A small correction related to HDR content and the target colour space. I'm not certain Shadow of the Tomb Raider does target DCI-P3 rather than the wider Rec. 2020 colour space. The observations made regarding saturation still apply (and the PG32UQX does have a wider gamut in some regions), but use of the phrase "artistic license" to describe what the likes of the PG32UQX were doing may have been inappropriate. I've also been made aware through discussions with Jeff Yurek of Nanosys (heavily involved in QD technology) that there's a good range of HDR content that does target Rec. 2020 and will happily make use of as much of the Rec. 2020 gamut that a monitor can deliver. Some examples of the gamut usage on some titles under HDR on this very monitor courtesy of 'EvilBoris' - th-cam.com/video/e3SJgJQzn7g/w-d-xo.html.
The HDR luminance graph in the video was missing the first datapoints (1% white patch), which gives the brightest reading. Refer to written review for the complete and correct graph - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Contrast_and_brightness.
Dell has released new firmware for the Alienware AW3423DW, which supposedly decreases input lag. Apparently there are 2 'hardware versions' of the AW3423DW and older models (like mine) include 'MOB1x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB106'. Newer models include 'MOB2x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB205'.
Dell has released new firmware for the AW3423DW, which supposedly decreases input lag. Apparently there are 2 'hardware versions' of the AW3423DW and older models (like mine) include 'MOB1x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB106'. Newer models include 'MOB2x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB205'. dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/aw3423dw-monitor/drivers
Really great review as always, very technical and informative while giving great visual representation of what you're talking about. It really annoys me how such a great review gets so little attention compared to other reviews where the review sums up to reading the first paragraphs off Dell's website.
Monitors Unboxed have now reviewed the AW3423DWF ('FreeSync version'), brief summary in this post - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/alienware-aw3423dw-vs-msi-meg-342c-qd-oled/#post-70203 but worth reading the whole thread for further points to consider.
Indeed. Maybe this will push Samsung Display to start developing QD-OLED panels in 27 and 32 inch monitor sizes. The JOLED panels that are targeted towards professional use are stupid expensive and only 60Hz. 🤢
JOLED are at least scaling up production and their panels are being used for 'cheaper' models like the Philips 27E1N8900. Still stuck at 60Hz currently, however - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/upcoming-joled-offerings/.
Dell has released new firmware for the AW3423DW, which supposedly decreases input lag. Apparently there are 2 'hardware versions' of the AW3423DW and older models (like mine) include 'MOB1x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB106'. Newer models include 'MOB2x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB205'. dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/aw3423dw-monitor/drivers
This channel seems to be underrated but I guess it's only a matter of time until it will blow up. This video is complete and very useful. Thank you for the work put dude! :D
For panels produced December 2022 onwards, a new AR coating is applied which is supposed to reduce the brightening up and colourful tint observed in brighter lighting - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/the-rise-of-mini-led-and-qd-oled/page/6/#post-70459.
Thank you for this very detailed review. The DWF version is being discounted at the moment (Q3 2023) to 880 euros on the Dell website. I think that’s a very fair deal for this good first gen QD Oled screen.
The HDR luminance graph in the video was missing the first datapoints (1% white patch), which gives the brightest reading. Refer to written review for the complete and correct graph - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Contrast_and_brightness.
Note added to written review - whilst AMD GPUs seem to require that a monitor is specifically FreeSync-certified to use the technology via HDMI, not all devices are as fussy. The Xbox Series S/X can use make use of Adaptive-Sync VRR via HDMI on this model.
Great review. One suggestion if I may -- please keep your text notes on screen for more than 1 second so we don't have to rewind the video. Thanks for your detailed work. It has informed me to make a better purchase.
Agreed, some of the notes are too long to read in the time given. They also flash up briefly and might be missed entirely. Will make sure they're displayed for longer in future videos.
I have this monitor and love it! I use an all black wallpaper, hidden taskbar, and hidden desktop icons to avoid burn in. It’s worked great for my OLED TVs I’ve used for monitors.
Glad you're enjoying it. I'm still using it (when not actively reviewing other screens) and haven't had any issues with image retention or burn-in. And per the review I'm not taking any special measures, just using the monitor's own integrated measures and making sure the screen 'sleeps' after 20 mins of inactivity. I intend to see how it fares over the long term with this 'treat it like an LCD' approach. If Samsung's marketing is to be believed, it should be more resistant to image retention than the TVs you've used. But I like your cautious approach, you're doing all the right things.
Amazing review..went over all the important details. I was especially looking for info on the flickering you mentions in VRR. very informative.. subbed.
The release of this beast was nothing short to a nightmare. Delivery date is 29.09. directly from Dell and Amazon (Eu) never had it listed even once....
Given the panel production still needs to be scaled up and the global supply chain issues, I can't say that surprises me. Can still appreciate how frustrating that is.
Thanks for the review, it was good to see the monitor in use with different media, a lot of other reviews show very small glimpses. Was concerned about the curvature etc and the screen time really helped put this to ease for me
Glad it was helpful! 🙂Good to see it made you more comfortable with the idea of the curve. It's something you'll likely stop noticing at all when you've used the monitor in person for a bit, too.
I've had the previous model AW3420DW for a couple years. It's the same 34" and 1800R curve. I stopped noticing the curve in the first week of owning the monitor, and now I actually prefer curved panels if it's a 21:9 ultrawide.
Your review and Tim from Hardware Unboxed are the best ones so far. I'm trying to sell my Gigabyte FO48U and get one of these. Starting to get a little bit annoyed with the aggressive ABL and want a smaller screen again.
Have you got one on order? Might be worth the wait if you've got a screen you can use in the meantime. Aggressive ABL really is annoying for desktop usage, really nice to see it's not an issue on this one. And also the overwhelming size of a 48" screen is completely understandable as an annoyance.
@@PCMonitors I had one on order but I got tired of waiting and cancelled. I went to my parents a couple days ago and found my old BenQ XL2730Z 1440p 144Hz FreeSync monitor. The gamma flickering is awful and it's way more noticeable than on any OLED, but it still works and the color accuracy is not as bad as I remember it being for a TN panel.
I recall the XL2730Z having all sorts of odd 'artifacts' related to voltage regulation. VRR flickering wouldn't surprise me. Was one of the first VRR experiences I had - what a blast from the past. 🙂
@@PCMonitors It's certainly a blast from the past for me. It was my first FreeSync monitor and it was my upgrade to 1440p. I was using an R9 290 at the time, and even though it wouldn't hit 100 fps in more demanding games, FreeSync made a huge difference in smoothing things out at lower frame rates. And like I said in my previous comment, color accuracy is not that bad for being a TN panel. Using it now, it's better than memory serves. Yeah it's not on the level of an IPS or OLED, but it's more than acceptable for just gaming. Viewing angles are total garbage and just how I remember TN panels being lmao.
Which for me and most people with the monitor is a complete non-issue. You can't accurately demonstrate that with a video, so it's not a good way to judge it. Either way, would always be nice if it didn't have such active cooling.
"Audible" depends on room conditions and other aspects, though. And certainly how noticeable or bothersome that noise is - that's pretty subjective. It's not a good reason to dismiss the monitor in my view - if you hear it in person and find it bothersome, fair enough. I do feel any cooling fan seems redundant on an OLED screen - for powerful FALD solutions that generate a lot of heat, fair enough. But I would expect passive cooling to do just fine here.
Thanks for your efforts! Great review as always :) It's a really tempting monitor but I can't justify buying one right now as my LG38GN950 isn't that old. But I hope we see more OLED in the desktop market. Really interested in seeing this monitor after a year or so to see whether or not burn in will be an issue.
Re 11:15 I found the slide-on cover to be very fiddly, and it would produce the same gaps you were showing until I jimmied putting it on and off until everything went in flush. So you might be able to get your cover to fit snugly with a bit more fiddling, or it could be gapping due to manufacturing error and tolerances. In any case, it's definitely not a robust design, and definitely feels cheap for a $1200 monitor.
thanks for review, i really like your channel and great website (which i already used many years ago to compare monitors). Alienware AW3423DW or AW3423DWF this thing with flickering in dark zones make me thing that maybe gsync is worth this impovements, generally i would prefer good quality in dark and dark shades over max brightness (although max brightness will be needed if some kind of strobing will be implemanted in next models). I'm more used to the lower brightness, i would be worried too high brightness even with hdr could cause headache and i can play in dark when needed for a better quality/immersion, for the same reason i always choose plasma (panasonic for this matter) over lcds for tv and i write from such now. I wonder will there be quality QD-OLED tv's like this, maybe 55" that will also be good for gaming and with a similiar prices to lg oled? I'm not buying right now, i only have rtx 2600 atm so would be hard to get good enough fps but i'm interested for the future, this are the first QD-OLED monitor models..
I certainly appreciate the G-SYNC module myself and feel most reviewers gloss over its benefits, perhaps because they don't test in a rigorous enough way with actual gaming or similar testing to reveal them. I think they're both nice monitors though, lots of enjoyment from both but my personal recommendation still remains the AW3423DW - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/gaming-monitors/. 🙂 I also look forward to QD-OLED technology expanding further in the monitor space, I'd love to see '4K' UHD options in monitor sizes and also larger ultrawides.
I love your reviews! Watched it before I bought my x35 and now I'm watching it as I wait for this monitor! One question though. Did you notice a difference in picture quality or HDR quality between 175hz 8bit FCR and 144hz 10 bit? Having an internal struggle between which I should run and would really appreciate your opinion. Thanks!
@@PCMonitors Awesome thank you! Sorry I missed that section of the video. So when I get the monitor I set it to 175hz and the dithering through the GPU will happen automatically? Or is there a setting I need to do in the nvidia control panel? Thanks again I really appreciate the response 🙏
Hi, thank you so much for the review!! I´m getting one now and would like to know if you have a "best settings" recommendation for the monitor if possible. Thanks in advance!!
Don't have a video for this, but the settings I'd recommend trying are the 'Test Settings' found at the end of the 'Calibration' section of the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration.
A phenomenal review, full of personal impressions backed up by facts. After it, I seriously considered buying it, despite the new technology. The only concern me is possible burn-in. You replied in the comments that you will be using the monitor for a long time as an LCD display. What is the result? Did you get any burnout on it?
No issues with it so far, not even minor image retention. I technically don't use it as heavily as regular users might (given I spend time with other monitors whilst reviewing them). But I've used it pretty heavily even so, including for productivity tasks. It has run through multiple 'panel refresh' cycles now which it does after every 1500 hours of use. 🙂
@@PCMonitors Wow, thanks for such a quick response, appreciate it! Partly because of your detailed article on the site, I chose the 21:9 format. Relatively recently bought an Acer X34 S, which is a great monitor, but right now I have a good deal on an AW34DW. I want to use it like a regular monitor, without hiding the panels and shortcuts (sic!). So I'll probably give this beauty a try.
Really thorough review. I greatly appreciate the real world use takes. I appreciate Hardware Unboxings review, but I feel his perspective really comes from a place of immense privilege and his final words seemed waaaay too nit picky and too many “on paper” problems for the vast majority of consumers purchasing this monitor.
