On my desk today is an incredibly interesting and controversial device, full of contradictions. It’s a monitor, but not just any monitor. Its refresh rate is 540 Hz, and the response time is 0.2 ms! According to the manufacturer, this is the fastest display in the world! Meet the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP. Who needs it, what technologies does it feature, and how do you properly set it up and use it? Rest assured, all the important questions will be answered. So brew yourself a fragrant cup of coffee and let’s dive in!
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Price and market positioning
I want to start with the main point – this monitor is not for everyone. It’s exclusively for gamers. And even then, it’s not suitable for every gamer. Do you think that 540 Hz will provide unprecedented smoothness? Absolutely! But only if your FPS can also exceed 500 frames per second. In which games and with what hardware is this achievable? Catch my drift? Of course, we’re talking about shooters. Specifically, professional esports, where reaction speed is far more important than beautiful graphics. This is where the ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP comes into play. And it has no equal.
Now, let’s talk about the $1120 price tag – is it a lot or a little? The answer is simple. For achieving results in championships, it’s not much at all. But for a home monitor, it’s clearly too much. And it’s not just about the price, but the value-to-features ratio. In other words, you definitely don’t need the PG248QP for a home computer. You won’t notice the difference between 144 Hz and 540 Hz at 100 FPS. Plus, a 24” TN panel has long ceased to be top-notch for streaming games or videos. So, I would recommend spending that $1000 on more versatile models. With those, you get an IPS screen, a 27-inch size, and a more attractive appearance.
I’m not criticizing the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP, I’m merely emphasizing that it’s highly specialized. And like any unique equipment designed for specific tasks, it simply can’t be cheap. Additionally, this monitor stands alone in the market, with no direct competitors.
ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP Specifications
- Diagonal: 24,1”
- Matrix: TN
- Screen coating: matte
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Response time: 0.2 ms
- Refresh rate: 540 Hz
- Viewing angles: 160 degrees
- Brightness: 400 cd/m2
- Contrast: 1000:1
- Power consumption: 21 W
- Weight: 7.5 kg
- Wall mount: VESA 100×100 mm
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Scope and technology
And it all seems logical, as previously stated. The ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP is a monitor optimized exclusively for professional gamers. But is it only the high refresh rate that makes it great? Of course not! This display is packed with a host of technological features designed to help you fully unleash your skills. Let’s talk about those.
The first question that puzzled me was how ASUS managed to achieve such specifications with a TN panel. It turns out that the matrix is not quite simple and not entirely TN. You could say that the PG248QP uses a new type of screen – Esport TN. This is a modified standard that makes such impressive specs possible. And the brightness? It’s outstanding – 400 cd/m², a very serious figure! This level of brightness is necessary for the well-lit tournament halls where you will feel completely comfortable with the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP.
However, incredible refresh rates alone won’t cut it. At 540 Hz, you might encounter artifacts, flickering, and color palette disruptions. Your eyes can’t keep up with the monitor and need assistance. This assistance comes in the form of Ultra Low Motion Blur 2 technology. It reduces motion blur, eliminates image strobing at any brightness level, and prevents image degradation due to potential electromagnetic interference. To harness such speed, it’s necessary to consider factors that aren’t typically significant in standard monitor design. I’m talking about electrical interference, which seriously impacts equipment performance. Remember the clicking sound from wired speakers when your phone rang? It’s possible that while gaming at 540 Hz, artifacts might appear on the monitor if it weren’t for ULMB 2. And that’s not all this technology can do. How about this feature: the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP dynamically turns on the backlight only when the image on the screen is at its sharpest! That’s incredibly cool from both a practical and engineering standpoint.
To manage such extensive image processing, significant resources are required. In the case of the PG248QP, there’s no additional load on the graphics card or processor because the monitor has its own NVIDIA G-SYNC processor! This processor handles image rendering and manages all the technologies, which also reduces latency since the chip is located directly in the monitor. Consequently, the performance of any technology won’t be affected by interference, HDMI cable quality, or the graphics card port.
