Asus quietly introduced a new monitor for gaming, the VG245H. What makes it notable is that it seems to suffer from some kind of identity crisis, billed to provide a smooth console gaming experience even though it is packed with AMD’s FreeSync technology. Too bad the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 do not support FreeSync, as the VG245H would be one heck of a steal.
“Built for the perfect console gaming experience, the 24-inch ASUS VG245H Full HD gaming monitor features an ultra-fast 1ms response time and 75Hz refresh rate,” the company states. Yet, in the same paragraph, it says, “AMD FreeSync technology helps eliminate image tearing for fast gameplay over HDMI input for smooth gameplay.”
FreeSync is similar to Nvidia’s G-Sync technology. Video cards produce a number of images per second (frame rate) that are received and flashed on the screen (refresh rate). For instance, smooth gameplay would be 60 frames per second supported by a display with a refresh rate of 60Hz or greater. If the numbers don not match, then gamers can see image tearing, stuttering, and input lag. FreeSync and G-Sync synchronize the framerates of a supported graphics card with the display’s refresh rate for a buttery-smooth experience.
But even though the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are based on AMD hardware, they do not have built-in FreeSync support. Thus, the panel would be ideal for PC gamers with an AMD graphics card installed packing built-in FreeSync support. However, the display would still be great for console gaming due to the type of panel is uses.
According to the specs, the VG245H has a Twisted Nematic (TN) panel, which is older display technology mostly used before the arrival of In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology. The older panel provides fast response times — the time it takes to receive and flash an image — and a very high brightness, which is crucial in gaming. By comparison, the newer IPS technology provides a better, fuller color range and wider viewing angles.
With this panel, Asus boasts GameFast Input Technology that minimizes input lag, which is essentially what helps power the panel’s low one-millisecond response time on top of the fast response time provided by the underlying TN panel. More specifically, the faster the time it takes the display to grab the image from the graphics card and throw it on the screen, the better the gamer’s specific reaction is to events on-screen.
As for other included tech offered in the new Asus panel, the company throws in its Flicker-free feature to minimize eyestrain and Ultra-Low Blue Light for reducing the amount of blue-light emissions so you are not awake all night from a lack of Melatonin.
The Asus VG245H 24-inch panel can be purchased now from the likes of Amazon and Newegg. In the meantime, here are the specs:
| Screen size: | 24 inches |
| Resolution: | 1,920 x 1,080 @75Hz |
| Color saturation: | 72 percent NTSC |
| Pixel pitch: | 0.2768mm |
| Brightness: | 250 nits |
| Response time: | 1ms (Gray to Gray) |
| Display colors: | 16.7 million |
| Speakers: | Two 2-watt Stereo RMS |
| 5-way OSD Navigation Joystick: | Yes |
| Game modes: | Scenery, Racing, Cinema, RTS, RPG, FPS, sRGB |
| Ports: | 2x HDMI input 1x 3.5mm Mini-Jack (audio) 1x 3.5mm Mini-Jack (earphones) |
| Price: | $190 |
