ASUS PQ321Q Pro Reviews

The Asus PG321 offers stunning 4K image detail via a massive 31.5-nch IGZO monitor. However, it's wildly expensive and its out of the box color accuracy could use a little tweaking.

ASUS is first out of the gate with a consumer 4K Ultra HD monitor, and in essence the company has, by default, set the bar for others to follow. As such, it's impossible for us to know how it will stack up against the competition, though on its own merit, the PQ321 is a promising first effort, albeit a slightly unfinished one. The PQ321 is a little ahead of its time, not just in being a 4K monitor, but by wielding a 4K panel capable of 60Hz rather than 30Hz. To run at 60Hz off a single cable, you need to enable the multi-streaming transport (MST) capability in the PQ321's DisplayPort. After that, you have to mess around with updated drivers and GPU software settings, which is easy enough, but also a little annoying. Fortunately, ASUS is hard at work on updated firmware that will enable the monitor to automate the process; drivers will recognize when a 4K display has MST enabled and the panel will auto-configure itself. It's coming soon, and in fact we're holding onto the monitor for awhile in hopes of adding an updated impression.

Besides the immense size of the PQ321Q, the most startling aspect of the monitor is the visual clarity you get at 3840 x 2160. Having used a 2560 x 1600 resolution on my daily driver for several years now, I may have been a little spoiled when it comes to running with a high resolution day in and day out. Nothing, however, prepares you for the move from 2560 x 1600 to 3840 x 2160. It does not seem like that much of a stretch but it is. Especially when you consider that moving from 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160 is a 4x increase in the amount of pixels you are pushing with the video card. That being said, you do need some graphics firepower to deliver decent FPS numbers, as I found out during the course of this review. With the current generation, a dual GPU or better solution is going to give you the best mix of visual quality and FPS.

The ASUS PQ321Q isn't perfect by any stretch but it is easily the best display for a PC that I have ever used. Problems with initial setup are abound but it would appear that "top men" are on it so I expect by the end of the summer everything will be worked out and user-friendly. The price is definitely going to be the limiting factor for users I'm sure, as a $3499 price tag at Newegg.com and $3200 at Amazon.com will take some breath away. Considering that you can get 2560x1440 displays from Monoprice for $390, you need to be committed to the 4K lifestyle to make that kind of purchase. My Windows experience was great, my gaming experience was even better and I can't say enough how impressed and surprised I was by the effect a move to a 60 Hz 4K panel had on me coming from the 30 Hz SEIKI TVs. Though there is work to be done by all parties, I don't think you'll find a better overall display for your PC than the PQ321Q today.