Need advice

[spL4cKd-gekZ]

I'm in quite a dilemma. I'm stuck on choosing between buying the Asus Pb298q now or wait for the LG 29um67 (I believe will be more available everywhere sometime in April). I currently have a 16:9 tv/monitor (dead at the moment) and I'm set on moving to 21:9 aspect ratio. My budget is ~$400. Now I understand that from Linus's review of the LG 34um67 that its adaptive/variable refresh rate is only between 48 hz to 75 hz (27 hz range). I'm not sure if the LG 29um67 will have the same window for its adaptive /variable refresh rate. I don't know if future software updates by AMD or LG could broaden that range for the adaptive refresh rate. Now for Asus Pb298q, I found a seller and factory refurbished for $291 and $321 respectively. I believe that the LG 29um67 will be $449. One of the reasons why I might choose the Asus over LG because of the overall build quality of the Pb298q with a heavy base and robust stand as well as the ability to pivot, swivel, and position in portrait. Not only that, but it includes all the necessary cables, dvi, display port, and hdmi. But I would choose LG over Asus because of freesync, "frameless" design, and the possibility of the adaptive refresh rate to increase with a future software update by AMD or LG.  I'll be gaming and doing school work on the new monitor, but more school work at the moment. School work includes coding in Matlab, CAD, etc. I don't plan on playing competitively. Types of games I play are Far Cry, Assassin's Creed, Shadows of Mordor, StarCraft, just to name a few. So any thoughts?

 

Asus Pb298q = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236348 , https://www.asus.com/us/Monitors_Projectors/PB298Q/

 

LG 29um67 = http://www.adorama.com/LOT29UM67.html , http://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-29UM67-P-ultrawide-led-monitor

 

Thanks everyone! 

[theelitegamer]

Quick Question before I answer, is Freesync open to every video card? Or only limited to AMD?

[spL4cKd-gekZ]

Quick Question before I answer, is Freesync open to every video card? Or only limited to AMD?

 

Sadly no. Only AMD cards, unless Nvidia decides to do the same like AMD, but I highly doubt it.

[theelitegamer]

Do you have an AMD card? 

[spL4cKd-gekZ]

Do you have an AMD card? 

 

Yup, a Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970. 

[theelitegamer]

http://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/2f9hnj/amd_only_certain_new_radeons_will_work_with/

 

In this case, this renders the LG extra price useless. Asus would be a clear winner in this case, UNLESS, you going to upgrade to the 3XX series coming out later from AMD.

[spL4cKd-gekZ]

http://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/2f9hnj/amd_only_certain_new_radeons_will_work_with/

 

In this case, this renders the LG extra price useless. Asus would be a clear winner in this case, UNLESS, you going to upgrade to the 3XX series coming out later from AMD.

 

Damn, I thought it would be compatible with past AMD cards as far as the HD 7000 series . Would you recommend buying seller refurbished of the Asus Pb298q?

[theelitegamer]

Damn, I thought it would be compatible with past AMD cards as far as the HD 7000 series . Would you recommend buying seller refurbished of the Asus Pb298q?

Yeah, I would just make sure their's no color bleed and no dead pixels but other than that it's fine. 

[Glenwing]

The FreeSync range won't be update, as there's no way to update the firmware of the monitor in the field. It can't be done on the driver side either.

 

The 29UM67 will have the same 48Hz lower limit unfortunately.

[Guest Strangerbob]

The FreeSync range won't be update, as there's no way to update the firmware of the monitor in the field. It can't be done on the driver side either.

 

The 29UM67 will have the same 48Hz lower limit unfortunately.

 

You still get a 75hz IPS 21:9 monitor...  that any video card can run... if ignore freesync for a sec

[Glenwing]

You still get a 75hz IPS 21:9 monitor...  that any video card can run... if ignore freesync for a sec

Yes... Although the FreeSync implementation is rather poor, the monitor does still look very good even ignoring that.

[spL4cKd-gekZ]

You still get a 75hz IPS 21:9 monitor...  that any video card can run... if ignore freesync for a sec

 

But then again freesync is one of the reasons I would consider the LG monitor. I would also need a new graphics card just to use freesync since my current one doesn't support it. I will wait for freesync to get better until it becomes the "norm". 

[Guest Strangerbob]

But then again freesync is one of the reasons I would consider the LG monitor. I would also need a new graphics card just to use freesync since my current one doesn't support it. I will wait for freesync to get better until it becomes the "norm". 

 

Considering that this 75hz 21:9 IPS is the one of the cheapest 29"ers, its still awesome.

 

if i didnt know there is a 144hz 21:9 lightboost capable coming from acer later this year, id def get this 75hz one for an nvidia card even.

[spL4cKd-gekZ]

Yeah, I would just make sure their's no color bleed and no dead pixels but other than that it's fine. 

 

Bought the monitor last week and it's arriving tomorrow!!!  Can't wait to open and test this bad boy (Pb298q) of a monitor out.

 

Thanks everyone! I'll update once I have it set up and running.