34" 3440x1440

TeaLeaf · June 18, 2021, 09:24:49 AM

I'm on the look out for a new monitor and am looking for suggestions and things to look out for in the hope that Prime Day will provide some purchase opportunities.

I think I am looking for 3440x1440 (currently I am 30" 2560x1600 and don't want to go smaller). I'd love HDR600 but yeah, price. G-sync (or G-sync compatible) and a decent refresh rate 144Hz+ would be nice. It will be my primary gaming monitor so a good response time, but I'm not looking to spend stupid money. Probably looking for a flat panel not curved as it is likely to be mounted alongside another flat panel - but that's because I am assuming a flat and a curved don't mount well together?

I saw Ben's suggestion from December, but have also read about a lot of sleep/wake up issues with that model. Still thinking about it.

If anyone has any suggestions, or spots any good Prime day offers please can you post them here?

Many thanks.

albert · June 18, 2021, 11:12:08 AM

Quote from: TeaLeaf;445878I saw Ben's suggestion from December, but have also read about a lot of sleep/wake up issues with that model. Still thinking about it.
Many thanks.

There are 2 Iiyama models at that price point with 3440x1440, I own the curved one the IPS panel but I assume the flat one is similar.

I have had no sleep issues with the monitor. If the input is set to manual and I switch from using my desktop to my laptop, if there is no input detected then the on screen menus do not wake up to allow the choice of input to be corrected. This is solved by using auto detection but for some who like manual input selection it could be a problem.

HDR as Ben mentions on the other post, is just rubbish until HDR1000 (I think that was it) and HDR being active removes all the manual tuning you can do for colour on the Iiyamas. It does have excellent colour out for the box. I tuned it with a Spyder 4 Pro and the graphs were so close to factory defaults with just the brightness turned down to 20-30 it was incredible.

For the money, the monitor is a legend. I personally feel the flat version is more of a strain on my neck than the curved version (I used 2 x 24" flats side by side before) which feel more natural to me.

smilodon · June 18, 2021, 04:34:13 PM

I bought the one Chaos mentioned as well, the iiyama G-MASTER GB3461WQSU-B1.

Once set up it is a joy. I have the flat screen and to be honest I find I have so much screen real estate that I can run several apps side by side in individual windows and almost duplicate a multi monitor set up.

:thumbsupsmileyanim:

TeaLeaf · June 19, 2021, 06:19:41 PM

Thanks for the input folks, I think for the value I'll end up going with the IPS panel Ben mentioned. There does not seem to be anything similar without paying a lot more.

:thumbsup:

Chaosphere · June 19, 2021, 06:38:36 PM

For the money its a great panel.

If you pay more you will get better quality, obviously, but its a case of diminishing returns.

I remain pleased with mine, and I won't be changing it until I can get an actual HDR panel without spending 1k+.

The problem with this is most monitors are still using tech that doesn't work well for HDR due to issues with the blacks. We need OLED to overcome burn in, it then becomes the absolute best panel tech, hands down.

Sneakytiger · June 19, 2021, 07:20:15 PM

i'm seeing monitors with hdr100 or 200 but none with hdr 1000 yet even some tv's don't have it.

Chaosphere · June 19, 2021, 08:07:44 PM

Many new TVs do, but they are usually branded as supporting Dolby vision / HDR10 / HDR10+, rather than HDR 400 / 600 / 1000 as we wee used to seeing in the PC space. The labeling is irritatingly messy as at some times it is referring to technical ability and at others supported codecs... Its a right pain in the backside IMO.

There are a few HDR 1000 monitors, but they all rely on local dimming tech that tbh I am also not convinced by due to its propensity to cause ghosting.

FWIW, if you buy a TV with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, it'll be a phenomenal performer with HDR content.

Monitors sadly are still playing catchup, again due largely to the inferior panel tech necessary to avoid burn in.

TeaLeaf · June 19, 2021, 10:20:53 PM

Quote from: Sneakytiger;445887i'm seeing monitors with hdr100 or 200 but none with hdr 1000 yet even some tv's don't have it.

There are some monitors with HDR1000, but they are expensive. For example the Acer Predator X35 which launched in Dec 2019. There are a couple of others too, Asus do one and I forget who else.

HDR400 is relatively common and HDR600 is becoming more common now. 400 to 600 is a noticeable step, but as has been said many don't see it as real HDR until you get to the HDR1000 rating.

Chaosphere · June 20, 2021, 09:09:31 AM

Yeah tbf I'm sure HDR 600 is better than nothing, I'm just very stubborn and have been spoiled by our TV! I don't want to pay out for a good monitor until I'm getting similar quality.