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Guru3D Rig of the Month - December 2019
Curved FreeSync Acer XR342CK to cost 1099 USD
We've talked about this series a couple of times now, today the announcement. the XR342CK will be available in March. The next generation XR series will get an UltraWide QHD (3440 x 1440) resolution and a 34-inch 21:9 panel with a 1900R curvature and 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut.
It should offer delivers immersive, picture-perfect visuals. Special features like 6-axis color adjustment and DTS Sound deepen the audio/visual impact, while a customizable ambient light at the lower edge of the monitor provides lighting effects that match the desired mood. The monitor can therefore be used in conjunction with AMD FreeSync on compatible GPUs. This will probably offer the same 30 – 75Hz variable refresh rate range as its predecessor, although that is not yet confirmed.
The panel used is a 34” LG Display AH-IPS (Advanced High-Performance In-Plane Switching) model with 3440 x 1440 resolution, 60Hz native refresh rate and 1900R curvature. This means the curve is twice as steep as the usual 3800R curvature of the previous model and various other 34” UltraWides from the first generation.
The PIP/PBP and daisy-chain modes allow users to take their productivity to a new level, and the base can swivel from -30 to +30 degrees, allowing users to easily adjust the monitor to their desired viewing angle. The XR series features AMD FreeSync technology, which ensures variable refresh rates for a smooth, tear-free experience in gaming and video playback.
The full port range is not yet known, but we do know that it will come with DP 1.2a to support the full capabilities of the panel and some integrated DTS speakers. Some of the press shots also show USB 3.0 ports. It’s likely that the port selection is very similar to its predecessor, so a MiniDP input, HDMI port, MHL 2.0 port and 3.5mm headphone jack are likely as well.
The monitor should be available in March from €1099 in the EMEA regions (including the UK).
WaroDaBeast
Senior Member
Posts: 1963
Joined: 2004-12-03
Senior Member
Posts: 1963
Joined: 2004-12-03
#5214881 Posted on: 01/05/2016 11:37 AM
I'm just waiting for Freesync monitors to be able to work at low framerates, like 25 FPS or so.
I'm just waiting for Freesync monitors to be able to work at low framerates, like 25 FPS or so.
Hirantha
Senior Member
Posts: 254
Joined: 2012-06-26
Senior Member
Posts: 254
Joined: 2012-06-26
#5215000 Posted on: 01/05/2016 03:07 PM
3440x1440 is not 4k it's just ultra wide. Better than 4k for gaming. Acer predator x34 is the Gsync variance. 100mhz refresh rate!
3440x1440 is not 4k it's just ultra wide. Better than 4k for gaming. Acer predator x34 is the Gsync variance. 100mhz refresh rate!
hell_knight
Member
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-03-08
Member
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-03-08
#5215138 Posted on: 01/05/2016 08:39 PM
I've been following the monitor for a few months now and not many reach 100 mhz, some also flicker at certain hz, the gsync module seems to cause "scanlines" on many of them..just search in acer forum and in overclock(net)..such a shame
Maybe it's Acer trying to do things better this time, one can only do but wonder.
A new batch is coming next week maybe we can hope for more flawless monitors and not lotteries.
3440x1440 is not 4k it's just ultra wide. Better than 4k for gaming. Acer predator x34 is the Gsync variance. 100mhz refresh rate!
I've been following the monitor for a few months now and not many reach 100 mhz, some also flicker at certain hz, the gsync module seems to cause "scanlines" on many of them..just search in acer forum and in overclock(net)..such a shame
Maybe it's Acer trying to do things better this time, one can only do but wonder.
A new batch is coming next week maybe we can hope for more flawless monitors and not lotteries.
Flatulence
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Joined: 2015-03-25
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Joined: 2015-03-25
#5215175 Posted on: 01/05/2016 10:32 PM
Am i missing something here? It says it will be available from March, but i bought this monitor at Christmas.
Am i missing something here? It says it will be available from March, but i bought this monitor at Christmas.
