ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R3A

[Inle]

The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R3A is an ultrawide 34-inch gaming monitor with a 165 Hz VA panel. It looks to improve your gaming experience, but, in an unusual twist, also the Wi-Fi performance of your PC.

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[Landcross]

I quite like the innovative thinking of putting a wifi antenna into the monitor. Just a shame that it's integrated into the stand and not the monitor itself, because if you put the monitor on another vesa monitor arm you loose that feature :/

 

[Chry]

All cool but IMHO you should stop reviewing non-OLED gaming monitors. I think most people are mostly interested in those.

 

[Leiesoldat]

All cool but IMHO you should stop reviewing non-OLED gaming monitors. I think most people are mostly interested in those.

I disagree with this statement. Right now price is the deciding factor for most people in my opinion; OLED is still too far expensive for the average gamer and there aren't many models that are non-4K. This monitor is very similar to the Viotek monitor from August 2021 (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/viotek-gnv34dbe2/) with differences being the WiFi antenna, stand screen, and 165 Hz panel. I also think that there is a lost opportunity with putting the antenna in the base as I use a high quality monitor arm to lift the screen over audio components on the desk.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

Kinda disappointed in this monitor. I was actually considering it as an upgrade to my Aorus CV27F, but after reading some glaring negatives -- limited OSD settings, no gamma correction, no crosshairs (my Aorus monitor from 2020 features all of these) -- I'm far less interested in picking this monitor up and will be looking elsewhere.

 

[Chrispy_]

Catastrophically-bad garbage.

48ms pixel response time is only 20Hz.

Just no. Everything also about this monitor could be incredible, but if it can't deliver frames without 1990's levels of smearing then it's not a gaming monitor. Hell, it's barely a monitor and should probably be re-classified as an LCD photo frame!

 

[GerKNG]

All cool but IMHO you should stop reviewing non-OLED gaming monitors. I think most people are mostly interested in those.

OLED is for several reasons not an option for like 95% of all people...

 

[chrcoluk]

Well that wifi idea is new and I think a nice trick actually. 1.5m is probably a little tight on the supplied cables, but nevertheless a good idea.

I seen on some Asus reviews Asus screens report the active subsampling, all vendors need to do that in my opinion. The OSD seems particularly bad on this screen.

 

[GoldenX]

I hope they repeat the WiFi antenna idea on a proper IPS display. VA is disgusting.

 

[TheLostSwede]

All cool but IMHO you should stop reviewing non-OLED gaming monitors. I think most people are mostly interested in those.

Yes Sir, because we're all millionaires and have at least half a dozen OLED screens in our mansions and we want to know what to buy next.

I disagree with this statement. Right now price is the deciding factor for most people in my opinion; OLED is still too far expensive for the average gamer and there aren't many models that are non-4K. This monitor is very similar to the Viotek monitor from August 2021 (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/viotek-gnv34dbe2/) with differences being the WiFi antenna, stand screen, and 165 Hz panel. I also think that there is a lost opportunity with putting the antenna in the base as I use a high quality monitor arm to lift the screen over audio components on the desk.

You mean that there aren't many models that are 4K, right? Most are some variant of 1440p, wide or ultra wide or super duper ultra wide.

Well that wifi idea is new and I think a nice trick actually. 1.5m is probably a little tight on the supplied cables, but nevertheless a good idea.

Longer cables would most likely negate its performance gain, as you drop a lot of bandwidth in longer WiFi antenna cables, unless you have boosters at each end. Even more so this type of thin cables that are used.

Also, the WiFi antenna might actually be in breach of whatever your country has specificed as the maximum WiFi transmit power, as it's different to the antenna that came with your WiFi card. Not that anyone really cares, but hey...

 

[JustJohnny]

What does WiFi performance look like with stand in the box and monitor VESA mounted?

 

[regs]

The 34-inch ultrawide panel has a 1500R curvature. It's subtle enough not to be distracting while making using the monitor more pleasant.

Promotional pictures showing far more tight radius.

 

[95Viper]

What does WiFi performance look like with stand in the box and monitor VESA mounted?

Maybe this will answer your question some.

ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R3A Review - Improving your Wi-Fi
Integrated Wi-Fi Antenna Performance

 

[JustJohnny]

Maybe this will answer your question some.

ASRock Phantom Gaming PG34WQ15R3A Review - Improving your Wi-Fi
Integrated Wi-Fi Antenna Performance

"The implementation is straightforward: the stand has a pair of RP-SMA antenna connectors,..."

Does not, but thank you.
WiFi extension is installed to the stand. If monitor is VESA arm mounted, this functionality is then null, no?

 

[rlifeh]

Nice review as always
there are another monitor from ASRock, ((flat VA)) - QHD - 31.5inch - 165Hz: PG32QF2B
I hope you can review it in future.

 

[kondamin]

All cool but IMHO you should stop reviewing non-OLED gaming monitors. I think most people are mostly interested in those.

No, i Wouldn’t buy an oled monitor even if a proper one was more expensive.

