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Buying an “IPS gaming display”? Read this first… Seriously!
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Buying an “IPS gaming display”? Read this first… Seriously!

by Super DaddyJuly 3, 2016
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So I got my hands recently on the Asus’ IPS gaming display – the ROG Swift PG27AQ. Talk about a 27″ wide display bearing 4K goodness coupled with nVidia GSync technology and IPS yumminess. It doesn’t overclock, retaining it’s frequency at 60Hz at 4K resolution but that’s just because of current technology limitation. But this is where we need to learn how to draw the fine line between possessive showing off versus studying the technology. These gaming monitors are not cheap (RM4,219 for the PG27AQ) and you are probably going to get the shocks of your lives.

I’m not going to discuss about “what is IPS” because you can read a very lengthy elaboration on it here. But I need to highlight some important key points that you need to realize before buying an IPS display – let alone an IPS gaming display. The three probable reasons you would want to buy IPS displays are wide-viewing angle, wide color gamut capabilities and response time. But to get the best of all these worlds, you will have to make sacrifices – at least for the sake of technology maturing.

I’m talking about backlight bleeding issues here. After in-depth research, my conclusion is rather simple. If you are going for an IPS gaming panel, you need to be prepared for at least 10% backlight bleeding on your display. That’s minimum. Like, definitely going to happen. If you are not ready for it, then you should just settle for a TN display instead. Period.

Notice something rather odd?

Notice something rather odd?

This is as worst as it can get. Notice the heavy bleeding glow.

This is as worst as it can get. Notice the heavy bleeding glow.

You probably would be wondering, then why do the manufacturers bother to make them at all? To satisfy OUR cravings. Look at our demands today. IPS (which is not even a new technology) seems like something we can’t live without, AND we want 4K resolution which for whatever reasons we rather squint to use the computer, AND we want GSync because we can’t afford tearing in our games in today’s era, AND we want overclocked displays nothing less than 144Hz, the higher the better, AND we want it all in a smart neat package with no room for errors. Now ask yourself again, why do these manufacturers bother to make these again.

This is a little more acceptable.

This is a little more acceptable.

There is a LOT of room for research and development. Manufacturers like Asus are NOT running away. Click here to read their statement. But if you are only going to wait for that perfect piece of hardware at the end of all the hardwork, then today is not yet your day. To those who are still keen on putting their money in exchange for the love of technology, I went a mile further for you. I literally met the Asus team in Malaysia, joined efforts with Achieva Malaysia and ran through almost 20 samples of IPS ROG Swifts; mix of BOTH PG279Q (1440p @ 165Hz) and PG27AQ (4K @ 60Hz). Just to provide the answers for you – the readers. ALL of them had bleeding. None of them was left out. And the bleeding happens in different areas on different displays. You just can’t escape it and you are NOT going to find a perfect one. At least not today.

Yup, we sampled each and every unit just to be firm on what we are delivering to you.

Yup, we sampled each and every unit just to be firm on what we are delivering to you.

Oh, and this is not an “Asus thingy”. Thanks to our Facebook friend – Fujun Lee, we have proof that even the Acer Predator X34 curved IPS display has it’s fair deal of bleeding too. Like I said, you are NOT going to get a perfect IPS gaming display.

Thank you Fujun Lee for sharing the Acer Predator X34 with us

Thank you Fujun Lee for sharing the Acer Predator X34 with us

Need a comparison against the TN counterpart? Here’s my PG278Q – 27″ 1440p 144Hz TN display. I probably don’t get a view at 178° but at this point, I’m not even sure why would I actually be viewing my monitor at any angle other than 90° for gaming.

PG278Q = 1440p + 144Hz + GSync + TN = Perfection!

PG278Q = 1440p + 144Hz + GSync + TN = Perfection!

Now that you know, you make your pick. Buying blindly is definitely NOT something you should be doing in the internet era. Unless you are one of those who actually do support the tech R&D – for which, we would like to meet you too, coz that makes you one of us!

Special Credits to ASUS Malaysia, Achieva group of companies Malaysia and Fujun Lee for providing us with the materials and opportunities to produce this piece of article.

About The Author
Super Daddy
A proof that the real fun does not actually ends, but rather begins when you become a daddy. Enterprise Application Co-ordinator, Web Developer, Hardware Enthusiast, Gadgets lover, Android Evangelist, Desktop and Consoles Gamer, Metal Music Guitarist, Audiophile, Networking Freak, Radio Controlled Toys rat, Ferrari Crazy and above all - a daddy in every kid's dream.
11 Comments
  • Sham
    July 3, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    I am not sure, if we keep supporting this tech by buying it, will it improve over time? Or we give a wrong signal by saying we gamers will buy it even it is shit?

    • July 3, 2016 at 1:57 pm

      This is a very good comment.. In fact, one that I was waiting for someone to ask.. To support or not to support?