I think Tim’s review was attempting to provide the “tougher than normal” treatment that people sometimes apply to products they like. Tim just didn’t provide that context before all the complaints. He later clarified that the Alienware is his favourite gaming monitor on the market and he is using it himself as his main gaming monitor, so any complaints he had with the product should be considered in that light.
Hi, sorry to bother you again, but really this channel is the most trustworthy for me for anything related to Monitor. So, my Alienware AW3423DW got damaged in transport and while i expect a refund, i was wondering if you have a better recommendation than this monitor for Ultrawide QD-OLED Gsync display. Thanks in advance!! :D
Great review. How do you find text sharpness when using apps like Word with this panel? Other reviews have pointed out issues if text editing is a high use scenario. Thanks! 👍
Covered in detail in the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration. As noted there, very subjective and not everyone would find it a problem at all.
image retention isn't the same as burn in. my current IPS panel has some bad image retention after displaying solid white which can be noticeable on the desktop, but its got no burn in at all. the image vanishes after the pixels change colour again.
They're usually lumped together and used interchangeably, but that's correct. Image retention can be temporary and LCDs do indeed sometimes suffer from this. 'Burn-in' implies permanent damage.
Wonderful review, the write-up is excellent and I subscribed. One question, was Gsync enabled for your input lag test that resulted in 5.17ms input lag? Rtings reported 7.9ms at 175hz, native res, no gsync enabled. Curious if enabling Gsync might actually be decreasing input lag by reducing signal processing, which would be pretty cool and totally unique.
@@PCMonitors That is legitimately amazing. I actually think gsync is reducing the input latency on this monitor which I’ve never seen on any other display.
Glad you enjoy the reviews. No plans to look at that one but have shared my interpretation based on a fairly detailed Chinese-language review here - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/samsung-s32bg85-odyssey-neo-g8-review-notes-from-translated-video/. Overall I think it offers a bit of a mixed experience really. Personally dislike the strength of the curve, the limited gamut for a QD LED backlight solution, 'static interlace patterns' and relatively poor sustained or bright-shade dominant luminance levels for Mini LED. But it seems to be a bit of a positive progression from the G9 and retains strong responsiveness for the panel type with a far above average HDR experience. On the contrast side, at least.
I bought this monitor and paired it with 3080ti. To sum up for sdr and hdr content Universal best to use creator mode and 2.4 gamma and hdr 1000 Yes? This is your recomandation? I use standard and brightness pumped to 100
Personal preferences come into play here, but yes I would recommend 'Creator Mode' and '2.4' gamma for SDR usage, and the 'HDR Peak 1000' setting for HDR - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration. If you like how things look with 'Standard' and maximum brightness under SDR that's up to you, keep using that.
Glad you liked it! I would expect the 'F' model to be very similar to this in many respects - but without the fan, narrower VRR range and very slightly lower refresh rate. So if you're worried about the fan then it probably would be worth waiting for that for peace of mind. 🙂
@@PCMonitors Thanks ;) but im not sure because i hat a acer x34 with gsync Modul in the past,my current display is a odyssey g7a...and im not sure but like you said in the video i also finding that the gsync Modul is slighty smoother...im sensitive to this so its really hard i would say :) i alway enjoy that extra fluidy from my acer 🤔 with the gsync modul its working allmost perfectly so 😁
Yeah it's tricky if you are that sensitive to microstuttering. I personally didn't find the fan bothersome as I mentioned in the video. Would be better if it wasn't there, but it wasn't bothersome on my unit and in my listening environment. I've certainly used some models with fans that I found pretty obnoxious (X35 I tested was bad for this).
PS If the subpixel bleed on text is bothering anyone, I managed to get a good results with: 1. ClearType Tuning 2. Turning HDR mode on in Windows No. 1 helps with the subpixel rendering, but no. 2 really helped tone down the color bleeding. With HDR1000 mode on the monitor and HDR turned off in Windows 10, colors were super-saturated and the subpixel bleed was obnoxious. Turning HDR mode on in Windows made a big difference in taming both the color saturation and text legibility. There is still slight subpixel bleed on text, but it's comparable to color fringing on a good CRT, like a Trinitron.
When viewing SDR content under HDR, gamma is greatly upset, as is shade representation and colour accuracy in general. Plus an aggressive ABL is used which results in clear brightness fluctuations on the desktop for some content. The gamut is clamped to sRGB as well - so it certainly should reduce the intensity of any fringing. Did you try 'Creator' mode with 'sRGB' selected for colour space under SDR? That will tone down saturation without the other issues related to running the monitor under HDR for SDR content. It doesn't affect the colour representation or the gamma in the same way, so perhaps it's worth experimenting with different gamma settings as well.
@@PCMonitors Thanks for the suggestions, yeah, I haven't tried clamping down the gamut to sRGB because I hate having to switch the monitor between sRGB and HDR*, as I like to watch HDR content in windowed MPC-HC + MadVR, as well as run games in borderless fullscreen. I did notice the ABL fluctuations you mentioned, but have been happy (and pleasantly surprised) with the color shading and tones in HDR + Windows HDR mode. I believe using True Black 400 mode would reduce the ABL fluctuations, but I do most of my whitespace work (in Excel, Notepad++) on my secondary monitor, an AW3418DW, so can live with the odd case that the brightness fluctuates on the AW3423DW. *If switching modes was a single button press, and if the screen didn't cut out every time it switches, and obcure the middle of the screen with a 'DP input' sign every time, I might find it less intrusive, but right now it's pretty annoying to switch modes or rely on the OS to automatically switch when it detects a HDR game.
Watching this review on oled smartphone. When I found oleds i changed every device i have to oled. Smartwatch smartphone tv and ordered now alienware qd
Hope you enjoy it! I'm the same - had my first taste of OLED on smartphones. Had an Alienware laptop in the household with OLED as well and it was great. And kept this AW3423DW for myself. 🙂
Short answer is yes. Long answer, refer to the 'Interpolation and upsclaing' section of the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Interpolation_and_upscaling.
Adam, Thank you (and your team members, if any) for this comprehensive and extremely insightful/helpful review. If everyone did their job as well as you, with your level of expertise and attention to detail, this would be a much better world. Please keep up the outstanding work (which honestly makes all other monitor reviews pale in comparison). It would be great if you could provide some portable monitor reviews (gaming and productivity monitors on the go for use with a laptop). I’m in the market for one now and there are a dearth of reviews out there for those particular type of monitors, certainly none as comprehensive as the ones you produce. Thank you very much and please keep churning out these amazing reviews.
I appreciate the kind words, nice to have all the hard work appreciated! I like to get really 'involved' with all the monitors I review and use them as my main monitor for ~3 weeks or sometimes longer. This means I can only average around 1 review per month so I need to be highly selective about the models I look at. And I genreally much prefer sticking to models I'm personally interested in using - which unfortunately excludes portable monitors. Or anything smaller than ~24". If I had a team to delegate such reviews to I'd certainly do that, but alas I do the 'heavy lifting' myself with some impressions added by my very patient and keen-eyed partner. 🙂
Good question. It's difficult to say, but I suspect it's inherent to the panel and it would require an extra processing layer to correct which this monitor and presumably monitors in general wouldn't include. I expect to see other monitors using the panel exhibit similar behaviour, but it's all very new technology and it remains to be seen what the real answer is.🙂
It's already confirmed by Dell they won't be posting firmware updates for the monitor. Some have claimed you need to RMA to get the newer firmware, but I also haven't seen a newer firmware version.
Great video. I wonder if anyone has a report on this monitor after a year about burn in. I really want to buy this!, but for a grand i would hope I would get at least 3 or 4 years out of it
I've been using the monitor for over a year now as my main monitor when not reviewing (and also when reviewing, as one of my reference screens) and have had no 'burn in' issues. This includes quite a bit of productivity usage. Also remember that you have 3 years of 'burn in cover' on the warranty with this one.
I still recommend the DW as I feel the G-SYNC module provides some benefits (lower VRR flickering, slightly smoother and more seamless VRR experience, tighter HDR tuning) - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/gaming-monitors/. But you'll probably really enjoy either model, they don't offer a massively different experience.
Yes, it's as if you're watching on a 27" screen for 16:9 content. Some content is between the two and there are techniques that can be used to fill more of the screen if you wish. Refer to our article on the topic - pcmonitors.info/articles/games-movies-and-the-desktop-at-3440-x-1440/#Movie_watching.
As covered in the review, that would depend on the lighting in the room. In dimmer lighting these bars appear deep black and are quite easy to ignore - though they’ll lighten up along with the room due to the screen surface.
@@PCMonitors I'll probably wait for a 16:9 monitor. I watch a lot of 16:9 content and I cannot get used to the bars on the side to be honest. Thanks for providing me with some useful information. Your reviews are very informative and detailed.
It's not discussed because, as is usually the case, it should be left at its default value as that is optimal and what the monitor is correctly tuned using.
So it is not as fast as an actual Esport monitor but the fastest in ultrawide. If you have a good reference for HDR you don't need to worry about viewers' monitors. Compare them side by side is something else other than numbers. I have AW3423DW on the way. Would you say it is a legendary upgrade compared to PG35VQ or just a short term upgrade?
Depends what you mean by "fast"? In terms of input lag that's true, though few would be able to detect or take issue with that. Visually it's very fluid and the input lag is low enough as to not impede the 'connected feel' for most people. Higher refresh rates are also available, but not with such consistently rapid pixel responses as found here. HDR capture is far from perfect and you're still limited to seeing what the screen you're viewing the video on can output rather than the capabilities of the monitors themselves. Furthermore, there is disruptive processing and heavy compression which occurs on TH-cam and when editing videos which cause further inaccuracies. These are even worse for those viewing the SDR version of this HDR video (which the majority of viewers will be doing anyway), which is 'messed up' beyond what a normal SDR video would be. That's why reviewers need to use figures and/or detailed subjective descriptions to convey what a monitor looks like - ignore those at your peril. Those figures and subjective impressions clearly explore how the ABL impacts the image on the Dell Alienware and its relative absence on the X35/PG35VQ. They clearly explore the superior gamut and saturation capability of the Dell Alienware, its less impeding screen surface and per-pixel illumination advantages which free it from any 'haloing'. There is simply no way to accurately convey that to a viewer in a video - if only there was, it would save reviewers a tremendous amount of time. But alas, side by side comparisons remain a heavily flawed approach when it comes to monitor assessment. You would see there are 'differences' and get a limited qualitative impression of those differences. Whilst also seeing pseudo-differences and forming a false opinion based on those. The figures and detailed subjective impressions provided are far more valuable and more representative of what you'd see from the monitor in person. To add, I know people in the film and cinematography industry who produce HDR content for a living and have since discussed this with them. They agree it is a complete waste of time trying to show people a visual comparison between two screens. You're working with too much 'noise' at every step of the process for such a comparison to suit the intended purpose. You'd be best off individually recording each monitor and carefully post-processing the content on an HDR reference monitor, then splicing the two separate captures together. And unless the user has a precisely calibrated HDR reference monitor beyond the capabilities of the screens being shown and is viewing a minimally or uncompressed video file, there's really no point.
