PG27AQDM MCM 109 HDR Issues

[gpossel]

PURPLE ISSUE IS BACK WITH MCM108 AND MCM109

I tested these firmware yesterday, the purple tint in dark orange scenes shows again as described in the old topic:

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-monitors/pg27aqdm-hdr-looks-bad-with-orange-colours/td-p/989371...

Also in MCM109 the tonemapping "HDR Setting" options change absolutely nothing (Console, Cinema, Gaming look exactly the same). In MCM108 a slight change in the highlights is visible when changing these options.

Here are some shots, with MCM107, MCM108 and MCM109 (same manual camera settings):

MCM107 HDR 6500K Console mode (dark orange ok):

MCM108 HDR 6500K Console mode (purple):

MCM109 HDR 6500K Console mode (purple):

I am reverting to MCM107 because of this, for now I hope.

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @gpossel ,

Thank you for providing such detailed information. We have carefully reviewed the images you provided, but due to some unclear details, we would like to ask if you could provide some other angles or clearer images so that we can more accurately determine the problem.

Also, to better understand your issue, we would like to ask you the following questions:

1. Adjusting brightness: Does the problem improve when you adjust the screen brightness?
2. Cables used: What type of cable are you currently using to connect the screen? Can you try replacing the cable with another one to rule out the possibility of a cable failure?
3. Specific color temperature: Does this problem only occur at 6500K color temperature? Is it normal at other color temperatures?

Thank you.

[gpossel]

Hi @Aureliannn_ROG ,

Thank you for your response. I want to point point out that the purple tint was an old HDR-only issue that was fixed in MCM107 firmware update, but is now back in versions 108 and 109. The issue is that shadowy parts of a scene that are meant to be dark orange or dark red (as in dark rooms illuminated by candles, fire or lava for example) are perceived as purple. The darker the orange tone, the more purple it becomes.

As for further images, I could take some more shots at a later time (keep in mind that I must reinstall the different firmwares to do this, as I am now using MCM107). The issue is pretty obvious in person, and in the original photographs, but when uploading the images to this forum the colors change a bit, so in real life the second and third image of my original post are evidently more purple than the first one. Please clarify very explicitly what you expect from newer shots so I can try to be the most helpful.

As for the questions:

1. Since this is an HDR only issue, I can't adjust the screen brightness (HDR brightness is fixed in Console, Cinema or Gaming Mode, I don't use Brightness Adjustable mode because it would not follow the PQ curve).

2. I'm using an HDMI cable, my PC has an HDMI 1.4 port, so I can use 120 Hz maximum at 1440p. As I said, the issue disappears when I revert back to MCM107, so I think is a firmware problem, not a cable problem.

3. The issue is very evident at 6500K. I would say it exist at a significantly lesser degree at 8200K as perceived in real life. It's not worth posting 8200K shots in this post because, since the images degrade in color, the difference would not be very noticeable (I tried already).

I should point out that I use the Windows HDR calibration tool, setting the black floor to 0 nits and the maximum brightness to around 880 nits at 6500K mode, and to around 1090 nits at 8200K mode. I leave the saturation enhancement slider at 0%. I use Windows 11 23H2 and have the display connected to an ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581GV laptop.

[da_Choko]

"could provide some other angles or clearer images so that we can more accurately determine the problem."
The already mentioned old Topic is full of good examples. Beside those, there are a few more examples in a more recent topic (MCM109): 
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-monitors/has-the-pg27aqdm-been-abandoned/m-p/1052184#M3940
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-monitors/has-the-pg27aqdm-been-abandoned/m-p/1053192#M3987
https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-monitors/has-the-pg27aqdm-been-abandoned/m-p/1050122#M3825

I can confirm that the tone mapping modes under Image, HDR Setting: Console, Cinema, Gaming don´t make any difference in the current firmware MCM109. They used to make a significant difference in the Windows HDR calibration app and perceived color vibrancy.

[gpossel]

@Aureliannn_ROG  I must point out that while MCM109 has this purple issue that was fixed in MCM107, MCM107 has some color problems that were significantly improved in MCM109: highlights banding and green posterization at 6500K. Here I try to illustrate with shots (taken with a Canon R50 with manual settings, fixed ISO, white balance, etc). I used HDR Youtube videos, as indicated:

1. PURPLE ISSUE IN MCM 109 (source: Shadow of the Tomb Raider (PS5) 4K 60FPS HDR Gameplay - (Full Game) at 03:25:45)

MCM109 6500K

MCM107 6500K

The issue is also present at 8200K but is much less significant:

MCM109 8200K

MCM107 8200K

 

 

 

[gpossel]

@Aureliannn_ROG  Now with the problems of MCM107 that are actually better in MCM109

2. Banding in the highlights (source: Bulgaria 8K HDR 60P (FUHD) at 00:05)

MCM107 6500K (see two posterization bands around the sun, the original media has only one as I checked with another HDR screen)

MCM109 8200K (see only one posterization band, as the original media)

The problem is not present at 8200K in either firmware:

MCM107 8200K

MCM109 8200K

 

 

  

[gpossel]

@Aureliannn_ROG  Following with the problems of MCM107 that are actually better in MCM109

3. Deep green posterization (source Real 4K HDR: TCL Four Basic Colors in HDR at 01:53)

MCM107 6500K (blown greens)

 

MCM109 6500K (no green posterization)

 

8200K doesn't have this problem i either firmware

MCM107 8200K

 

MCM109 8200K

 

 

[gpossel]

@Aureliannn_ROG  Here is another example of highlight banding in MCM 107 that is mostly fixed in MCM109 (source: Bulgaria 8K HDR 60P (FUHD) at 04:53)

MCM107 6500K

MCM109 6500K

 So, this are actually good things in MCM109, but the purple problem in this latest firmware is more conspicuous, as many games and movies have dark, candle or fire-illuminated scenes that render as purple instead of dark orange.

[TessaWalker]

The lack of noticeable changes when adjusting tonemapping settings in MCM109 further adds to the frustration. Since MCM107 appears to provide the most accurate display without this issue, reverting back to it seems like a reasonable solution for now until a more stable firmware release is available. For students, I have found a great website that can help improve your writing skills at all academic levels. I use

[gpossel]

Yeah, I'm asking myself the same. While 109 came with improvements that I'd like to benefit from, the return of the purple issue is a deal breaker for me. I'm sticking to 107, and to 8200K HDR, and hoping a 110 would correct this again. It would be nice to have a working 6500K HDR mode.