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Alienware 34 Gaming Monitor: AW3418DW

120K views 422 replies 121 participants last post by  CptSpig 
#1 ·
Share at least some information about this monitor. thx
can anyone know what the matrix will be there?
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rugburn View Post

Kinda wish there were some reviews on this.. 3440x1440 IPS 120hz (overclocked) w/Gsync, Someone has to have something to say..
My guess is alot of persons shopping for an ultrawide would've already picked up an x34 / pg348q and this monitor is probably not even on their radar.

First time I've heard of it myself.

Price isn't bad tho and it's on par with similar offerings. Dell usually has an excellent warranty system in place as well in case of any defects.
 
#5 ·
#8 ·
I picked this up during the $999 sale; moving up from a U3415W. My panel was able to hit 120hz with no coil whine or other aberrant symptoms related to high refresh rates.

That said, I did ultimately experience a couple issues that resulted in my request for an exchange:
  1. Significantly stronger BLB/IPS Glow in bottom left compared to rest of screen. Extremely distracting during gaming; highly illuminated in reference to surrounding blacks.
  2. Right side of screen has a visibly yellow tint compared to left. Not very noticeable until you stretch a lightish window over the middle of the monitor and drag it left/right, watching the hue of the white as it travels between sides. Once I was aware of it there was no escaping it during normal desktop use (not detectable during gaming). Very frustrating.
Other than these two issues, the monitor is incredible. This feels like pure buttery bliss with little to no quality loss coming from the U3415W (60hz no g-sync). Fingers crossed for a better lottery pick on the exchange!
 
#10 ·
I also grabbed one during the $999 sale. My brother got one, too, so I have two to compare. Like in the TFT Central review, the glow (IPS glow and/or BLB...probably a combination of the two) originating from the bottom-left corner is seemingly unavoidable.

However, you can greatly reduce it by careful placement of the monitor in relation to your eyes:
  • Distance: 36-40" from eyes to screen
  • Height: such that your eyes are about 2/3 from the top of the screen (1/3 from bottom)
  • Brightness: keep with TFT Central's recommendation and don't exceed ~38
Following the above, the glow is no worse than in TFT Central's "backlight leakage" screenshot: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/images/dell_alienware_aw3418dw/P1190845.JPG

This was the only defect I experienced (annoying but not a deal breaker). Zero scan lines that I can tell. The rest of the monitor is flipping fantastic and mirrors TFT Central's review. 120Hz G-synced Witcher 3, DAI, MEA with a 1080Ti is pretty special.

cre3d, let us know how your replacement compares. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it'll be exactly the same. If you still have your current unit, give my steps a shot.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by freality View Post

cre3d, let us know how your replacement compares. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it'll be exactly the same. If you still have your current unit, give my steps a shot.
Hey thanks for your feedback, much appreciated! The replacement arrived today and the backlight bleed is much better. Unfortunately, I am still seeing the same yellowing hue on the right half of the screen as with the previous monitor. Easiest way I've been able to detect it is by stretching a whitish window across the middle 50% of the monitor and dragging it left/right while watching the color shift as it passes from one side to the other. I notice it most when reading text on a light webpage; as each sentence crosses the middle you can see the shift in background color.

I honestly may just be a picky ass but I've never had this on any other monitor and don't really feel obliged to deal with it on something this expensive. Still trying to get additional feedback from other users regarding this issue before I raise the point with tech support again; I probably won't bother if they're all affected.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by cre3d View Post

Hey thanks for your feedback, much appreciated! The replacement arrived today and the backlight bleed is much better. Unfortunately, I am still seeing the same yellowing hue on the right half of the screen as with the previous monitor. Easiest way I've been able to detect it is by stretching a whitish window across the middle 50% of the monitor and dragging it left/right while watching the color shift as it passes from one side to the other. I notice it most when reading text on a light webpage; as each sentence crosses the middle you can see the shift in background color.

I honestly may just be a picky ass but I've never had this on any other monitor and don't really feel obliged to deal with it on something this expensive. Still trying to get additional feedback from other users regarding this issue before I raise the point with tech support again; I probably won't bother if they're all affected.
Really glad to hear your replacement is better. Does it still have a bit of BLB/glow in the bottom-left, or is it perfect?

It is tough, as I'm also pretty picky and have a hard time letting imperfections slide (I just need to get into a game and enjoy it!). Having said that, I do not observe any yellow/color temp shift across the screen. A white field looks the same on both sides.

Also glad to hear it sounds like Dell has pretty great replacement service!
 
#13 ·
Mine has the same warmth to the right half and prominent bleed in the lower left. My brothers is identical.

I'm not paying $1000 to look at half an orange peel all day. It's even worse after calibration because the monitor is already too warm out the box so correcting it makes it visually worse.

The monitor hunt continues.
 