A great solution for the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP is NVIDIA Reflex technology. This technology allows you to adjust the monitor’s speed to match the response times of other components. For example, if your mouse has a response time of 3 ms, but the monitor’s response time is only 0.2 ms, it could cause an issue where you see a trailing effect from the crosshair on the screen. You would either need to upgrade to a faster mouse or adjust the latency of the entire system. This feature is incredibly useful and I recommend trying it out to identify any weak links in your setup.
I can’t overlook the topic of sound. Of course, speakers aren’t included in the monitor – who uses them at tournaments anyway? No one, but headphones are essential. And the headphones need to be of high quality to pick up the direction of enemy footsteps. But quality headphones alone won’t cut it. You also need, at the very least, a quality sound card to reproduce the necessary sounds through the headphones. Here, the PG248QP pleasantly surprised me. It comes with a full-fledged ESS audio codec onboard. And it’s much better than a sound card in the system unit. This is because, once again, the chip is located in the monitor, which means zero sound delay! And full synchronization with the picture on the screen.
The ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP is perfectly suited for the GamePlus technology. It’s capable of displaying a hardware crosshair on the monitor. Whether it’s cheating or not – you decide, but this feature exists, and it works amazingly. Besides the crosshair, GamePlus can display a stopwatch, timer, or FPS counter.
The monitor boasts the exclusive ASUS GameVisual technology for enhancing gaming experience. It determines the balance between clarity, response time, and image saturation. What works for simulators might not work for shooters. There’s even a dedicated button on the display for selecting presets.
ASUS also hasn’t forgotten about your eye fatigue. After all, even the fanciest screen can strain your eyes if you stare at it around the clock. But it’s possible to reduce the harmful effects. For example, with the Flicker-Free technology, which eliminates screen flickering. Or by blocking the harmful impact of blue light – by filtering it out. The ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP boasts both, all for your benefit.
I discovered one undocumented feature in the monitor, and it’s surprising because it’s cool and extremely useful. I won’t bore you with details—it’s a light sensor. Thanks to it, the screen brightness can be automatically adjusted depending on the ambient light. The sensor window is located on the top edge of the display. I checked the official product page again, and it seems ASUS simply forgot to mention it. However, the sensor is there, and it works, tested! And if you don’t need this feature, you can simply turn it off in the menu.
Package contents
I understand you’re itching to take a look at the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP, but let’s start with the unboxing, just to get things going. The monitor’s box is simply huge. It’s smaller than the box for my 32″ TV. The reason for its size turns out to be the substantial layer of foam padding. It’s a thick layer—ideal for protecting the monitor during transportation. It’s definitely appreciated, and it’ll come in handy around the house.
Well, first and foremost, I came across an A4 sheet with branded stickers. There were quite a few of them, both large and small. They shimmered in all the colors of the rainbow in the sunlight — quite impressive. Overall, everything looks stylish and beautiful.
Next up — even more! They included a genuine (I hope) screen calibration certificate in the package. Complete with graphs and values, just the way I like it. It’s useful information that indicates this monitor was individually calibrated. You can input the necessary values into the profile of any graphics editor and achieve 100% color accuracy. The only thing that bothers me is that the document doesn’t have a stamp or hologram from the laboratory. That’s why I’m hoping this isn’t just a marketing gimmick. Should we take their word for it?
Well, next on our list is the stylish accessory box, so let’s take a peek right away. I’ll leave the stand and the monitor for the grand reveal.
Here we have the power cable and… Incredible! An external power brick! This is seriously cool for two reasons. Firstly, it’s all about repairability. Power supplies in monitors often kick the bucket early on. But with an external brick, replacing it is a breeze. It’s cheaper and you don’t have to dismantle the display. Secondly, there’s no risk of electrical interference with the monitor’s electronics. It only accepts 19V from the power brick, not the standard 220V. And check this out, it’s quite an interesting solution! 19V at 90W – you could power laptops with this thing! Plus, the design of the power brick resembles that of laptops. Just compare it to my laptop charger, they’re like two peas in a pod.
We got HDMI and DisplayPort cables in the bundle. Both are thick, sturdy, and even branded. Quality stuff, in short. There’s also a USB cable for connecting to the monitor’s built-in two-port hub. By the way, all the connectors on these cables are gold-plated! Do you see the level of attention to detail here?
