Once they first arrived on the scene, OLED panels have been one thing of a unicorn. The know-how was confirmed, however low manufacturing yields saved them from getting into the buyer mainstream. OLED panels are nonetheless a premium product right now, however costs have come right down to a extra approachable stage. OLED telephones are commonplace, however desktop displays usually are not. You should buy a 48-inch display like Aorus’ FO48U, however is that really a desktop show?
Alienware has fulfilled a necessity with its AW3423DFW 34-inch ultra-wide curved OLED monitor. Along with a 1800R curvature, it sports activities 3440×1440 (WQHD) decision, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR with 1,000 nits peak and a large shade gamut. At this writing, it’s promoting for round $1,100.
Alienware AW3423DWF Specs
| Panel Sort / Backlight | Quantum Dot |
| Natural Mild-Emitting Diode (QD-OLED) | |
| Display screen Dimension / Side Ratio | 34 inches / 21:9 |
| Curve radius: 1800mm | |
| Max Decision & Refresh Fee | 3440×1440 @ 165 Hz |
| FreeSync: 48-165 Hz | |
| G-Sync Appropriate | |
| Native Colour Depth & Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3 |
| HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 | |
| Response Time (GTG) | 0.5ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 250 nits SDR |
| 1,000 nits HDR | |
| Distinction (mfr) | 1,000,000:1 |
| Audio system | None |
| Video Inputs | 2x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| 1x HDMI 2.0 | |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.2 | 1x up, 4x down |
| Energy Consumption | 40.7w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions | 32.1 x 16.4-20.7 x 14.3 inches |
| WxHxD w/base | (815 x 417-527 x 240mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 5 inches (127mm) |
| Bezel Width | High/sides: 0.4 inch (9mm) |
| Backside: 0.7 inch (17mm) | |
| Weight | 20.5 kilos (9.3kg) |
| Guarantee | 3 years |
The AW3423DFW introduces a brand new OLED variant to the combo, QD-OLED, the place the QD stands for Quantum Dot. You’ve probably heard of that tech related to LCD panels. Quantum Dots are dots made out of a light-emitting substance printed on a layer of movie. It may be positioned over the backlight of an LCD or sandwiched in entrance of an OLED array. When the dots are excited by mild power, they emit their very own colours. This widens the show’s shade gamut and will increase its complete mild output. The outcome is an effective factor for OLED, as a result of it has lagged behind LCD within the peak output metric for years.
The AW3423DFW has a bit extra shade than the typical OLED panel. The place most cowl between 90 and 95% of DCI-P3, the Alienware AW3423DFW fills over 107%. It additionally delivers loads of brightness. In HDR mode, it might probably hit 1,000 nits when rendering small highlights. It’s far brighter than the 55-inch AW5520QF I reviewed in 2019. Extra mild means higher dynamic vary. OLED panels already ship the blackest blacks of any show know-how. A better peak quantity simply means a good higher image.
The AW3423DWF’s gaming efficiency obtained equal consideration. The max refresh charge is 165 Hz, and each AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are supported. It additionally sports activities a claimed 0.1 ms response time. My measurements confirmed the identical efficiency as different 165 Hz screens, however throughout sensible commentary, I famous that it appeared smoother than an LCD panel working on the similar pace. It’s visually akin to a 240 Hz show, which suggests it’s making extra of the identical body charge.
After all, the curvature and the 21:9 side ratio additionally improve the gaming expertise. An 1800R radius strikes an excellent steadiness between immersion, of which there’s loads, and picture distortion, of which there’s none. The AW3423DWF is as effectively suited to work as it’s for leisure. Some avid gamers will recognize the AlienVision function that highlights the middle of the display for sniping. As well as, photographers will recognize its shade accuracy, which is manufacturing facility licensed. Throughout my checks, I discovered no want for calibration. And there’s a Creator mode, which lets the person select between DCI-P3 and sRGB shade gamuts.
