Gaming at 540Hz: Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP Review



The Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP is an extremely rapid gaming monitor designed for expert esports gamers. It boasts a big 540Hz refresh fee, serving as an outstanding demonstration for the future of excessive overall performance, excessive refresh rate presentations, which we are hoping turns into extra on hand in the coming years.

Currently, if you need a 500Hz screen, it's LCD panels with either IPS or TN generation that offer such speeds. Asus has opted for what they describe as an "E-TN" panel for this monitor, or "Esports TN," claimed to be the arena's quickest TN panel and "about 50% more responsive than traditional TN panels." We already recognise that TNs are the fastest sort of LCDs available, making them a logical preference for a overall performance-targeted display, no matter a few sacrifices in colour excellent and viewing angles.

Specs and Design

This show capabilities a 24.1-inch 1920 x 1080 TN panel, with 540Hz conceivable through an overclocking function in the OSD. It consists of a G-Sync module from Nvidia, providing adaptive sync aid, Ultra Low Motion Blur 2 generation, and the Reflex Latency Analyzer. Asus has additionally listed DisplayHDR 400 help, though actual HDR hardware assist is somewhere between restrained and non-existent.

Priced at $900, we do not expect Asus to sell lots of those, except perhaps to a pick few multiplayer gamers that need to try it out and have coins to burn. However, the number one aim of this display seems to be to demonstrate the feasibility and price of 500Hz refresh costs, in addition to to offer a bit of a halo effect for different Asus monitors.

Discussing the refresh rate, 540Hz is handiest supported within the brand new builds of Windows 11. Previous variations of Windows capped at 500Hz, so updating to the cutting-edge model is vital for full capability. This is a minor difficulty for maximum game enthusiasts, however it is really worth noting for the ones nevertheless on Windows 10 or earlier versions.

We also noticed differences in 540Hz compatibility among Nvidia and AMD GPUs, probably due to Nvidia's proprietary G-Sync hardware module. Basically, if you have an Nvidia GPU, nothing to fear about, 540Hz works with full variable refresh price guide up to that maximum. With an AMD GPU, 540Hz also works, however you may not get variable refresh fee guide at that maximum: despite the fact that the entirety seems enabled, the screen stays capped at 540Hz as indicated by means of its built-in refresh rate counter. It's handiest at 500Hz and beneath that you may get full VRR assist. Not the most important deal, 540Hz vs 500Hz is just an 8% difference, but some thing to be aware of.

As for the advantages of the refresh rate itself, we'll see how it impacts motion readability a chunk later in this evaluate, however even using this reveal for laptop apps it's a big step up for responsiveness and smoothness over most common refresh fees of today.

Going from 144Hz to 540Hz is night time and day, I realize a few humans believe that something above 144Hz is diminishing returns; I disagree, even for some thing as easy as surfing the web and navigating through Windows, 540Hz is significantly smoother and any action you are taking or enter out of your mouse feels close to-immediately in a manner that becomes crystal clean while returning again to the a good deal slower international of 144Hz.

We also assume it is a substantive improve over 240Hz, the refresh fee right here is greater than doubled, which results in a corresponding improvement to latency. Less of a benefit than from 144Hz definitely, however while evaluating 540Hz to 240Hz we think the weaknesses in 240Hz becomes more obvious than whilst that refresh rate first debuted. The best actual manner to describe it's far that 240Hz feels slower to use than 540Hz – although it's probably no longer enough of a benefit to justify the astronomical charge increase to get admission to 540Hz.

The Asus PG248QP uses a similar design to preceding ROG monitors of this size. Most of its outer surfaces are made of simple grey plastic, which, even as properly-built, doesn't pretty fit the predicted construct best for a $900 1080p monitor. The rear panel features a gamery layout with an RGB LED illuminated ROG emblem, a not unusual sight in lots of current video display units.

A specific and interesting aspect to this design is the brand new base that's adjustable among a much wider setup and a extra closed setup. The thinking right here is that esports game enthusiasts frequently like to use pretty unconventional keyboard and mouse positions, so having this stage of adjustability caters to many one of a kind kinds of gamers. It's a easy and straightforward transition among the two positions, and you may set any function among the two maximums as nicely.