ScoobyDooby
Senior Member
Posts: 7090
Joined: 2004-10-01
Senior Member
Posts: 7090
Joined: 2004-10-01
#5215176 Posted on: 01/05/2016 10:32 PM
I've been following the monitor for a few months now and not many reach 100 mhz, some also flicker at certain hz, the gsync module seems to cause "scanlines" on many of them..just search in acer forum and in overclock(net)..such a shame
Maybe it's Acer trying to do things better this time, one can only do but wonder.
A new batch is coming next week maybe we can hope for more flawless monitors and not lotteries.
This is true.. there are quite a few people with issues with the x34. Fortunately, I'm not one of them. If you get a good one, its second to none as far as monitors go.. however, if you can't hit 100hz, have scanlines, dead pixels, or bad backlight bleed or flickering, or a combination of any of these issues, its pretty hard to accept considering the price.
From my experience though, its a fantastic monitor for pretty much anything.. from everyday use to media to gaming to graphics/art production.. you name it.. its so awesome.
I've been following the monitor for a few months now and not many reach 100 mhz, some also flicker at certain hz, the gsync module seems to cause "scanlines" on many of them..just search in acer forum and in overclock(net)..such a shame
Maybe it's Acer trying to do things better this time, one can only do but wonder.
A new batch is coming next week maybe we can hope for more flawless monitors and not lotteries.
This is true.. there are quite a few people with issues with the x34. Fortunately, I'm not one of them. If you get a good one, its second to none as far as monitors go.. however, if you can't hit 100hz, have scanlines, dead pixels, or bad backlight bleed or flickering, or a combination of any of these issues, its pretty hard to accept considering the price.
From my experience though, its a fantastic monitor for pretty much anything.. from everyday use to media to gaming to graphics/art production.. you name it.. its so awesome.
Denial
Senior Member
Posts: 12472
Joined: 2004-05-16
Senior Member
Posts: 12472
Joined: 2004-05-16
#5215200 Posted on: 01/05/2016 11:09 PM
This is true.. there are quite a few people with issues with the x34. Fortunately, I'm not one of them. If you get a good one, its second to none as far as monitors go.. however, if you can't hit 100hz, have scanlines, dead pixels, or bad backlight bleed or flickering, or a combination of any of these issues, its pretty hard to accept considering the price.
From my experience though, its a fantastic monitor for pretty much anything.. from everyday use to media to gaming to graphics/art production.. you name it.. its so awesome.
Honestly this seems to be the story with all the newer expensive monitors. The PG278Q was riddled with manufacturing problems. The XB270HU had bleed issues galore for the first few months. The PG279Q has orange bleed problems among other quality control problems. Now I'm hearing stuff about the X34..
These companies need to get their QC in check. I don't want to spend $1000 on a monitor for it to have issues. I don't give a damn what technology is in it. The point of a monitor is to display an image it's given. If I display an all black screen and there is a giant blotch of grey on the bottom right, it's unacceptable, it's literally failing at it's most basic job. Uniformity issues should be gone at this price point, and the panel should be calibrated out of the box with a report, similar to how Dell does it with it's Ultrasharp line.
I was so pissed with my PG278Q, I literally went through 4 of them before finding one that wasn't a giant piece of crap. And even that one had first frame contrast issues. Which ASUS still fails to admit is even a thing. And my first XB270HU, well look at it:
It's ****ing embarrassing that an $800 monitor looks like that.
This is true.. there are quite a few people with issues with the x34. Fortunately, I'm not one of them. If you get a good one, its second to none as far as monitors go.. however, if you can't hit 100hz, have scanlines, dead pixels, or bad backlight bleed or flickering, or a combination of any of these issues, its pretty hard to accept considering the price.
From my experience though, its a fantastic monitor for pretty much anything.. from everyday use to media to gaming to graphics/art production.. you name it.. its so awesome.
Honestly this seems to be the story with all the newer expensive monitors. The PG278Q was riddled with manufacturing problems. The XB270HU had bleed issues galore for the first few months. The PG279Q has orange bleed problems among other quality control problems. Now I'm hearing stuff about the X34..
