ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q3A 24-inch 180Hz Monitor: features and specs

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q3A is a 23.8-inch Full HD gaming monitor built around a Fast IPS panel and a 180Hz refresh rate. It is aimed at people who play fast games on a desk and want a smoother picture than a standard 60Hz office screen gives. Here is what its main specs mean in everyday use.

What 180Hz means in practice

The refresh rate is how many times per second the screen redraws the image. A typical office monitor refreshes 60 times a second; ASUS rates this one at 180Hz. In fast games, such as shooters and racing titles, a higher refresh rate generally makes motion look smoother and lets you track moving targets more easily.

The benefit depends on your computer. To fill 180Hz, the graphics card has to produce roughly 180 frames per second in the games you play. At lower frame rates the monitor still works, but you will not see the full difference.

Fast IPS and a 1ms response time

IPS panels are known for wide viewing angles and consistent colour when you look at them from the side. "Fast IPS" is the name for IPS panels tuned to respond more quickly than older IPS designs. ASUS lists a 1ms (grey-to-grey) response time, which is the time a pixel takes to change shade. Shorter times typically mean less smearing behind moving objects.

The monitor also includes ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), which ASUS says further reduces ghosting and motion blur. Features of this kind usually have trade-offs, such as reduced brightness or limits on other settings, so check the manual for how they interact.

FreeSync Premium and tear-free gaming

Screen tearing happens when the graphics card sends a new frame partway through a screen refresh. Variable refresh rate (VRR) technology fixes this by letting the monitor follow the card's frame rate. ASUS says FreeSync Premium is enabled by default on this model. FreeSync is AMD's branding, and it generally works with AMD graphics cards. Many Nvidia cards can also use adaptive sync on compatible monitors, though support depends on the card, driver and connection.

Picture quality: 99% sRGB and Shadow Boost

The monitor covers 99% of the sRGB colour space, according to ASUS. sRGB is the standard for most web content, games and everyday images, so this suggests colours that look natural for general use and light photo editing. It is not the same as a wide-gamut screen designed for professional colour grading.

Shadow Boost is a setting that brightens dark areas of the picture without overexposing bright ones. In games it can make it easier to see detail in dim scenes.

Connections, speakers and size

The monitor offers DisplayPort and HDMI inputs and built-in speakers. Built-in speakers are handy for a basic setup, though most people who care about sound prefer headphones or separate speakers. For the full 180Hz, the connection matters, so check which cable and port your computer needs to use. DisplayPort is commonly the safer choice for high refresh rates.

The listing gives the dimensions as 21.3 x 6.8 x 15.5 inches (about 54 x 17 x 39 cm) including the stand, and the weight as 7.7 lb (about 3.5 kg). The 23.8-inch viewable size suits a normal desk at a normal viewing distance. At 1920x1080, text and images look sharp at this size.

Who it suits

It suits people building or upgrading a gaming desk who play competitive or fast-paced titles and want high refresh rates at Full HD. A 1080p screen is also easier for a mid-range graphics card to drive at high frame rates than a higher-resolution one. It is less suited to anyone who needs a very large screen or a resolution above 1080p.

What to check before you buy

• Your graphics card: confirm it can output 180Hz at 1080p and which port to use.
• Cables: check whether the right cable is in the box or whether you need to supply one.
• Mounting: if you want a monitor arm, check the mounting pattern and stand adjustments in the manual.
• Desk space: the stand needs about 6.8 inches of depth, per the listing.
• Variable refresh rate: check the settings needed to enable it with your graphics card.

The short version

• A 23.8-inch Full HD (1920x1080) Fast IPS gaming monitor.
• 180Hz refresh rate, 1ms (GTG) response time and ASUS ELMB.
• FreeSync Premium enabled by default, with Shadow Boost for dark scenes.
• 99% sRGB colour coverage, DisplayPort and HDMI inputs and built-in speakers.

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