Cooler Master GM34-CWQ ARGB

Inle · Jul 19, 2022

The Cooler Master GM34-CWQ ARGB is a 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor with a serious ace up its sleeve: Quantum Dot technology. It improves just about every aspect of its picture quality and pushes it into a higher class of gaming ultrawides.

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BorisDG · Jul 19, 2022

Is that a dead pixel on the test with the blue screen and the crosshair?

bottom rightish part

thewan · Jul 19, 2022

The Cooler Master GM34-CWQ ARGB comes with a VESA DisplayHDR 400 badge

Unless our reviewer here has some insider information, I believe this statement is false. Both the box on 2nd page of the review and the website page for this product states that this monitor is DisplayHDR400 "compatible".

https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/setup/monitors/gm34-cwq-argb/#specifications

It doesn't specifically say it is certified DisplayHDR 400 by VESA.

Further investigation on the VESA DisplayHDR website's list of DisplayHDR 400 certified monitors, there are no Cooler Master monitors at the time of me writing this post.

Yes I know DisplayHDR is not really a good standard, and the DisplayHDR 400 one in particular is rubbish, but thats not the point. The point is giving out correct information during a review, and this part of the review seems incorrect.

Certified Products - VESA Certified DisplayHDR™

displayhdr.org

Salvo39 · Jul 19, 2022

Missed opportunity to put an RJ45 Gigabit connection on the back. If one has to use the Type B USB upstream cable then why noy utilize the full bandwidth then (i.e give the user RJ45 + USB 3.0).
Would have been an instant buy otherwise.

Inle · Jul 19, 2022

BorisDG said:
Is that a dead pixel on the test with the blue screen and the crosshair?

bottom rightish part

Only a speck of dust (the pictures were in fact taken in my garage, as my house is currently under heavy construction - at the moment I don't even have floors). No dead pixels were present on my sample of the monitor, but oh my god, how on earth did you even spot that?

thewan said:
Unless our reviewer here has some insider information, I believe this statement is false. Both the box on 2nd page of the review and the website page for this product states that this monitor is DisplayHDR400 "compatible".

https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/setup/monitors/gm34-cwq-argb/#specifications

It doesn't specifically say it is certified DisplayHDR 400 by VESA.

Further investigation on the VESA DisplayHDR website's list of DisplayHDR 400 certified monitors, there are no Cooler Master monitors at the time of me writing this post.

Yes I know DisplayHDR is not really a good standard, and the DisplayHDR 400 one in particular is rubbish, but thats not the point. The point is giving out correct information during a review, and this part of the review seems incorrect.

Certified Products - VESA Certified DisplayHDR™

displayhdr.org

I clarified the wording in my review, thanks for your remark. Funny thing is, this monitor offers a far better HDR experience than any DisplayHDR 400 certified monitor I tried to this date, thanks to its high brightness and Quantum Dot technology (although still very far from ideal due to the lack of FALD, of course).

Salvo39 said:
Missed opportunity to put an RJ45 Gigabit connection on the back. If one has to use the Type B USB upstream cable then why noy utilize the full bandwidth then (i.e give the user RJ45 + USB 3.0).
Would have been an instant buy otherwise.

Meh, just make the Type A ports cooperate with the USB-C interface, everything else will be forgiven. A bit of a bummer they didn't implement it like that.

80-watt Hamster · Jul 19, 2022

Missing from the Plus column: Integrated power supply. :rockout:

Icon Charlie · Jul 19, 2022

Thank you for the report. Overall this is pretty good information.

The reason why this I would not buy this monitor, or rather any monitor built this way if I can help it is that the transformer is built into the monitor itself instead of it being the usual outside block. And the reason why are:

1. Excessive heat that is now in the monitor casing.
2. Transformer Failure.

IMHO from the information gathered over the years as well as seeing first hand on how monitors are made/repaired, is the reason why I spend the extra 35 bucks every 3 years to keep my monitor alive. Heat is always a danger to electrical components and a power surge coming from a brick is another.

Every single failure that I had in the past has been a transformer going out and wrecking the system. Having the transformer built into the monitor IMHO just cuts down on cost. I miss my 27 inch Qnix monitor. It died as it went boom from a power surge. However my Viewsonic is still kicking around after 10 years. Replaced the brick on a few occasions.

I just replaced the brick on my Pixio PX329 32" 1440p flat screen monitor. No issues after 3+ years. I would like to have it go to 5 before I buy another one so I bought a replacement brick to hopefully make this happen.

