Another TN Option for FreeSync Fans

From ASUS we look at the MG278Q, a lower priced 2560×1440 144Hz panel with FreeSync support.

If you had asked me a year ago how many monitors we would be able to store in the PC Perspective offices, I would have vastly underestimated the true answer. It seems that not only is the demand from readers for information about the latest and greatest display technology at a demand that we have never seen, but vendors that sell high quality monitors for enthusiasts and gamers are pumping out more models than I can keep track of.

But this is good, right? The more options we have, the more likely we are to find the best choice for each user, for each budget and for each required feature set. But more choices can also lead to confusion – that's where we continue to chime in. Today we are taking a look at the ASUS MG278Q monitor, a 27-in 2560×1440 display with support for AMD FreeSync technology and sporting a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. With a TN panel rather than IPS, the MG278Q has a current selling price of just $399, well under the equivalent G-Sync monitors.

Even better, since we started our evaluation on the display, AMD released the Radeon Crimson driver, introducing a new feature called Low Frame Rate Compensation. This essentially allows most of the FreeSync displays on the market to match NVIDIA G-Sync's ability to handle lower frame rates without resorting to V-Sync tearing, etc. If you haven't read about it, do so in the link above.

Let's take a look at the raw specs from the ASUS website.

  • Display
    Panel Size : Wide Screen 27.0"(68.47cm) 16:9
    Color Saturation : 75%(NTSC) 
    Panel Type : TN
    True Resolution : 2560×1440 *1
    Display Surface Non-glare
    Pixel Pitch : 0.233mm
    Brightness(Max) : 350 cd/㎡
    Contrast Ratio (Max) : 1000:1
    ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio (ASCR) : 100000000:1 
    Viewing Angle (CR≧10) : 170°(H)/160°(V)
    Response Time : 1ms (Gray to Gray)
    Display Colors : 16.7M
    Flicker free
  • Video Feature
    Trace Free Technology : Yes
    Skin-Tone Selection : 3 Modes
    Color Temperature Selection : 4 Modes
    GamePlus(modes) : Yes (Crosshair/Timer/FPS Counter)
    Low Blue Light : Yes
    HDCP support : Yes
    VividPixel : Yes
    GameVisual :6 Modes(Scenery/Racing/Cinema/RTS/RPG/FPS/sRGB Modes)
    FreeSync™ technology supported
  • Audio Features
    Stereo Speakers : 2W x 2 Stereo RMS
  • Convenient Hotkey
    Input Selection
    GamePlus
    5-way OSD Navigation Joystick
    GameVisual
  • I/O Ports
    Signal Input : HDMI x 2, DisplayPort 1.2, Dual-link DVI-D
    Earphone jack : 3.5mm Mini-Jack 
    USB Port(s) : 3.0×2
  • Signal Frequency
    Digital Signal Frequency : 51.2~221.97KHz(H) / 35~144Hz
  • Power Consumption
    Power Consumption < 38.7W (based on ES 6.0) 
    Power Saving Mode <0.5W
    Power Off Mode <0.5W
  • Mechanical Design
    Chassis Colors : Black
    Tilt : +20°~-5°
    Swivel : Yes
    Pivot : Yes
    Height Adjustment : Yes
    VESA Wall Mounting : 100x100mm
    Super Narrow Bezel Design : Yes
    Quick Release Stand Design : Yes
  • Security
    Kensington lock
  • Dimensions
    Phys. Dimension with Stand(WxHxD) : 625 x 563 x 233 mm
    Phys. Dimension without Stand (WxHxD) : 625 x 368 x 63 mm
    Box Dimension(WxHxD) : 753 x 452 x 224 mm
  • Weight
    Net Weight (Esti.) : 7.65 kg 
    Gross Weight (Esti.) : 11.5kg
  • Accessories
    Dual-link DVI cable 
    Audio cable
    Power cord 
    DisplayPort cable 
    Quick start guide
    HDMI cable 
    Support CD
    Warranty Card
  • Compliance and Standards
    Energy Star®, BSMI, CB, CCC, CE, ErP, FCC, J-MOSS, KCC, PSE, RoHS, UL/cUL, VCCI, WEEE, WHQL (Windows 8.1, Windows 7), MEPS, RCM, TUV Flicker-free , KC , eStandby, TUV Low Blue Light, CU(EAC)
  • Note
    FreeSync™ technology supported 

    *1 
    2560 x 1440 at 144Hz (DisplayPort and HDMI-1)
    1920 x 1080 at 120Hz (HDMI-2)

The stand out features from this list include the spacious 27-in size, an upgrade for most of our readers I'm sure. The 2560×1440 resolution means you'll have 77% more pixels than a 1080p Full HD screen, so prepare your GPU and wallet accordingly. A 1ms response time, common on modern TN panels, means you'll have very minimal ghosting and input latency, something that PC gamers are often concerned with. 

Gaming on the ASUS MG278Q

Though it isn't listed specifically, the FreeSync range of the monitor was tested at 42Hz to 144Hz through our internal process. While that VRR lower limit of 42Hz would have been a fairly sizeable factor just a few weeks ago in comparison to NVIDIA G-Sync's inherent ability to maintain tear-free gaming at any low frame rate, the Radeon Crimson release has softened the blow, bringing a software-based solution to fix it.

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