ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS 27-inch QHD 180Hz Gaming Monitor: specs and who it suits

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a 2560 x 1440 (QHD) Fast IPS panel and a 180Hz refresh rate. It is aimed at people who want sharper, smoother motion than a standard 1080p, 60Hz screen can give, and it adds a USB-C input so one cable can carry video from a compatible laptop. This page explains what the main specs mean.

What QHD at 27 inches gives you

QHD is 2560 x 1440 pixels, roughly 78 percent more pixels than Full HD. On a 27-inch screen that typically means finer text and more detail in games, without the heavy graphics demands of 4K. It also gives more room for windows side by side, which helps if the same monitor is used for work.

Refresh rate and response time

A 180Hz refresh rate means the image can update 180 times a second, against 60 on an ordinary monitor. Most people notice this as smoother camera movement in fast games, though your graphics card has to produce enough frames to use it. ASUS rates the Fast IPS panel at 1ms grey-to-grey (GTG) response, a measure of how quickly a pixel changes shade. Faster changes generally mean less smearing behind moving objects.

ASUS also includes ELMB SYNC, which it says lets Extreme Low Motion Blur work together with variable refresh rate. The brand describes the result as reducing ghosting and tearing. The monitor is listed as G-Sync Compatible, which means it can match its refresh rate to a supported graphics card to avoid torn frames.

Colour and HDR

The listing gives 133% sRGB coverage, meaning the panel can show a range wider than the standard sRGB space used by most web and game content. HDR400 is the entry level of the HDR standard. It signals support for HDR content, but entry-level HDR typically looks different from the dazzling highlights seen on screens with more local dimming, so it is best seen as a bonus.

USB-C and desk setup

The USB Type-C port carries video as a DisplayPort signal and also acts as a USB hub, so a laptop can connect a keyboard, mouse and other wired accessories through the monitor with a single cable. Whether it also charges the laptop is not stated in the listing, so check that before relying on it. The monitor has a tripod socket, which gives extra mounting options, and ASUS includes a three-year warranty.

DisplayWidget Center is ASUS software that lets you open the on-screen menu and change settings with a mouse instead of the small buttons on the monitor.

Who it suits

It fits players who want a sharper, faster screen than 1080p and who have a graphics card able to push QHD at high frame rates. It also suits people who want one monitor for gaming and everyday work, especially if they use a laptop with USB-C video output.

What to check before you buy

• Your graphics card and how many frames per second it can produce at 2560 x 1440. The 180Hz rate only helps if the frames are there.
• Your laptop's USB-C port: it needs to support video output over USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode), and confirm whether charging is supported.
• Desk space and weight: the listing gives about 25.3 in wide and 14.6 lb with the stand.
• The cables that come in the box and the ports on your computer.
• Whether you plan to use a wall or arm mount, and whether the mounting pattern suits it.
• The current terms of the bundled software offer, which the listing says had an end date.

The short version

• 27-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) Fast IPS gaming monitor with a 180Hz refresh rate.
• ASUS rates response at 1ms (GTG) and adds ELMB SYNC with G-Sync Compatible support.
• 133% sRGB coverage and HDR400.
• USB-C with DisplayPort video and USB hub function, plus a tripod socket and a three-year warranty.

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