I have been on the market for an ultrawide monitor for quite some time now... and being one of those production minded gamers, finding the right balance between performance and image quality in an ultrawide has not been easy.... Until now.
Ok lets get onto the good stuff. At the time of writing this review, the display retailing for less than $599 USD. Toss in the fact you have a 34" IPS panel (21:9), 144hz refresh rate and a pretty solid resolution which helps it achieve those high refresh rates... It is pretty much one of the most competitively designed displays on the market right now. For me personally, the resolution is perfect since not all the software I will use will scale well with a higher resolution and 2560x1080 is overall less taxing on your graphics card.
LG may not have known it at the time, but this combo of features resonates very well with those of us who dabble in both work (content creation) and play.
For a product almost half the price of the competition, you kind of expect some corners to be cut when it comes to quality. I am happy to say the build quality left me surprised. Everything was extremely solid, nothing felt cheap. (highfive!)
Design wise, they chose to keep it simple. There are no flashy LED lights, no arbitrary plastic frills... just an edgy black frame with some red accents here and there. I do kind of wish there was some content/audio sensitive use of LED lights (As seen with Samsung's new CFG70 display) but over all, its a minor want based on personal taste.
While I originally intended to use one of my VESA mounts, I ended up liking the black and red stand so much that I opted to use it instead. It was simple to assemble, just hook in and it clicks into place. A button on the back will release it from the back the monitor. The legs come with some screws attached. A quick flick of the wrist and the monitor was assembled. Very little perceivable wobble. Well done LG.
In case you are wondering, the IPS panel was free of dead pixels. I also did not notice any significant light bleed... however that did change the longer I used the monitor.
After about 6 hours, the light leakage was noticeable. Unfortunately its something a bit too normal with these kinds of display. The good news is however that its not nearly as bad as what some of the Acer and Asus monitors showcased, but it is still there regardless.
Gaming on this ultrawide was fantastic. The 144hz refresh rate is extremely noticeable (in a good way) and the motion blur reduction features, when enabled also add to this effect. I must point out however that by using their motion blur reduction feature, the screen does get darker and a tad less saturated.
One peeve I have with the monitor involves the on screen controls. Rather to be more specific, the behavior of the game toggle they added to the on screen controls. There is a quick access for game related options, which is great, but it also changes the profile... and for me I want it to stay on the default custom profile. This means you have to go back into the more advanced settings and switch it back. Its a minor annoyance but something I would love to see fixed in some firmware updates.
Another awesome feature (for me at least) is LG's desktop controls. Basically you can control the settings of your monitor from within Windows, which is great if you don't want to fiddle around with the nob underneath the LG logo.
Conclusion... this is a great product with some minor flaws that are easily overlooked due to its competitive price point.
TLDR
Its a very competitively designed display that not only looks good, but delivers on the best balance of performance, features and price. Hard to go wrong with this one.
I'm a Big Fan of Nvidia, but G-Sync is expensive and doesn't make much sense for those of us who get the best Graphics Cards with 120hz or greater monitors. So when I found this monitor claiming it had a "Virtual" 1ms response time mode. I went ahead, made the purchase and I'm glad I did. It's hard to find Ultra-Wide Monitors 32" or above with a decent response time. But this monitor really shines in FPS and Racing titles and the screen is super sharp. I haven't seen any tearing or ghosting with a MSI 1080ti Gaming X pushing this monitor.
My old monitor was a 27" Acer Nvidia 3D ready with 1920x1080 resolution, 120hz Refresh Rate and 2ms Response Time. So it's not like I'm coming from a small 60hz monitor. This sure does feel like a worthy upgrade for anyone to enjoy...
Great value for a great monitor. First off, my review may be a bit skewed, because I'm coming from an older 26" IPS LCD monitor that had a resolution of 1920x1200 that I purchased maybe 10 years ago. For me, the best thing about that panel was the large view angles and better color reproduction than all of the TN-panel monitors that were available at the time. So when I was looking to upgrade, I wanted another IPS screen, but I also wanted 144 hz refresh rate for smoother gaming and less input lag.