 

[tabascosauz]

"The implementation is straightforward: the stand has a pair of RP-SMA antenna connectors,..."

Does not, but thank you.
WiFi extension is installed to the stand. If monitor is VESA arm mounted, this functionality is then null, no?

Doesn't that just answer your own question already? Stand has the antenna. Remove stand to use own VESA mount. No more wifi antenna.

If the antenna connectors were located on the monitor, you might have a point, but they aren't.

 

[Tahagomizer]

All cool but IMHO you should stop reviewing non-OLED gaming monitors. I think most people are mostly interested in those.

Please, no! OLEDs are only good if all you ever do is consume media. Try using them for work and their (literally) dark dirty secret becomes apparent. Since many people, including myself, use the same computer for work and for playing games, OLED makes for a rather bad and wasteful experience.

On that note, it seems that Asrock really wanted to put as many check marks in their marketing as they could. OLED? Of course, with an asterisk. Super-duper Wi-Fi booster? Yes - you can achieve similar results by attaching good antennas straight to your device, without additional connector losses and being forced to use this particular monitor stand - but who cares, that's a gimmick for the box. GAMING? - you bet, if by that you mean aggressive design, pointless blinking lights and overly simplified experience.
Weird screen. The panel seems reasonably decent buy they skimped on electronics and firmware, instead relying on gimmicks.

 

[Chry]

Please, no! OLEDs are only good if all you ever do is consume media. Try using them for work and their (literally) dark dirty secret becomes apparent. Since many people, including myself, use the same computer for work and for playing games, OLED makes for a rather bad and wasteful experience.

Could you expand on that a bit? What dark secret did you mean and why OLED is a bad and wasteful experience for those who work on them?

 

[JAB Creations]

I'm trying to purge WIFI weapons not add more of them.

 

[Od1sseas]

Only IPS and OLED panels are usable. You MUST be a masochist if you buy a VA or TN monitor.

 

[JAB Creations]

Only IPS and OLED panels are usable. You MUST be a masochist if you buy a VA or TN monitor.

OLED is fantastic for gaming, not for work with very long term static images on the screen all of the time.

I agree TN is low quality, what is your gripe with VA panels however?

 

[Od1sseas]

OLED is fantastic for gaming, not for work with very long term static images on the screen all of the time.

I agree TN is low quality, what is your gripe with VA panels however?

OLED maybe ain't the best choice for a monitor today, but it's definitely the future. Burn-In could be minimized with much better quality OLED tech or MicroLED

VA panels are terrible because:
Slow response time: VA monitors have slower response times than IPS, which can lead to ghosting and blurring in fast-moving scenes. This is especially noticeable in games, where fast-paced action can be a problem.
Narrow viewing angles: VA panels have narrower viewing angles than IPS or TN panels, which means that the image can appear washed out or distorted when viewed from off-center.
Can suffer from color banding: VA monitors can sometimes suffer from color banding, which is a banding effect that can be seen in gradients. This is less common than ghosting or blurring, but it can be noticeable in some cases.

IPS is the only choice right now, unless you wanna risk it with OLED monitors/TVs

 

[kapone32]

OLED maybe ain't the best choice for a monitor today, but it's definitely the future. Burn-In could be minimized with much better quality OLED tech or MicroLED

VA panels are terrible because:
Slow response time: VA monitors have slower response times than IPS, which can lead to ghosting and blurring in fast-moving scenes. This is especially noticeable in games, where fast-paced action can be a problem.
Narrow viewing angles: VA panels have narrower viewing angles than IPS or TN panels, which means that the image can appear washed out or distorted when viewed from off-center.
Can suffer from color banding: VA monitors can sometimes suffer from color banding, which is a banding effect that can be seen in gradients. This is less common than ghosting or blurring, but it can be noticeable in some cases.

IPS is the only choice right now, unless you wanna risk it with OLED monitors/TVs

It is not 2015 anymore. My FV43U is VA and it fine at everything including Ghosting.

 

[Beginner Macro Device]

Slow response time

For non-gamers, it's not an issue. For gamers, depending on an exact panel and gaming scenario. Premium VA panels are still better than entry level IPS ones.

Narrow viewing angles

For those who fly around their room trying also to multitask their high quality colour accurate design on their display, probably an issue. Angles in VA panels are fine, especially for intended usage.

Can suffer from color banding

True but it's extremely rare nowadays. You only see it on cheapest panels and on too eagerly overclocked ones.

VA has its right to be bought. I personally use both IPS and VA and it's a no brainer when you need dark colours to be actually dark, rendering IPS a non-option (unless you got a billion leftover Franklins in your pocket so you can buy a mega expensive IPS monitor with this issue fixed).

OLED is, I agree with those who stated it earlier, not an option for those who have a lot of static in their image. Burning out is a disaster.

Now this argument is completely subjective and personal because due to head traumas, I see colours differently. VA colours are nicer for me than the IPS ones. Unrelatable to a normal person.