These companies need to get their QC in check. I don't want to spend $1000 on a monitor for it to have issues. I don't give a damn what technology is in it. The point of a monitor is to display an image it's given. If I display an all black screen and there is a giant blotch of grey on the bottom right, it's unacceptable, it's literally failing at it's most basic job. Uniformity issues should be gone at this price point, and the panel should be calibrated out of the box with a report, similar to how Dell does it with it's Ultrasharp line.
I was so pissed with my PG278Q, I literally went through 4 of them before finding one that wasn't a giant piece of crap. And even that one had first frame contrast issues. Which ASUS still fails to admit is even a thing. And my first XB270HU, well look at it:
It's ****ing embarrassing that an $800 monitor looks like that.
geogan
Senior Member
Posts: 438
Joined: 2010-01-04
Senior Member
Posts: 438
Joined: 2010-01-04
#5216412 Posted on: 01/08/2016 01:14 PM
Honestly this seems to be the story with all the newer expensive monitors. The PG278Q was riddled with manufacturing problems. The XB270HU had bleed issues galore for the first few months. The PG279Q has orange bleed problems among other quality control problems. Now I'm hearing stuff about the X34..
These companies need to get their QC in check. I don't want to spend $1000 on a monitor for it to have issues. I don't give a damn what technology is in it. The point of a monitor is to display an image it's given. If I display an all black screen and there is a giant blotch of grey on the bottom right, it's unacceptable, it's literally failing at it's most basic job. Uniformity issues should be gone at this price point, and the panel should be calibrated out of the box with a report, similar to how Dell does it with it's Ultrasharp line.
I was so pissed with my PG278Q, I literally went through 4 of them before finding one that wasn't a giant piece of crap. And even that one had first frame contrast issues. Which ASUS still fails to admit is even a thing. And my first XB270HU, well look at it:
It's ****ing embarrassing that an $800 monitor looks like that.
It seems a lot of the newer top end 4K and curved TVs have the same sorts of problems and defects. It looks like the panel manufacturers (LG?) are just dumping them out and hoping that the sucker that buys them won't notice or know the one they got is a dud. Many people wouldn't notice. I agree the quality and control standard has dropped drasticly in last few years. It would really put me off buying a new monitor or TV. Where I live it's not easy or cheap to try and send back duds to where I buy them and they probably would refuse to take them back anyway saying its within operating range - that's great when range is "great to perfect" but not when manufacturers are saying range is "terrible to good" as normal!
Honestly this seems to be the story with all the newer expensive monitors. The PG278Q was riddled with manufacturing problems. The XB270HU had bleed issues galore for the first few months. The PG279Q has orange bleed problems among other quality control problems. Now I'm hearing stuff about the X34..
These companies need to get their QC in check. I don't want to spend $1000 on a monitor for it to have issues. I don't give a damn what technology is in it. The point of a monitor is to display an image it's given. If I display an all black screen and there is a giant blotch of grey on the bottom right, it's unacceptable, it's literally failing at it's most basic job. Uniformity issues should be gone at this price point, and the panel should be calibrated out of the box with a report, similar to how Dell does it with it's Ultrasharp line.
I was so pissed with my PG278Q, I literally went through 4 of them before finding one that wasn't a giant piece of crap. And even that one had first frame contrast issues. Which ASUS still fails to admit is even a thing. And my first XB270HU, well look at it:
It's ****ing embarrassing that an $800 monitor looks like that.
It seems a lot of the newer top end 4K and curved TVs have the same sorts of problems and defects. It looks like the panel manufacturers (LG?) are just dumping them out and hoping that the sucker that buys them won't notice or know the one they got is a dud. Many people wouldn't notice. I agree the quality and control standard has dropped drasticly in last few years. It would really put me off buying a new monitor or TV. Where I live it's not easy or cheap to try and send back duds to where I buy them and they probably would refuse to take them back anyway saying its within operating range - that's great when range is "great to perfect" but not when manufacturers are saying range is "terrible to good" as normal!
geogan
Senior Member
Posts: 438
Joined: 2010-01-04
Senior Member
Posts: 438
Joined: 2010-01-04
#5216416 Posted on: 01/08/2016 01:19 PM
You sure it wasn't the previous model XR341CK you got? With the less curved radius than this one?
