AW3821DW vs. other options

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grahamstock

New member
Hi

Received my PCS system a few days ago (spec below). Added the 32GB ram and another SSD. I'm now looking to replace my current 4x24in monitors with something more modern. I need something that I can work on + play RTS games. I'm also looking at 4K 32" monitors, so I'm also considering those but there aren't many 32" high refresh displays.

I noticed the Dell website has the Alienware AW3821DW on sale at £1,100, which with a discount code, I can get for £990. So I was sort of thinking of the AW3821DW (for gaming) + a 32" 4K 60Hz (for work).

Does anyone have real life opinion on the AW display?

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Enax

Member
Alienware probably the best UW monitor you are going to get in my opinion and for that price I’d say it’s a no brainer.
 
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Steveyg

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Enax said:
Alienware probably the best UW monitor you are going to get in my opinion and for that price I’d say it’s a no brainer.
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I have a strong dislike for both Dell and Alienware. Alienware generally have shoddy build quality at extortionate prices and Dell are literally scam artists who add things into orders that we're specifically told to remove

Their monitors have always been decent but I just don't like the company as a whole. Very unethical
 
E

Enax

Member
Scott said:
G9 all day long IMO. It's everyone's favourite monitor (other than @Enax).
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Ha, Iv had 2 G9s and had to send them both back after a few weeks. The cracking is highly irritating and the colours aren’t quite as fresh as those in the AW.

Sure every company has its issues can only give my opinion and for someone that’s had both I believe it to be valid. I was going to get the G9 Neo but it looks like it is also plagued with issues that just shouldn’t be the case for a £1700 monitor!
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
Enax said:
Ha, Iv had 2 G9s and had to send them both back after a few weeks. The cracking is highly irritating and the colours aren’t quite as fresh as those in the AW.

Sure every company has its issues can only give my opinion and for someone that’s had both I believe it to be valid. I was going to get the G9 Neo but it looks like it is also plagued with issues that just shouldn’t be the case for a £1700 monitor!
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The only issue with the neo require a firmware update for the HDR enabling.

There are no issues with the G9 side it was recalled, no review before about january this year is relevant due to this.
 
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Enax

Member
And that may be the case. Like I said previously I can only give my personal opinion through the experience I have had.

People are allowed a difference of opinions by the way not trying to step on anyone toes…
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
Enax said:
Can’t be true though as was fixed in about January this year… :rolleyes:

Only jesting @SpyderTracks
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Different monitor mate.

I'm not saying your not allowed a different opinion, I'm just saying g giving an opinion on an object that was recalled and fixed isn't really fair because those issues were built out in the redesign.
 
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DarTon

Well-known member
Another vote for the AW3821DW and against the G9 (contrarian I am).

The G9 is a great gaming monitor but I found it pretty awful for work. It suffers from being a VA panel (albeit a very good one). It doesn't have the sharpness of an IPS. I mainly look at market data and spreadsheets and the text clarity always felt 'foggy'. The 1000R curve causes some issues in that regard.

By comparison I've found the AW3821DW to be great. The panel is really good quality since it's a nano IPS from LG. It has the native Gsync. SDR is awesome (but HDR is a bit rubbish). For myself playing mainly Total War, RTS and RPG stuff but never FPS, I don't need ultra high frame rates or massive contrast, but lovely colour and good fps control, so it works great.

There's no doubt that the G9 is more of a "show stopper" monitor. By comparison, the AW3821DW doesn't have a wow factor. It just covers every base very well without necessarily being brilliant at any one thing. I see it as probably the best "mixed use" monitor I've got.

The other problem I found with the G9 is that if you are coming from your current 4x24" monitors, then a single G9 is only 2.5x24" area. So you'll need 2xG9 (or a G9 and a 27"). This was a big issue for me since I put 2xG9 side by side and it's was too wide. Stack them and it's too high. By comparison, 2x38 (or a 38" and a 32") gives you around 4x24" and fits more nicely.

I'd look at some of the new 4K 32" fast refresh IPS monitors appearing (Gigabyte FI32U and M32U, AOC AGON Pro AG324UX, Asus PG32UQ), since I think two of those would work well and give you a decent amount of desktop space. Alternatively, for pure work, the new 40" 5k2k ultrawides by Dell/LG/Lenovo would pair very well with a 32" 4K gaming monitor or the AW3821DW.
 
E

Enax

Member
SpyderTracks said:
Different monitor mate.

I'm not saying your not allowed a different opinion, I'm just saying g giving an opinion on an object that was recalled and fixed isn't really fair because those issues were built out in the redesign.
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On the contrary a lot of those issues weren’t “built out” at all. And I actually had 2 G9 monitors this year (both updated) both with issues so not sure where you assumed I had them before January.

I’m glad you enjoy your G9 though as it looks (and when working) is a fantastic monitor. I just lost the will with the ones I had as all it seemed to me was issue after issue.
 
G

grahamstock

New member
I really don't want to start a fight!

I not sure the G9 is my personal cup of tea. I'd need 2 G9 or a perhaps a G9 and another 27 inch to replace all my 24 inch displays. @DarTon makes the point that might not be ideal. I have 3 of my 24 inch in a row and the fourth above the middle one and I already I don't use that top one well. I would like to get away from displays stacked on each other. What somewhat attracted me to a 38 inch ultrawide was more height than a 24 or 27.

I think I'm more in the camp of needing screens for work and gaming (and disappointingly gaming takes second place) so I think IPS is safer. I'm wondering if a boring 32 inch + the AW or 2 x 32 (one boring and one gaming) might be a good compromise.

How much are the 4k 32 inch gaming monitors and are there reviews?
 
S

scarpa1

Enthusiast
grahamstock said:
I really don't want to start a fight!

I not sure the G9 is my personal cup of tea. I'd need 2 G9 or a perhaps a G9 and another 27 inch to replace all my 24 inch displays. @DarTon makes the point that might not be ideal. I have 3 of my 24 inch in a row and the fourth above the middle one and I already I don't use that top one well. I would like to get away from displays stacked on each other. What somewhat attracted me to a 38 inch ultrawide was more height than a 24 or 27.

I think I'm more in the camp of needing screens for work and gaming (and disappointingly gaming takes second place) so I think IPS is safer. I'm wondering if a boring 32 inch + the AW or 2 x 32 (one boring and one gaming) might be a good compromise.

How much are the 4k 32 inch gaming monitors and are there reviews?
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Gigabyte do 4k 32 inch screens with 144hz, looking at £750+

Darton lists a few in his post above.
 
D

DarTon

Well-known member
At the moment the only 32" 4K monitors available in the UK seem to be the Gigabyte FI32U and M32U. Both basically identical, except the FI32U having a bit more RGB bling and "gamer" styling and being £150 more expensive. The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ should be available but I haven't seen it. The AOC AGON Pro AG324UX is released end of month. The Acer XB323QK (Predator XB3) seems available in US but not here.

TFT central and Hardware Unboxed have done reviews of both the Gigabyte FI32U and Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ. RTINGS, Techradar and Tom's Hardware have reviewed the FI32U. Reviews are generally good. Hardware Unboxed is the most critical, mainly of the price/performance ratio, HDR experience and response times. I tend to think similar in that £900 for the FI32U or £850-1000 for the PG32UQ seems toppy. If a decent 32" 4K 60Hz IPS panel from Dell, LG or BenQ is available at £400-600, then only one that looks vaguely sensible in pricing is the M32U at £750.

I think we're really still waiting for LG (and thus Dell) and Samsung to release 32" versions of their 27/28" 4K 144Hz IPS panels but no signals they will do that at all thus far.
 
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