Specifications

The second iteration of the original ROG Swift is finally here, promising IPS quality and 165 Hz refresh capability!

It's hard to believe that it has only been 14 months since the release of the first ASUS ROG Swift, the PG278Q, back in August of 2014. It seems like lifetimes have passed, with drama circling around other G-Sync panels, the first release of FreeSync screens, the second geneation of FreeSync panels that greatly improve overdrive. Now, we sit in the middle of the second full wave of G-Sync screens. A lot can happen in this field if you blink.

The PG278Q was easily the best G-Sync monitor on the market for quite a long time. It offered performance, features and quality that very few other monitors could match, and it did it all while including support for NVIDIA's G-Sync variable refresh rate technology. If you are new to VRR tech, and want to learn about G-Sync you can check out our original editorial or an in-depth interview with NVIDIA's Tom Petersen. In short: being able to have a variable refresh rate on a panel match the frame rate of the game prevents Vsync quirks like screen tearing and judder.

But a lot has changed since ASUS released the PG278Q including the release of other higher quality monitors from the likes of Acer, BenQ and others. ASUS showed off some new G-Sync ready displays at CES but that was way back in January of 2015 – more than 10 months ago! The PG279Q was the most interesting to us then and remains that way today. There are some impressive specifications on the table including a 27-in 2560×1440 screen built on IPS technology, to improve color reproduction and view angles, a 165Hz maximum refresh rate and the best build quality we have seen on a gaming monitor to date.

This time ASUS has a lot more competition to deal with but can the ROG Swift PG279Q real ignite ASUS as the best G-Sync monitor provider? What kind of experience do you get for a $799 monitor today?

The specifications on the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q are impressive; let's ta

  • Display
    Panel Size: Wide Screen 27.0"(68.6cm) 16:9
    Color Saturation : 100%(sRGB) 
    Panel Backlight / Type : In-Plane Switching
    True Resolution : 2560×1440 *
    Display Surface Non-glare
    Pixel Pitch : 0.233mm
    Brightness(Max) : 350 cd/㎡
    Contrast Ratio (Max) : 1000:1
    Viewing Angle (CR≧10) : 178°(H)/178°(V)
    Response Time : 4ms (Gray to Gray)
    Display Colors : 16.7M (real 8 bit)
    Flicker free
  • Video Feature
    Trace Free Technology : Yes
    Color Temperature Selection : 4 Modes
    GamePlus(modes) : Yes (Crosshair/Timer/FPS Counter)
    Low Blue Light : Yes
    HDCP support : Yes
    GameVisual :6 Modes(Scenery/Racing/Cinema/RTS/RPG/FPS/sRGB Modes)
  • Audio Features
    Stereo Speakers : 2W x 2 Stereo RMS
  • Convenient Hotkey
    GamePlus
    5-way OSD Navigation Joystick
    Turbo key
  • I/O Ports
    Signal Input : HDMI , DisplayPort
    Earphone jack : 3.5mm Mini-Jack 
    USB Port(s) : 3.0×2, 1 x upstream
  • Signal Frequency
    Digital Signal Frequency : Display port 34~209KHz(H)/30~165Hz (V)
  • Power Consumption
    Power On: <90W*
    Power Saving/Off:0.5W
    Voltage: 100-240V, 50/60Hz
  • Mechanical Design
    Chassis Colors : Black
    Tilt : +20°~-5°
    Swivel : Yes
    Pivot : Yes
    Height Adjustment : Yes
    VESA Wall Mounting : 100x100mm
    Super Narrow Bezel Design : Yes
  • Security
    Kensington lock
  • Dimensions
    Phys. Dimension with Stand(WxHxD): 619.77×552.53×237.9 mm
    Phys. Dimension without Stand(WxHxD): 619.77×362.96×65.98 mm(For VESA Wall Mount)
    Box Dimension (WxHxD): 756x456x300 mm
  • Weight
    Net Weight(Esti.): 7.0kg
    Gross Weight(Esti.):10.6kg
  • Accessories
    Power cord 
    Power adapter
    DisplayPort cable 
    USB 3.0 cable
    Quick start guide
    HDMI cable 
    Support CD
    Warranty Card
  • Regulation Approval
    Energy Star®, BSMI, CB, CCC, CE, CEL level 1, ErP, FCC, J-MOSS, KCC, PSE, RoHS, UL/cUL, VCCI, WEEE, WHQL (Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7), RCM, TUV Flicker-free , eStandby, TUV Low Blue Light
  • Note
    1) Refresh Rate
    DisplayPort: 2560×1440(up to 165Hz)
    HDMI: 2560×1440(60Hz)

    2) Signal Frequency
    DisplayPort 34~209KHz(H)/30~165Hz(V)
    HDMI: 30~140KHz(H)/24~60Hz(V)

I won't walk through every line here but some of the points are more important to the overall experience than others. The screen is an IPS 2560×1440 panel which results in outstanding view angles and color reproduction, even right out of the box when enabling the sRGB profile in the settings. The panel is a matte finish and doesn't reflect lights in the same way those typical glossy panels do – which is great for gamers but can affect color to some degree for professionals. 

The 4ms response time is higher than we saw on the PG278Q with a TN panel, but is very typical of modern gaming IPS screens. In my opinion though the response time is well within the range necessary for even the most demanding gamer. 

ASUS has again embedded a pair of speakers in the monitor but they aren't worth using really. Any self-respecting user that has a high quality gaming headset or speakers. 

There are two inputs on the PG279Q, up from just one on the PG278Q. Only the DisplayPort input can support the extremely high 165Hz refresh rate as well as G-Sync. But thanks to a second generation of G-Sync module, the display can now accept an HDMI input at resolutions as high as 2560×1440 (60Hz) should you need it.

In The Box

Inside the box, ASUS has included the power adapter as well as a handful of cables to help you get setup.

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The power adapter on the PG279Q is much larger than the one used on the previous ROG Swift. This is due to the move to an IPS screen as well as the incredible 165Hz refresh rate.

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A DisplayPort cable, HDMI cable as well as a USB 3.0 cable to connect your PC to the integrated hub in the monitor. 

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