these displays over cheaper alternatives, it is unlikely that users would use the HDMI connection anyway.

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Asus New ROG Swift Displays
ModelRow 0 - Cell 1 ROG Swift PG279QROG Swift PG27AQ
DisplayPanel Size27" (68.6 cm) wide screen (16:9)27" (68.6 cm) wide screen (16:9)
Display Viewing Area596.74 x 335.66 mm596.74 x 335.66 mm
Panel Backlight/TypeWLED/IPSWLED/IPS
Color Saturation100 percent sRGB100 percent sRGB
True Resolution (refresh rate)DP: 2560x1440 (up to 165 Hz)HDMI: 2560x1440 (60 Hz)DP: 3840 x 2160 (up to 60 Hz)HDMI: 3840x2160 (24 Hz) / 1920x1080 (60 Hz)
Pixel Pitch0.233 mm (109 PPI)0.155 mm (163 PPI)
Brightness (Max)350 cd/m2300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio (Max)1,000:11,000:1
Viewing Angle (CR ≥ 10) 178° (H) / 178° (V)178° (H) / 178° (V)
Display Colors16.7M (8-bit)1.07 billion (10-bit)
Response Time4 ms (gray to gray)4 ms (gray to gray)
Video FeaturesNvidia TechnologyG-Sync technologyUltra Low Motion BlurG-Sync technology
Trace Free TechnologyYesYes
Color Temperature4 modes4 modes
HDCPYesYes
Game VisualYes (FPS, RTS/RPG, racing, sRGB, cinema, standard modes)Yes (FPS, RTS/RPG, racing, sRGB, cinema, standard modes)
GamePlusYes (crosshair, timer, FPS counter)Yes (crosshair, timer, FPS counter)
Audio FeaturesStereo Speakers2W x 2 stereo, RMS2W x 2 stereo, RMS
Gaming HotkeysRow 19 - Cell 1 5-way OSD navigation joystickGamePlus60 Hz/120 Hz/165 Hz Turbo 5-way OSD navigation joystickGamePlusGameVisual
Input/OutputRow 20 - Cell 1 DisplayPort 1.2HDMI 1.42x USB 3.0Earphone jackDisplayPort 1.2HDMI 1.42x USB 3.0Earphone jack
Signal FrequencyDigital Signal FrequencyDP: 34 ~ 209 kHz (H) / 30 ~ 165 Hz (V)HDMI: 30 ~ 140 kHz (H) / 24 ~ 60 Hz (V)DP: 50 ~ 133 kHz (H) / 30 ~ 60 Hz (V)HDMI: 30 ~ 140 kHz (H) / 24 ~ 60 Hz (V)
PowerPower ConsumptionPower on < 90 W (ES 6.0)Power saving/off < 0.5 WPower on < 90 W (ES 6.0)Power saving/off < 0.5 W
Voltage100-240 V, 50/60 Hz100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
Mechanical DesignChassis ColorsMatte blackMatte black
Tilt (angle)+20° ~ -5°+20° ~ -5°
Swivel (angle)+60° ~ -60°+60° ~ -60°
Pivot (angle, direction)90° (clockwise)90° (clockwise)
Height adjustment (mm)0 ~ 120 mm0 ~ 120 mm
VESA wall mounting (mm)100 x 100 mm100 x 100 mm
SecurityKensington LockYesYes
DimensionsPhysical (W x H x D)619.77 x 552.53 x 237.9 mm619.77 x 362.96 x 65.98 mm (without stand)619.77 x 552.53 x 237.9 mm619.77 x 362.96 x 65.98 mm (without stand)
Box (W x H x D)756 x 456 x 300 mm756 x 456 x 300 mm
Weight(kg)7.2 kg (net), 10.7 kg (gross)7.2 kg
WarrantyRow 34 - Cell 1 1-year ZBD warranty3-year system warranty3-year panel warranty (in specific countries)Free service hotline (in specific countries)Free pick-up service (in specific countries)1-year ZBD warranty3-year system warranty3-year panel warranty (in specific countries)Free service hotline (in specific countries)Free pick-up service (in specific countries)
AccessoriesRow 35 - Cell 1 90 W power adapter, power cord, DisplayPort cable, HDMI cable, USB 3.0 cable, warranty card, quick start guide, support CD90 W power adapter, power cord, DisplayPort cable, HDMI cable, USB 3.0 cable, warranty card, quick start guide, support CD
Regulation ApprovalsRow 36 - Cell 1 Energy Star®, UL/cUL, CB, CE, ErP, FCC, CCC, BSMI, CU C-Tick, VCCI, PSI, CEL Level 1, J-MOSS, RoHS, WEEE, Windows 7.8.1/10 WHQL, KCC, E-STANDBY, TUV-Flicker Free, TUV-Low Blue LightEnergy Star®, UL/cUL, CB, CE, ErP, FCC, CCC, BSMI, CU C-Tick, VCCI, PSI, CEL Level 1, J-MOSS, RoHS, WEEE, Windows 7.8.1/10 WHQL, KCC, E-STANDBY, TUV-Flicker Free, TUV-Low Blue Light

