| ASUS VG278H LCD Monitor 3D Vision-2 Kit |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Monitor | HDTV | |
| Written by Olin Coles | |
| Tuesday, 17 January 2012 | |
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ASUS VG278H Detailed FeaturesThe ASUS VG278H provides two primary functions: a gateway into the world of stereoscopic 3D, and a large 1920x1080p widescreen monitor capable of accepting HDMI input with HDCP support. Paired with a modern NVIDIA GeForce video card, gamers can enjoy extremely fast-paced action scenes without any ghosting effect, and experience virtual battlegrounds in 3D. Additionally, the ASUS VG278H can display 3D Blu-ray movies or streaming 3D content with high-definition realism. NVIDIA 3D Vision offers gamers an immersive 3D world of games and movies in full HD 1080p with the VG278H, with more than five-hundred PC game titles currently optimized for NVIDIA 3D Vision technology. One of the ASUS VG278H monitor's key features is the adjustable integrated infrared 3D emitter, which can switch between three IR signal coverage areas via OSD menu to procisely aim at shutter glasses for optimized 3D reception.
ASUS bundles a pair of newly-released NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 glasses with the VG278H monitor kit. Featuring NVIDIA 3D LightBoost Technology, users experience twice the brightness of conventional 'shutter lens' 3D technology with no increase in total energy consumption. I found this to be especially beneficial in dark video games such as Batman: Arkham City. Additionally, these redesigned 3D glasses feature 20% larger viewing lens with a more comfortable gamer-inspired design. NVIDIA 3D LightBoost helps improve displayed color quality, and delivers brighter 3D images than existing (and previous) 3D solutions. On the ASUS VG278H, NVIDIA 3D LightBoost settings can be controlled within the monitor's Color menu from the on-screen control panel. Once selected, the 3D LightBoost option allows you to increase/decrease or turn off 3D LightBoost.
One particular difference between the VG278H and other LCD monitors is that features twice the refresh rate; delivering a high-definition 120Hz picture capable of ultra-smooth 3D visuals. Moreover, this response time is reduced to a trace-free 2ms that ensures crisp and clear video playback. The ASUS VG278H offers two separate refresh rates for analog and digital applications. While the monitor will accept an analog VGA cable (D-Sub), for best results a dual-link DVI digital connection is advised - and required for 3D applications as the 120Hz refresh rate is not available via VGA or HDMI connections. The VG278H monitor is capable of displaying NVIDIA 3D Vision and stereoscopic 3D effects from Blu-ray 3D movies or devices equipped with HDMI 1.4 output.
Video inputs include digital Dual-Link DVI-D, digital HDMI 1.4 and analog VGA (D-Sub). Users may connect all three inputs to a corresponding device, and then select the source using an on-screen display menu navigated by buttons along the lower bezel. A 3.5mm stereo jack is available for analog audio input, as well as another for earphone output. Six menu buttons are located beside the power button at the lower right corner of the monitor bezel, with a small symbol labeled above to depict function. In low-light environments these buttons are difficult to find, and the corresponding symbols are difficult to correctly identify. Fortunately most users won't need to make many adjustments, and the power button is illuminated with a blue glow.
LED technology helps the VG278H reduce LCD charging time, and further prevents mura, ghosting, and bright-line effects so the monitor can deliver clear motion scenes during 3D gaming and movie watching. ASUS enhances the visual experience for users by improving color performance with proprietary Splendid Video Intelligence Technology. ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence Technology is another proprietary feature that improves upon the base design, delivering a color engine that analyzes and determines the nature of the user's current task to automatically adjust the display's parameters accordingly to ensure the color accuracy and image fidelity. The ASUS VG278H model offers six 'Splendid' video mode presets: Scenery, Theater, Game, Night View, sRGB, and Standard, which can be selected via a hotkey.
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Comments
Thank you for the disclaimer stating that these reviews express the opinion of only the author, as this "review" appears to be an advertisement for NewEgg.com.
3D technology has not evolved far enough yet. Also, from the people I know personally and those in the various Forums I frequent, they're really not interested in it. They, myself included, think that this is a fad that is being directed at our children by companies such as Nvidia and the gaming industry. You can tell by the limited amount of 3D movies that Hollywood is also not very interested in this technology.
What is the time frame of 3D fads? 5 to 10 years between attempts to coerce people into thinking it's worthwhile?
I have used 3D on a CRT monitor back in the day with a Deluxe Geforce card that came with 3D LCD shutter glasses. It was awesome on Mechwarrior games at the time using a 19" monitor running at 120Hz (dropping to 60 for 3D), and I can't see it getting any worse. Personally I think PC games are the killer app for 3D.
I have the 2D version of that ASUS monitor, along with another 27" ASUS monitor on my desk right now and I can attest to the quality of the ASUS monitor products. I service LCD monitors and TVs for a living and I see a lot of them. I have not checked out the 3D version but personally I doubt it's going to be worse quality than their 2D monitors. At the very least you get a 27" 120Hz LCD monitor which would almost make it worth the purchase even without 3D.
Considering 3D for PCs has been around for almost 20 years (if not longer) I think you and your friends are completely wrong about it being a fad. Personally, I can't see how you can even talk about it if you haven't tried it.
Now, 3D TV is quite another beast. Count me in on the "not interested" pile in regards to 3d TVs and movies.
