ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q Refresh Rate Ostensibly Capped at 120Hz

Heisenbergiser

Commendable
Jun 2, 2016
2
0
1,510
I am using the PG278Q monitor connected to my Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 390X graphics card using the stock DP cable shipped with the monitor. My system specifications are as follows:

  • ■ Processor: AMD FX-8350 (8 Core processor)
    ■ Graphics Card: Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 390X
    ■ Motherboard: Gigabyte 990XA-UD3
    ■ Operating System: 64-Bit Windows 10 Home

Despite the advertised premise of the monitor of delivering easily alterable refresh rates thanks to a physical "Turbo" button at its back, I have sadly only experienced the contrary using it. I quickly learned that button does not switch between refresh rates at all when I press it, regardless of the current refresh rate or currently running games, and the only way I have found to do that is to use the display adapter properties window of my Windows 10 OS. However, that window currently lacks the option to set the monitor to run at a refresh rate higher than 120Hz, specifically 144Hz.

In an attempt to solve the problem of setting the refresh rate at 144Hz, I explored many similar threads throughout this forum and the internet yesterday. I also looked into my "AMD Radeon Settings" program and its "AMD Radeon Additional Settings" window to find no option of solving the problem and to discover the monitor is reported by it to have a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. In addition, I tried lowering the resolution from the maximum 2560x1440 to 1920x1080 and lower values offered in hope to be able to select a refresh rate of 144Hz, to no avail.

To my dismay, I have been left with the impression the simplest means of solving the problem would be to use the AMD Radeon Settings Custom Resolutions tool, which I would like to avoid if there exists a solution better than using it. I would then highly appreciate any help in solving the problem.

Gratefully,
Aviv
 
Solution
the details of the monitor clearly states its only supposed to do 144 with gsync enabled and a nvidia card 900 series is needed.

on the other hand if you use the older CRIMSON drivers for amd they had the ability to use 144hz but people had problems with it some got it to work most had flikering issues as people are forcing the driver to do something the monitor isnt supposed to

im using this monitor with a 290 tri-x and i have flickering issues at over 80hz this monitor plays terrible with the 290/290x 390/390x vga cards

as well as ULBM or whatever can only be used at 120 and below without gsync on a nvidia card
the details of the monitor clearly states its only supposed to do 144 with gsync enabled and a nvidia card 900 series is needed.

on the other hand if you use the older CRIMSON drivers for amd they had the ability to use 144hz but people had problems with it some got it to work most had flikering issues as people are forcing the driver to do something the monitor isnt supposed to

im using this monitor with a 290 tri-x and i have flickering issues at over 80hz this monitor plays terrible with the 290/290x 390/390x vga cards

as well as ULBM or whatever can only be used at 120 and below without gsync on a nvidia card
 
Solution

Thank you for your answer.
By now I have already gained the impression my preferred solution to the problem I described would be to use the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) software by author "Wagnard" to remove my current drivers, then install an older AMD Crimson driver version. Nevertheless, your answer has fully convinced me of that. Afterwards, in case I cannot manage to set the monitor to a 144Hz refresh rate without encountering flickering, I could use the procedure described here.

However, I am still puzzled by how the refresh rate of any monitor should ever be dependent on the graphics card it connects to, and still maintain the impression the dependence of the availability of a 144Hz refresh rate for the PG278Q on using one of several select Nvidia graphics cards has not been officially stated, not to mention clearly.
 
well yes it isnt clearly stated more or less implied by there listing as
"144hz made smooth by g-sync" and included nvidia 3d vision implies most of the features the monitor has are not available to amd users.

im pretty sure nvidia influenced the removal of amd cards to hit 144 with some bs with the g-sync module or due to the amount of complaints asus has had about this issue. i sent this monitor in for a RMA because i thought something was busted and my replacement whether the same screen idk has the same issue and this isnt trying to get it to hit 144 its just trying to run at 85/100/120 the screen blanks out rapidly randomly only with my 290 system not my gtx 970 system
16.3.2 is the most stable for me but 16.5 beta trips my system out bad with autoplay videos causing split second artifacts

i can only hit 120fps in slightly older games at 2k (that are gpu bound)so no need for me me to have a crazy custom timing setting which could harm the components if you don't know what your doing--and thats definitely me. i just dont wanna accept that EULA for custom dpi on radeon settings :/