Monitors Unboxed (Hardware Unboxed) review of the Dell AW3423DWF

[Stahlmann]

The FreeSync variant of the very popular AW3423DW has been released and now thoughoughly reviewed by Tim and i have a few things to say, including listing some of the key differences:

 

- They overhauled their response time testing methodology because apparently their previous tests weren't capable of fully capturing OLED's response times. As a result of the new test the gap between OLED and LCD monitors has gotten a lot larger, with most OLEDs now sitting at 0.3 ms instead of 1 ms. That also means Dell's marketed 0.1 ms response times are actually realistic, as the monitor reaches 0.1 ms response times in a best case scenario without the use of unuseable overdrive.

 

- Even though there is still (sadly) a fan, it seems it's much better optimized, meaning it's overall quieter, has no noticeable RPM changes and actually turns off once the monitor goes into standby. According to Tim it wasn't noticeable at all during normal use.

 

- Processing delay has been cut down to 0.3 ms instead of 4.7 ms for the G-Sync model. Sadly the refresh rate also took a 10Hz hit and is now capped at 165Hz (maybe 175Hz can be reached through manual overclocking, as it uses the same panel?) Still, this makes it the fastest overall monitor Tim ever tested when it comes to the full input lag chain. (processing delay + refresh rate + pixel response time)

 

- HDR PQ tracking is slightly worse on the newer FreeSync model. (It's mostly a bit brighter than it should be) Color accuractiy and brightness capabilities overall are still the same.

 

- It finally has user-upgradeable firmware, so it can potentially fix the slight quirks like HDR accuractiy without a long RMA process.

 

TL:DR; Overall it's a better product than the G-Sync model while also bringing down the cost. So it's a win for consumers.

 

 

Also just throwing this in here: What i've been saying for years still remains true. G-Sync modules are unnecessary and bring more disadvantages than advantages. You're basically paying a premium for a worse product.

[Stahlmann]

Edit: I just noticed the G-Sync variant actually isn't even sold anymore. It looks like it's discontinued. (at least in Germany)

[Doobeedoo]

Quite good. OLEDs costing around 1K so far not bad. Not specs I look for, really I'd rather go for LG and Asus ones that are flat 16:9 240Hz but yeah who ever wants UW this then.

 

I'm waiting for Samsung QD-OLED 4K 240Hz panel to show up. Which ever brand, better be flat, matte, have strobing.

[Andrewtst]

1 hour ago, Doobeedoo said:

Samsung

 

1 hour ago, Doobeedoo said:

better be flat

Samsung is curve lover. It will be absolutely curve from Samsung.

[Doobeedoo]

6 hours ago, Andrewtst said:

 

Samsung is curve lover. It will be absolutely curve from Samsung.

We'll see, but others will also get the panel so hopefully other brands will have flat and extra features.

[s1aver]

HDR 1000 mode is the best thing about this monitor the EOTF on the DWF makes this mode not usable. And honestly HDR 400 isn't passable as HDR so really HDR is broken on the DWF. I picked the DW over the DWF black Friday due to this issue. To each their own I guess.

[Stahlmann]

1 hour ago, s1aver said:

HDR 1000 mode is the best thing about this monitor the EOTF on the DWF makes this mode not usable. And honestly HDR 400 isn't passable as HDR so really HDR is broken on the DWF. I picked the DW over the DWF black Friday due to this issue. To each their own I guess.

"Not useable" is a bit much imo. While it might not track the PQ curve that well, all that does is make HDR a bit brighter than it should be. And like i said in my OP, Dell still has the chance to fix it using the user upgradeable firmware. Because of the panel alone HDR will still look great.

 

I'd rather have a slightly more inaccurate HDR representation than a louder fan or higher input lag. But like you said: To each their own.

[mark_smith85]

I picked one up and for gaming its amazing simply astounding tbh I found either Trueblack or HDR1000 to both look great.

 

Fan wise if you turn everything off in your house\flat and really really listen for it you can just about hear it. Any ambient noise and cant hear a thing from it.

 

Only issue I have (and I knew this when purchasing it) is to work off its horrible. Now it could probably be the way I've got it setup in SDR but coming from an Acer X34P work wise I would not get it. If you need a monitor to do work and game off with similar HDR and FPS maybe the upcoming Viewsonic ultrawide would be the better choice.

