ASRock PG34WQ15R2B 34-inch Curved Gaming Monitor Review: Efficient with Balanced Performance at an Attractive Price
When new applied sciences saturate the market, costs inevitably fall. It took a number of years, however some finest gaming screens It options curved ultra-wide panels at reasonably priced costs. 34-inch WQHD (3440×1440) gaming shows run quick and ship strong gaming efficiency for lower than $500.
Primarily identified for its PC {hardware}, ASRock launched a Phantom Gaming-branded monitor lineup in 2022. The curvy entrance and my evaluate location is the PG34WQ15R2B, hereinafter often known as the PG34WQ. The 1500R is a WQHD VA panel with curvature, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR 400 and expanded shade.
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| Panel Kind / Backlight | VA / W-LED, edge array |
| Display screen Dimension / Facet Ratio | 34 inches / 21:9 |
| Curve radius: 1500mm | |
| Most Decision and Refresh Price | 3440×1440 @ 165Hz |
| FreeSync: 48-165Hz | |
| G-Sync Appropriate | |
| Native Shade Depth and Gamut | 8-bit / DCI-P3 |
| HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 | |
| Response Time (MPRT) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 550 nits |
| Distinction (mfr) | 3,000:1 |
| Audio system | 2x 2w |
| Video Inputs | 1x Show Port 1.4 |
| 2xHDMI 2.0 | |
| Sound | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | None |
| Energy consumption | 34.1w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions | 31.9 x 18.4-22.4 x 11.1 inches |
| with WxHxD base | (809×467-569x283mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 4.7 inches (120mm) |
| Body Width | Prime/sides: 0.3 in (8 mm) |
| Backside: 0.8 in (21 mm) | |
| Weight | 19.4 kilos (8.8 kg) |
| Assure | 3 years |
The PG34WQ is off to an amazing begin. VA panel It boasts a local distinction ratio of three,000:1. The LED backlight has a discipline dimming characteristic that expands the dynamic vary for SDR and HDR content material. It is all the time lively in HDR mode, and it output about 17,000:1 in my assessments. It has loads of mild output, although simply shy of 500 nits peak. SDR mode peaks at simply over 300 nits.
A large shade gamut covers roughly 85% of the DCI-P3 common for the class. ASRock designed the gamut to make an excellent compromise between sRGB and P3. This makes it well-suited for managed SDR content material within the smaller shade house. Earlier than lengthy you’ll be able to see the additional shade.
At $430 the PG32WQ is a superb worth and has just about every part a gamer may need with out the additional options. you get Adaptive-Sync It really works equally properly on Nvidia and AMD platforms. The 165 Hz refresh price is achieved with out overclocking. Nice tuners will recognize the inclusion of MPRT, also referred to as a backlight flash, to scale back movement blur.
You will not discover issues like purpose factors, timers, or body counters. And there isn’t any LED lighting, so you will must ship any pyrotechnics to your PC and different peripherals. However listed below are just a few fascinating and distinctive issues that set the PG34WQ other than the remaining.
Mounting and Equipment
The very first thing I observed when unpacking the PG34WQ had been the 2 skinny coaxial cables. After returning to the fast begin information, I found that ASRock has built-in a Wi-Fi antenna into the stand. Cables run between the monitor and the coaxial connections in your PC. In my expertise this can be a first. You additionally get HDMI and DisplayPort cables, together with an IEC cable for the inner energy provide. The foot and base are joined by a captive bolt and the panel snaps into place for a safe match.
Product 360
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The PG34WQ’s 1500R curve is neither skinny nor clear. It hits the stability level between immersion and picture degradation, with the previous having a lot of it and the latter none. The anti-glare layer is aggressive however not grainy, and the picture is sharp with none edge enhancement to scale back decision. Pixel density is 109 ppi, which is similar as a 27-inch 16:9 flat panel. The bezel is skinny and flat at 8mm; you will barely discover it when viewing the content material.
The underside fairing strip contains a Phantom Gaming emblem and little else apart from a small blue LED that signifies energy standing. On the again you will discover an OSD joystick, two management keys and an influence swap. Close to the highest of the panel, the ASRock declares itself in polished lettering beneath a skinny grille that vents warmth.
The 2 Wi-Fi antenna ports are on the backside of the pillar in order that the cables do not get in the way in which as soon as related. The stand is sturdy with strong actions that embody -7/20 diploma tilt, 20 diploma swivel and 100mm top adjustment. The Phantom Gaming emblem is featured on the back and front. A small gap helps arrange all of the cables. Under the panel mount is a 100mm VESA mannequin together with fasteners.
With solely two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4, inputs are sparse. For 165Hz operation, you have to use DisplayPort. HDMI inputs solely go as much as 100 Hz. If you wish to use headphones as a substitute of listening to the tiny two-watt inside audio system, a 3.5mm jack is supplied.
OSD Options
The PG34WQ’s OSD is among the best I’ve ever seen, with solely 4 submenus and probably the most important options solely wanted for high-performance gaming. Urgent the joystick brings it up. The keys take the consumer on to the brightness slider or image modes. Click on left to alter inputs or proper click on to regulate quantity.
