FreeSync gaming
FreeSync will be the main attraction for prospective buyers of this monitor and we've already explored the benefits of FreeSync in depth in previous monitor reviews such as the LG 34UM67 and Acer XG270HU. For gamers the primary benefit is the ability to avoid stuttering and screen tearing when the framerate is within the FreeSync-supported framerate range, and as you know, the MG279Q's range is 35-90Hz. To our surprise it was supremely easy to stay within that range in most games using a single Sapphire R9 290 Vapor-X 4GB graphics card. The extra 5Hz supported at the lower end, 35-40Hz, compared to rival solutions, helps smooth-out the impact of temporary framerate dips.
We would still like to see a range closer to AMD's claims with FreeSync launch, where the company quoted 9Hz to 240Hz for the FreeSync-supported range. However, such limitations rest with current panels and the way they operate with FreeSyc as a whole rather than this particular monitor. We feel Asus has done a good job given the technical limitations faced. On the whole we were able to enjoy a wide selection of gaming titles using FreeSync technology and blended with high-quality IPS visuals the MG279Q delivers an almost-unmatched gaming experience.
Perhaps the only issue we have is that taking advantage of FreeSync with a framerate in that 35-90Hz region at 1440p is quite difficult using a single GPU. Recent titles like Witcher 3: Wild Hunt bring AMD's flagship R9 290(X) GPUs to their knees, leaving the user below the FreeSync-supported range for most of the game. This is, however, a limitation of AMD's FreeSync technology so we continue to wait for AMD to deliver on its promise of a driver that enables FreeSync to work with CrossFire-enabled systems.
A recurring issue that has come under the spotlight for many FreeSync-compatible monitors is that of ghosting. The tendency of a panel to ghost images is related mainly to its response time; the longer a panel takes to update its pixels the longer an image will reside on the screen before being replaced by the next thus creating a ghosting effect where images overlap. Gamers will be pleased to know that the Asus MG279Q has only the slightest amount of ghosting, making it competitive with similar TN panels, and for users in most games you'll need to go out of your way to notice it.