The base layout would not compromise on the stability of the monitor even though, it's a rock stable construct that also includes complete ergonomic adjustability for the display itself: all of height, tilt, swivel and pivot is blanketed here. However, using the G-Sync hardware module does translate into active cooling with a slow spinning fan this is audible at near variety.

You might be able to listen it in a useless quiet room, but I located it very hard to hear over my PC's quiet enthusiasts at some point of ordinary operation. The fan failed to ramp up and down aggressively at some point of my time testing it, which is ideal. It's the ones adjustments in velocity and extent which can be the maximum significant and maximum traumatic; this fan is just a constant low pace that is near inaudible.

Connectivity is truly restricted due to the G-Sync module, packing one DisplayPort 1.Four with DSC and two HDMI 2.0 ports, as well as a two-port USB hub. The DisplayPort is quality, but the use of HDMI 2.Zero on an high-priced 540Hz show isn't always proper enough, because it limits those ports to just 240Hz, less than half of of the maximum. I suspect most humans could be hooking up over DisplayPort however still, it is without a doubt approximately time the G-Sync module is up to date to support HDMI 2.1 so that every one ports are full refresh rate ports.

The OSD, controlled thru a directional toggle, consists of a complete function set, with gaming-specific alternatives like crosshairs and timers. The inclusion of crosshair help in a monitor focused on expert game enthusiasts increases questions about truthful play – is that considered dishonest? If you are a pro gamer, let us recognize inside the feedback – the Reflex Analyzer, useful for Nvidia GPU users, assesses general machine latency with no need external hardware and produces extra correct results than PC-aspect latency gear.

Response Time Performance

The Asus PG248QP consists of four overdrive settings, the primary of that's off, observe the chart below – pretty an awesome result for no overdrive – this will beat most other video display units with overdrive enabled. But for 540Hz gaming I think most humans will need to apply the Normal mode at a minimal.

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - Off - 540Hz

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - Normal - 540Hz

This is what the Normal mode seems like, it's rather rapid. With just a 1.8ms average reaction time and next to no overshoot, the PG248QP is relatively suited to gambling at 540Hz with refresh compliance at 86%. Often the concern with those great excessive refresh fee video display units is that the transition pace is not rapid sufficient to keep up with the refresh price however that genuinely isn't always the case here, despite our pretty strict measurement criteria. This results in very low cumulative deviation for an LCD.

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - Esports - 540Hz

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - Extreme - 540Hz

There are two different modes to be had, one is Esports which slightly improves the common reaction to 1.6ms however also barely increases overshoot. Visually this mode isn't always all that specific to Normal and the cumulative deviation numbers are close. Then we've got the Extreme mode which pushes up to one.2ms on common, however does so at a miles higher stage of overshoot, so I would not suggest the use of this mode.

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - Normal - 480Hz, 360Hz, 240Hz, 144Hz, 100Hz, 60Hz

What's exquisite to peer is that the Normal mode, which I consider is right for 540Hz gaming, is also outstanding throughout the entire refresh rate variety way to variable overdrive. There's clearly no refresh fee in which this display performs poorly, at 360Hz it comes in at 1.9ms, at 240Hz 2.3ms, at 144Hz 2.5ms and 60Hz 2.5ms as well with essentially no overshoot at any factor. Overdrive isn't always quite as aggressive at those lower refresh quotes that is why we cross from 1.8ms down to two.5ms on the decrease elements of the variety, but both way that is excellent overall performance that gives us an elite-tier unmarried overdrive mode revel in.

Compared to different video display units the PG248QP is the quickest LCD that I've tested so far. It's 0.5ms quicker than the PG27AQN at its maximum refresh rate, and over 50% quicker than the XL2566K at a decrease degree of overshoot, confirming Asus claims approximately an about 50% more responsive enjoy than conventional TN panels. And these are a number of the fastest monitors going around, relative to a more fashionable 240Hz IPS to even a few older TN shows, the PG248QP is over two times as rapid in both refresh charge and response time. However ordinary OLEDs are still quicker, maintaining about a 6x gain, though no OLED is to be had at 540Hz.