There is currently no word on pricing or availability. 

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Michael Justin Allen Sexton is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers hardware component news, specializing in CPUs and motherboards.
  • DookieDraws
    I wonder how the upcoming Dell G-Sync monitor will compare to these two? Tom's needs to get their hands on all of them soon, and write us up a nice review. :)
    Reply
  • TechyInAZ
    WHOA! DID you hear that! 165hz refresh rate!! First monitor I've seen with anything higher than 144hz.
    Reply
  • IInuyasha74
    16758349 said:
    I wonder how the upcoming Dell G-Sync monitor will compare to these two? Tom's needs to get their hands on all of them soon, and write us up a nice review. :)

    Yes we sure do. (Hint hint to any OEMs listening :) )
    Reply
  • IInuyasha74
    16758397 said:
    WHOA! DID you hear that! 165hz refresh rate!! First monitor I've seen with anything higher than 144hz.

    I know, and from an IPS display too. I'm amazed. I've seen one or two displays with refresh past 144 Hz, but that was an "Up To" label and users had to use officially supported overclocking tools to hit that mark. (The Acer Predator display is an example with an "Up to 200 Hz" label). This one is a pre-programmed gaming mode that you just select and your off to the races.
    Reply
  • SchizoFrog
    In the UK the Swift PG279Q is priced at £749.99 with an ETA of 13/11/15...
    Reply
  • griffon9
    power consumption is 90w? this is twice of that asus freesync 144hz 1440p 27 inch monitor
    Reply
  • SchizoFrog
    @griffon9: I think that may be to do with the panel being an IPS rather than a TN panel.
    Reply
  • natedawg72
    16758397 said:
    WHOA! DID you hear that! 165hz refresh rate!! First monitor I've seen with anything higher than 144hz.

    I'm not sure that is the native refresh rate. It may just be 144hz. A growing number of announced g-sync monitors during the last few months are advertising "overclocked" refresh rates that are possible because of the gsync module. Acer currently takes the crown with a claimed 200hz on the Predator Z35.
    Reply
  • TechyInAZ
    16758420 said:
    16758397 said:
    WHOA! DID you hear that! 165hz refresh rate!! First monitor I've seen with anything higher than 144hz.

    I know, and from an IPS display too. I'm amazed. I've seen one or two displays with refresh past 144 Hz, but that was an "Up To" label and users had to use officially supported overclocking tools to hit that mark. (The Acer Predator display is an example with an "Up to 200 Hz" label). This one is a pre-programmed gaming mode that you just select and your off to the races.

    Ok that makes more sense. Still though, amazing for IPS. Can't wait until we see OLED IPS panels with this same refresh rate. :D
    Reply
  • chuckydb
    I want that 1440p monitor....
    Reply