Am i missing something here? It says it will be available from March, but i bought this monitor at Christmas.
You sure it wasn't the previous model XR341CK you got? With the less curved radius than this one?
Lane
Senior Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: 2005-02-25
Senior Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: 2005-02-25
#5216795 Posted on: 01/09/2016 12:15 PM
Honestly this seems to be the story with all the newer expensive monitors. The PG278Q was riddled with manufacturing problems. The XB270HU had bleed issues galore for the first few months. The PG279Q has orange bleed problems among other quality control problems. Now I'm hearing stuff about the X34..
These companies need to get their QC in check. I don't want to spend $1000 on a monitor for it to have issues. I don't give a damn what technology is in it. The point of a monitor is to display an image it's given. If I display an all black screen and there is a giant blotch of grey on the bottom right, it's unacceptable, it's literally failing at it's most basic job. Uniformity issues should be gone at this price point, and the panel should be calibrated out of the box with a report, similar to how Dell does it with it's Ultrasharp line.
I was so pissed with my PG278Q, I literally went through 4 of them before finding one that wasn't a giant piece of crap. And even that one had first frame contrast issues. Which ASUS still fails to admit is even a thing. And my first XB270HU, well look at it:
It's ****ing embarrassing that an $800 monitor looks like that.
The problem is when they add "premium " features on 500$ monitors ( whatever it is g-sync, freesync, blue light, curved, 144hz, 4K etc... well whatever ) and push them on the 800-1000$ market due to all the "premium " features. But thoses monitors have never been intended to be in thoses range...
If they had take monitors who will have allready been intended for the 1000$ market and adding thoses features, they will sold them 1200+ $. They reduce cost somewhere: On the quality check, calibration or use panels who should never end on a 800-1000$ monitor....
Strangely the reviews dont allways show the same behaviors. So never buy a monitor who is just released on the market, make more research than initial reviews, dont look only the specifications and features, make research on forums...
I think i will wait to buy any monitor before HDR monitors ( BT2020 12bit / REC2020 ) are on the market.. ofc if my monitor dont break in between..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvD37UUcdIo
Some more infos: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9836/amd-unveils-2016-vistech-roadmap/3
Honestly this seems to be the story with all the newer expensive monitors. The PG278Q was riddled with manufacturing problems. The XB270HU had bleed issues galore for the first few months. The PG279Q has orange bleed problems among other quality control problems. Now I'm hearing stuff about the X34..
These companies need to get their QC in check. I don't want to spend $1000 on a monitor for it to have issues. I don't give a damn what technology is in it. The point of a monitor is to display an image it's given. If I display an all black screen and there is a giant blotch of grey on the bottom right, it's unacceptable, it's literally failing at it's most basic job. Uniformity issues should be gone at this price point, and the panel should be calibrated out of the box with a report, similar to how Dell does it with it's Ultrasharp line.
I was so pissed with my PG278Q, I literally went through 4 of them before finding one that wasn't a giant piece of crap. And even that one had first frame contrast issues. Which ASUS still fails to admit is even a thing. And my first XB270HU, well look at it:
It's ****ing embarrassing that an $800 monitor looks like that.
The problem is when they add "premium " features on 500$ monitors ( whatever it is g-sync, freesync, blue light, curved, 144hz, 4K etc... well whatever ) and push them on the 800-1000$ market due to all the "premium " features. But thoses monitors have never been intended to be in thoses range...
If they had take monitors who will have allready been intended for the 1000$ market and adding thoses features, they will sold them 1200+ $. They reduce cost somewhere: On the quality check, calibration or use panels who should never end on a 800-1000$ monitor....
Strangely the reviews dont allways show the same behaviors. So never buy a monitor who is just released on the market, make more research than initial reviews, dont look only the specifications and features, make research on forums...