Average performance is likewise very good from this Asus monitor, once more confirming its function as the quickest LCD I've examined. It's 33% quicker on common than the PG27AQN and achieves this at a decrease level of overshoot that's extremely spectacular and suggests that TN still has a place inside the marketplace for severe pace. It's additionally a clean step in advance of the BenQ XL2566K, that is predicted from a newer era of panel but possibly not to this diploma, and pretty a great deal anything it's not 360Hz or above has no hope of competing outside of OLEDs.

Average cumulative deviation also shows the energy of the PG248QP and its robust aggregate of pace and absence of overshoot. We're nevertheless seeing a 31% hole between the PG248QP and PG27AQN, and a 50% benefit over the XL2566K. Even at the precise same 360Hz refresh fee evaluating best vs satisfactory overdrive settings, the PG248QP produced a 39% better cumulative deviation result than the XL2566K, and combined with the PG248QP's better tuning at decrease refresh charges, we see a quite considerable ordinary win to the Asus version. However we're nonetheless a fair way off from LCDs matching OLEDs, an average OLED panel has a 5x gain on this metric over the fastest LCD, so it is nonetheless the case that an OLED at a decrease refresh charge can healthy an LCD at a higher refresh fee in motion clarity. They cannot near the distance between 240Hz and 540Hz even though regardless of their speed.

I don't suppose 120Hz gaming is the target marketplace for this monitor but the PG248QP plays properly there regardless. This is likewise a extraordinary reveal for 60Hz gaming in case you appear to want this stage of pace at a low refresh rate.

One of the huge promoting points to the PG248QP similarly to the 540Hz refresh charge is assist for backlight strobing via Nvidia ULMB 2. The integration into this display is a little extra like minded than with the PG27AQN as it does paintings with each AMD and Nvidia GPUs: on Nvidia GPUs at multiple refresh fees, and on AMD GPUs at 540Hz. This is due to the fact as I stated in advance, allowing 540Hz on an AMD GPU stops adaptive sync from running, and ULMB 2 requires adaptive sync to be disabled for it to feature in any respect. So there is a small quantity of accurate information there for AMD game enthusiasts that want to pair this show with their GPU.

For Nvidia GPU owners there may be greater compatibility and assist for multiple refresh prices, although you may nonetheless need to apply ULMB 2 at constant refresh quotes, and there may be a quite limited variety of choices. ULMB 2 best works right down to 360Hz, at 240Hz and lower refresh fees the option is greyed out, in comparison to the PG27AQN that supported it right down to 144Hz. BenQ's XL2566K with DyAc works right down to 100Hz. So if you desired to utilize the middle part of the refresh variety and backlight strobing concurrently, say your recreation would not run at 500 FPS on your GPU, then you definitely'd be tons better off with the XL2566K instead.

When you could enable it, the movement readability supplied by using the PG248QP and ULMB2 is advanced to that of the BenQ XL2566K using DyAc each at their most refresh price, 540Hz and 360Hz respectively. The PG248QP has barely much less strobe crosstalk and a barely clearer picture, even though each are outstanding. When turning the PG248QP down to 360Hz to get a matched refresh fee contrast, the gap narrows between the two models however I'd nevertheless deliver the general side in clarity to the PG248QP, it definitely does have top notch movement clarity that might need to be the high-quality I've visible. Anything below this refresh charge the BenQ wins via default because it definitely supports strobing at those refreshes.

But the benefit of the PG248QP extends past backlight strobing because the non-strobed 540Hz photograph is also pretty astounding in terms of readability. Comparing the 540Hz picture right here to 360Hz, whether or not from the XL2566K or the PG248QP became down to 360Hz, the 540Hz photograph is noticeably sharper and less blurry; the textual content as an instance whilst no longer crystal clear is more readable on the 540Hz photograph. Compared to 240Hz the difference in blurriness could be very apparent in desire of 540Hz.

The ULMB2 implementation additionally helps exclusive strobe timing and lengths so you can modify the placement of high-quality clarity and the overall clarity, despite the fact that genuinely the difference among a hundred and 10 for clarity may be very tough to spot. Using the default strobe timing the middle phase changed into clearest and the bottom changed into slightly blurrier, even though the variety to which you get true clarity is commonly brilliant.