@@PCMonitors I think the input lag would be more than acceptable for someone like me who's not a competitive gamer and just enjoys single player and online co-op with friends.
Yeah I think so. I mean, if people are super-sensitive to latency and highly competitive the argument could be made that the 240Hz+ options would be more suitable really. I see this one as more of a casual to semi-competitive gaming option. Sure some might find it fine competitively, but it's not really designed around that as a key focus.
The Alienware is better in most respects. The PG35VQ is able to sustain higher brightness (doesn't have the ABL 'issues' with lots of bright content under HDR), but contrast is nowhere near as good under SDR or HDR, the colours are less vibrant and pixel responsiveness is MUCH worse. Input lag is similar (based on the X35 we reviewed, anyway - pcmonitors.info/reviews/acer-x35/#Responsiveness).
May I ask you've mentioned you've been running it for about a month without image retention issues - do you use it with the start menu bar at the bottom extended periods of time? I'm most worried about these bars when using the monitor with the start and menu bars showing over the years to come... certainly won't be running full screen applications more than maybe 5% of the time. Thanks!
This is covered in the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Image_Retention: "During our review period we spent around a month using the monitor pretty solidly, including with a good chunk of time spent on the desktop. We didn’t take any specific measures beyond what we’d take with LCD monitors we test. We set Windows to ‘Turn off display’ after 20 minutes of inactivity in the power options, but that was it. No auto-hiding taskbar or turning the monitor off as soon as we leave the room."
I've been using mine since March 8th, I use it for 8hrs a day, 5 days a week for work and plenty of gaming and surfing otherwise. No image retention yet.
Any thought on the contrast comparison to the Asus PG32UQX? (I have a fear of blooming 😂). Still trying to convince myself not to buy one but instead wait for this type of panel tech to come into a 32” 4K. Samsung G8 is not looking to be the amazing monitor it was touted as which was my biggest hope for 2022
The lack of blooming is certainly nice if it's something you're sensitive to or find bothersome. It really depends on the content - as I said in the PG32UQX review, it's generally not something that jumps out at you when gaming or watching video content but there are some instances where it's there and can be potentially bothersome. The desktop is certainly superior on the OLED as inconsistencies in the local dimming are all too apparent there, in my view. If you are viewing content with a lot of small bright areas against much darker shades then the limitations of the local dimming would also become apparent. Cyberpunk (didn't show that that in the PG32UQX review, did show it here) is an interesting one to focus on. There are small bright lights (street lamps etc.) against very dark backgrounds, particularly in the distance, where the absolute distinction between bright and dark is much better on an OLED like this. The game actually has a natural bloom effect anyway for some of the bright neon lights etc. so it isn't the case that you'll just see halos around things on the PG32UQX because of the monitor and nothing on the AW3423DW there. On that title and elsewhere you need to consider the bright-dominated scenes where the PG32UQX copes better and delivers superior luminance levels, too. It really depends on your preferences for absolute contrast vs. brightness - and your room conditions. If you often sit in a dimly lit room or prefer enjoying HDR content that way, the Dell Alienware delivers the superior experience. In a brighter room I'd give the ASUS an edge for its superior brightness. Preferences will vary.
What are the specs of your machine and what are the video settings? I'm impressed you were able to get the game locked at 175fps like that without making some compromises. Any info would be great!
I am also someone who purchased my X35 based on your review. After owning it for 2 years I still love it but this monitor has me thinking, should I sell my X35 for this? The HDR on the X35 is amazing. I love games on it but I also like watching my physical blu ray collection using the X35. I use software called Power DVD and it lets me tweak the HDR settings and brightness. Its truly amazing when Im watching movies. If you were me, would you sell the x35 for this panel? I'm torn because the X35 is heavy duty and this Samsung monitor looks very flimsy in comparison.
If you're really enjoying the X35, just keep it! It still gives an awesome HDR experience. QD-OLED is a very interesting technology for sure, maybe when you upgrade in the future it will come in different sizes and resolutions so you could also upgrade in that respect as well.
As long as you're aware of the (admittedly very small) risk of burn in associated with OLED, I think it might be worth it. HDR on an OLED is a different beast entirely compared to even the best FALD displays with mini LED backlighting.
The amazing contrast with pixel-perfect precision is certainly something on OLED, that's for sure. The colour reproduction is also a nice upgrade in this case as well - more vibrant and consistent. Though its sustained brightness for scenes where bright scenes dominate is still a comparative weaknesvs the X35. If you can afford to buy the monitor without selling the X35 first, could be worth scratching the itch and seeing for yourself whether it's worth the swap.
@@PCMonitors Update I bought the AW3423DW and kept the X35. Wow, this panel is amazing and I hate to say it but its such an improvement in the overall experience compared to the X35. The HDR coupled with the QD-Oled is out of this world. The X35 is currently boxed up in my closet. I'm not ready to part with it yet because I loved it so much. However, the Alienware display is amazing. I even enjoy the HDR 400 setting. I feel like HDR 1000 can get a little too bright at time for me. I have only had it for a week but I look forward to experimenting with it with different content and games.
This is 3440 x 1440 so not as high as that ('4K' UHD = 3840 x 2160). Certainly hope to see many other sizes and resolutions with QD-OLED technology in future.
Depends how much smaller you want it to be, really. If you really enjoy the 55cx and just want something somewhat smaller the 48" C1 might be a good fit. Or a 42" alternative (C2) or an upcoming monitor like the ASUS PG42UQ using that panel, perhaps.
can you give any calibration recommendations for me as a gamer? should i stick with the presets (if so, which one?) or should i download a colour profile? sorry, i'm really new to all this
Refer to the 'Test Settings' (and calibration table) in the written review, it's all covered there - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration. As noted everybody has their own preferences, however. There are no 'right' or 'wrong' settings in this case so feel free to follow the recommendations there but also feel free to make your own adjustments according to taste.
did you ever experience any grey flickering and short (like, fraction of a second) blanking of the screen? Happens to me on desktop and game usage and is very annoying (not talking about the "normal" vrr flicker,) i get this in irregular intervals, even at 60Hz and without gsync
It is, yes. As promised I'll update the written review if any issues with image retention or 'burn-in' are observed - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Image_Retention.
As you might expect the resolution is some way between 2560 x 1440 (WQHD / 1440p) and 3840 x 2160 ('4K' UHD) in terms of how difficult it is to drive. So you should look at GPU benchmarks with that in mind. With a GTX 1080 you would have to turn down a lot of settings and shouldn't expect to sustain very high frame rates.
Would you recommend the samsung oled g8 over the neo g8? I have the neo g8 would oled g8 be a better experience over neo g8? I am concerned about the decreased ppi
I'd recommend (pcmonitors.info/recommendations/gaming-monitors/ ) this AW3423DW over the Neo G8. Related thread - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/aw3423dw-vs-meg-342c-qd-oled-and-others/. The QD-OLED ultrawides do have more going for them in terms of HDR overall. They have a superior gamut, superior colour consistency, far superior contrast (millions of dimming zones) and a screen surface that better preserves vibrancy compared to the Neo G8 (or G7 we've reviewed). The brightness in some scenarios is stronger on the Neo G8 and the pixel density is certainly superior, something you'd have to assess for yourself.
I have enjoyed my Samsung CRG9 but have never seen an OLED in person other than my phone screen. How different does an OLED look compared to an IPS or VA panel. I have always been worried about Burn In. Not necessarily that burn in will occur but that i will have to constantly stress about it. So in your opinion this monitor is one I could use like any other and not stress about burn in as long as I leave the default burn in mitigation settings on?
As covered in the review, this model is really on a different level to any LCD when it comes to contrast and pixel responsiveness. And vastly superior to the Samsung CRG9 when it comes to colour consistency and vibrancy. You should really try it out and see for yourself, if you can. QD-OLED promises reduced burn-in risk and I feel they've put the right mitigation measures in place. As per the review I will be testing this one longer term and don't take any special measures - I simply let the monitor do its thing with its integrated measures. And let the monitor go to 'sleep' after 20 minutes of inactivity. pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Image_Retention
Under the lens of HDR... No monitor will go anywhere near as bright as even a moderately bright day outside, even looking at reflected light. So keeping things sane, you can notice a difference when the screen actively dims in scenes such as those demonstrated in the review. Bright content just doesn't look the same at
Yes I am sure. I can confirm my unit triggers at 15Hz (15fps) via in-game testing with various titles. The G-SYNC Pendulum demo also confirms it matches 20fps with 20Hz - that is the lowest frame rate supported by the demo.
Really tough to say. The per-pixel illumination of this and absolute precision it gives is nice. But some people do like the 'pop' on the PG32UQX and impressive ability to sustain very high brightness where bright shades dominate. I'd call the PG32UQX's HDR more 'impactful', but I wouldn't like to say it's flat-out better.
I haven't noticed that. Could be a specific game issue? Does it return to normal if you disable HDR in Windows, or do you need to turn the monitor off then on again?
It's part of the G-SYNC module, but can't be disabled simply by not using G-SYNC. The G-SYNC module replaces the scaler of the monitor and is responsible for more than just G-SYNC or the VRR capability of the monitor.
@@PCMonitors I see, well crap. I just RMA’d my asus PG35VQ because the fan won’t stop spinning even when the monitor has been off for hours. So I don’t really want a monitor with a fan anymore.
I haven't had the AW3423DW's fans stay on for longer than about 20 minutes after tuning the screen off and they usually shut off sooner. It will depend on room temperature and how warm the monitor got, but I don't think the fans on this one are as quirky or as potentially annoying as on the PG35VQ (or X35, which I tested).
Entirely up to you, depending on your preferences for vibrancy. Normal SDR content is the same whether it's a game or movie in that it's created with sRGB in mind and displaying this content using the full native gamut of the monitor (i.e. DCI-P3 setting) will provide oversaturation and a more vivid look.
DCI-P3 is certainly a common standard for actual cinema viewing and it's a common target alongside Rec. 2020 for HDR. But that doesn't translate to normal viewing on streaming media platforms such as Netflix, TH-cam, Disney+ etc for normal SDR usage. sRGB is the target there and a wider gamut will technically oversaturate things. If the content looks more appealing to you using the DCI-P3 setting then by all means stick with that, but if things look clearly oversaturated and you don't like how things look stick with sRGB. No need to overthink things here. Even if sRGB may be more 'correct' and 'as intended', it's an extremely restrictive gamut which misses out a lot of colours you'll see in the real world and can also make certain fantasty worlds look quite bland in a way.
Not specifically. But not sure why you'd want to artificially restrain the gamut like that given that the wide gamut is used appropriately under HDR on the monitor.
No plans to. Samsung doesn't specify brightness (pcmonitors.info/samsung/samsung-odyssey-oled-g8-s34bg85-175hz-ultrawide-with-hdmi-2-1/), but it uses the same panel so I don't expect a significant difference there.
