Need Help Deciding - XL2411z + XL2420G vs PG278Q

[MajorMike]

Alright folks,

I'm replacing my old dual 60hz Samsung SyncMaster 2232BW setup finally. Yay for me!

I really need help deciding. I am not interested in waiting even longer for "The next best thing". My system spec's are in my signature if you wish to know, and I primarily play Battlefield games and FPS's.

I have thought of three options that seem like they will work well for my $800 budget. I love my dual monitor setup and cannot live with a single display setup after having this for so long.

Option 1:
Get two Benq XL2411z's and properly set them up with the lovely utilities found here at BlurBusters. $500 - $550

Option 2:
Get a Benq XL2411z and a Benq XL2420G and use the XL2420G as my primary display so I can enjoy G-sync. $780 - $800

Option 3:
Get an ASUS ROG PG278Q and keep one of my old crappy Samsung displays as my second monitor.

I can maintain good frame rates so I'm not sure if the G-sync is worth the $200 either way. What would you do with this choice and why would you decide the way you did? I'm hoping some of your comments will help me make a decision.

EDIT: I play games on the primary monitor and use the second one for an extra screen. Will not be playing games on the second screen at all.

Thanks,
Mike

[lonewolf80]

If I was in your position, I would go for either the 2420G in second option, or go for the third option. Seeing as you will not be gaming at all on your secondary, I don't see how getting a 144Hz monitor there would help in any way...unless you like your monitors to match in bezels.

As for which specific monitor, I wouldn't know without knowing what FPS you primarily play. If you feel like you mainly play competitively enough to warrant the the 144Hz, then I doubt you'll be using the G-Sync/FreeSync stuff much anyway.

[MajorMike]

If I was in your position, I would go for either the 2420G in second option, or go for the third option. Seeing as you will not be gaming at all on your secondary, I don't see how getting a 144Hz monitor there would help in any way...unless you like your monitors to match in bezels.

As for which specific monitor, I wouldn't know without knowing what FPS you primarily play. If you feel like you mainly play competitively enough to warrant the the 144Hz, then I doubt you'll be using the G-Sync/FreeSync stuff much anyway.

I primarily play Battlefield 4. I am a casually competitive player and like the higher refresh rate. However, am willing to live with 75-120 variable fps as long as the monitor does not cause tearing. I understand that I may need to reduce a few setting to get this number but again I feel that its worth it.

My only worry with getting the Asus in option 3 (PG278Q) is that it might confuse my graphics card. Having both a 1680x1050 60hz panel and a 1440p 1440 variable hz (G-sync) panel going at the same time. I have heard that sometimes a 60hz panel can cause problems with a 120/144hz panel. This is why I'm not sure if I should get the PG278Q, I'm not sure if it will force me to give up the second monitor in order to have a great visual experience.

Will the 1680x1050 60hz Samsung panel become a limiting factor on my rig and cause the PG278Q to become laggy and stutter? Will it effect the G-sync capability any? These are my main worries.

[MajorMike]

So I found some useful info on the EVGA forum about Option 3 issues.

Post 1:
It just so happens that I do run a dual monitor set up like the one you looking at myself. I have a GTX 780 Classified, on a Z77 motherboard with a 3770K clocked at 4.2 with 8GBs of DDR3 1600. The monitors are both 27 inches displays, my secondary one is a standard 1920x1080 @ 60HZ nothing fancy. My main is a Acer XB270H 144Hz @ 1920x1080 thats G-Sync and 3D ready.

The primary Acer monitor; is for lack of better word, awesome! Right off the bat when it was set up, I put it at 144Hz, which did give a warning for games, which need to be played at full screen to take advantage of G-Sync. No issues with any type of stuttering, lag, crashes, or issues of any kind when playing games or movies. All games that I've tried will stick at the 144hz mark with no problem.

The secondary 1080P @ 60Hz monitor; was my primary bofore the Gsync one. Never had any issues with it prior to adding the 2nd monitor. But one thing I have noticed, is video quality stutters/waves/distorsions on it when I have a game running on the the Gsync monitor. Since I will usually play a game at the same time have netflix or a movie playing on this 2nd monitor, it is very apparent. If your just streaming music from pandora or spotify, on that 2nd monitor there are no issues, I've only really seen issues with movies. Be it in full screen or windowed mode.

Though this is just my own experience and others may have no issues at all. Now one thing to note, that my system is a Z77 running a 780. These issues may not exsist if you are running a newer mb/processer with a 900 seires GPU. I am in the process of upgrading to the X99 platform with a 980, and at that point will retest this and see if the troubles with the secondary monitor still exsist.

Sounds like it works fine except when he is watching video on the second monitor while playing a game in G-sync mode. This is most likely due to the 60hz panel limit of the the second monitor.

Also found this right after the last post. Post 2:
If your concern is if they'll be compatible for desktop use, I can confirm (as Eddie mentioned) that it won't be a problem. I have a multimonitor setup with the Asus ROG Swift as my main screen, and a 1080p Benq on the side, with then my 55" TV connected as well. I never had any issues either on desktop use or single screen gaming. But I can't recall having tried "stereo monitor" with it since the Switf has a different resolution than the other two.

Its looking like option 3 is the best way to go. It is the best panel of the lot.

I'm going to do some more research on the quality control issues I have heard about with the ASUS PG278Q to make sure that is something I really want to deal with. If you have any info on the ASUS ROG PG278Q that you would like to share then please do.

Who knows, maybe I can win Chief BlurBuster's giveaway XL2411T and not have to worry about the issues of running a 60hz panel with a 144hz panel. We can all dream right!

I'm posting this so people in the future can reference this if they are having trouble making a decision like me.

[MajorMike]

I have decided to get the ASUS ROG PG278Q and just ordered one from Asus through Amazon.com.

I will keep everyone posted about my experience.

[Stefano]

Nice, hopefully you get a swift with no QC issues, good luck