ASUS TUF Gaming VG27VH1BR 27-inch Curved 165Hz Monitor: specs and uses

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27VH1BR is a 27-inch curved gaming monitor with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. It is built for fast games, where smooth motion matters more than the highest possible resolution.

What a 1500R curve does

The curve is rated 1500R, meaning the screen follows a circle with a radius of 1,500 mm (1.5 metres). That is a fairly gentle curve, intended to suit the distance at which many people sit from a desk monitor. The idea is that the edges of the screen are about as far from your eyes as the middle, which can feel more immersive in games and when watching video.

Full HD at 27 inches

1920 x 1080 spread across 27 inches gives a pixel density of about 82 pixels per inch. Text and fine detail are less crisp than on 1440p or 4K screens, particularly at close range. The benefit is that almost any modern graphics card can run games at high frame rates at this resolution, which suits a 165Hz panel.

Refresh rate and motion blur

ASUS lists 165Hz and says it supports 144Hz. ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) is a backlight strobing mode, and ASUS says it enables a 1ms response time (MPRT, a motion-based measure rather than the grey-to-grey figure used for some panels) and reduces ghosting. Strobing modes typically cannot run at the same time as variable refresh rate, so check the manual for how they work together on your setup.

FreeSync, Adaptive-Sync and Shadow Boost

The monitor supports FreeSync Premium on AMD Radeon cards and Adaptive-Sync on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series, GTX 16 series, RTX 20 series and newer. These features let the screen follow the frame rate your graphics card produces, which reduces tearing and choppy motion. Shadow Boost brightens dark areas of the image without over-exposing bright ones, which can make details in dim scenes easier to see.

Connections

ASUS lists HDMI (v2.0) and D-Sub (VGA). HDMI is the connection to use with current graphics cards and consoles. D-Sub is an older analogue connector, useful for legacy equipment, but it will not carry the full refresh rate.

Who it suits

It suits gamers who put smooth motion first, players with mid-range graphics cards, and anyone who wants a larger curved screen for an immersive desktop. It is less ideal if you want very sharp text for long document work or colour-critical editing.

What to check before you buy

• Resolution: confirm that 1080p at 27 inches is sharp enough for you.
• Curve: some people find curved screens less comfortable for shared viewing or off-centre seating.
• Ports: only HDMI and D-Sub are listed, so check your graphics card's outputs.
• Desk fit: the listing gives about 24 inches wide and 18.7 inches tall, with a weight of 11.7 lb.
• Refresh rate settings: you may need to set the refresh rate manually in your operating system.

The short version

• 27-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) 1500R curved gaming monitor at 165Hz.
• ELMB with a 1ms (MPRT) response time; FreeSync Premium and Adaptive-Sync.
• Shadow Boost for dark scenes.
• HDMI 2.0 and D-Sub connections.

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