@@PCMonitors no I meant the 4k @ 240hz mini led one with 1196 fald zones and hdr 1000 displayport 1.4 and hdmi 2.1 my reason for picking g8 over ultrawide is ultrawide does not play well with consoles and I play console and pc so I need 16:9 format
Ah right. Well we've got a review of the Neo G7 coming very soon which is very similar to the Neo G8 in many ways, including HDR. This will be available for channel members tomorrow, hopefully. Will also be drawing some comparisons in the review (and using some of the same scenes used in the AW3423DW review). The AW3423DW has superior colour reproduction and per-pixel illumination is still superior to 1196 dimming zones. But the Samsung still delivers impressive HDR contrast, has higher peak brightness and can sustain its brightness better than the AW3423DW where bright shades start to dominate. Really doubt you'd be disappointed with either HDR experience, agreed 16:9 makes more sense for consoles. 🙂
Under HDR with the help of GPU dithering, yes. 10-bit+ is always used for HDR content, without exception - how it is achieved differs but the end result is very similar. Further reading on that if you're interested - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/monitor-with-16-7-million-colors-vs-1-07-billion-colors-does-it-matter/#post-68316.
@@PCMonitors Do i need to activate dithering in the GPU settings on a newer nvidia card or is that automatically activated when i set the monitor to 175hz with HDR ? I watched a lot of monitor reviews from differemt channels and yours is by far the most detailed. You got a sub from me. Thank you very much.
Appreciate it! Doesn't matter what you select in Nvidia Control Panel. Whether you select 'Use default colour settings' or 'Use NVIDIA colour settings' where it will list '8 bpc', it will still give you 10-bit processing for HDR. 🙂
The panel type doesn't dictate how long it takes. I don't have access to the monitor right now so maybe somebody else can test this. If I remember to test this when I next use it I'll provide an update. From memory it's ~2-3 seconds but still not instant.
Still weird to me that without the eco mode, this display counts every hour being plugged into the wall into the panel refresh timer (1500h), no matter if the screen is actually turned on or not.
Great review thank you - what FoV where you using for Battlefield 5 ? I didn't notice any kind of distortion around the edges. I am very sensitive about motion sickness and try to stay away from 21:9 but this one is amazing Have watched many vids about ultrawides in the past and they all had this center looks ok but edges looked stretched when fast moving if you know what i mean
I didn't touch that, so it was set to default. I should add that sometimes there is apparent stretching in videos as they are more centred in your own field of vision and the curve can also be captured oddly. When you're actually using the monitor in person the edges are mainly engaging your peripheral vision and the effect of that and indeed the curve is quite subtle. If others have played around with the FOV then that could indeed mess things up as well.
Hy, i Really want this monitor because I tired IPs. I work much on pc and I am afraid that reading text is affected by this monitor because I read on the internet. Is it really text affected on displaying? Thank you
I cover this in the review (mainly in the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration ). TLDR; most won't find it problematic or bothersome.
You can't. This is a 21:9 screen and you're using a 16:9 source. If the monitor had scaling options (which it doesn't) you'd just be stretching and distorting the image, so the black bars are preferable.
QLED 27 FLAT +2560-1440 (240-300?)hz + gsync ult+ 3-4 years warrianty incl burn in = ~999$ price. Why it is so difficult to release a perfect gaming monitor??!
Apples to oranges. This screen has vastly superior contrast, a much wider gamu, superior colour consistency and viewing angle performance, superior pixel responsiveness and effectively millions of 'dimming zones'. The Samsung offers a superior pixel density and higher refresh rate, plus an (arguably too aggressive) curve. Both models have their quirks, but all in all I wouldn't recommend the Samsung (though the Neo G7 maybe worth considering if you find the quirks liveable) - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/samsung-s32bg85-odyssey-neo-g8-review-notes-from-translated-video/.
Difficult to say really. It's pretty subjective as for some the pixel density is really important on a 4K 144Hz model (assuming it's ~32" or smaller). But the HDR on this is really very enjoyable indeed. As is the overall contrast, colour output and responsiveness. I guess it depends how strong your desire for change is. If you've used a 27" 1440p model before you'll know what to expect from the pixel density.
@@PCMonitors thanks for the reply, i game on a 27" 1440p and im happy with it buit my brother has the 4k 144 and he loves to game at 4k, but wasnt sure if the oled plus real hdr would be a better pic, guess i will have to treat myself to see if he likes it haha
Not sure what you're talking about to be honest. Nobody else has raised any concerns. There was a fan on in the background because it was very warm in the room when this was recorded, but it's much quieter than my voice and doesn't seem to bother the vast majority. 🤷
@@PCMonitors I apologize, it might have been a problem on my end. I listened with the Zeppelin speaker at first and the sound was very boomy and hollow, not even turning the highs up 6dp and the lows down 6db helped that much. But with in ears it wasn't an issue somehow.
A 3 year warranty is nice, but the technology is pretty new and I dislike e-waste, so due to the fact that I work/code on my desktop pc, I will skip this gen and take a closer look after these have been around a while. Currently I am waiting for a reviews on the Gigabyte M32UC. The other monitors in that series were pretty great and now that gpu prices are slowly coming down, I will probably buy a monitor in the next couple of months/weeks. If its similar to the M32U, but has better blacks and contrast it might be the one I will choose.
That's fair enough, something to keep an eye on perhaps. The M32UC and M32U are a bit 'apples to oranges'. It's not just the case of "better contrast" on the UC, you'll also get inferior colour consistency and likely a somewhat 'heavier' screen surface plus inferior pixel responsiveness. You'd need to weigh up what you want from the experience. I think the M32UC is a very interesting model for sure and quite unique in the market currently - might review it at some point - but it will have some weaknesses as well as strengths compared to its IPS counterpart.
@@PCMonitors You are right, there are some other factors, that was just the main hope I have for the M32UC. I just hope that the responsiveness is somewhat similar, if probably a little worse, I am not a competitive E-Sports player after all :) While its rare, there are some VA Panels with good responsiveness. Maybe they get it right, who knows. So the main difference for me would be colour consistency vs contrast and in that case I would choose the contrast.
ClearType wouldn't be able to correct 'partial subpixel illumination' which some VA models have. But I'm not sure the M32UC would have that issue - '4K' VA models are generally just fine in that respect. And any remaining slight issues would usually be cleared up with ClearType optimisation and also due to the very high pixel density very minor anyway🙂
There may be an issue with your unit, because the fans on my unit (and this is confirmed by many others with their units) are actually quite quiet and unobtrusive. Not obvious above my ambient system or room noise and that is a pretty quiet listening environment most of the time. No issues with hearing here, either. Sensitivity to certain frequencies can still vary and so do listening environments, perhaps you're super-sensitive to the fans - though as I say, you may have a faulty unit.
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Introduction= 0:00
Features & Aesthetics= 6:47
Image Retention= 12:55
Contrast= 17:31
Colour Reproduction= 24:10
HDR (High Dynamic Range)= 29:59
Responsiveness (General)= 45:10
Responsiveness (VRR)= 49:39
Conclusion= 54:44
A small correction related to HDR content and the target colour space. I'm not certain Shadow of the Tomb Raider does target DCI-P3 rather than the wider Rec. 2020 colour space. The observations made regarding saturation still apply (and the PG32UQX does have a wider gamut in some regions), but use of the phrase "artistic license" to describe what the likes of the PG32UQX were doing may have been inappropriate. I've also been made aware through discussions with Jeff Yurek of Nanosys (heavily involved in QD technology) that there's a good range of HDR content that does target Rec. 2020 and will happily make use of as much of the Rec. 2020 gamut that a monitor can deliver. Some examples of the gamut usage on some titles under HDR on this very monitor courtesy of 'EvilBoris' - th-cam.com/video/e3SJgJQzn7g/w-d-xo.html.
The HDR luminance graph in the video was missing the first datapoints (1% white patch), which gives the brightest reading. Refer to written review for the complete and correct graph - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Contrast_and_brightness.
Dell has released new firmware for the Alienware AW3423DW, which supposedly decreases input lag. Apparently there are 2 'hardware versions' of the AW3423DW and older models (like mine) include 'MOB1x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB106'. Newer models include 'MOB2x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB205'.
Dell has released new firmware for the AW3423DW, which supposedly decreases input lag. Apparently there are 2 'hardware versions' of the AW3423DW and older models (like mine) include 'MOB1x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB106'. Newer models include 'MOB2x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB205'. dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/aw3423dw-monitor/drivers
The only real review for this display.
Pity about the algorithm not pushing it higher.
Really great review as always, very technical and informative while giving great visual representation of what you're talking about. It really annoys me how such a great review gets so little attention compared to other reviews where the review sums up to reading the first paragraphs off Dell's website.
agreed
Yes, it's great to listen to a lot of details.
Monitors Unboxed have now reviewed the AW3423DWF ('FreeSync version'), brief summary in this post - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/alienware-aw3423dw-vs-msi-meg-342c-qd-oled/#post-70203 but worth reading the whole thread for further points to consider.
I hope OLED panels will be come more populair for gaming monitors.
Indeed. Maybe this will push Samsung Display to start developing QD-OLED panels in 27 and 32 inch monitor sizes. The JOLED panels that are targeted towards professional use are stupid expensive and only 60Hz. 🤢
JOLED are at least scaling up production and their panels are being used for 'cheaper' models like the Philips 27E1N8900. Still stuck at 60Hz currently, however - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/upcoming-joled-offerings/.
Hey I'm from the future of 2024 & the oled scene is looking better than ever 😎
Great job on the review. Thorough, clearly presented, and even-handed. Really good work.
Dell has released new firmware for the AW3423DW, which supposedly decreases input lag. Apparently there are 2 'hardware versions' of the AW3423DW and older models (like mine) include 'MOB1x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB106'. Newer models include 'MOB2x' from the factory and can be upgraded to 'MOB205'. dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/aw3423dw-monitor/drivers
This channel seems to be underrated but I guess it's only a matter of time until it will blow up. This video is complete and very useful. Thank you for the work put dude! :D
By far the best overall review of this monitor, fantastic work.
For panels produced December 2022 onwards, a new AR coating is applied which is supposed to reduce the brightening up and colourful tint observed in brighter lighting - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/the-rise-of-mini-led-and-qd-oled/page/6/#post-70459.
Thank you for this very detailed review. The DWF version is being discounted at the moment (Q3 2023) to 880 euros on the Dell website. I think that’s a very fair deal for this good first gen QD Oled screen.
The HDR luminance graph in the video was missing the first datapoints (1% white patch), which gives the brightest reading. Refer to written review for the complete and correct graph - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Contrast_and_brightness.
Note added to written review - whilst AMD GPUs seem to require that a monitor is specifically FreeSync-certified to use the technology via HDMI, not all devices are as fussy. The Xbox Series S/X can use make use of Adaptive-Sync VRR via HDMI on this model.
I have this monitor. It is the best. No way i can game without ultrawide either too.
Great review. One suggestion if I may -- please keep your text notes on screen for more than 1 second so we don't have to rewind the video. Thanks for your detailed work. It has informed me to make a better purchase.