[Stahlmann]

41 minutes ago, mark_smith85 said:

Only issue I have (and I knew this when purchasing it) is to work off its horrible. Now it could probably be the way I've got it setup in SDR but coming from an Acer X34P work wise I would not get it. If you need a monitor to do work and game off with similar HDR and FPS maybe the upcoming Viewsonic ultrawide would be the better choice.

Could you elaborate? Is it because of the text clarity?

[mark_smith85]

22 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Could you elaborate? Is it because of the text clarity?

Yeah so text clarity I am one of those (fussy people) who are noticing the text infringement but its not end of world like.

 

Its brightness on SDR tbh and colours look over saturated.

[s1aver]

On 12/16/2022 at 4:06 AM, Stahlmann said:

"Not useable" is a bit much imo. While it might not track the PQ curve that well, all that does is make HDR a bit brighter than it should be. And like i said in my OP, Dell still has the chance to fix it using the user upgradeable firmware. Because of the panel alone HDR will still look great.

 

I'd rather have a slightly more inaccurate HDR representation than a louder fan or higher input lag. But like you said: To each their own.

You keep saying slightly but I'm not sure you know what that word means. True black is slightly elevated(& even that at the near black which is pretty bad for an OLED) on the DWF, HDR 1000 is so f**ed I wouldn't be surprised if it clips nearly everything above 500nits. 

You can see Vincent describe the same thing happening to a different OLED that has a similar EOTF issue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-C8_h0vlc&t=968s

[Stahlmann]

4 hours ago, s1aver said:

You keep saying slightly but I'm not sure you know what that word means. True black is slightly elevated(& even that at the near black which is pretty bad for an OLED) on the DWF, HDR 1000 is so f**ed I wouldn't be surprised if it clips nearly everything above 500nits. 

You can see Vincent describe the same thing happening to a different OLED that has a similar EOTF issue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-C8_h0vlc&t=968s

First of all, 0 nits is still 0 nits in both picture modes. So you don't lose the true black.

 

Either way, you'll currently have to choose between one that is too bright, or one that is too dim for most of the brightness scale. Both are very inaccurate in their 1000 mode and pretty accurate in their 400 mode, yet none of them is unuseable as you say. Most people probably don't even care that much about accuracity. It's mostly enthusiasts like you and me who are cought up nitpicking with these things. And like i said multiple times already, the main difference is that it's user-fixable on the DWF if and when Dell releases a firmware update. The DW doesn't support firmware updates. These users either have to go through an RMA process or buy one hoping it has a newer firmware.

 

Again for reference here are both 1000 modes:

 

AW3423DW:

 

AW3423DWF:

[s1aver]

On 12/26/2022 at 11:29 PM, Stahlmann said:

First of all, 0 nits is still 0 nits in both picture modes. So you don't lose the true black.

 

Either way, you'll currently have to choose between one that is too bright, or one that is too dim for most of the brightness scale. Both are very inaccurate in their 1000 mode and pretty accurate in their 400 mode, yet none of them is unuseable as you say. Most people probably don't even care that much about accuracity. It's mostly enthusiasts like you and me who are cought up nitpicking with these things. And like i said multiple times already, the main difference is that it's user-fixable on the DWF if and when Dell releases a firmware update. The DW doesn't support firmware updates. These users either have to go through an RMA process or buy one hoping it has a newer firmware.

 

Again for reference here are both 1000 modes:

 

AW3423DW:

 

AW3423DWF:

You realize this is the EOTF for the DW from this review. 

So you took the EOTF of the DWF from this review but instead of using the EOTF of the DW from this review as well you cherry picked one from another review. 1st you should be comparing the two in this review as the reviewer made sure to use the same conditions like %window etc for a like comparison. 2nd the DW adjusts EOTF rolloff based on % Window/APL & MaxCLL metadata to prioritizes preserving highlight detail, given the limitations of the panel a workable HDR 1000 mode requires some kind of ABL. This is how it's supposed to work. Dell Alienware AW3423DW Review - RTINGS.com: "the EOTF changes depending on the window size, as it's a slower roll-off with smaller highlights...you can see the different EOTFs for various window sizes below:

• 2% EOTF
• 5% EOTF
• 10% EOTF
• 100% EOTF"

Note: the 1st 3 are bang on 100% not so much.  

2nd note: in this hardware unboxed review the reviewer notes that the DWF is "more variable(than the DW), offering even greater differences in (EOTF) tracking depending on the APL of the content being shown" So the DWF is worse in this regard, not only starting from a far worse place but shifting a lot more.