      Now, IPS has it’s glory.. We cant turn down everything.. If we look at 23″ 1080p with 60Hz and no fluff, you could find pretty excellent ones with almost no bleed at all.. But as the technology scales, the challenges rise.. And we never move backwards, so past is history..

      It boils down to us then.. If we want to make our demands, then it’s our part to provide the support in making it happen too.. I’d die to get my hands on an IPS 4K GSync curved 34″ Asus ROG SWIFT.. Just when we were solving the existing problems, I’m demanding for a curved display on top of all the fluff.. So should I support it? If I asked for it, I will.. :)

  • Hakim
    July 3, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    I can see that ips has this flaw and tn panel has its own.how about va?or maybe amva+ that is used in some newer model of monitor nowadays.or mybe u can do a review or two on that type of panel?it will help a lot of people out there.

    • July 3, 2016 at 9:37 pm

      VA and MVA were indeed the technologies that were harnessed to compensate the shortcomings of both IPS and TN displays.. Back in the days, it was supposed to fulfill the limitations of both technologies in one package.. However, over the years, TN and IPS has learned to solve their problems putting VA and MVA as step sons.. Particularly because they were considered “intermediate” solutions.. I look at it in a different way though.. Maybe the day Apple decides to put their logo on these technologies, they will get the much love that they have always deserved.. Haha..

      It’s rather interesting that you mentioned VA and AMVA+ actually.. I thought no one really cared about them all the while.. I guess it’s time for us to get our hands dirty with these technologies too.. Who knows what would come out of it ;)

  • Andrew Tan
    October 20, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    This article looks like paid by Asus. lol
    Pack too many things inside? lol! What Asus did others company also have.

    IPS had backlight bleeding, this is very common as this is nature of IPS but it depends on how much it bleed.

    Not said to get the perfection here but not means we should also take a heavy bleeding panel. From that article it is very high bleeding compare to recent two monitor I get – LG 34UC79G and ViewSonic VX3209-2K.

    Asus selling more expensive than others, off course people demand more, but with above result, it is very bad in my opinion.

    • Vyncent Chan
      October 20, 2017 at 8:35 pm

      This post is not a sponsored post. If it was, we would be sure to mention it :) I would like to be in touch with the company that pays the media to talk about their product’s flaws so directly.
      ASUS does pack more into their monitors compared to the two monitors you mentioned. We are talking about G SYNC, 1440p @ 165 Hz and 4K @ 60 Hz, definitely more than what the two monitors you have mentioned offer. It goes without saying that Acer and several other brands are offering similarly packed spec sheets, but they do suffer from the same issue anyway. As you have mentioned, this is the flaw of IPS technology. I am sure ASUS could do better QC, but to bin so many panels, are consumers ready for even pricier monitors?

      People can demand more, but whether the industry can keep up with your demands is a different story.

      • Andrew Tan
        October 20, 2017 at 10:06 pm

        Got user buy ViewSonic XG2703-GS which is 1440p and 165hz and G-Sync. It is far better. At least it is constant in color.

        I know this article because the author post at below forum. Frank speak this article is some sort like helping Asus – This is technology limitation. You should accept it. Lol

        https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=4101500&view=findpost&p=86745628

        • October 21, 2017 at 2:45 pm

          Oh hi, welcome to our humble website. I can pretty much see that you are a strong Asus hater.
          I think my colleague just proved it to you. No company will pay to write about their flaws.

          You can’t even debate healthily. Your endgame is merely the link to the forum where we were having a discussion unrelated to you. You just hate ASUS and you will go miles to yell to the world about that. Even if it takes you to come here and comment about your factless feelings.

          You don’t care about IPS technology. You have never seen the QC process. You can only sit behind the keyboard and type baseless facts.

          • Andrew Tan
            October 21, 2017 at 3:52 pm

            Pay to write is a joke but.

            The way you console people is totally wrong, you are asking people we shall accept it because it is so call ‘technology limitation”. Frank speak that article is totally misleading. If the article is point out Asus shall do more R&D to overcome this limitation, then it is different story. But in-fact you are forgiven Asus and telling people this is limitation and we shall give and take and by doing so just can support tech improvement? Is it?

            This is not support tech improvement, you are actually let the tech degradation. Your movement is telling the manufacturer don’t worry people still buying, no need to care about it and no need to improve over it because this is “Tech Limitation”.

            I know your motive and though this is actually helping the tech improvement but it actually not. You just tell the whole world we need to accept it, give and take because it is the current tech limitation. In fact it is not, simply Google you can know a lot complain on Asus product but not others, Asus already charge superb high and it got same panel and tech as Acer where Acer is much cheaper and it actually control better, not perfection but not as bad as Asus.

            Which part showing Asus shall charge more when they out the product worst than others. In what scenario we shall support it and this will improving the tech. Totally no and not related at all.

            I care about IPS techonology, that the reason I am not support your article as your article is not helping but only degradation the technology.

            Never seen QC process? You know where I work or not, never seen. Haha!

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