Tuesday, August 20th 2019

Alienware Announces the AW3420DW Monitor: 34" 4K, Nano Color IPS, 120 Hz, G-Sync

Alienware have announced their new flagship gaming monitor, which manifests in the form of the AW3420DW monitor. This is a 34" monitor with 4K (3440 x 1440) resolution powered by a fast, 120 Hz refresh rate IPS panel. Alienware have designed their Nano Color technology into this monitor, which means that it can cover 98% of the DCI-P3 and 134.5% of the sRGB color gamuts.

The 350 nits brightness are nothing to write home about, and exclude any sort of HDR rendition on this monitor from the start. The 1000:1 contrast ratio and the "fast" GtG response time should be more than enough for most gamers' needs, and the 1900R curvature should ensure all points of the monitor are at the same focal distance for improved image quality. NVIDIA's G-Sync makes an appearance, and output connectors include 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 1.4 port, 4x USB 3.0 and 3.5-mm audio connectors. There's RGB lighting on the back of the monitor, and the full retail price of this piece of kit will go for $1,499.
Source: AnandTech
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32 Comments on Alienware Announces the AW3420DW Monitor: 34" 4K, Nano Color IPS, 120 Hz, G-Sync

#26
Diverge
No point in upgrading from the previous model. Same/similar specs, just different parts used. So glad I don't want to buy the new one now :)
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#27
mikej161
What a disappointment. This is barely better than the old model that is half the price.

DP1.2 on a new monitor released in 2019..really?????

1500 dollars and can't even offer display port 1.4 or more than a 120 hz screen? HDMI 1.4 (can't even pony up for hdmi 2.0), no hdr at all (hdr 400 isn't worth it). This refresh is a joke and should get an award as the worst new monitor released in 2019. I don't even see the point of this existing when it is barely better than the old model and over priced by about 600 dollars. I can't believe Dell has the guts to release this is 2019 at the price point of 1500. With HDMI 2.1 incoming monitor manufacturers won't be able to get away with these half baked refreshes anymore. People will just buy a low input lag tv instead that has hdmi 2.1 vrr support.
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#28
RichF
The 1000:1 contrast ratio and the "fast" GtG response time should be more than enough for most gamers' needs
No, not really. It's simply around the limit of the IPS pixel, which is far from impressive.

In fact, the contrast ratio weakness of IPS is probably that pixel tech's worst problem. IPS glow, for instance, can be dealt with by adding an expensive polarizer — so even it can be solved. I don't recall seeing IPS panels with above 1100 or so static contrast, maybe 1200:1.
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#29
Valantar
RichFNo, not really. It's simply around the limit of the IPS pixel, which is far from impressive.

In fact, the contrast ratio weakness of IPS is probably that pixel tech's worst problem. IPS glow, for instance, can be dealt with by adding an expensive polarizer — so even it can be solved. I don't recall seeing IPS panels with above 1100 or so static contrast, maybe 1200:1.
Quite a few laptop IPS screens (such as those used in MS' Surface line) have static contrast ratios in the ~1800:1 range. Still, that class of IPS is exceedingly rare.
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#30
Totally
dicktracyPC monitor companies' milking days are soon to come to an end. TVs are starting to reach low 10ms in input lag and are adopting more and more gaming features such as VRR and higher refresh rates while offering much larger screen, HDR, significantly superior picture quality at a decent price point. Crap like this monitor doesn't even have full-array local dimming and still cost over $1k for a 34" IPS screen LOL.
I don't see how most companies make both monitors and TVs. I don't believe that gap will ever close.
Posted on Reply
#31
Gasaraki
People stop complaining about the 4K. TechPowerUp is the one putting 4K in the headline, not Alienware.
Posted on Reply
#32
TranceHead
Alienware price, Dell quality.
I'm sure the original Alienware would not waste their time with DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4, also, where's the USB-C?
Nope, this is Alienware by name only.
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