Your mileage will vary. I'm just posting what happened to me in the past and why I change out my transformer every 3 years.

80-watt Hamster · Jul 19, 2022

Icon Charlie said:
Thank you for the report. Overall this is pretty good information.

The reason why this I would not buy this monitor, or rather any monitor built this way if I can help it is that the transformer is built into the monitor itself instead of it being the usual outside block. And the reason why are:

1. Excessive heat that is now in the monitor casing.
2. Transformer Failure.

IMHO from the information gathered over the years as well as seeing first hand on how monitors are made/repaired, is the reason why I spend the extra 35 bucks every 3 years to keep my monitor alive. Heat is always a danger to electrical components and a power surge coming from a brick is another.

Every single failure that I had in the past has been a transformer going out and wrecking the system. Having the transformer built into the monitor IMHO just cuts down on cost. I miss my 27 inch Qnix monitor. It died as it went boom from a power surge. However my Viewsonic is still kicking around after 10 years. Replaced the brick on a few occasions.

I just replaced the brick on my Pixio PX329 32" 1440p flat screen monitor. No issues after 3+ years. I would like to have it go to 5 before I buy another one so I bought a replacement brick to hopefully make this happen.

Your mileage will vary. I'm just posting what happened to me in the past and why I change out my transformer every 3 years.

Our mileage definitely varies. Power bricks on monitors are a dealbreaker for me. I can count on no hands the number of integral transformers that have died on me, but missing bricks has been an issue. (I've got a funny use case where monitors move around frequently.)

MarsM4N · Jul 19, 2022

Guess the panel is from Samsung Display, right? :confused:

Looks like a cheaper alternative to OLED monitors. Way better black levels than nano IPS panels.
Standard IPS, VA & TN will become hard sellers.

Icon Charlie · Jul 19, 2022

80-watt Hamster said:
Our mileage definitely varies. Power bricks on monitors are a dealbreaker for me. I can count on no hands the number of integral transformers that have died on me, but missing bricks has been an issue. (I've got a funny use case where monitors move around frequently.)

Perfectly understandable situation, especially if you have a tech account like what I used to have.

erocker · Jul 20, 2022

Pretty good price on this monitor too. I just wish I had the desk space for it.

Mistral · Jul 20, 2022

I wish it was a 10-bit panel, but I guess we can't have everything...

GunShot · Jul 20, 2022

The elephant in the room that no one ever seems to mention is, why dafaq these ultra-wide manufacturers are not adding GREAT SCALING/CROPPING software (NOT FREAKING STRETCHING BS) to their monitors and forcing the end users to resort to iffy browser extensions (minus games) to just stretch the hell out of the content because of sad or no dev support.

Damn all the other nick-picking bs, these display manufacturers need to correct the main feature to why MOST of users even purchase a damn ~utrawide monitor~ in the freaking first place, ASAP!

Mussels · Jul 20, 2022

GunShot said:
The elephant in the room that no one ever seems to mention is, why dafaq these ultra-wide manufacturers are not adding GREAT SCALING/CROPPING software (NOT FREAKING STRETCHING BS) to their monitors and forcing the end users to resort to iffy browser extensions (minus games) to just stretch the hell out of the content because of sad or no dev support.

Damn all the other nick-picking bs, these display manufacturers need to correct the main feature to why MOST of users even purchase a damn ~utrawide monitor~ in the freaking first place, ASAP!

How are monitors meant to fix that?
Ultrawides have always had those flaws, few games actually properly support them with Hor+ instead of Vert-

If the games/programs you use dont support ultrawide, dont buy one

GunShot · Jul 20, 2022

Mussels said:
How are monitors meant to fix that?
Ultrawides have always had those flaws, few games actually properly support them with Hor+ instead of Vert-

If the games/programs you use dont support ultrawide, dont buy one

How? Ummm... The same way browser extension devs add their software to Chrome, etc. The OEM's scaling/cropping software doesn't have to work with *every title/content* but damn, something is better than nothing.

What you are suggesting is a cop-out and a lack for consumers to EXPECT and demand more from our hard-earned money, especially now doing these unpredictable times.

I don't receive free samples, unfortunately.

BorisDG · Jul 20, 2022

Inle said:
Only a speck of dust (the pictures were in fact taken in my garage, as my house is currently under heavy construction - at the moment I don't even have floors). No dead pixels were present on my sample of the monitor, but oh my god, how on earth did you even spot that?

OCD I guess. I changed my XG279Q for one half/semi-dead SUB green pixel for AW2721D. So... yes

bug · Jul 20, 2022

Calibrating at 250nits? Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Anyway, QD is all about wide gamut (and HDR). This monitor completely misses the point.

