Smooth visuals that will tempt a serious gamer

The Asus ROG Swift PG248Q has a high refresh rate of 144Hz, which can be further increased to 180Hz. It also offers optimised display profiles for movies and various game genres, as well as other gaming enhancements. PHOTO: ASUS

The Asus ROG Swift PG248Q pushes the envelope with a high refresh rate that makes for a fluid and stutter-free gaming experience.

This 24-inch display has a refresh rate of 144Hz, though it can be increased to 180Hz via a built-in overclocking feature.

The Swift also supports the Nvidia G-Sync feature, which synchronises the frame rates from a compatible graphics card with the monitor's refresh rate to reduce lag or blurring.

In my testing, the Swift looked impressive in fast-paced shooters like Doom. I did not notice any stutter and the visuals looked smooth and beautiful.

However, you do need a powerful gaming computer to achieve the high frame rates necessary to utilise the monitor's high refresh rates. Else, you are probably better off using a monitor with the lower 120Hz refresh rate.

The problem with the Swift is that its high refresh rate is made possible by using a twisted nematic panel. These screens do not look as vibrant as in-plane switching (IPS) displays. In addition, their viewing angles, especially on the vertical axis, are narrower. As a result, the Swift looks washed out compared to IPS monitors, especially outside of playing games.

  • TECH SPECS

  • PRICE: $899

    RESOLUTION: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels

    ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

    BRIGHTNESS: 350 cd/m2

    RESPONSE TIME: 1ms

    PANEL TYPE: Twisted Nematic

    CONNECTIVITY: DisplayPort, HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0 downstream, 1 x USB 3.0 upstream, headphone jack


    RATING

    FEATURES: 4/5

    DESIGN: 4/5

    PERFORMANCE: 4/5

    VALUE FOR MONEY: 2/5

    OVERALL: 4/5

The Swift feels sturdy, with a reassuring sense of solidity that belies its plastic build. The back looks chunky, but the front bezel is relatively slim at around 1cm thick.

Asus has toned down its flashy designs, with the Swift having just a circular red LED ring at the base of the stand. This can be turned off in the monitor settings.

After testing a number of monitors with fixed stands, I was pleased by the amount of adjustment possible on the Swift. It can swivel 60 degrees to the right and to the left, pivot 90 degrees from landscape to portrait orientation, and tilt upwards by up to 20 degrees.

It is easy to navigate the monitor's settings, thanks to a small joystick. In its settings, the Swift offers optimised display profiles for movies and various game genres.

Other gaming enhancements include a crosshair that appears at the centre of the screen, a timer and a frame-rate counter.

At $899, the Swift is relatively expensive for a 24-inch, full-HD display. For the same price or less, you can probably buy a premium 27-inch IPS-based display with a higher 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution.

But chances are that these monitors would not have the gaming features, especially the high refresh rate, of the Swift.

The Swift is ideal for gamers, but those who spend more time browsing the Internet or watching videos should test it out at a retail store before deciding.

Vincent Chang

• Gamers will appreciate its stutter-free and smooth performance, but there are cheaper and better displays for general users.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 07, 2016, with the headline Smooth visuals that will tempt a serious gamer. Subscribe