Delayed past its original late 2017 timeframe, let alone the April and May estimates, NVIDIA’s G-Sync HDR technology finally arrived over the last couple months courtesy of Asus’ ROG Swift PG27UQ and Acer’s Predator X27. First shown at Computex 2017 as prototypes, the 27-inch displays bring what are arguably the most desired and visible aspects of modern gaming monitors: ultra high resolution (4K), high refresh rates (144Hz), and variable refresh rate technology (G-Sync), all in a reasonably-sized quality panel (27-inch IPS-type). In addition to that, of course, are the various HDR-related capabilities with brightness and color gamut.

Individually, these features are just some of the many modern display technologies, but where resolution and refresh rate (and also input latency) are core to PC gaming, those elements typically work as tradeoffs, with 1440p/144Hz being a notable middle ground. So by the basic 4K/144Hz standard, we have not yet had a true ultra-premium gaming monitor. But today, we look at one such beast with the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ.

ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ G-SYNC HDR Monitor Specifications ROG Swift PG27UQ Panel 27" IPS (AHVA) Resolution 3840 × 2160 Refresh Rate OC Mode 144Hz (HDR, 4:2:2) 144Hz (SDR, 4:2:2) Standard 120Hz (HDR, 4:2:2)

98Hz (HDR, 4:4:4) 120Hz (SDR, 4:4:4) Over HDMI 60Hz Variable Refresh Rate NVIDIA G-Sync HDR module

(actively cooled) Response Time 4 ms (GTG) Brightness Typical 300 - 600 cd/m² Peak 1000 cd/m² (HDR) Contrast Typical 1000:1 Peak 50000:1 (HDR) Backlighting FALD, 384 zones Quantum Dot Yes HDR Standard HDR10 Support Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical Pixel Density 163 pixels per inch

0.155mm pixel pitch Color Depth 1.07 billion

(8-bit with FRC) Color Gamut sRGB: 100%

Adobe RGB: 99%

DCI-P3: 97% Inputs 1 × DisplayPort 1.4

1 × HDMI 2.0 Audio 3.5-mm audio jack USB Hub 2-port USB 3.0 Stand Adjustments Tilt: +20°~-5°

Swivel: +160°~+160°

Pivot: +90°~-90°

Height Adjustment: 0~120 mm Dimensions (with stand) 634 x 437-557 x 268 mm VESA Mount 100 × 100 Power Consumption Idle: 0.5 W

Peak: 180 W (HDR) Price $1999

As an ultra-premium gaming monitor of that caliber, the PG27UQ also has an ultra-premium price of $1999. For reasons we’ll soon discuss, the pricing very much represents the panel’s HDR backlighting unit, quantum dot film, and G-Sync HDR module. The full-array local dimming (FALD) backlighting system delivers the brightness and contrast needed for HDR, while the quantum dot film enhances the representable colors to a wider gamut, another HDR element. The new generation G-Sync HDR module deals with the variable refresh implementation, but with HDR, high refresh rate, and high resolution combined, bandwidth constraints require chroma subsampling beyond 98Hz.

In terms of base specifications, the PG27UQ is identical to Acer’s Predator X27 as it uses the same AU Optronics panel, and both monitors are essentially flagships for the G-Sync HDR platform, which includes the curved ultrawide 35-inch models and 4K 65-inch Big Format Gaming Displays (BFGD). Otherwise, there isn’t anything new here that we haven’t already known about in the long run-up.

NVIDIA G-SYNC HDR Monitor Lineup Acer

Predator X27 ASUS

ROG Swift PG27UQ Acer

Predator X35 ASUS

ROG Swift PG35VQ Acer

Predator BFGD ASUS

ROG Swift PG65 HP

OMEN X 65 BFGD Panel 27" IPS-type (AHVA) 35" VA

1800R curve 65" VA? Resolution 3840 × 2160 3440 × 1440 (21:9) 3840 × 2160 Pixel Density 163 PPI 103 PPI 68 PPI Max Refresh Rates 144Hz

60Hz (HDMI) 200Hz

60Hz (HDMI) 120Hz

60Hz (HDMI) Backlighting FALD (384 zones) FALD (512 zones) FALD Quantum Dot Yes HDR Standard HDR10 Support Color Gamut sRGB

DCI-P3 Inputs 2 × DisplayPort 1.4

1 × HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort 1.4

HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort 1.4

HDMI 2.0

Ethernet Price $1999 TBA TBA Availability Present 2H 2018?

Furthermore, Asus’ ROG Swift PG27UQ also had a rather insightful channel for updates on their ROG forums, so there's some insight into the panel-related firmware troubles they've been having.

How We Got Here: Modern Gaming Monitors and G-Sync HDR

One of the more interesting aspects about the PG27UQ is about its headlining features. The 3840 x 2160 ‘4K’ resolution and 144Hz refresh rate are very much in the mix, and so is the monitor being not just G-Sync but G-Sync HDR. Then there is the HDR aspect, with the IPS-type panel that has localized backlighting and a quantum dot film. G-Sync HDR means both a premium tier of HDR monitor, as well as the new generation of G-Sync that works with high dynamic range gaming.

Altogether, the explanation isn’t very succinct for gamers, especially compared to a non-HDR gaming monitor, and it has all to do with the vast amount of moving parts involved in consumer monitor features, something more thoroughly covered by Brett. For some context, recent display trends include

Higher resolutions (e.g. 1440p, 4K, 8K)

Higher refresh rates (e.g. 120Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz)

Variable refresh rate (VRR) (e.g. G-Sync, FreeSync)

Panel size, pixel density, curved and/or ultrawide formats

Better panel technology (e.g. VA, IPS-type, OLED)

Color bit depth

Color compression (e.g. chroma subsampling)

Other high dynamic range (HDR) relevant functions for better brightness/contrast ratios and color space coverage, such as local dimming/backlighting and quantum dot films

These features obviously overlap, and much of their recent developments are not so much ‘new’ as they are now ‘reasonably affordable’ to the broader public. For a professional class price, monitors for professional visualization have offered many of the same specifications. And most elements are ultimately limited by PC game support, even uncapped refresh rates and 4K+ resolutions. This is, of course, not including connection standards, design (i.e. bezels and thinness), or gaming monitor features (e.g. ULMB). All these bits, and more, are served up to consumers in a bevy of numbers and brands.

Why does all of this matter? All of these points are points of discussion with the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ, and especially to G-Sync HDR at the heart of this display. Gaming monitors are moving beyond resolution and refresh rate in their feature sets, especially as games start to support HDR technologies (i.e. HDR10, Dolby Vision, FreeSync 2 tone-mapping). To implement those overlapping features, much more has to do with the panel rather than the VRR hardware/specification, which has become the de facto identifier of a modern gaming monitor. The goal is no longer summarized by ‘faster frames filled with more pixels’ and becomes more difficult to communicate, let alone market, to consumers. And this has much to do with where G-Sync (and VRR) started and what it is now aspiring to be.