LG 34GK950G, 3440x1440, G-Sync, 120Hz

Stu · 21 Mar 2018 at 16:55

The 34GK950G has been discussed throughout the 32GK850G thread, but I thought it was time for a dedicated thread!

Specs that we know:

34" Ultrawide Curved
Nano-IPS
3440x1440
G-Sync (module overclocked to 120Hz)
120Hz (144Hz LM340UW5 panel limited by DP1.2 and G-Sync module)
Displayport 1.2
DCI-P3 98% (~135% sRGB)
Expected release ~~August~~ ~~Sept/Oct 2018~~ November 2018
Price £1099
US Product page
TFT Central review (F Model)

~~This monitor will use the same panel as used in the Dell Alienware AW3418DW, which is already on the market, but will have the added~~ "nano-IPS" technology, which I assume is the same as the "Nano Cell" technology that some LG TVs have. It would appear that the Nano Cell gives better viewing angles and a greater DCI-P3 gamut range than normal (DCI-P3 98%, which is comparable to 135% sRGB), but the value of this in a gaming monitor is unclear since you tend to sit directly in front of the monitor and games do not use more than 100% sRGB. That said, I'm not going to knock Nano-IPS until reviews come in!

Daniel, the LG rep, has indicated RRP might be £1100, but we have to wait and see. Aggressive pricing by Acer and Dell currently may be a factor in price and buyers' choice.

Update (14 June)
Daniel has reported that the 34GK950G (and the 34GK950F) will use the newer LM340UW5 panel (the Alienware AW3418DW and Acer X34P use the LM340UW4 panel), which is native 144Hz, but it will be limited to 120Hz due to DP1.2 bandwidth limit. This change in panel will delay launch until Sept/Oct.

Update (29 Oct) - added UK price and links to reviews.

Stu · 21 Mar 2018 at 17:01

After the initial preamble above, I want to kick things off with a question that I saw on Reddit:

All of LG's 1440p Ultrawides so far have the same flaw, no support for 2560x1440 content. It forces 1920x1080 for 16:9 full screen games. If you still have a decent library of 16:9 games that you intend to play, avoid LG.

This really doesn't matter for Nvidia cards. In Nvidia Control Panel you can set the GPU to scale the resolution instead of the monitor. Set as shown in the image, the GPU will output 3440x1440, but the actual 2560x1440 image area will be centered in the middle.
https://imgur.com/3SnpArB

You can do that, but you still will not get an option from the game's menu for 2560x1440. The highest option for 16:9 games will be 1920x1080. You'll need to add a custom resolution to get it to show up.

Is this correct?
@Daniel - LG , can we expect this to be "fixed" in new models?

3t3P · 22 Mar 2018 at 00:10

Am waiting on this monitor, what panel does the x34p use then?
I think the mintor is due June though

The Alienware is tempting and will have greater QC no doubt.

Stu · 22 Mar 2018 at 14:50

I believe that only LG supply 3440x1440 IPS panels right now, so they must be the same.

Daniel - LG · 22 Mar 2018 at 17:25

Hi Stu - I think you are correct on both your deduction of the question above, but also the comment about 3440x1440 IPS panels - IPS is an LG Display technology and therefore it is only manufactured by LG Display

Stu · 22 Mar 2018 at 19:13

Daniel - LG said:
Hi Stu - I think you are correct on both your deduction of the question above, but also the comment about 3440x1440 IPS panels - IPS is an LG Display technology and therefore it is only manufactured by LG Display

Will the new models better handle the full range of resolutions (e.g. 2560x1440)?

Daniel - LG · 23 Mar 2018 at 08:54

Stu said:
Will the new models better handle the full range of resolutions (e.g. 2560x1440)?

this I will have to find out

nfsdanz · 28 Mar 2018 at 20:24

Do we know whether this monitor will support HDR? (and if so what type?)

3t3P · 29 Mar 2018 at 00:12

Saw a post elsewhere another forum the guy was told by an LG rep the monitor is for AUGUST release :/

Tfrawg · 31 Mar 2018 at 14:54

I'm holding off buying the Alienware monitor for this so any new information would be great. Going to suck if I have to wait till August. Is there a known estimate of time for reviewers to get a hold of the monitor?

mods1965 · 31 Mar 2018 at 17:40

I am interested to see what nano IPS brings as most vendors seem to be moving to VA now, especially when using a curved screen. Will LG be able to overcome the infamous IPS backlight bleed?

Phixsator · 31 Mar 2018 at 20:01

mods1965 said:
I am interested to see what nano IPS brings as most vendors seem to be moving to VA now, especially when using a curved screen. Will LG be able to overcome the infamous IPS backlight bleed?

I've had a very cheap LG 29um57 and that little guy was perfect in the bleed department and IPS glow was also as close to 0 as you could hope for. When it comes to IPS panels my prefered brand is LG. They have been the only one to make monitors where i have been satisfied with ips glow and bleed. The acer and dell screens i've had have been terrible in this regard.

3t3P · 22 Apr 2018 at 00:09

I've gone Alienware as LG are useless at hyping this monitor or releasing any concrete info. It would have to be at least 15% better in a parameter to be noteicanot to the subjectivity of the human eye.
That's a fairly tall order though definitely doable. Point is how much better if at all, is it realistically going to be.

HEADRAT · 22 Apr 2018 at 07:10

Is there going to be a Freesync (2) variant?

Quartz · 22 Apr 2018 at 11:49

Hopefully it will come with HDMI 2.1 which has variable refresh built in.

Greebo · 22 Apr 2018 at 16:16

Quartz said:
Hopefully it will come with HDMI 2.1 which has variable refresh built in.

Listed as "DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4" so doubt it.

Undesirable · 22 Apr 2018 at 19:38

Will the contrast ratio, uniformity, IPS glow or backlight bleed be improved?

Quartz · 22 Apr 2018 at 20:02

I would be very wary indeed of buying any high resolution monitor that did not support HDMI 2.1+ and DP 1.4+ after the next few months.

ChrisD. · 14 May 2018 at 09:05

So no HDR on it then? I’m out. Looks like I’m stuck until the new ROG is out which will be some time.

Stu · 14 May 2018 at 09:54

I think there is going to be a wait for an IPS UW 2k HDR monitor with 120+Hz refresh, and when it does come out the price will we eye watering. The new monitors with FALD that everyone is hyping are 4k, which will be a struggle for many people's systems (I'm not interested in 4k), and they are not UW.