After going back and forth on a few ultra wide-screen models, I picked this one because of the features and the price - I got a smoking deal when it dropped to $499 for 2 days. At that price, there isn't anything else out there that is even close to this. In a nutshell, here are the things that impressed me:
Size:
21:9 takes gaming to a whole new level. you get a much more immersive experience. Also, HUD elements are pushed out to the sides, and are not obstructing the view of the game. Photo and Video Editing takes on a whole new dimension. There is just so much more workspace. You can see the whole image on the screen and still have room for the tool bars on the sides without them getting in the way. Your video timeline is actually usable at decent zoom levels without having to turn off any other panels. For basic use, I usually have my browser taking up 2/3 of the screen and my audio player/chat/email/etc on the other 1/3rd of the screen.
Refresh Rate:
144 hz is the real deal. Even 120 hz feels amazing compared to 60hz. I was really surprised how smooth mouse movement feels on 120/144 hz. The difference between 60 and 120 is amazing. Stepping up from 120 to 144hz isn't nearly as dramatic, but it's still noticeable. Games feel so much better at the higher refresh rates, and everything else looks and feels much smoother than 60hz.
Color Reproduction
Coming from an IPS LED, I expected to have at least as good color reproduction on this. What I wasn't expecting was that moving from an old LCD panel with traditional backlighting to an LED backlit panel would make a huge difference in contrast levels and color brightness. My old IPS screen looks washed out compared to this. Blacks are super black and colors have more depth and saturation than what I was expecting. I was watching a youtube video in 16:9, so I had the black borders on the sides. At the end of the video, the film went entirely black except for the product logo in the center of the screen. I could not see where the 16:9 part of the video ended and the black bars on the sides began. everything was completely black, unlike the LCD panels I've had where pitch black comes out as dark gray.
Features and design
The monitor has a really clean design with a really thin frame. Only a small LG logo in the bottom center, and no annoying lights or visible buttons. The single control button also a 4 way joystick on the bottom of the panel. pressing it activates the OSD, and you use the joystick to navigate the menu system, which is very easy to figure out. You can also install LG's OnScreen Control software, which opens up more options for screen splitting and switching profiles that's faster and easier to use than the joystick and OSD.
The back of the panel has a standard 100x100mm VESA mount pattern, which I am using instead of the included stand.
The frame makes this monitor appear nearly bezel-less, but the actual part of the screen that lights up doesn't go all the way to the edge. there is maybe 10-12mm of space, but it still looks very nice.
Finally, I know some people are turned off by the 2560x1080 resolution. For me, it works great. Windows does a lousy job scaling, so if you have a super hi-rez screen, a lot of apps and UI elements have tiny text, and can be straining on people with older eyes, like me. Also, I run a single 1070, and I'm still able to get very good frame rates at this resolution (80+ in BF1 on ultra), which works for me. If I got a 1440p or 2160p screen, I'd need to spend at least $400 for another video card to be able to push that many pixels. But you'll need to make that decision for yourself.
I've had mine for about 12 hours now, and my mouth is still hanging open. I was torn between buying this and an Oculus Rift. After borrowing a friend's Oculus for a month I have to say that, for now, I think I've made the right decision. If that opinion changes in the coming months, I'll be sure to update it here.
Going from a 10-year-old 23" 1920x1080 TN 60Hz monitor to THIS will leave you speechless, especially if you're into First-Person Shooters, and open-world games are literally breathtaking.
I still intend to go VR someday. I just feel it has a little ways to go yet... Maybe in another year or so.
Is it "perfect"? Of course not. There is some major light bleed at the edges of the screen, but I've yet to notice it in-game. So, quite frankly, I couldn't care less about that. It's not even worth taking a star off over if you're buying this for gaming, IMHO.
Games I've played with it so far:
World Of Tanks
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
Portal 2
Batman: Arkham City GOTY edition
Fallout: New Vegas (It took a little tweaking of the ini file to get this one to look right.)
DOOM (2016) - It really shines on this one.
Anyway, It's been a long time since I was this happy with a gaming hardware investment... and again, if my opinion of it changes, I'll be sure to update it here.
Going back to gaming now. :)
Ok so here is a break down on this monitor:
◙ 34" Ultrawide
◙ Curved
◙ 2560 x 1080 Resolution
◙ 144Hz
◙ IPS Panel
◙ $700
Right off the bat, I can tell you that you are not going to find another IPS monitor with 144Hz, in an Ultrawide format for $700. Not gonna happen. At least not yet anyways. I have searched and searched, comparing those with truer color, 4K resolutions, and smaller Ultrawides and this one monitor is the best of all - to an extent.
