For the serious PC gamer, an ordinary monitor just won't cut it. The high frame rates that modern GPUs can generate tend to cause screen tearing at standard refresh rates, impacting on the fluidity of fast-paced action.

There are a lot of great monitors on the market and the Asus ROG Strix XG27VQ is one such example. Gamers looking for a well-featured yet not-too-expensive monitor should keep this one on their radar, as it ticks a lot of boxes for an entry-level high-refresh experience. What boxes in particular?

144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync support, ELMB, VA panel; Respectable color performance that’s easily calibratable; Accessible on-screen controls

RGB lighting makes no sense; ‘Gamer’ design isn’t for everyone

The Asus ROG STRIX XG27VQ treads a fine line between showmanship and useful functionality. The beautiful styling and head-turning details would be merely a veneer, if Asus hadn't got a very impressive display to mount inside this beast.