Agreed, some of the notes are too long to read in the time given. They also flash up briefly and might be missed entirely. Will make sure they're displayed for longer in future videos.
I have this monitor and love it! I use an all black wallpaper, hidden taskbar, and hidden desktop icons to avoid burn in. It’s worked great for my OLED TVs I’ve used for monitors.
Glad you're enjoying it. I'm still using it (when not actively reviewing other screens) and haven't had any issues with image retention or burn-in. And per the review I'm not taking any special measures, just using the monitor's own integrated measures and making sure the screen 'sleeps' after 20 mins of inactivity. I intend to see how it fares over the long term with this 'treat it like an LCD' approach. If Samsung's marketing is to be believed, it should be more resistant to image retention than the TVs you've used. But I like your cautious approach, you're doing all the right things.
You got a 3 year warranty so no need to do those things.
Amazing review..went over all the important details. I was especially looking for info on the flickering you mentions in VRR. very informative.. subbed.
Glad you liked it, appreciate the sub!
The release of this beast was nothing short to a nightmare. Delivery date is 29.09. directly from Dell and Amazon (Eu) never had it listed even once....
Given the panel production still needs to be scaled up and the global supply chain issues, I can't say that surprises me. Can still appreciate how frustrating that is.
Thanks for the review, it was good to see the monitor in use with different media, a lot of other reviews show very small glimpses. Was concerned about the curvature etc and the screen time really helped put this to ease for me
Glad it was helpful! 🙂Good to see it made you more comfortable with the idea of the curve. It's something you'll likely stop noticing at all when you've used the monitor in person for a bit, too.
I've had the previous model AW3420DW for a couple years. It's the same 34" and 1800R curve. I stopped noticing the curve in the first week of owning the monitor, and now I actually prefer curved panels if it's a 21:9 ultrawide.
Curve is seriously needed for such 21:9 ultra wide screens!
Your review and Tim from Hardware Unboxed are the best ones so far. I'm trying to sell my Gigabyte FO48U and get one of these. Starting to get a little bit annoyed with the aggressive ABL and want a smaller screen again.
Have you got one on order? Might be worth the wait if you've got a screen you can use in the meantime. Aggressive ABL really is annoying for desktop usage, really nice to see it's not an issue on this one. And also the overwhelming size of a 48" screen is completely understandable as an annoyance.
@@PCMonitors I had one on order but I got tired of waiting and cancelled. I went to my parents a couple days ago and found my old BenQ XL2730Z 1440p 144Hz FreeSync monitor. The gamma flickering is awful and it's way more noticeable than on any OLED, but it still works and the color accuracy is not as bad as I remember it being for a TN panel.
I recall the XL2730Z having all sorts of odd 'artifacts' related to voltage regulation. VRR flickering wouldn't surprise me. Was one of the first VRR experiences I had - what a blast from the past. 🙂
@@PCMonitors It's certainly a blast from the past for me. It was my first FreeSync monitor and it was my upgrade to 1440p. I was using an R9 290 at the time, and even though it wouldn't hit 100 fps in more demanding games, FreeSync made a huge difference in smoothing things out at lower frame rates. And like I said in my previous comment, color accuracy is not that bad for being a TN panel. Using it now, it's better than memory serves. Yeah it's not on the level of an IPS or OLED, but it's more than acceptable for just gaming. Viewing angles are total garbage and just how I remember TN panels being lmao.
Even on my phone's display this thing looked stunning af! I ordered one 🙌🏼
Hope you enjoy the monitor!
I was waiting for your review! Thank you. I was really excited for this monitor until a saw a couple of videos demonstrating the fan noise....
Which for me and most people with the monitor is a complete non-issue. You can't accurately demonstrate that with a video, so it's not a good way to judge it. Either way, would always be nice if it didn't have such active cooling.
@@PCMonitors As far as i know this cooling only goes for the Nvidia G-Sync Module? monitors without it, would be much better.
@@PCMonitors its still audible though. That means they used cheap fans on a premium monitor.
"Audible" depends on room conditions and other aspects, though. And certainly how noticeable or bothersome that noise is - that's pretty subjective. It's not a good reason to dismiss the monitor in my view - if you hear it in person and find it bothersome, fair enough. I do feel any cooling fan seems redundant on an OLED screen - for powerful FALD solutions that generate a lot of heat, fair enough. But I would expect passive cooling to do just fine here.
Phenomenal review. Was already going to buy this monitor for my new set up, but your review solidified my decision. Cheers!
Glad you found it useful! And I'm sure you'll enjoy this very unique monitor.
This is a solid review, i find your format very good compared to a lot of other youtubers, if possible, review the Samsung Geo 9 mini led
Thanks for your efforts! Great review as always :) It's a really tempting monitor but I can't justify buying one right now as my LG38GN950 isn't that old. But I hope we see more OLED in the desktop market. Really interested in seeing this monitor after a year or so to see whether or not burn in will be an issue.
Re 11:15 I found the slide-on cover to be very fiddly, and it would produce the same gaps you were showing until I jimmied putting it on and off until everything went in flush.
So you might be able to get your cover to fit snugly with a bit more fiddling, or it could be gapping due to manufacturing error and tolerances. In any case, it's definitely not a robust design, and definitely feels cheap for a $1200 monitor.
Great review as usual, really enjoyed the HDR part!
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I appreciate your wonderful review of this monitor and really helped me decide to buy, keep up the great work 👏👏
Glad it was helpful and I hope you enjoy the monitor!
thanks for review, i really like your channel and great website (which i already used many years ago to compare monitors). Alienware AW3423DW or AW3423DWF this thing with flickering in dark zones make me thing that maybe gsync is worth this impovements, generally i would prefer good quality in dark and dark shades over max brightness (although max brightness will be needed if some kind of strobing will be implemanted in next models). I'm more used to the lower brightness, i would be worried too high brightness even with hdr could cause headache and i can play in dark when needed for a better quality/immersion, for the same reason i always choose plasma (panasonic for this matter) over lcds for tv and i write from such now. I wonder will there be quality QD-OLED tv's like this, maybe 55" that will also be good for gaming and with a similiar prices to lg oled? I'm not buying right now, i only have rtx 2600 atm so would be hard to get good enough fps but i'm interested for the future, this are the first QD-OLED monitor models..
I certainly appreciate the G-SYNC module myself and feel most reviewers gloss over its benefits, perhaps because they don't test in a rigorous enough way with actual gaming or similar testing to reveal them. I think they're both nice monitors though, lots of enjoyment from both but my personal recommendation still remains the AW3423DW - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/gaming-monitors/. 🙂 I also look forward to QD-OLED technology expanding further in the monitor space, I'd love to see '4K' UHD options in monitor sizes and also larger ultrawides.
This monitor is incredible.
I love your reviews! Watched it before I bought my x35 and now I'm watching it as I wait for this monitor!
One question though. Did you notice a difference in picture quality or HDR quality between 175hz 8bit FCR and 144hz 10 bit? Having an internal struggle between which I should run and would really appreciate your opinion. Thanks!
I can pretty much guarantee you won't notice a difference. 34:50. This will be clear when you get the monitor and try both settings yourself.
@@PCMonitors Awesome thank you! Sorry I missed that section of the video. So when I get the monitor I set it to 175hz and the dithering through the GPU will happen automatically? Or is there a setting I need to do in the nvidia control panel? Thanks again I really appreciate the response 🙏
It will automatically be applied, you can just keep the driver settings at default.
Would love to see Warframe for these hdr reviews, plenty of gold and metallics to go around there. Love the detailed review
I should be getting this beast in few days, can't wait.
Great video !
How is it so far?
technical and proffesional,thanks
Hi, thank you so much for the review!! I´m getting one now and would like to know if you have a "best settings" recommendation for the monitor if possible. Thanks in advance!!
Don't have a video for this, but the settings I'd recommend trying are the 'Test Settings' found at the end of the 'Calibration' section of the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration.
@@PCMonitors thank you so much!! I'll try them whenever It arrives☺️.
BF2042 looks so good on that monitor
Holy shit. This review is fantastic. What an amazing job
Thanks for the review
What is the firmware for your specific monitor?
th-cam.com/video/Pdz4z5MjJU4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gQP_aZFTfhaFap5K&t=924
A phenomenal review, full of personal impressions backed up by facts. After it, I seriously considered buying it, despite the new technology. The only concern me is possible burn-in.
You replied in the comments that you will be using the monitor for a long time as an LCD display.
What is the result? Did you get any burnout on it?
No issues with it so far, not even minor image retention. I technically don't use it as heavily as regular users might (given I spend time with other monitors whilst reviewing them). But I've used it pretty heavily even so, including for productivity tasks. It has run through multiple 'panel refresh' cycles now which it does after every 1500 hours of use. 🙂
@@PCMonitors Wow, thanks for such a quick response, appreciate it!
Partly because of your detailed article on the site, I chose the 21:9 format. Relatively recently bought an Acer X34 S, which is a great monitor, but right now I have a good deal on an AW34DW. I want to use it like a regular monitor, without hiding the panels and shortcuts (sic!). So I'll probably give this beauty a try.
Really thorough review. I greatly appreciate the real world use takes. I appreciate Hardware Unboxings review, but I feel his perspective really comes from a place of immense privilege and his final words seemed waaaay too nit picky and too many “on paper” problems for the vast majority of consumers purchasing this monitor.
I think Tim’s review was attempting to provide the “tougher than normal” treatment that people sometimes apply to products they like. Tim just didn’t provide that context before all the complaints. He later clarified that the Alienware is his favourite gaming monitor on the market and he is using it himself as his main gaming monitor, so any complaints he had with the product should be considered in that light.
Hi, sorry to bother you again, but really this channel is the most trustworthy for me for anything related to Monitor. So, my Alienware AW3423DW got damaged in transport and while i expect a refund, i was wondering if you have a better recommendation than this monitor for Ultrawide QD-OLED Gsync display.
Thanks in advance!! :D
Depends on local pricing really, but have a look at this and maybe the threads linked to - pcmonitors.info/articles/best-gaming-monitors/.
Great review. How do you find text sharpness when using apps like Word with this panel? Other reviews have pointed out issues if text editing is a high use scenario. Thanks! 👍
Covered in detail in the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration. As noted there, very subjective and not everyone would find it a problem at all.
image retention isn't the same as burn in. my current IPS panel has some bad image retention after displaying solid white which can be noticeable on the desktop, but its got no burn in at all. the image vanishes after the pixels change colour again.
They're usually lumped together and used interchangeably, but that's correct. Image retention can be temporary and LCDs do indeed sometimes suffer from this. 'Burn-in' implies permanent damage.
Wonderful review, the write-up is excellent and I subscribed. One question, was Gsync enabled for your input lag test that resulted in 5.17ms input lag?
Rtings reported 7.9ms at 175hz, native res, no gsync enabled. Curious if enabling Gsync might actually be decreasing input lag by reducing signal processing, which would be pretty cool and totally unique.
G-SYNC was active in the driver and monitor, yes.
@@PCMonitors That is legitimately amazing. I actually think gsync is reducing the input latency on this monitor which I’ve never seen on any other display.