Mussels · Jul 21, 2022

GunShot said:
How? Ummm... The same way browser extension devs add their software to Chrome, etc. The OEM's scaling/cropping software doesn't have to work with *every title/content* but damn, something is better than nothing.

What you are suggesting is a cop-out and a lack for consumers to EXPECT and demand more from our hard-earned money, especially now doing these unpredictable times.

I don't receive free samples, unfortunately.

You didn't actually explain anything there or answer the question
I still can't even understand what you're asking for, other than a magic 'make it better' without clarifying exactly what your problem is OR what you expect fixed

To do what you're asking, you just have to change to a 16:9 aspect ratio resoltion on your display.
Monitor firmware cannot magically create pixels that do not exist

noel_fs · Jul 21, 2022

what a scam, with lg oleds on 700-800 there is no reason to go with an inferior panel

aside of panasonic, most oleds are kinda bad but still a lot better than these ultrawides

SOAREVERSOR · Jul 22, 2022

noel_fs said:
what a scam, with lg oleds on 700-800 there is no reason to go with an inferior panel

aside of panasonic, most oleds are kinda bad but still a lot better than these ultrawides

Those are not really monitors though. OLED monitors are thousands for a 22in. If you think those LED monitors at 4k 144hz, gsync, proper HDR, and good dimizing zones are price at over 1500 for 27in you ain't seen anything yet. The "cheap and crappy" LG will run you 3k for 27in. Higher grades are doulbe that for 22 in. Top grades are 10k+ for 22in.

Mussels · Jul 22, 2022

smaller displays require more compact backlighting at the same resolution, and with OLED smaller pixels, period.
That's gunna cost more for smaller displays, simple as that.

GunShot · Jul 22, 2022

Mussels said:
You didn't actually explain anything there or answer the question
I still can't even understand what you're asking for, other than a magic 'make it better' without clarifying exactly what your problem is OR what you expect fixed

To do what you're asking, you just have to change to a 16:9 aspect ratio resoltion on your display.
Monitor firmware cannot magically create pixels that do not exist

Whoever said anything about "magic"? Smh!

Ultrawide OEMs developing software to crop (zoom-in, etc.) is not no magic.

Mussels · Jul 22, 2022

GunShot said:
Whoever said anything about "magic"? Smh!

Ultrawide OEMs developing software to crop (zoom-in, etc.) is not no magic.

You're giving no usable examples of what you actually want

What on earth does "zoom in" or "Crop" mean in the context of a monitor

GunShot · Jul 22, 2022

Mussels said:
What on earth does "zoom in" or "Crop" mean in the context of a monitor

Wow! I mean... Seriously?! You do ~understand~ that our debate is on... ahem... (((ultrawide))), monitors' scaling, etc., right?!

I'm... just going to go waaAAyy over... here, alright, and just pretend that this did not just fly over you.

Have a nice day!

SOAREVERSOR · Jul 22, 2022

Mussels said:
smaller displays require more compact backlighting at the same resolution, and with OLED smaller pixels, period.
That's gunna cost more for smaller displays, simple as that.

You can make similar arguments about manufacturing bigger displays. The point is that 800-900 for an OLED monitor is hogwash nonsense. OLED may cost more but be competitive for it's price if you are purchasing a TV, but it costs insanely more and is not even remotely price competitive if you are purchasing a monitor.

There are companies (ASUS, Alienware) that do sell 34 or 42 sized OLED "monitors" but they are sort of meh. As a monitor and for that use, and even often for image quality they get crushed as an Ultrawide by LG IPS options and as the gaming TV they get crushed by LGs OLEDs.

I love OLED! I have one and I moved my switch to one and my phone has one. But the OLED monitor area right now is some how a clusterfucked shitshow outside of the very high priced professional grade stuff. And even that gets crushed by SONY professional edititing IPS monitors but at that point OLED is the "budget" item in the five figure bracked.

Waiting for mini LED monitors honestly.

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Cooler Master GM34-CWQ ARGB

Inle

BorisDG

thewan

Certified Products - VESA Certified DisplayHDR™

Salvo39

Inle

Certified Products - VESA Certified DisplayHDR™

80-watt Hamster

Icon Charlie

80-watt Hamster

MarsM4N

Icon Charlie

erocker

*

Mistral

GunShot

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

GunShot

BorisDG

bug

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

noel_fs

SOAREVERSOR

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

GunShot

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

GunShot

SOAREVERSOR

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