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The PG34WQ has six image modes, all fastened besides the default Customary preset. This enables adjustment of brightness and shade temperature. The one factor lacking from the calibration suite is it is unlucky as a result of this monitor seems to be and measures very mild. Gamma is off by virtually 10%, which makes the image look a little bit washed out and lacks saturation. DCR is an efficient dynamic distinction possibility that improves picture high quality and has no apparent downsides. I like to recommend utilizing it for SDR content material. Locked for HDR. MPRT gives a backlight flash that reduces blur however causes very seen progressive artifact.
The Picture Setup menu permits you to change facet ratios, swap between overdrive and Adaptive-Sync, and set HDR to Auto mode. Overdrive has just one setting that does not make a distinction. I noticed slight black ghosting on check fashions, however most recreation content material ran easily with minimal blur.
The Shade Temperature menu has 4 fastened choices plus an adjustable consumer mode with RGB sliders. They can be utilized to go looking exactly on the PG34WQ with correct grayscale monitoring. If you don’t calibrate, you’ll be able to enhance the picture by deciding on the sRGB setting. I am going to clarify why under.
The final menu has an autotune, DDC/CI toggle, and manufacturing facility reset possibility for the enter selector. On the backside is the enter sign info.
ASRock PG34WQ15R2B Calibration Settings
I found just a few fascinating issues whereas calibrating the PG34WQ. Within the default mode, the image is cool and the gamma is mild, decreasing depth and shade saturation. I calibrated the consumer shade temperature and noticed a major enchancment with no gamma presets. Nevertheless, decreasing the distinction slider from 50 to 35 augmented Static distinction that should not be, however my check outcomes do not lie. ASRock ought to undoubtedly add gamma choices in a future firmware replace; this monitor desperately wants them. Listed below are the settings I take advantage of.
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| Image mode | Customary |
| Brightness 200 nits | 51 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 18 |
| Brightness 100 nits | eleventh |
| Brightness 80 nits | 3 (min. 73 nits) |
| Distinction | 35 |
| Shade Temperature Consumer | Pink 65, Inexperienced 54, Blue 43 |
Should you do not calibrate, I counsel setting the colour temperature to sRGB. This corrects grayscale errors and barely improves gamma. You possibly can additional enhance the picture by turning on DCR. In contrast to most screens, the PG34WQ makes good use of discipline dimming in SDR mode. The one draw back to this method is that the brightness slider is grey. Peak brightness is round 150 nits with out DCR. 210 nits with DCR.
HDR mode is robotically turned on when HDR10 sign is utilized. Shade accuracy is superb right here, with dynamic distinction of roughly 17,000:1. HDR content material seems to be wonderful right here, higher than most sub-$500 shows I’ve examined.
Recreation and Arms-on
I preferred the PG34WQ’s preferrred curvature from the very first second. I’ve tried screens starting from 2300R to 1300R and the 34″ 21:9 measurement 1500R is my favorite. There was no picture degradation in purposes like spreadsheets or phrase processors, however I felt like I used to be immersed in video games as I did not have to show my head that far to maintain peripheral objects in view.
I attempted a number of totally different configurations to get the absolute best SDR image from the PG34WQ. Out of the field, Customary image mode just isn’t your best option. The slight gamma and funky shade temperature solid a shadow over any sense of dimension. Element was much less sharp and shade was much less saturated.
My testing revealed just a few fixes. The straightforward one is to set sRGB within the shade temperature menu and activate DCR. This makes an enormous distinction with higher element and extra colors. The one draw back is that the brightness is fixed. You will note about 150 nits with the DCR off and 210 nits with it on. I most popular the latter for video games, however turned it off in Home windows to suppress the additional brightness when shopping the online.
Calibration is the most suitable choice and if you cannot, strive my settings proven above. This lets you alter the brightness to style and current one of the best shade. Gam compromises between sRGB and DCI-P3 for all content material, and ASRock has executed an excellent job right here.
The PG34WQ’s strongest characteristic is its HDR picture high quality. The DCR possibility is locked, which will increase the distinction ratio to virtually 17,000:1. Highlights are a lot brighter, virtually 500 nits, which will increase shade saturation and depth. Within the sub-$500 class this is among the finest HDR screens I’ve seen.
The video processing choices are easy, it is okay as a result of they work. Overdrive might be on or off, however I have not observed a distinction both means. Blurring is minimal and on par with most different 165Hz screens I’ve examined. Since Adaptive-Sync labored simply advantageous, I noticed some phasing in vertical strains, not body tearing. Nevertheless, there was occasional doubling of advantageous strains as I swiped quickly backward and forward. It was not a distraction and my success in acquainted video games like me Doomsday Everlasting And Tomb Raider equated to screens with higher excessive speeds.
MPRT or backlighting would not work properly right here. Cancels Adaptive-Sync at 165 Hz, which is a questionable selection. It additionally causes phasing like most screens with this characteristic. I discovered it distracting, though it did not decrease the brightness an excessive amount of. I nonetheless selected to stay with AS and overdrive. And I’ve had equal success on each the FreeSync and G-Sync platforms.
Throughout my time with the PG34WQ, I discovered it to be expert in all areas, working and enjoying. It carried out comfortably above its worth class, with wonderful HDR and a strong gaming expertise.
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