Is this better than the Samsung G8 OLED Ultrawide monitor? Also the g sync ultimate does that provide a better experience with HDR? Thanks
I'd recommend reading through this thread - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/aw3423dw-vs-meg-342c-qd-oled-and-others/.
@@PCMonitors thank you. Great read.
Are you going to review the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8? I’d love to see your thoughts on it. Really enjoy your reviews.
Glad you enjoy the reviews. No plans to look at that one but have shared my interpretation based on a fairly detailed Chinese-language review here - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/samsung-s32bg85-odyssey-neo-g8-review-notes-from-translated-video/. Overall I think it offers a bit of a mixed experience really. Personally dislike the strength of the curve, the limited gamut for a QD LED backlight solution, 'static interlace patterns' and relatively poor sustained or bright-shade dominant luminance levels for Mini LED. But it seems to be a bit of a positive progression from the G9 and retains strong responsiveness for the panel type with a far above average HDR experience. On the contrast side, at least.
I bought this monitor and paired it with 3080ti. To sum up for sdr and hdr content Universal best to use creator mode and 2.4 gamma and hdr 1000 Yes? This is your recomandation? I use standard and brightness pumped to 100
Personal preferences come into play here, but yes I would recommend 'Creator Mode' and '2.4' gamma for SDR usage, and the 'HDR Peak 1000' setting for HDR - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration. If you like how things look with 'Standard' and maximum brightness under SDR that's up to you, keep using that.
Awesome Review👍 do you think it's worth waiting for the F Verion ? Im very scared about the fan noise:)
Glad you liked it! I would expect the 'F' model to be very similar to this in many respects - but without the fan, narrower VRR range and very slightly lower refresh rate. So if you're worried about the fan then it probably would be worth waiting for that for peace of mind. 🙂
@@PCMonitors Thanks ;) but im not sure because i hat a acer x34 with gsync Modul in the past,my current display is a odyssey g7a...and im not sure but like you said in the video i also finding that the gsync Modul is slighty smoother...im sensitive to this so its really hard i would say :) i alway enjoy that extra fluidy from my acer 🤔 with the gsync modul its working allmost perfectly so 😁
Yeah it's tricky if you are that sensitive to microstuttering. I personally didn't find the fan bothersome as I mentioned in the video. Would be better if it wasn't there, but it wasn't bothersome on my unit and in my listening environment. I've certainly used some models with fans that I found pretty obnoxious (X35 I tested was bad for this).
@@PCMonitors Thanks ;) my pc is dead silent all parts are custom watercooled thats why im worried about the fan :)
PS If the subpixel bleed on text is bothering anyone, I managed to get a good results with:
1. ClearType Tuning
2. Turning HDR mode on in Windows
No. 1 helps with the subpixel rendering, but no. 2 really helped tone down the color bleeding. With HDR1000 mode on the monitor and HDR turned off in Windows 10, colors were super-saturated and the subpixel bleed was obnoxious. Turning HDR mode on in Windows made a big difference in taming both the color saturation and text legibility. There is still slight subpixel bleed on text, but it's comparable to color fringing on a good CRT, like a Trinitron.
When viewing SDR content under HDR, gamma is greatly upset, as is shade representation and colour accuracy in general. Plus an aggressive ABL is used which results in clear brightness fluctuations on the desktop for some content. The gamut is clamped to sRGB as well - so it certainly should reduce the intensity of any fringing. Did you try 'Creator' mode with 'sRGB' selected for colour space under SDR? That will tone down saturation without the other issues related to running the monitor under HDR for SDR content. It doesn't affect the colour representation or the gamma in the same way, so perhaps it's worth experimenting with different gamma settings as well.
@@PCMonitors Thanks for the suggestions, yeah, I haven't tried clamping down the gamut to sRGB because I hate having to switch the monitor between sRGB and HDR*, as I like to watch HDR content in windowed MPC-HC + MadVR, as well as run games in borderless fullscreen. I did notice the ABL fluctuations you mentioned, but have been happy (and pleasantly surprised) with the color shading and tones in HDR + Windows HDR mode. I believe using True Black 400 mode would reduce the ABL fluctuations, but I do most of my whitespace work (in Excel, Notepad++) on my secondary monitor, an AW3418DW, so can live with the odd case that the brightness fluctuates on the AW3423DW.
*If switching modes was a single button press, and if the screen didn't cut out every time it switches, and obcure the middle of the screen with a 'DP input' sign every time, I might find it less intrusive, but right now it's pretty annoying to switch modes or rely on the OS to automatically switch when it detects a HDR game.
Dldsr also helps a LOT
Watching this review on oled smartphone. When I found oleds i changed every device i have to oled. Smartwatch smartphone tv and ordered now alienware qd
Hope you enjoy it! I'm the same - had my first taste of OLED on smartphones. Had an Alienware laptop in the household with OLED as well and it was great. And kept this AW3423DW for myself. 🙂
@@PCMonitors is it possible to play cs go with black bars ?
Short answer is yes. Long answer, refer to the 'Interpolation and upsclaing' section of the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Interpolation_and_upscaling.
Adam, Thank you (and your team members, if any) for this comprehensive and extremely insightful/helpful review. If everyone did their job as well as you, with your level of expertise and attention to detail, this would be a much better world. Please keep up the outstanding work (which honestly makes all other monitor reviews pale in comparison). It would be great if you could provide some portable monitor reviews (gaming and productivity monitors on the go for use with a laptop). I’m in the market for one now and there are a dearth of reviews out there for those particular type of monitors, certainly none as comprehensive as the ones you produce. Thank you very much and please keep churning out these amazing reviews.
I appreciate the kind words, nice to have all the hard work appreciated! I like to get really 'involved' with all the monitors I review and use them as my main monitor for ~3 weeks or sometimes longer. This means I can only average around 1 review per month so I need to be highly selective about the models I look at. And I genreally much prefer sticking to models I'm personally interested in using - which unfortunately excludes portable monitors. Or anything smaller than ~24". If I had a team to delegate such reviews to I'd certainly do that, but alas I do the 'heavy lifting' myself with some impressions added by my very patient and keen-eyed partner. 🙂
Could the gamma inconsistencies be fixed in a firmware update or is it inherent to the QD-OLED panel?
Good question. It's difficult to say, but I suspect it's inherent to the panel and it would require an extra processing layer to correct which this monitor and presumably monitors in general wouldn't include. I expect to see other monitors using the panel exhibit similar behaviour, but it's all very new technology and it remains to be seen what the real answer is.🙂
It's already confirmed by Dell they won't be posting firmware updates for the monitor. Some have claimed you need to RMA to get the newer firmware, but I also haven't seen a newer firmware version.
Great video. I wonder if anyone has a report on this monitor after a year about burn in. I really want to buy this!, but for a grand i would hope I would get at least 3 or 4 years out of it
I've been using the monitor for over a year now as my main monitor when not reviewing (and also when reviewing, as one of my reference screens) and have had no 'burn in' issues. This includes quite a bit of productivity usage. Also remember that you have 3 years of 'burn in cover' on the warranty with this one.
@@PCMonitors really appreciate the response and that's great news. Would you still recommend the DW if I have an nvidia card? Or is the dwf OK
I still recommend the DW as I feel the G-SYNC module provides some benefits (lower VRR flickering, slightly smoother and more seamless VRR experience, tighter HDR tuning) - pcmonitors.info/recommendations/gaming-monitors/. But you'll probably really enjoy either model, they don't offer a massively different experience.
@@PCMonitors appreciate your time. You got a new sub 🥳
I’d like to see indeed brighter displays from QD-Oled tech. It doesn’t have to be sustained brightness.
Hopefully a polarizer will be added too.
When you are watching content that's not 21:9, do you see any black bars on the side? Are they visible?
Yes, it's as if you're watching on a 27" screen for 16:9 content. Some content is between the two and there are techniques that can be used to fill more of the screen if you wish. Refer to our article on the topic - pcmonitors.info/articles/games-movies-and-the-desktop-at-3440-x-1440/#Movie_watching.
@@PCMonitors As this is an OLED monitor and can deliver true blacks, the bars shouldn't be visible, right?
As covered in the review, that would depend on the lighting in the room. In dimmer lighting these bars appear deep black and are quite easy to ignore - though they’ll lighten up along with the room due to the screen surface.
@@PCMonitors I'll probably wait for a 16:9 monitor. I watch a lot of 16:9 content and I cannot get used to the bars on the side to be honest. Thanks for providing me with some useful information. Your reviews are very informative and detailed.
Understandable. You may be interested in the upcoming LG 27GR95QE - pcmonitors.info/lg/lg-ultragear-27gr95qe-240hz-wqhd-oled/.
I've yet to see this discussed anywhere, but what is the correct contrast level in the OSD when this monitor is set to HDR Peak 1000?
It's not discussed because, as is usually the case, it should be left at its default value as that is optimal and what the monitor is correctly tuned using.
@@PCMonitors Thank you for clarifying. Your channel/website is now one of my favorite display resources. Keep up the fantastic work.
So it is not as fast as an actual Esport monitor but the fastest in ultrawide. If you have a good reference for HDR you don't need to worry about viewers' monitors. Compare them side by side is something else other than numbers. I have AW3423DW on the way. Would you say it is a legendary upgrade compared to PG35VQ or just a short term upgrade?
Depends what you mean by "fast"? In terms of input lag that's true, though few would be able to detect or take issue with that. Visually it's very fluid and the input lag is low enough as to not impede the 'connected feel' for most people. Higher refresh rates are also available, but not with such consistently rapid pixel responses as found here.
HDR capture is far from perfect and you're still limited to seeing what the screen you're viewing the video on can output rather than the capabilities of the monitors themselves. Furthermore, there is disruptive processing and heavy compression which occurs on TH-cam and when editing videos which cause further inaccuracies. These are even worse for those viewing the SDR version of this HDR video (which the majority of viewers will be doing anyway), which is 'messed up' beyond what a normal SDR video would be. That's why reviewers need to use figures and/or detailed subjective descriptions to convey what a monitor looks like - ignore those at your peril.
Those figures and subjective impressions clearly explore how the ABL impacts the image on the Dell Alienware and its relative absence on the X35/PG35VQ. They clearly explore the superior gamut and saturation capability of the Dell Alienware, its less impeding screen surface and per-pixel illumination advantages which free it from any 'haloing'. There is simply no way to accurately convey that to a viewer in a video - if only there was, it would save reviewers a tremendous amount of time. But alas, side by side comparisons remain a heavily flawed approach when it comes to monitor assessment. You would see there are 'differences' and get a limited qualitative impression of those differences. Whilst also seeing pseudo-differences and forming a false opinion based on those. The figures and detailed subjective impressions provided are far more valuable and more representative of what you'd see from the monitor in person.
