First off, let me say that I have read some of the questions and their answers and in so doing I see some misinformation being put out there. With that in mind, this review is also going to contain some instructional information about topics that are related to this monitor, but not specific to this monitor.
First, let's discuss 3D gaming, G-Sync, refresh rate, Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) and how they all relate/interact. G-Sync and ULMB can be activated at the same time, but I would only use ULMB if you need the Light Boost features while using Nvidia's 3D glasses for stereoscopic 3D. ULMB is not truly intended for use without the use of Nvidia's 3D glasses, which is why the monitor dims when it is activated (the glasses use LCD shuttering and the dimming allows a lens to be shuttered without image bleed through due to brightness.) 3D games are any game in which you are interacting with a 3 dimensional game world and can move forward/backwards, left.right and up/down (or at least see or interact in some way with the vertical dimension, like arrows that arc or objects that you can fall off of. This would include for example, Sniper Elite, Battlefield 4, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Borderlands, any of the Assassins Creed, The Witcher 1/2/3, Watch Dogs, etc. It does not include games with a 2 dimensional playing field and no 3 dimensional depth, like solitaire, checkers, scrabble and other similar games. Most of the games being released are in some respect 3D these days. G-Sync (and ULMB) works with these games quite well to create a smooth, flowing output without (or at least severely reduced/improved) tearing or blurring of moving objects. However, once you take the next step into stereoscopic 3D (which is where you use the Nvidia 3D glasses or a 3D headset,) you can no longer use G-sync. There is a limit of 120 Hz maximum if you want use ULMB and when you activate ULMB, the monitor dims. ULMB can be used quite effectively with stereoscopic 3D. This should help to clear up some of the confusion about 3D gaming and this monitor's use for it.
When I purchased this monitor I was replacing an ASUS VG278HE that I accidentally destroyed with a heat gun (don't ask! It's a long story.) I was a little worried about how well I would be able to make out the print with things like this review, PDFs and overall ability to make out details in high resolution games. My worries were unfounded. In fact, I find this monitor to be easier (less strain) on my eyes and everything is so crisp and clear. I was pleasantly surprised at how much everything just pops.
I also use
Cotytech Expandable Dual Monitor Desk Mount Spring Arm Quick Connect with Clamp Base (DM-CDSA5-C)
and
Cotytech Apple Monitor Desk Mount Quick Release with Clamp Base (DM-CA20-C)
with an extra extension for each monitor to mount all of my displays (I have 3 displays attached to my PC.) I was a little worried this new monitor would be a little too heavy. Again I was worrying over nothing. This display is lighter than the one I replaced.
This display presented only one problem and that was with VLC Media Player. When I tried to play a video file, the playback had very bad audio. It was skipping, crackling and popping, even though the picture was smooth and steady. I was rather baffled how a display change could cause this. I'm still not sure why, but after I went into the Nvidia Control Panel and finished configuring the display so that the Nvidia control Panel matched the settings on the monitor, everything corrected and worked perfectly, in fact the picture quality was even better on this display. The only thing I can think is that it remained in the same logical position as the one I replaced and some residual settings must have interfered (the old one had built in speakers as well, where this one does not.)
This is simply the most amazingly sharp and clear display I have ever seen or used and it even looks more high tech with it's thin 6mm bezel. In addition, Asus has changed the placement of the buttons, so that now they do not get accidently bumped. They are positioned on the lower right side, on the back, next to the edge and moving through the menu, making selections and adjusting the selections is all handled by one button which is pushed up, down, left and right to maneuver through the menu, then pushed in to select. Much easier and more convenient than their previous button configurations.
If you buy this monitor and don't have an adequate graphics card, you will not be able to sue it's advanced features nor will you be able to gain the benefit of high refresh rates. From the logic's point of view, compared to a 1920 X 1080 (1080p or 1080i) display this display is 33% wider and 33% taller, for a combined 77.78% increase in total number of pixels. This means that your graphics processor has more work to do, to render the output. For games and apps that aren't graphics intensive, no problem. But for games (or apps) that are extremely graphics intensive, it could mean that the graphics that was adequate at 1920 X 1080, is no longer able to meet the demands. For this example, let's use a 690 dual GPU graphics card. Your playing The Witcher 2 on high settings and the card suffers some occasional frame rate drop offs, but mostly it handles the game well. Now you install this display. Even though the 690 is capable of 2560 X 1440 and is capable of 144 Hz refresh rate, it is not capable of rendering 2560 X 1440 at 144Hz in a 3D rich environment (there are just too many objects being rendered at in high detail for the graphics card to keep up.) So now, The Witcher 2, which looked great and played great on your old monitor, now looks terrible because the frame rate has dropped too low. This is not the fault of the monitor. This is simply a matter of trying to overdrive the GPUs. The solution would be to either reduce the number of objects being rendered, reduce the detail level, reduce the resolution back down to 1920 X 1080 or replace the graphics card with one that is capable of rendering the higher resolution with high settings.
My philosophy in such matters is as follows: If you want use the best/highest quality display, then you should match with the best/highest quality graphics card. A display will only show what the card it is attached to can deliver. If you want the best, get the best. I also understand that the cost of such things is often a limiting a factor. But people who are planning to buy this display should understand this important factor: While this display is an amazing display that is capable of 144 Hz at 2560 X 1440 and has advanced features to provide an incredibly sharp visual experience, it will only do so if the graphics adapter it is attached to is also capable of doing so. Attaching this monitor to a Graphics card that is incapable of supporting it, will result in a disappointing experience that is not actually the monitor's fault, but rather the graphic card's inability to meet the demands the user is putting on it. Personally, I purchased the high end graphics cards prior to purchasing the monitor, so that when I purchased the monitor I would be properly dazzled. I am not exactly sure what the lowest end Nvidia graphics for using this monitor at full capacity with the latest games is, but I chose 2 Titan X and am very happy with it. I personally would not recommend this monitor to anyone who is not using at least a 900 series or 2 700 series GPU(s.) If your graphics card is straining at 1920 X 1080, it will fail at 2560 X 1440. If you graphics card isn't even breaking a sweat at 1920 X 1080, then you are probably good to go with this display. I was at about 52% on one card and 22% on the second card while playing The Witcher 3 on highest settings at 1920 X 1080 at 120 Hz. With this display, It has increased to about 83% on the main and 34% on the second at 144 Hz. As stated earlier, that is with 2 EVGA Nvidia Geforce GTX Titan X cards both in a 16 lane PCIe Gen 3 slot running at 16 lane Gen 3. I am also using an Intel Core i7 5960x Extreme processor with 96GB of RAM. So, I am aware that my system is much higher end than most users. (My GF tells me I put too much priority and money into my computing. At least she doesn't get mad at me for it. LOL) Hope that helps you decide if this monitor is right for you.
| Standing screen display size | 27 Inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1440 Pixels |