The manufacturer also included a nice organizer with a warranty card and a brief instruction manual. A special mention goes to the brochure where we’re welcomed into the elite, albeit briefly, gamer community. Well, for the price we paid, they better not forget to greet us.
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Design and interfaces of ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP
Visually, there’s a lot to discuss about the ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP, but let’s start with the various ports. They didn’t skimp on ports with this monitor, offering quite a generous selection. The ports are concealed under a decorative cover that can be easily removed for convenient wire connection. For video signal transmission, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 – allowing you to connect multiple devices simultaneously, like a PC and a PlayStation, for example. There’s also the high-speed USB hub, following the USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard, as mentioned earlier. The red-colored port among them allows for device charging even when the monitor is turned off. And of course, there’s the classic headphone jack as well.
There’s a major flaw in all of this – the same decorative cover. It’s not as easy to remove and put back on due to the plastic clips. After about 50 times, I fear it might not withstand the pressure and break. Yet, removing it is necessary because there’s no convenient access to the USB and audio ports otherwise. Want to connect headphones or a flash drive? You’ll have to remove the cover. Or just don’t use it at all… Although, in my opinion, that’s a flaw.
In addition to the power socket, there’s also an interface on the monitor mysteriously covered with rubber labeled “SERVICE USE ONLY.” It’s a proprietary connector, which I believe is necessary for calibrating the monitor. And that’s a good sign, indicating that calibration was indeed performed.
Now, let me tell you about the stand – a base with a plethora of adjustments. It’s fantastic and functional but, personally, it looks too cumbersome to me. Well, the lowest part, where the entire structure is actually mounted, can change its size. Absolutely crazy! Depending on the clutter on your workspace, you can easily fold or unfold the stand. Intermediate positions are also welcome. And you don’t even need to lift the monitor for this – it’s all done very simply.
Adjusting the PG248QP for comfort is also no problem. The monitor easily tilts in the horizontal plane – that’s one. It can be raised and lowered with one hand – that’s two. It swivels left and right – that’s three. And it can be set up in portrait mode – that’s four. Excellent, sturdy, and functional stand on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP, bravo! However, if you have nothing else to do, you can remove it and mount the monitor on a VESA mount.
Finding another unadvertised feature on the top of the stand – a tripod mount – was a pleasant surprise. This solution is commendable, as it allows for convenient mounting of a camera or microphone. Even a rubber pad is provided to ensure everything is securely installed.
The next thing I want to talk about is the control buttons, or more precisely, the 4 buttons and joystick. They are located on the back cover, under the right hand. What’s interesting about them is that each button is shaped individually. You can feel it on touch. Now it will be difficult to miss the necessary button. And that’s the essence of ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP – incredible attention to detail.
The monitor’s exterior is intriguing. When viewed from the front, it has an absolutely unassuming appearance. There’s nothing to snag on, and that’s the way it should be. No flashy details should distract from the game. It’s all about maximum focus on the process, a very smart design choice. However, from the back, the PG248QP is large and bulky, looking slightly awkward. The ROG emblem, though, adds a touch of flair as it glows. Its behavior, by the way, can be customized in the Armoury Crate software, even synchronized with other PC components’ lighting.
The bezels on the ASUS ROG SWIFT PRO PG248QP brought a smile to my face. At first glance, when the monitor is off, they appear incredibly thin and elegant. But once you turn on the display, another set of bezels becomes apparent, thick and clumsy. I’m sure that for such a massive monitor, larger plastic bezels would look quite harmonious. Plus, they would provide extra protection against bumps and knocks. But perhaps I’m nitpicking.
Conclusions
I’ve used the monitor for gaming, movies, and even scrolling through internet feeds. Let me paint an associative picture that came to mind. Using this screen in everyday life is like driving a Ferrari to a picnic in the woods. Nothing more, nothing less. And that’s because the PG248QP is narrowly focused on gaming. But a Ferrari isn’t meant for picnics, just as the PG248QP isn’t for typing texts or browsing the web. Yet, in its element, it’s a beast, the pinnacle of creation, unmatched! A mature and professional monitor specifically for those who need it – professional esports players.
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