To add, I know people in the film and cinematography industry who produce HDR content for a living and have since discussed this with them. They agree it is a complete waste of time trying to show people a visual comparison between two screens. You're working with too much 'noise' at every step of the process for such a comparison to suit the intended purpose. You'd be best off individually recording each monitor and carefully post-processing the content on an HDR reference monitor, then splicing the two separate captures together. And unless the user has a precisely calibrated HDR reference monitor beyond the capabilities of the screens being shown and is viewing a minimally or uncompressed video file, there's really no point.
@@PCMonitors I think the input lag would be more than acceptable for someone like me who's not a competitive gamer and just enjoys single player and online co-op with friends.
Yeah I think so. I mean, if people are super-sensitive to latency and highly competitive the argument could be made that the 240Hz+ options would be more suitable really. I see this one as more of a casual to semi-competitive gaming option. Sure some might find it fine competitively, but it's not really designed around that as a key focus.
@@PCMonitors Sounds nice. BTW how does it compare to PG35VQ?
The Alienware is better in most respects. The PG35VQ is able to sustain higher brightness (doesn't have the ABL 'issues' with lots of bright content under HDR), but contrast is nowhere near as good under SDR or HDR, the colours are less vibrant and pixel responsiveness is MUCH worse. Input lag is similar (based on the X35 we reviewed, anyway - pcmonitors.info/reviews/acer-x35/#Responsiveness).
May I ask you've mentioned you've been running it for about a month without image retention issues - do you use it with the start menu bar at the bottom extended periods of time? I'm most worried about these bars when using the monitor with the start and menu bars showing over the years to come... certainly won't be running full screen applications more than maybe 5% of the time. Thanks!
This is covered in the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Image_Retention: "During our review period we spent around a month using the monitor pretty solidly, including with a good chunk of time spent on the desktop. We didn’t take any specific measures beyond what we’d take with LCD monitors we test. We set Windows to ‘Turn off display’ after 20 minutes of inactivity in the power options, but that was it. No auto-hiding taskbar or turning the monitor off as soon as we leave the room."
I've been using mine since March 8th, I use it for 8hrs a day, 5 days a week for work and plenty of gaming and surfing otherwise. No image retention yet.
Any thought on the contrast comparison to the Asus PG32UQX? (I have a fear of blooming 😂). Still trying to convince myself not to buy one but instead wait for this type of panel tech to come into a 32” 4K. Samsung G8 is not looking to be the amazing monitor it was touted as which was my biggest hope for 2022
The lack of blooming is certainly nice if it's something you're sensitive to or find bothersome. It really depends on the content - as I said in the PG32UQX review, it's generally not something that jumps out at you when gaming or watching video content but there are some instances where it's there and can be potentially bothersome. The desktop is certainly superior on the OLED as inconsistencies in the local dimming are all too apparent there, in my view. If you are viewing content with a lot of small bright areas against much darker shades then the limitations of the local dimming would also become apparent.
Cyberpunk (didn't show that that in the PG32UQX review, did show it here) is an interesting one to focus on. There are small bright lights (street lamps etc.) against very dark backgrounds, particularly in the distance, where the absolute distinction between bright and dark is much better on an OLED like this. The game actually has a natural bloom effect anyway for some of the bright neon lights etc. so it isn't the case that you'll just see halos around things on the PG32UQX because of the monitor and nothing on the AW3423DW there. On that title and elsewhere you need to consider the bright-dominated scenes where the PG32UQX copes better and delivers superior luminance levels, too.
It really depends on your preferences for absolute contrast vs. brightness - and your room conditions. If you often sit in a dimly lit room or prefer enjoying HDR content that way, the Dell Alienware delivers the superior experience. In a brighter room I'd give the ASUS an edge for its superior brightness. Preferences will vary.
@@PCMonitors thank you kindly for such a detailed response I appreciate your time 😊👍
What are the specs of your machine and what are the video settings? I'm impressed you were able to get the game locked at 175fps like that without making some compromises. Any info would be great!
Main reason for that is the RTX 3090, which is mentioned in the video. CPU is a slightly overclocked 12700K, 32GB DDR4 3600 RAM.
And now this Panel in a 32 inch size with 4K 144 herz for 1000 Dollars and it would be perfect!
That would, actually, be a thing of beauty.😉
I am also someone who purchased my X35 based on your review. After owning it for 2 years I still love it but this monitor has me thinking, should I sell my X35 for this? The HDR on the X35 is amazing. I love games on it but I also like watching my physical blu ray collection using the X35. I use software called Power DVD and it lets me tweak the HDR settings and brightness. Its truly amazing when Im watching movies. If you were me, would you sell the x35 for this panel? I'm torn because the X35 is heavy duty and this Samsung monitor looks very flimsy in comparison.
If you're really enjoying the X35, just keep it! It still gives an awesome HDR experience. QD-OLED is a very interesting technology for sure, maybe when you upgrade in the future it will come in different sizes and resolutions so you could also upgrade in that respect as well.
As long as you're aware of the (admittedly very small) risk of burn in associated with OLED, I think it might be worth it. HDR on an OLED is a different beast entirely compared to even the best FALD displays with mini LED backlighting.
The amazing contrast with pixel-perfect precision is certainly something on OLED, that's for sure. The colour reproduction is also a nice upgrade in this case as well - more vibrant and consistent. Though its sustained brightness for scenes where bright scenes dominate is still a comparative weaknesvs the X35. If you can afford to buy the monitor without selling the X35 first, could be worth scratching the itch and seeing for yourself whether it's worth the swap.
@@PCMonitors Update I bought the AW3423DW and kept the X35. Wow, this panel is amazing and I hate to say it but its such an improvement in the overall experience compared to the X35. The HDR coupled with the QD-Oled is out of this world. The X35 is currently boxed up in my closet. I'm not ready to part with it yet because I loved it so much. However, the Alienware display is amazing. I even enjoy the HDR 400 setting. I feel like HDR 1000 can get a little too bright at time for me. I have only had it for a week but I look forward to experimenting with it with different content and games.
Need a 1080p version, cost alot to drive a 4k monitor for gaming.
This is 3440 x 1440 so not as high as that ('4K' UHD = 3840 x 2160). Certainly hope to see many other sizes and resolutions with QD-OLED technology in future.
I currently have a 55cx love it but want something smaller should I go for the c1 48 inch or the Alienware qd oled?
Depends how much smaller you want it to be, really. If you really enjoy the 55cx and just want something somewhat smaller the 48" C1 might be a good fit. Or a 42" alternative (C2) or an upcoming monitor like the ASUS PG42UQ using that panel, perhaps.
can you give any calibration recommendations for me as a gamer? should i stick with the presets (if so, which one?) or should i download a colour profile? sorry, i'm really new to all this
Refer to the 'Test Settings' (and calibration table) in the written review, it's all covered there - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration. As noted everybody has their own preferences, however. There are no 'right' or 'wrong' settings in this case so feel free to follow the recommendations there but also feel free to make your own adjustments according to taste.
@@PCMonitors wow you are fast, tyvm ! subscribed !
Battlefield is mastered that way
did you ever experience any grey flickering and short (like, fraction of a second) blanking of the screen?
Happens to me on desktop and game usage and is very annoying (not talking about the "normal" vrr flicker,)
i get this in irregular intervals, even at 60Hz and without gsync
No, I didn't. Make sure you've firmly connected the cables and perhaps try a different DP cable.
Is the monitor still fine? I wanna use it all day for excel work/gaming
It is, yes. As promised I'll update the written review if any issues with image retention or 'burn-in' are observed - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Image_Retention.
@@PCMonitors good
What graphics card would you recommend to use this monitor… I have a gtx 1080 and I doubt I’d be able to play anything on this
As you might expect the resolution is some way between 2560 x 1440 (WQHD / 1440p) and 3840 x 2160 ('4K' UHD) in terms of how difficult it is to drive. So you should look at GPU benchmarks with that in mind. With a GTX 1080 you would have to turn down a lot of settings and shouldn't expect to sustain very high frame rates.
Would you recommend the samsung oled g8 over the neo g8?
I have the neo g8 would oled g8 be a better experience over neo g8?
I am concerned about the decreased ppi
I'd recommend (pcmonitors.info/recommendations/gaming-monitors/ ) this AW3423DW over the Neo G8. Related thread - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/aw3423dw-vs-meg-342c-qd-oled-and-others/. The QD-OLED ultrawides do have more going for them in terms of HDR overall. They have a superior gamut, superior colour consistency, far superior contrast (millions of dimming zones) and a screen surface that better preserves vibrancy compared to the Neo G8 (or G7 we've reviewed). The brightness in some scenarios is stronger on the Neo G8 and the pixel density is certainly superior, something you'd have to assess for yourself.
@@PCMonitors Thanks so much. I think I am gonna go ahead with oled g8 and treat myself
Hope you enjoy it, feel free to share your thoughts if you get it.
I have enjoyed my Samsung CRG9 but have never seen an OLED in person other than my phone screen. How different does an OLED look compared to an IPS or VA panel. I have always been worried about Burn In. Not necessarily that burn in will occur but that i will have to constantly stress about it. So in your opinion this monitor is one I could use like any other and not stress about burn in as long as I leave the default burn in mitigation settings on?
As covered in the review, this model is really on a different level to any LCD when it comes to contrast and pixel responsiveness. And vastly superior to the Samsung CRG9 when it comes to colour consistency and vibrancy. You should really try it out and see for yourself, if you can. QD-OLED promises reduced burn-in risk and I feel they've put the right mitigation measures in place. As per the review I will be testing this one longer term and don't take any special measures - I simply let the monitor do its thing with its integrated measures. And let the monitor go to 'sleep' after 20 minutes of inactivity. pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Image_Retention
@@PCMonitors alright thx. I'll order it since there is a 2+ month wait and check for any updates in the meantime. Awesome review BTW.
How bright do you need it? Do you need to sneeze in order for you to like the brightness?
Under the lens of HDR... No monitor will go anywhere near as bright as even a moderately bright day outside, even looking at reflected light. So keeping things sane, you can notice a difference when the screen actively dims in scenes such as those demonstrated in the review. Bright content just doesn't look the same at
are you sure about the LFC is triggering at below 15 fps/hz ?
Yes I am sure. I can confirm my unit triggers at 15Hz (15fps) via in-game testing with various titles. The G-SYNC Pendulum demo also confirms it matches 20fps with 20Hz - that is the lowest frame rate supported by the demo.
Do you think the PG32UQX is overall a superior monitor to this in HDR given it’s high brightness would give it a lot of pop in HDR games?
Really tough to say. The per-pixel illumination of this and absolute precision it gives is nice. But some people do like the 'pop' on the PG32UQX and impressive ability to sustain very high brightness where bright shades dominate. I'd call the PG32UQX's HDR more 'impactful', but I wouldn't like to say it's flat-out better.
Have you noticed after quitting a game the desktop is very, very dark? Is this just a HDR windows glitch kinda issue?
I haven't noticed that. Could be a specific game issue? Does it return to normal if you disable HDR in Windows, or do you need to turn the monitor off then on again?
Does the cooling fan just cool the G-sync module? Or the entire panel?
So if I don't just G-sync then the fan stays off?
