This week AOC has introduced its new AGON-branded curved display for gamers that boasts a 200 Hz refresh rate. The ultra-wide AG352QCX monitor has an MVA panel and a pretty high contrast ratio and a WFHD resolution. In addition, the AG352QCX supports AMD’s FreeSync and VESA’s Adaptive-Sync technologies.

The AOC AGON AG352QCX is based on a 35” MVA panel with 2560×1080 resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio. General specifications of the display are fairly typical: 300 nits brightness, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 178°/178° viewing angles, 16.7 million colors and a 4 ms response time (grey-to-grey) and so on. Meanwhile, the key selling points of the monitor are its 2000R curvature (which is rare, typically we see 1600R/3000R), support for a 200 Hz refresh rate as well as support for AMD’s FreeSync and VESA’s Adaptive-Sync technologies. The FreeSync works in a range between 30 and 200 Hz, thus supporting low framerate compensation feature (LFC) and offering smooth gameplay across different genres.

In a bid to appeal to gamers with different PCs, the AGON AG352QCX supports five types of input technologies, including DisplayPort 1.2a, HDMI 2.0, MHL, DVI and D-Sub connectors. To take advantage of the full 200 Hz refresh rate and range via FreeSync, the DP 1.2a input should be used. In other cases, only 50-146 Hz scanning frequencies are supported.

AOC's AGON Curved Display with a 200 Hz Refresh Rate
  AGON AG352QCX
Panel 35" MVA
Native Resolution 2560 × 1080
Refresh Rate Range 30-200 Hz (DP)
50-146 Hz (Other)
Response Time 4 ms
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Contrast 2000:1
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 2000R
Pixel Pitch 0.2382 mm
Inputs 1 × DP 1.2
1 × HDMI 2.0
1 × DVI
1 × D-Sub
USB Hub 2-port USB 3.0 hub,
one port supports fast charging
Audio 5 W × 2
audio in/out ports
Power Consumption Up to 60 W

What is a bit surprising is that the AGON AG352QCX also has two built-in 5 W speakers, which is not common for gaming monitors. Typically the justification here is that who like to play games usually use standalone speakers or headphones, however perhaps AOC is targeting a wider market.

While AOC’s AG352QCX display is listed at the company’s website, the manufacturer does not reveal when the product is set to be available as well as its price. The listing itself naturally indicates that the specifications of the monitor have been finalized and are not going to change significantly. However, it does not indicate mass production or actual shipments. We will probably see it pop up at the CES trade show in January.

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Source: AOC

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  • eek2121 - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    I wish more manufacturers would release a quality monitor like the Dell U2515h: http://amzn.to/2fG0WWC

    That monitor in my eyes is the standard by which all other monitors should be measured. It has a built in KVM, high PPI (2560x1440), and a beautiful IPS display. I use two of them at work. If they supported freesync/g-sync and a 144hz refresh then it would be absolutely perfect.
  • Gonemad - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    I see a valid point for speakers, even if 5W ones. Cable companies around my place have their set-top boxes with standard HDMI output these days. It would be trivial to connect these sets on this monitor along with my PC. Not to mention gaming consoles.

    In another words, it becomes a TV instantly, eliminating the need for a separate TV set.

    I have searched for this quality in almost every monitor / TV I may potentially purchase, and will keep disqualifying any model that doesn't provide inbuilt speakers.

    I have a small den, and can't spare room for a second monitor for TV duties.

    Even better if said monitor can apply picture-in-picture capabilities among all the possible inputs.
  • blzd - Sunday, November 13, 2016 - link

    Agreed, also console gamers are more likely to use built in speakers then they are to hook up headphones in my experience.
  • Hurn - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    Big question:

    How well does the 4 mSec (presumed Grey to Grey) response time cope with 200 Hz refresh rate?
    Can you say "ghosting" ?
  • JoeyJoJo123 - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    VA-type panels have the slowest response times between IPS and TN, but also the best contrast.

    Additionally, at 200hz, your response times need only be under 5ms (1000ms/200hz=5ms per frame) for it to not affect perceived motion blur on the screen.

    http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/acer_predator_...
    TFT Central recently reviewed this 144hz VA panel monitor, and found that response times for pixels varied between 3.4ms fastest to 16.9ms slowest transition times, so motion blurring will be apparent in general, but it shouldn't be too distracting.

    It'll definitely be better than older VA gaming panels we had in the past, such as the one in the Eizo Foris FG2421, which was marketed as a 120hz monitor with a 240hz mode that was achieved by blinking the backlight twice per frame (to help with perceived motion blur), but even the Eizo Foris FG2421 had response times as bad as 44ms at times...

    As Dr_Orgo also points out, it might actually be a good idea to manually set the monitor's refresh rate to a lower value, so as to avoid surpassing the VA panel's actual response time capability. Something like 96hz or 120hz would be a good match for VA's response time characteristics, while avoiding extraneous blurring from overdriving or underdriving the pixels.
  • Dr_Orgo - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    I recommend skepticism of the 200 Hz refresh rate for a VA panel. The Acer Predator Z35 (200 Hz, VA Panel, curved ultrawide) was found by TFT Central to only support 100-120 Hz refresh rates due to slow response times leading to blurring. VA panels likely haven't changed since that review, so this monitor will likely not be able to reach 200 Hz with good image quality.
  • Dr_Orgo - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    The low PPI and poorly supported ultrawide format also makes this a poor choice. Just get a 2560x1440 IPS 144 Hz free-sync or g-sync monitor and call it a day until OLEDs.
  • Morawka - Thursday, November 10, 2016 - link

    Monitor makers, if your listening, this is what we want.

    1440p, IPS like colors, 144hz, lowest latency possible with screen tech (gsync and adaptive)
    or
    4K, IPS like colors, 120hz or better, lowest latency possible with screen tech (gsync and adaptive)

    Must offer Gsync tho, that's 2/3rds the gaming market.

    While we have the former, we don't have the latter. Hopefull this year at CES we will see some 4K 120 hz monitors now that both Pascal and Polaris can push 120hz at 10bit and at 4k
  • deemon - Sunday, November 13, 2016 - link

    No, we really don't want that.
    What we want is exactly this monitor here, but with 10 or 12 bits per channel colors not this old 16.7M colors crap.

    AND you are dead wrong about Pascal or Polaric pushing 120Hz @ 4k... with any eyecandy left in the game. That is, the 120Hz @ 4k is only worth anything at maximum ("Ultra") settings anything - which right now not even Titan X Pascal can do in most new AAA titles.
  • deemon - Sunday, November 13, 2016 - link

    https://i.imgur.com/G76yqns.png

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