Meeting and Equipment
Alienware, like its mum or dad firm Dell, ships its displays in sustainable packaging the place most of it’s recyclable. Fairly than crumbly foam, the contents are protected by molded cardboard pulp with bits of versatile foam positioned in just some essential spots. The stand and base bolt collectively, then the panel snaps to it. Two DisplayPort cables are included, one DP-to-DP and one DP-to-USB-C. You additionally get USB and an IEC energy twine for the interior energy provide. A big cowl snaps onto the again of the panel to cover the inputs. Cables may be routed via the stand and out the again of the bottom.
Product 360
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From the entrance, the AW3423DWF is all display with a really skinny bezel that’s flush-mounted. Alienware is printed on the backside, and you may see the ability button/LED on the decrease proper. The colour and impact may be managed within the OSD, together with two logos on the again. You’ll be able to select any shade of the rainbow or cycle via the complete spectrum. Or flip all the things off for a stealth look.
The stand could be very deep and rock stable. You’ll want practically 15 inches of desktop area to accommodate the bottom. Ergonomics embody -5/21 levels tilt, 20 levels swivel and a 110mm peak adjustment. You’ll be able to’t rotate the panel to portrait mode, however 5 levels of slant is built-in, ostensibly to accommodate desktops that aren’t stage.
You’ll be able to see a part bulge within the again surrounded by a grill that successfully vents the small quantity of warmth generated by the AW3423DWF. The Alien head and measurement designator, 34 on this case, are lit as much as let your opponents know what show you’re utilizing to defeat them. Below the enter panel cowl, you’ll discover two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs and a single HDMI 2.0. These decrying the dearth of two.1 will be aware that 2.0 accommodates gaming consoles that assist the 16:9 side ratio at 120 Hz, which suggests solely 2560×1440 pixels. Console customers will see black bars on both aspect of the picture whereas enjoying, and you will want to make use of DisplayPort for the complete 3440×1440 at 165 Hz. Peripherals are supported by 5 USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and 4 down. Two of them are beneath the entrance bezel, which is a pleasant comfort. The headphone jack can also be discovered there close to the OSD joystick.
OSD Options
The AW3423DWF’s menu system can be acquainted to any Dell or Alienware person. It’s managed solely by the joystick mounted on the backside middle of the panel.
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Urgent the joystick as soon as brings up a fast menu on the backside and a standing bar on the high of the display. The panel well being meter reveals inexperienced, yellow or purple based mostly on how lengthy it’s been because the panel or pixel refresh features have been final used. The fast menu offers entry to image mode AlienVision choices, inputs, darkish stabilizer and brightness/distinction.
There are 12 complete SDR presets, of which Customary is the default. It’s very correct and doesn’t want additional adjustment in case you’re OK with the complete shade gamut. For sRGB, have interaction the Creator mode, the place you possibly can select a gamut and alter the gamma. The Sport modes add RGB sliders and sport presets to the combo. Or scroll to the top for Customized Colour the place you possibly can alter RGB achieve and bias controls plus hue and saturation sliders for all six colours.
Turning on Console mode lets one alter hue & saturation plus gamma. In HDR mode, these choices are grayed out, and you may toggle Supply Tone Map, which makes use of the supply sign’s metadata to set the tone-map transition level. This serves to reinforce spotlight element.
AlienVision is a gaming assist that highlights the middle of the display. Or you possibly can show the most important crosshair ever in case you need assistance aiming. It’s a inexperienced cross that’s practically 4 inches sq..
AlienFX Lighting refers back to the energy LED, Alien head and quantity emblem on the again of the panel. You’ll be able to mild them individually in any shade or depth. Selecting Spectrum cycles via all colours in a mesmerizing show.
In HDR mode, you possibly can choose from six modes. For the most effective accuracy and biggest dynamic vary, select True Black. If you need the brightest potential highlights, go for HDR Peak 1000. The opposite presets are much less impactful. My choice was True Black, because it reveals off OLED’s capabilities to the fullest. And it’s loads shiny sufficient even in my sunlit workplace.
The joystick instructions may be custom-made to offer fast entry to the AlienVision choices. You too can specify the features of the short menu.