Allow me to elaborate.
If you are not a gamer, and you are seeking something for productivity and content creation - this is not the monitor for you. There are better ultrawides that offer higher golor gamuts, higher pixels, and better contrast ratios than this one in the same price range. Content creation requires truer color and higher clarity. Could you still do it on this monitor? Yes. But I would only recommend it for those who are avid gamers first, content creators second.
Now if you are a gamer, this will really suit your needs - you get all the advantages of a TN panel, with the added benefits of an IPS. For those of you unaware of the panel types, IPS (In-Plane Switching) is, in a general sense, the better color reproducing panel offering better viewing angles but lacks high refresh rates and low response times. A TN (Twisted Nematic) offers much higher refresh rates and lower response times, but sub-par color quality and even worse viewing angles. To achieve both on an IPS panel is pretty awesome for a gamer - we do not like to sacrifice color quality or performance - although that just might be me.
In any case, this monitor has been smooth with very minimal ghosting (you'd really have to pay attention), and I absolutely love the refresh rate. I actually tried overclocking, and got to 155Hz - although anything over 144Hz will distort your colors and response rate so I do not recommend it. But besides that, what are the downsides?
The three biggest issues I have faced with this monitor are these: 1) The resolution, 2) Brightness,and 3) The Curve.
Every ultrawide extends the resolution sideways, rather than proportionally. This mean you get more pixels off to the sides, which is not a big deal with anything 29" or under. However, on a 34", you notice a lack of color - sort of like a "washed out" feel. This is because the resolution is being stretched out but no additional pixels are being added. In order to fix this, more pixels would need to be added by increasing the resolution size. You can technically create this resolution in the Nvidia Control Panel (If you are using an Nvidia based graphics card), but it is not the monitor's native resolution so you will only be creating a "virtual" resolution making it too dull and noticeably darker images.
Now a natively higher resolution on this monitor would mean that you could not have 144Hz. Or rather, you would not be able to run games at 144Hz. The amount of graphics power needed will increase significantly with a resolution higher than 2560 x 1080. A single 980ti can handle 100+ FPS (on a 100Hz monitor) with a 2K resolution (2560 x 1080 is considered 2K, although not true 2K). On a 4K resolution, frames will drop to about 40 FPS. A dual 980ti setup might get you back up to 80 FPS, but you are short from your original 100 FPS. For some that is justifiable, preferring pixels over FPS.
With this monitor however, the lower resolution maximizes your graphics power to achieve those 144Hz (144 FPS) easily. For a gamer, this is fantastic. Especially if we just can't justify spending $1,000+ for a monitor that offers a higher resolution but at only 100Hz that presumably can only be achieved with a dual video card setup.
Now what really bugs me is the brightness. It is too low, and sometimes bothersome. This is mostly a preference as I have a very well it room - but in darkness the brightness is adequate. Worst case scenario, turn of the black stabilizer and you'll get a bit more brightness. In this regard, VA panels would achiever higher brightness than an IPS panel, just fyi.
The curve. is. not. enough. This is solely me, I'm sure. I previously had a smaller LG monitor that had a more noticable curve, I expected a bigger curve on this one, but was disappointed. Would i switch it for another one with a bigger curve? No. Unless it had 144Hz as well.
Seriously, this is the only Ultrawide i could find with these specs. The only other monitor I might consider switching this for is the Asus ROG Swift PG348Q. It is the only other monitor that could come close to these same specs while offering a bigger resolution, but with the price on the Asus - I could afford two of this LG monitors. Just saying. :).
In summary, (man what a review), I am a gamer first, so my need for high refresh rates is important. I would definitely recommend this for gamers. Great specs all around, the resolution does not affect the quality or feel (unless you are a die hard 4K fan). But something had to be compromised for the 144Hz. And all for $700 (or under if you are lucky enough to find that deal).
EDIT: So I overlooked the response rate and another user brought it to my attention. The true response rate is 14ms / 5ms GTG (as listed on LG's site) and the 1ms refers to motion blur reduction. While this may not be ideal, it does not change the performance of the monitor. :).