Now a non-strobed 540Hz photograph does appearance wonderful but it can not beat a strobed 360Hz photo, so the first-class photo first-class will always be observed with 540Hz and strobing used at the same time. But the higher refresh price option is greater flexible as you can select to use strobing at a fixed refresh, or get the nevertheless first-rate readability on offer at a variable refresh close to 540Hz. Opting to no longer use strobing can be the higher choice if you can't continuously hit 500 FPS, as strobing simplest virtually works properly whilst the refresh price and body charge are matched.

Input latency with the PG248QP is elite, presenting just underneath a 1ms processing put off along with a splendid high refresh charge and speedy reaction times. This offers the PG248QP first rate responsiveness at the side of an usual low latency revel in, matching the quickest OLEDs which benefit an advantage due to their elite response times. We're talking approximately less than 5ms of total latency, which is particularly accurate.

Power consumption is nothing extremely good at 36 watts, that is on the whole due to the G-Sync module which isn't very green. It uses round 12 watts extra than the BenQ XL2566K, however much less than the PG27AQN as an instance.

Color Performance

Color Space: Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - D65-P3

For color high-quality you might be surprised to find out this panel is wide gamut, sporting 95% coverage of DCI-P3 and an overall 70% insurance of Rec. 2020. This is not the widest gamut, it's quite a lot the minimal type of insurance needed for a right extensive gamut revel in, but it does offer one in which the XL2566K and numerous other 1080p monitors do not.

Default Color Performance

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - D65-P3, tested at native resolution, maximum refresh price
Portrait CALMAN Ultimate, DeltaE Value Target: Below 2.0, CCT Target: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

Factory coloration overall performance is respectable, greyscale deltaEs may be a little tighter however basic quite reasonable, while saturation and ColorChecker results are first-rate because the display uses sRGB gamut emulation for SDR content via default. This prevents oversaturation from the manufacturing unit, so commonly the photo exceptional is pretty accurate compared to most other gaming monitors.

And you will see that during these charts, the PG248QP is above average for grayscale from the manufacturing unit, and one of the best monitors for ColorChecker. So no matter providing a TN panel and being on the whole geared towards esports gamers, Asus are nonetheless ensuring the visual revel in is first rate from the manufacturing facility.

OSD Tweaked Color Performance

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - sRGB, examined at local resolution, maximum refresh fee
Portrait CALMAN Ultimate, DeltaE Value Target: Below 2.0, CCT Target: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

Calibrated Color Performance

Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP - sRGB, examined at native resolution, highest refresh fee
Portrait CALMAN Ultimate, DeltaE Value Target: Below 2.0, CCT Target: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

This screen additionally gives full manage over white balance and different settings inside the sRGB mode, and lets in you to interchange between sRGB and huge gamut the use of the OSD settings. This allowed me to tighten up performance barely the use of hardware controls. However for the excellent enjoy you'll need to carry out a complete software program calibration, I used Calman for this and the outcomes were pretty desirable because the panel has complete insurance of sRGB and turned into exceedingly properly calibrated from the factory. I wouldn't suggest it for coloration correct wide gamut work but even for the occasional bit of wide gamut viewing it isn't horrible.

Brightness is superb at 420 nits after calibration that's in the ballpark of most different 1080p video display units though appreciably better than the XL2566K. With backlight strobing enabled you may get simply over three hundred nits with the longest pulse width, round 30 nits at the shortest pulse, and 150 nits with the center 50 setting. The XL2566K does 330 nits strobed so either way there is enough brightness here whether strobed or no longer strobed. Minimum brightness of 41 nits is pretty excellent as nicely.

Contrast is exceptionally proper from this TN monitor, my unit hit 1376:1, 26% better than the XL2566K and an all spherical terrific range from a non-VA LCD panel. Black degrees are not particularly darkish and of course to get this result you want to view the panel useless on, however you won't be getting a evaluation downside simply as it's a TN screen.

The biggest disadvantage to image excellent from this panel are the viewing angles, which are terrible. You definitely need to view this show dead directly to get an excellent enjoy, any mild off-axis viewing perspective inside the horizontal or vertical course results in a huge gamma and brightness shift, main to a absolutely washed out picture. Colors are also affected at off angles. This is where a TN panel can appearance very terrible next to an IPS or different sort of LCD, as you could view an IPS from a barely off-axis angle and still get a superb revel in, while a TN appears comparatively horrible below the same circumstances. So make certain your setup is optimized where you're viewing the panel precisely in that very slim viewing attitude sweet spot.