To take care of a wholesome panel, the AW3423DWF contains each pixel and panel refresh choices. Each can run when the monitor is on standby. When you’ve set these choices, they’ll run solely once you’re not utilizing the show. I’ve used an analogous routine with my two-year-old LG tv, and I can attest to its effectiveness. There is no such thing as a burn-in by any means.
Alienware AW3423DWF Calibration Settings
Within the AW3423DWF’s Customary mode, calibration is pointless. Grayscale tracks completely to the 6500K shade temp with gamma close to 2.2 and no seen shade errors when referenced to the DCI-P3 gamut. I discovered tiny enhancements once I tweaked the RGB sliders in Customized Colour mode, however this was extra to fulfill my checks than the rest. If you need or want the sRGB gamut, it’s accessible within the Creator mode, which additionally contains gamma presets. My really useful settings for SDR content material are under.
In HDR mode, each HDR 1000 and True Black modes render with wonderful shade accuracy. They solely differ of their luminance monitoring. For the absolute best HDR picture, select True Black. Total brightness is similar, however the smallest highlights are barely dimmer. Visually, I desire True Black as a result of its shadow element and black ranges are significantly better. I’ll speak extra about these two HDR modes on web page 5.
| Image Mode | Customized Colour |
| Brightness 200 nits | 83 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 47 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 38 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 29 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 15 (min. 18 nits) |
| Distinction | 75 |
| Colour Temp Person | Acquire – Crimson 97, Inexperienced 99, Blue 99 |
| Bias – Crimson 50, Inexperienced 50, Blue 50 |
Gaming and Arms-on
As a pc monitor, the AW3423DWF has few, if any, equals. The image high quality is just on one other stage from any LCD panel I’ve skilled. It’s really addictive, and when you’ve seen it, you gained’t need to return. Depth and dimension are so life like, it’s, to make use of the previous cliché, like searching a window. And that feeling contains high-res renderings too. Even when monsters and fantasy environments, the feel is so convincing you’ll end up reaching out to the touch issues like stone or metallic.
I noticed an ideal instance when enjoying Doom Everlasting. Wanting down at a stack of shotgun shells, I used to be struck by the metallic finish caps, which had only a little bit of corrosion. Then I appeared up on the gun barrel and marveled at how its shiny floor mirrored the atmosphere round me. Elements of it have been like a mirror, and I noticed each element.
That element stayed sharp when shifting as effectively. Although I’ve had many optimistic experiences enjoying on 240 and 360 Hz displays, the AW3423DWF’s 165 Hz is almost equal in its movement processing. Quick side-to-side digicam pans stayed in focus irrespective of how shortly I moved the mouse. This made it far simpler to take care of my intention and to maintain my viewpoint locked on the place it wanted to be. I noticed body charges between 150 and 165 from a GeForce RTX 3090-equipped PC. Even the most effective LCD with good overdrive can’t duplicate this look.
The curvature actually contributed to the enjoyable I had. You may get quite a lot of immersion from a big flat panel just like the Aorus FO48U, however a curved ultra-wide, particularly one with the distinction and shade saturation of the AW3423DWF, conforms higher to 1’s peripheral imaginative and prescient. The curve retains your entire picture in focus with virtually no head-turning required.
You’ll need to hunt down HDR video games at any time when potential as a result of that’s what this monitor does finest. Its SDR picture seems to be nice for older titles like Tomb Raider, however as soon as HDR is turned on, you gained’t need to flip it off. There was no efficiency hit or penalty for enjoying in HDR versus SDR. Adaptive-Sync all the time labored completely, and management lag was perceptually non-existent.
As a workday software, the AW3423DWF serves effectively. The curve doesn’t distract when modifying paperwork, and there’s no picture distortion. Spreadsheets are simpler to cope with as you don’t must scroll aspect to aspect as a lot. Phrase processing advantages from the straightforward skill to position two paperwork subsequent to one another in full-page view. Photoshop may be set as much as maintain the graphic centered with software palettes on both aspect. Or use the PBP perform to view two sources without delay.
The AW3423DFW is an absolute pleasure to make use of for work or play. It excelled at all the things I did and is a totally addictive gaming show.
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