#14 ·
I ordered my monitor on the 8th, and it hasn't shipped yet lol. I was told they are awaiting parts to assemble more.
BLB varies from monitor to monitor and can be affected by various reasons so I'm not to worried about that, but I'm a little concerned about the yellowish right side a couple of you mentioned.. Hopefully I'll get lucky..
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by freality View Post

Really glad to hear your replacement is better. Does it still have a bit of BLB/glow in the bottom-left, or is it perfect?

It is tough, as I'm also pretty picky and have a hard time letting imperfections slide (I just need to get into a game and enjoy it!). Having said that, I do not observe any yellow/color temp shift across the screen. A white field looks the same on both sides.

Also glad to hear it sounds like Dell has pretty great replacement service!
I won't lie, the "glow" from the bottom left is definitely not gone, but it's better on this panel than the last. BLB is about as good as the tftcentral review pic, not sure what actually causes the hazy glow to be more prominent in some areas than others. It is definitely highly affected by viewing angle though since I can position my eyes perpendicular to the area and it mostly goes away. Perhaps an artifact of the curving process? Curious that the right side is almost never as affected in all the reviews and pictures I've seen (as well as my 2 personal experiences).

Based on the feedback via various outlets I've posted this issue on, I'd say I have a 50/50 chance of maybe getting one that doesn't have the warm hue issue; wonder how long until Dell gets tired of sending me new monitors? Heh.
 
#16 ·
The splotchy, sometimes sickly, sometimes just bright white, along the edges, aka BLB, is foremost a manufacturing fault, or sometimes caused during shipping. It's just bad design/fitting/knocks that lets the light leak in places, more than others.

Sometimes you get very lucky if you are able to adjust the outer case screws to reduce the leakage.

Can't recall the name of the component that eliminates or reduces BLB that could be added but isn't, because they know it's cheaper to bang out cheap and take some returns... or rather let the seller be stuck with them.

BLB is unacceptable in my book but as we know, it's been part of the PC monitor market for years now. Once we get the FALD tech (upcoming ASUS/ACER), or OLED, hopefully we will see the last of BLB and IPS glow. Although the FALD examples seem to exhibit that halo glow instead....
 
#19 ·
Ordered one today off of Dell for $999. Paid extra $25 to get here quick. Should be here Tuesday. Wanted to make sure it got here before the holiday as I will be out of town.
biggrin.gif

I have had surround screens since 2010. 5040x1050 then 7680x1440.

This will be my first GSync screen. Played on one for 5 minutes once. I hope it is worth it.
nerdsmiley.png
 
#20 ·
Just read the TFT central review on this one..... Man this thing really sounds like the monitor that will get me to upgrade my 27" S2716DG.... What i'm most excited about is the 120Hz refresh rate and the awesome response rate even though its an IPS. In the review you can see the IPS pixel can't beat a TN pixel, but the signal processing on this thing is insane, and makes up the difference. Awesome.

Going to be really hard to not pull the trigger on this and a 1080ti this holiday season..... If newegg had it for $999 i'd probably be all over it already. We'll just have to wait and see how big the holiday bonus is this year..
smile.gif


edit: Welp, i decided to just bite the bullet. Once it comes in and all is good, i'll throw the ol S2716DG on craigslist and see if i can make back some of the cost. Next is the 1080ti XD although it'll probably be harder to get rid of the 980ti with waterblock. Certainly won't be getting near what i paid back on that in the used market. I feel like the S2716 will still have some pretty good value left in it.
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by IMI4tth3w View Post

Just read the TFT central review on this one..... Man this thing really sounds like the monitor that will get me to upgrade my 27" S2716DG.... What i'm most excited about is the 120Hz refresh rate and the awesome response rate even though its an IPS. In the review you can see the IPS pixel can't beat a TN pixel, but the signal processing on this thing is insane, and makes up the difference. Awesome.

Going to be really hard to not pull the trigger on this and a 1080ti this holiday season..... If newegg had it for $999 i'd probably be all over it already. We'll just have to wait and see how big the holiday bonus is this year..
smile.gif


edit: Welp, i decided to just bite the bullet. Once it comes in and all is good, i'll throw the ol S2716DG on craigslist and see if i can make back some of the cost. Next is the 1080ti XD although it'll probably be harder to get rid of the 980ti with waterblock. Certainly won't be getting near what i paid back on that in the used market. I feel like the S2716 will still have some pretty good value left in it.
I just sold my S2716DG for $400 on facebook a few days ago. It still has value so it should soften the blow!
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by S-Line View Post

I just sold my S2716DG for $400 on facebook a few days ago. It still has value so it should soften the blow!
Yeah i feel like it should still have pretty good value!

Also, the alienware monitor is down to $949 here: http://deals.dell.com/mpp/productdetail/lws

Really can't wait to see the two monitors side by side. I'm worried i'm going to want to keep the S2719DG since it will fit really nice on the side of the AW
tongue.gif
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by stangflyer View Post

Mine is at the receiving department where I work. Going to be a long 4 hours!:
boxing3.gif
Nice!

Mine is due for delivery before 10:30am tomorrow... Even better that i have the day off tomorrow!
 
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