I think i will wait to buy any monitor before HDR monitors ( BT2020 12bit / REC2020 ) are on the market.. ofc if my monitor dont break in between..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvD37UUcdIo
Some more infos: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9836/amd-unveils-2016-vistech-roadmap/3
ScoobyDooby
Senior Member
Posts: 7090
Joined: 2004-10-01
Senior Member
Posts: 7090
Joined: 2004-10-01
#5216953 Posted on: 01/09/2016 09:30 PM
The problem is when they add "premium " features on 500$ monitors ( whatever it is g-sync, freesync, blue light, curved, 144hz, 4K etc... well whatever ) and push them on the 800-1000$ market due to all the "premium " features. But thoses monitors have never been intended to be in thoses range...
If they had take monitors who will have allready been intended for the 1000$ market and adding thoses features, they will sold them 1200+ $. They reduce cost somewhere: On the quality check, calibration or use panels who should never end on a 800-1000$ monitor....
Strangely the reviews dont allways show the same behaviors. So never buy a monitor who is just released on the market, make more research than initial reviews, dont look only the specifications and features, make research on forums...
I think i will wait to buy any monitor before HDR monitors ( BT2020 12bit / REC2020 ) are on the market.. ofc if my monitor dont break in between..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvD37UUcdIo
Some more infos: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9836/amd-unveils-2016-vistech-roadmap/3
Normally I'd agree, however this is not always a "rule".
I purchased the x34 brand new weeks after it released. Although there are a fair amount of people with issues with it, I received, by all standards for this display, a perfect monitor, that doesn't exhibit any of the issues others have mentioned they are having with it.
Does that make me lucky? Maybe.. I am sure I'm not the only one though.. so its not necessarily true to say that if you buy a new monitor you will get burned. I think because we all read online people's experiences, and that it tends to be the people with issues who are most vocal about them, that we have a skewed perception on the matter.
All that said, the reason reviews typically dont exhibit issues is due to the fact that they will get samples that are hand picked by the manufacturer.. I think its pretty obvious that when it comes to reviews, manufacturers will take the extra time to ensure the reviewer gets a 100% perfect, or as close to perfect item as possible, for obvious reasons.
The problem is when they add "premium " features on 500$ monitors ( whatever it is g-sync, freesync, blue light, curved, 144hz, 4K etc... well whatever ) and push them on the 800-1000$ market due to all the "premium " features. But thoses monitors have never been intended to be in thoses range...
If they had take monitors who will have allready been intended for the 1000$ market and adding thoses features, they will sold them 1200+ $. They reduce cost somewhere: On the quality check, calibration or use panels who should never end on a 800-1000$ monitor....
Strangely the reviews dont allways show the same behaviors. So never buy a monitor who is just released on the market, make more research than initial reviews, dont look only the specifications and features, make research on forums...
I think i will wait to buy any monitor before HDR monitors ( BT2020 12bit / REC2020 ) are on the market.. ofc if my monitor dont break in between..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvD37UUcdIo
Some more infos: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9836/amd-unveils-2016-vistech-roadmap/3
Normally I'd agree, however this is not always a "rule".
I purchased the x34 brand new weeks after it released. Although there are a fair amount of people with issues with it, I received, by all standards for this display, a perfect monitor, that doesn't exhibit any of the issues others have mentioned they are having with it.
Does that make me lucky? Maybe.. I am sure I'm not the only one though.. so its not necessarily true to say that if you buy a new monitor you will get burned. I think because we all read online people's experiences, and that it tends to be the people with issues who are most vocal about them, that we have a skewed perception on the matter.
All that said, the reason reviews typically dont exhibit issues is due to the fact that they will get samples that are hand picked by the manufacturer.. I think its pretty obvious that when it comes to reviews, manufacturers will take the extra time to ensure the reviewer gets a 100% perfect, or as close to perfect item as possible, for obvious reasons.
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Not such a shabby price for a large & curved 4k monitor. Glad to see prices are dropping and becoming more affordable.