Outside of viewing attitude troubles uniformity is cheap, virtually top sufficient for gaming and whilst regarded optimally you shouldn't see too much backlight bleed.

HUB Essentials Checklist

Asus advertises this display nicely, even though including HDMI 2.0 rather than HDMI 2.1 is demanding. The shade overall performance specifications are pretty properly, although advertising a 0.2ms response time is a chunk deceptive notwithstanding this being a totally rapid panel – on common the display is more like 2ms. The loss of backlight strobing support below 360Hz also shall we it down.

Asus additionally bizarrely advertises this as being HDR capable with DisplayHDR four hundred guide, even though I don't suppose any esports gamer buying this panel might actually care approximately HDR at all.

The display would not aid genuine HDR, because it would not aid any shape of nearby dimming, leading to a totally low evaluation ratio for HDR and weak brightness. However I failed to spot any problems or defects with the panel, and in trendy the panel first-class is quite good.

540Hz Gaming is Awesome

Overall, the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP is one of those video display units that absolutely receives to affect us with its incredible motion readability. As the primary 540Hz show we have used, its responsiveness and smoothness are a delight.

This monitor stays remarkably clean while gaming at its maximum refresh fee, and we stay surprised with the aid of the impact of even higher refresh quotes. While a few might argue that we are in the realm of diminishing returns, we disagree. The differences as compared to 360Hz had been substantive for us, and even more so compared to 240Hz, which many don't forget a excessive refresh fee nowadays.

While a few would possibly argue that we're within the realm of diminishing returns, we disagree.

In addition to the high refresh price, the PG248QP boasts the quickest response instances we have measured on an LCD panel. It notably outperforms preceding leaders on this class, just like the BenQ XL2566K, supplying an top notch, fast, low overshoot revel in at all refresh costs.

It's extra than able to dealing with 540Hz, it's elite at decrease refresh charges and it has low input latency as well. Currently, simplest OLED panels are quicker, but with OLEDs maxing out at 240Hz, you get superior motion readability from a 540Hz LCD.

Asus complements this with ULMB2, which supplies the best movement readability we have visible on this 540Hz panel, making the PG248QP the pinnacle preference for each strobed and non-strobed clarity. This function's hassle at lower refresh prices like 240Hz or 144Hz is a minor setback, but we suspect all and sundry buying this show is aiming to play at or above 500 FPS – which is viable in a few multiplayer games supplied you have got effective PC hardware.

I was additionally pleasantly amazed by a few factors to picture pleasant, such as its correct evaluation ratio, wide gamut support and amazing manufacturing facility calibration. However, the negative viewing angles, a feature of TN panels, frequently nullify these benefits. Unless regarded head-on, you're possibly to enjoy a extra washed out photograph, so it is hard to recommend it for whatever aside from its velocity and movement performance.

While the photo clarity is magnificent, the PG248QP feels extra like a glimpse into the future of show technologies. Priced at $900, it is tough to advocate to the common gamer. Even for the ones searching for a top class esports screen, the fee is steep, relegating it to a spot market.

Though it surpasses the BenQ XL2566K in performance, the BenQ's $600 price tag – already high for a 1080p display in 2023 – makes it a greater attractive alternative for many, especially for gamers interested in backlight strobing wherein the PG248QP offers only a slight improvement. We trust the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP must be priced no higher than the modern XL2566K, prompting a price reduction for the BenQ. That would likely tempt a part of the esports crowd to bear in mind it. At $900 although, experience this look into what will come in the future, however perhaps anticipate that destiny to arrive in preference to leaping in proper now.

Shopping Shortcuts:

• Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP on Amazon
• BenQ Zowie XL2566K on Amazon
• Asus ROG Swift PG27AQN on Amazon
• Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 on Amazon
• Alienware AW3423DW 34" QD-OLED on Amazon
• LG C2 forty two" OLED TV on Amazon
• Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX on Amazon

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