Feature Product
- 34 inch 21:9 ultrawide curved IPS gaming monitor
- AMD FreeSync technology,Response Time:14ms / 5ms GTG.OS Compatibility-Windows
- 1ms motion Blur reduction,144Hz refresh rate
- DIMENSIONS - With Stand (WxHxD) : 32.7"" x 17.7"" x 11.0"" (down) - 15.7"" (up), Without Stand (WxHxD) : 32.7"" x 14.6"" x 3.0"""
- Advanced gaming Features including crosshair. Brightness : 250cd/m² (Typ.), 200cd/m² (Min.)
Description
It's game on with the LG 34uc79g Ultra wide 21:9 curved gaming monitor. The graceful curve of the monitor helps create an immersive gaming experience. Combine the elegant design with essential gaming features like free sync, 1ms motion blur reduction and 144Hz refresh rate and you're ready to take your gaming to the next level. If the selected resolution is HDMI 1080i 60/50 Hz (interlaced), the screen may be flickering. Change the resolution to 1080P or the recommended resolution.
Cons:
1. Not made with productivity as a priority.
2. 1080p
3. Had to manually install screen split software.
4. Menu control knob at bottom of panel.
Pros:
1. 1080p (great for gaming on FPS games).
2. Free sync
3. Running games at 144hz
4. 21.9 in FPS games.
5. USB hub on back.
6. Splitscreen software.
7. Crosshair mode.
8. Ease of setup once unbox.
I'm very pleased with this monitor as I bought this for gaming.
Notes:
1. You have to change in settings to get 144hz.
2. If using wattman turn off Chill in global settings or
you will be locked at 60hz in games
3. Use menu knob and go to "Game" to turn on
Freesync.
4. Use the supplied displayport cable instead of what
you already have.
The monitor is beautiful the features are amazing. I unfortunately got a back light bleed nightmare. Obviously I'm just unlucky and will have it replaced. Colors may seem washed out but playing with the settings can get the picture looking much better. I have had problems in the past with 1080 standard and ultrawide giving me headaches that 1440p 3440x1440p and 4k don't. Not a problem with this monitor.
Settings for best picture: Landed on these while comparing to the LG 27UD68-W 4k Monitor which is crystal clear.
Contrast: 65 | Picture Adjust: Custom | Sharpness: 70
Color Adjust | Color Temp: Custom | Red: 97 | Blue: 100 | Green: 100
absolutely stunning monitor!
pros:
-menu is the best and easiest you will ever use, super quick and responsive, tons of controls
-the stand is amazing, very high quality and allows height adjustment with tilt
-display-port picture quality is as expected and then some (be careful what cable you use, not all display-port cables are built the same)
-you can control some settings for the monitor through your PC with lg app (works through display cable, USB cable not required)
-it is vesa compatible
-144hz
cons:
-hdmi stuck at 60hz, tried many cables and can't get higher even with using a gtx 1080 Ti
-black stabilizer menu is not in the lg app along with a few other must have adjustments ( more of a sad let down than a con)
-you have to use the right displayport cable, must be high grade proper displayport cable or this monitor will give you all kinds of motion blur and fuzzy images that will give you a headache and make you think the monitor is no good, text will not be clear
-no speakers, cheaper lg ultrawides have speakers and this comes with none which is kinda crazy
-vesa mount is terrible, it is sunken in and NO they do not have/sell or offer any adapter on any level for you to squeeze and mount in there. Go to your local hardware store and get special spacers and longer mounting screws to solve this problem ( because it is your only option)
I have a GTX 980 Ti, but I really don't want to spend $250 more just for G-Sync chip, it's not worth it. 144hz is good enough for all your gaming needs.
This monitor has been doing a good job, smoothly running popular games like PUBG, Overwatch at recommended settings. No screen tearing and any other problem.
Only downside is the Brightness is 250 cd/m2. 300 will be perfect.
Wow. I bought this to replace a four screen set up for my day trading center. I put new Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 2GB GDDR5 Graphic Card into my machine to update and Win 10 from Win 7. Ram is 16GB. Either way, this screen operates perfectly for my purposes. The colors are rich/deep the refresh is super great and it just performs all the way round. I totally enjoy having the seamless space and it was super easy to set up. Five stars.
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