Variable refresh rate monitors

Asus MG279Q: IPS gaming monitor has great viewing angles

The Asus MG279Q. PHOTO: ASUS

The Asus MG279Q is one of two models in this roundup - the other is the Acer XB270HU - to use in-plane switching (IPS) technology. The other monitors use twisted nematic (TN) panels, which have inferior viewing angles.

Hence, if viewing angles are your biggest concern, you should be looking at these two models.

The Acer and the Asus differ mainly in the variable refresh rate technology used. Asus supports AMD FreeSync, while Acer uses Nvidia's G-Sync technology.

The variable refresh rate range on the Asus is between 35Hz and 90Hz. This is not as wide as the Acer (30Hz to 144Hz) and the BenQ XL2730Z (40Hz to 144Hz).

  • TECH SPECS

  • PRICE: $999

    RESOLUTION: 2,560 x 1,440 pixels

  • RATING

    FEATURES: 4/5

    DESIGN: 4/5

    PERFORMANCE: 4/5

    VALUE: 4/5

    OVERALL: 4/5

However, it is probably adequate as most games should be running at frame rates within this range. If your games fall outside this range, you can probably tweak their graphics settings to bring them back within the range to benefit from FreeSync.

Physically, the monitor is fairly slim, with a 13mm-wide bezel.

Overall, my impression is that the monitor is not overly loud and should appeal to non-gamers too.

You can pivot the Asus 90 degrees for a portrait orientation or swivel it by up to 60 degrees to its sides. It has a pair of built-in speakers and two USB 3.0 ports at the bottom rear of the display.

Navigate the on-screen display (OSD) settings with a joystick. The monitor includes six predefined settings, or profiles, that are optimised for different usage modes, from watching movies to playing a first-person shooter game.

A demo feature helps you decide whether the selected profile is suitable. It splits the screen into two, with one half showing the original display setting and the other the chosen profile, so that you can see both side by side. A crosshair overlay can be turned on to help gamers aim in shooting games.

Screen brightness topped out at 270 nits, making it one of the brightest models I have tested. However, colour accuracy was average with a score of 3 out of 5 compared to 4.5 for the Acer.

  • Verdict: The Asus offers excellent viewing angles and useful gaming features.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 16, 2015, with the headline Asus MG279Q: IPS gaming monitor has great viewing angles. Subscribe