I also have an app on my blu ray player, which has a free streaming Internet TV station, which features a variety of 3d shows, including National Geographic and History channel 3d shows, children shows, and even some sports.
I believe that Direct TV now offers several 3d channels, including an ESPN sports channel that broadcast games primarily in 3d.
I hope one day people stop listening to fools like PaleRider and all those others out there who've never actually seen the technology used properly and will give this a proper go. It won't be long before this WILL be the default way to play games.
Also, I don't think a 24" 3D Computer monitor is marketed towards serious 3D Movie/TV watchers, so speaking of the lack of Hollywood titles in 3D misses the point. I wouldn't purchase this to sit at my desk and watch Avatar, I would buy it to play 3D Arkham City or similar. The reviewer states that there are over 500 titles optimized for Nvidia 3D gaming, so the market is there.
3D may seem a fad, but games and movies continue to be released and re-released in 3D, so it is a fad that the industry is trying to secure. I don't think it will disappear at this point.
3D is something where you either like it, or you don't. ASUS makes great products, and it looks like they made another one. If I had a spare $700, I would consider getting one.
Don't believe it? Just try running a computer at 120Hz on a supposedly 120Hz LCD TV.
It's just not all that practical, so I also got an active 3d monitor, which is great,, but it is kind of small, so thinking of upgrading to a 27".
I'm waiting for Kepler then I'll look into finally getting a LCD, my current CRT does 3D not so bad and I guess this monitor will easily beat my current setup.
Too bad this is an nVidia only kit. I was thinking about this model a little as a 3rd monitor on my system but I'll have to look for something else now since I'm using 2 x HD6970.
Gotta watch those specs. Most monitor companies are guilty of fudging them, and I doubt ASUS is any different in that respect.
#maximumpc.com/article/features/display_myths_shatte red?page=0%2C0
Pay special attention to the discussion on contrast ratio, pixel response and pixel smearing.
And yes 3D TV I have a lot of respect for the formats strengths as well as some of its weakness , 3D vision 2 addresses part of the low brightness issue which is a big plus. with movies we are still dealing with canned stereospace (only one object in scene is truly in proper perspective) but proper 3D filmaking resolves many of those issues by using focal depth to call the eyes to the correct object of intrest.
3D realy adds to films created for that format, and giving what I have seen and heard the film industry has no loss of intrest in the format given the number of planned 3D films being released this year
3D gaming is a very strong calling for the format I would like to see 3D games make much better use of "perspective correct 3D with with proper use of focal depth , one unique thing the could be done with 3D gaming is to use "eye tracking" to unlock the stereospace so perseption changes "on the fly depending on what the user "choses to look at" on the screen.this makes viewing 3D content on the screen much like we see
the natural world.
I have seen a few threads in various places about this monitor having brightness/color issues, and while it may not be anywhere near as accurate as a good professional panel (or even my 6 year old Gateway) with some careful tuning and patience, it can reproduce a pretty good picture.
And outside of gaming, the first thing I did was hook this monitor up to my PS3 for some 3D Pirates of the Caribbean and I can say you will not be disappointed. The added depth is better than theatre quality since it is a full HD Active 3D and not the passive kind that some users can have a little trouble with. It was also extremely easy to setup, just use HDMI, detect the video settings in the PS3 display settings option (you have to chose the 3D options that only show up when hooked up to a 3D display) and your off. Also the PS3 has some great 3D capable games like Gran Turismo 5, Wipeout HD, and Super Stardust HD.
Also on top of it all, being a 120Hz monitor has also opened my eyes to 120FPS smooth play, my old 60Hz monitor never produced such a smooth image and it can be seen from the windows desktop all the way into games like TF2 and other fast shooters. The lack of tearing really is a beautiful thing to behold. The same thing that is said about 3D TV's can be said about 3D monitors. Usually if they are good at 3D, they are really good at 2D.
Though this is an expensive entry into the land of 3D, now after using it I would have paid for mine and even may pick 2 more up in the coming month after I build a new rig.
Frankly I don't get much out of 3D movies, other than I-MAX but 3D on the PC was well worth the $250 cost premium (extra $100 for 120 HZ monitor + $150 for 2 glasses). On top of that, the 120Hz monitor pays dividends outside of gaming with picture quality, smoothness and crispness.
It's a monitor, it will display anything you send to it if it's plugged in correctly and the signal supports the correct video mode (most HD set top boxes convert everything to 720p or 1080p which should work fine). It's not going to work on Standard Definition NTSC video though (which doesn't matter because it doesn't have any NTSC video ports anyway)
The 3D was good but outside of 3d the big screen and extremely low resoluttion and low amount of 3D games gave me a bit of buyers remorse. 3x 27" 2500x1600 2D monitors would have been a better deal I think since I have only used the 3D a few time out of 2 months.
It is a good buy and I am the envy of my friends but it is not as great as I thought ($1500 dollars for only good when you are expecting "holy Batman that GREAT") 3d games (BF3 just isn't that good yet I guess)
The nVidia 3D calibration screen is AMAZING as the object actually comes out of the screen. It looks like you can touch it. No movie or games has even came close to that. So when games become like that, that will be the time to invest into 3D. For now just wait. Save your money for better resolution. FULL HD 1080 is lower(a lot lower) than 1900x1200.