It's part of the G-SYNC module, but can't be disabled simply by not using G-SYNC. The G-SYNC module replaces the scaler of the monitor and is responsible for more than just G-SYNC or the VRR capability of the monitor.
@@PCMonitors I see, well crap. I just RMA’d my asus PG35VQ because the fan won’t stop spinning even when the monitor has been off for hours. So I don’t really want a monitor with a fan anymore.
I haven't had the AW3423DW's fans stay on for longer than about 20 minutes after tuning the screen off and they usually shut off sooner. It will depend on room temperature and how warm the monitor got, but I don't think the fans on this one are as quirky or as potentially annoying as on the PG35VQ (or X35, which I tested).
Should I watch movies and tv shows in srgb or dci-p3?
Entirely up to you, depending on your preferences for vibrancy. Normal SDR content is the same whether it's a game or movie in that it's created with sRGB in mind and displaying this content using the full native gamut of the monitor (i.e. DCI-P3 setting) will provide oversaturation and a more vivid look.
@@PCMonitors The film industry is using DCI-P3 as a standard so isn't it better if I also use it? HDR is also using DCI-P3.
DCI-P3 is certainly a common standard for actual cinema viewing and it's a common target alongside Rec. 2020 for HDR. But that doesn't translate to normal viewing on streaming media platforms such as Netflix, TH-cam, Disney+ etc for normal SDR usage. sRGB is the target there and a wider gamut will technically oversaturate things. If the content looks more appealing to you using the DCI-P3 setting then by all means stick with that, but if things look clearly oversaturated and you don't like how things look stick with sRGB. No need to overthink things here. Even if sRGB may be more 'correct' and 'as intended', it's an extremely restrictive gamut which misses out a lot of colours you'll see in the real world and can also make certain fantasty worlds look quite bland in a way.
@@PCMonitors Is there a way to watch HDR in sRGB?
Not specifically. But not sure why you'd want to artificially restrain the gamut like that given that the wide gamut is used appropriately under HDR on the monitor.
Hi i just bought the same monitor and there is no sound via the HDMI port! Does it have any speakers at all?
No, it doesn't.
can you review and compare samsung g8 to this the G8 gets brighter in hdr right ?
No plans to. Samsung doesn't specify brightness (pcmonitors.info/samsung/samsung-odyssey-oled-g8-s34bg85-175hz-ultrawide-with-hdmi-2-1/), but it uses the same panel so I don't expect a significant difference there.
@@PCMonitors no I meant the 4k @ 240hz mini led one with 1196 fald zones and hdr 1000 displayport 1.4 and hdmi 2.1 my reason for picking g8 over ultrawide is ultrawide does not play well with consoles and I play console and pc so I need 16:9 format
Ah right. Well we've got a review of the Neo G7 coming very soon which is very similar to the Neo G8 in many ways, including HDR. This will be available for channel members tomorrow, hopefully. Will also be drawing some comparisons in the review (and using some of the same scenes used in the AW3423DW review). The AW3423DW has superior colour reproduction and per-pixel illumination is still superior to 1196 dimming zones. But the Samsung still delivers impressive HDR contrast, has higher peak brightness and can sustain its brightness better than the AW3423DW where bright shades start to dominate. Really doubt you'd be disappointed with either HDR experience, agreed 16:9 makes more sense for consoles. 🙂
35:05
So did i understand this right, i can keep it at 175hz with 8bit and still get a 10bit picture ?
Under HDR with the help of GPU dithering, yes. 10-bit+ is always used for HDR content, without exception - how it is achieved differs but the end result is very similar. Further reading on that if you're interested - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/monitor-with-16-7-million-colors-vs-1-07-billion-colors-does-it-matter/#post-68316.
@@PCMonitors
Do i need to activate dithering in the GPU settings on a newer nvidia card or is that automatically activated when i set the monitor to 175hz with HDR ?
I watched a lot of monitor reviews from differemt channels and yours is by far the most detailed.
You got a sub from me.
Thank you very much.
Appreciate it! Doesn't matter what you select in Nvidia Control Panel. Whether you select 'Use default colour settings' or 'Use NVIDIA colour settings' where it will list '8 bpc', it will still give you 10-bit processing for HDR. 🙂
@@PCMonitors
Thank you very much 👍
Hi, power on off is instantly an image come on? and after sleep? Thanks
No it's not instant, but reasonably quick (quicker than some models).
Edit: ~5 seconds.
@@PCMonitors I have qd-oled samsung tv its instant, if you have time can you check how many seconds its take thank you
The panel type doesn't dictate how long it takes. I don't have access to the monitor right now so maybe somebody else can test this. If I remember to test this when I next use it I'll provide an update. From memory it's ~2-3 seconds but still not instant.
@PC Monitors. If not, then what dictate? Samsung G7 monitor takes ages display image hate it 🙂
The assistive electronics, including scaler (G-SYNC module in case of AW3423DW) as well as the specific panel used.
Still weird to me that without the eco mode, this display counts every hour being plugged into the wall into the panel refresh timer (1500h), no matter if the screen is actually turned on or not.
That is odd, but why wouldn't you just leave eco mode on? It doesn't cause any particular issues and ensures the timers work correctly.
@@PCMonitors yeah, now that I know that, I definitively will
Odd that it's even an option to be honest, when I reviewed the monitor I wasn't clear on what (if anything) it did and the manual wasn't helpful.
@@PCMonitors yeah I agree completely.
Great review thank you - what FoV where you using for Battlefield 5 ? I didn't notice any kind of distortion around the edges.
I am very sensitive about motion sickness and try to stay away from 21:9 but this one is amazing
Have watched many vids about ultrawides in the past and they all had this center looks ok but edges looked stretched when fast moving if you know what i mean
I didn't touch that, so it was set to default. I should add that sometimes there is apparent stretching in videos as they are more centred in your own field of vision and the curve can also be captured oddly. When you're actually using the monitor in person the edges are mainly engaging your peripheral vision and the effect of that and indeed the curve is quite subtle. If others have played around with the FOV then that could indeed mess things up as well.
@@PCMonitors Oki thank you very much :)
Hy, i Really want this monitor because I tired IPs. I work much on pc and I am afraid that reading text is affected by this monitor because I read on the internet. Is it really text affected on displaying? Thank you
I cover this in the review (mainly in the written review - pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-alienware-aw3423dw/#Calibration ). TLDR; most won't find it problematic or bothersome.
What setting should I use for this monitor HDR
Please refer to the relevant section of the review.
I need some help I really don’t know much but how do I get rid of the black border on the side of my screen while I’m on xbox
You can't. This is a 21:9 screen and you're using a 16:9 source. If the monitor had scaling options (which it doesn't) you'd just be stretching and distorting the image, so the black bars are preferable.
@@PCMonitors thank you so much
Thanks 👍💯
Link to wallpaper please?
Which section of the review?
QLED 27 FLAT +2560-1440 (240-300?)hz + gsync ult+ 3-4 years warrianty incl burn in = ~999$ price.
Why it is so difficult to release a perfect gaming monitor??!
this was cool
Compare with g8 neo of samsung
Apples to oranges. This screen has vastly superior contrast, a much wider gamu, superior colour consistency and viewing angle performance, superior pixel responsiveness and effectively millions of 'dimming zones'. The Samsung offers a superior pixel density and higher refresh rate, plus an (arguably too aggressive) curve. Both models have their quirks, but all in all I wouldn't recommend the Samsung (though the Neo G7 maybe worth considering if you find the quirks liveable) - forum.pcmonitors.info/topic/samsung-s32bg85-odyssey-neo-g8-review-notes-from-translated-video/.
Do you think this is worth replacing a 4k 144hz monitor for the oled hdr
Difficult to say really. It's pretty subjective as for some the pixel density is really important on a 4K 144Hz model (assuming it's ~32" or smaller). But the HDR on this is really very enjoyable indeed. As is the overall contrast, colour output and responsiveness. I guess it depends how strong your desire for change is. If you've used a 27" 1440p model before you'll know what to expect from the pixel density.
@@PCMonitors thanks for the reply, i game on a 27" 1440p and im happy with it buit my brother has the 4k 144 and he loves to game at 4k, but wasnt sure if the oled plus real hdr would be a better pic, guess i will have to treat myself to see if he likes it haha
iM USING MY LIFE SAVINGS TO BUY THIS INSTEAD OF SPENDING THIS ON A CHILD
Don't know whether to laugh or cry at that thought.
😃
Always first. 😉
You should really dampen the space your voice is recorded. There is so much noise going on it makes it hard to listen to you.
Not sure what you're talking about to be honest. Nobody else has raised any concerns. There was a fan on in the background because it was very warm in the room when this was recorded, but it's much quieter than my voice and doesn't seem to bother the vast majority. 🤷
@@PCMonitors I apologize, it might have been a problem on my end. I listened with the Zeppelin speaker at first and the sound was very boomy and hollow, not even turning the highs up 6dp and the lows down 6db helped that much.
But with in ears it wasn't an issue somehow.
A 3 year warranty is nice, but the technology is pretty new and I dislike e-waste, so due to the fact that I work/code on my desktop pc, I will skip this gen and take a closer look after these have been around a while. Currently I am waiting for a reviews on the Gigabyte M32UC. The other monitors in that series were pretty great and now that gpu prices are slowly coming down, I will probably buy a monitor in the next couple of months/weeks. If its similar to the M32U, but has better blacks and contrast it might be the one I will choose.
That's fair enough, something to keep an eye on perhaps. The M32UC and M32U are a bit 'apples to oranges'. It's not just the case of "better contrast" on the UC, you'll also get inferior colour consistency and likely a somewhat 'heavier' screen surface plus inferior pixel responsiveness. You'd need to weigh up what you want from the experience. I think the M32UC is a very interesting model for sure and quite unique in the market currently - might review it at some point - but it will have some weaknesses as well as strengths compared to its IPS counterpart.
@@PCMonitors You are right, there are some other factors, that was just the main hope I have for the M32UC. I just hope that the responsiveness is somewhat similar, if probably a little worse, I am not a competitive E-Sports player after all :) While its rare, there are some VA Panels with good responsiveness. Maybe they get it right, who knows. So the main difference for me would be colour consistency vs contrast and in that case I would choose the contrast.
@@PCMonitors more important for me would be pixel layout for text clarity, but I read something about ClearType helping with that a lot
ClearType wouldn't be able to correct 'partial subpixel illumination' which some VA models have. But I'm not sure the M32UC would have that issue - '4K' VA models are generally just fine in that respect. And any remaining slight issues would usually be cleared up with ClearType optimisation and also due to the very high pixel density very minor anyway🙂
@@PCMonitors ah, okay. you are the expert ^^
This monitor has 2 loud and annoying fans that turn on and off on their own. Don't buy this unless you are already deaf!
There may be an issue with your unit, because the fans on my unit (and this is confirmed by many others with their units) are actually quite quiet and unobtrusive. Not obvious above my ambient system or room noise and that is a pretty quiet listening environment most of the time. No issues with hearing here, either. Sensitivity to certain frequencies can still vary and so do listening environments, perhaps you're super-sensitive to the fans - though as I say, you may have a faulty unit.