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?

Stu · 22 Mar 2018 at 14:50

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

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)?

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.

Stu · 14 May 2018 at 18:38

PCM2 said:
Actually, there are 35" 3440 x 1440 200Hz models coming out with a 512 dimming zone FALD:

- Acer X35
- AOC AG353UCG
- ASUS PG35VQ

Thanks for the correction on being ultrawide. I'm still expecting eye watering prices!

Stu · 15 May 2018 at 16:40

brawl3r said:
I was wondering if Daniel could shed some light on this http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/news_archive/39.htm#panels_lgdisplay

"In the 34" ultrawide space there is already a 3440 x 1440 resolution @ 100Hz IPS LM340UW4 panel available and used in some displays. There are plans to produce the LM340UW5 from May 2018 which will offer the same resolution but a boosted 144Hz refresh rate. This will be combined with NVIDIA G-sync and also VESA HDR 400 support. This will then offer a 1900R curvature, 400 cd/m2 brightness (550 cd/m2 peak), 1000:1 contrast ratio and 98% DCI-P3 coverage."

If this is true, I wonder if the 34gk950g will actually be using the UW5 screen instead, meaning it will be 144hz native, and hdr 400. Now this would be the ultimate monitor giving the QC is good.

The Alienware uses the LM340UW4-SSA1 panel... would be nice if the 950 uses the newer panel rather than the W4 panel with the IPS Nano tech applied.

However, the 34GK950G having 144Hz and HDR400 would be a fairly big deal, so I'm surprised that even Daniel does not know about this already, especially as we are only 1-2 months from launch.

Stu · 15 May 2018 at 16:43

Quartz said:
Why do people persist in statements like this which are utter rubbish? I was gaming at 4K on a 780 Ti. Today's equivalent is a 3 GB GTX 1060 - very much a mainstream GPU. Sure you might not be able to crank all the settings to max on new games but your monitor lasts a lot longer than your GPU.

I agree in part, but not entirely... if you are forking out on a 4k GSYNC FALD monitor, then you are probably a person that likes pretty and high performance, so having to drop the detail settings to match the offered 200Hz doesn't achieve the dream.

Stu · 15 May 2018 at 17:03

Daniel - LG said:
things change at the drop of a hat when its not been officially launched yet so always best to be sure

In that case, I will maintain a state of potentially excited!

If true, I hope the price doesn't increase from what we are anticipating based on previous discussions about this model.

Stu · 16 May 2018 at 14:25

Daniel - LG said:
Initially - this screen is still only 120Hz

I think the 144Hz HDR panel is going in the Freesync version (34GK950F)

Are you suggesting the news report is actually wrong? The way the report is written clearly indicates this panel would include G-Sync.

There are plans to produce the LM340UW5 from May 2018 which will offer the same resolution but a boosted 144Hz refresh rate. This will be combined with NVIDIA G-sync and also VESA HDR 400 support.

Stu · 16 May 2018 at 18:17

Wonder when the UW5 panel will actually get into retail units?

Stu · 17 May 2018 at 14:57

spoffle said:
2560x1440 isn't 2K.

You knew exactly what I was talking about, so are you just trolling?

I didn't specify DCI 2K, therefore it would be reasonable to apply generally accepted application of the term, which includes horizontal resolutions of approximately 2K and above (but not 4K).

I assume you also call foul when people say 3840 × 2160 is 4K?

Stu · 17 May 2018 at 18:12

I wrote 2K because I can't remember all the UWQHD terms, etc, and could not be bothered to type 2560x1440 on my phone.

Stu · 21 May 2018 at 17:59

It feels like secret notes being passed under desks at school! Are you going to share with the class?

Stu · 22 May 2018 at 09:22

Hoping you get a 34GK950G early for review! I feel this is the last UW for consideration right now, with others being the Alienware and the recently updated Agon (can't ignore that cheaper price). The UW5 panel sounds sweet, primarily for the 144Hz refresh rate, but I sounds like we won't see that in a G-Sync monitor in 2018.

Stu · 28 May 2018 at 10:17

From the Alienware thread:

JediFragger said:
Acer X34P has hit £799 if you guys are looking for a possible alternative. Unsure how long for (shame OcUK don't stock this model, I think they'd fly out!!).

With an expected RRP of £1099, this new LG is going to land in a tough market if the price doesn't quickly drop to compete with Acer and Alienware.

Stu · 28 May 2018 at 10:18

Double post

Stu · 28 May 2018 at 11:34

Stu said:
Any chance of this coming in at £1000?

Daniel - LG said:
i will do my best to get it to £1000 all in, but I think it might be a bridge too far

@Daniel - LG
£1000 to £1100 seemed reasonable back in January, but 4 months on and this doesn't compare well versus competitor prices, and we are still waiting for the 950G to launch... The Acer might be available for £700 by Black Friday.

Daniel, can you please give an update on expected launch date and price?

Stu · 29 May 2018 at 22:52

a5cent said:
If it's true that the 34GK950G uses nVidia's outdated DP1.2 based g-sync module, then it WILL NOT have a DisplayHDR 400 rating. VESA mandates that all DisplayHDR monitors can process a HDR10 signal, but that necessitates DP1.4!

The more I read about this monitor the less sense it makes for a July 2018 release.

Allegedly uses a modified LM340UW4-SSA1 panel (can't reach 144 Hz, can't support HDR). Why? It's successor, the LM340UW5 is in production NOW (and in tftcentral's panel database it's listed as sporting g-sync ?incorrect?).

Allegedly uses nVidia's outdated DP1.2 based g-sync module (no HDR, limited to 116 Hz, no HDCP 2.1). Why? The DP1.4 HDR based g-sync module is available NOW.

If the 34GK950G is what it's alleged to be here, then it should have been released in 2017, not Q3 2018. At the specified price, I'm not sure who this is for.

Knowing that the UW5 panel is in production now does create a hollow feeling over this model launch, which will come 8 months after the Acer X34P and Alienware became available.

Although the 950G is advertised as 120Hz, it is 100Hz native... If the UW5 is 144Hz native, that is a significant difference.

Stu · 30 May 2018 at 10:39

I've got no interest in a 37 inch panel, but I'm definitely interested in a 144Hz 34 inch panel with GSync.

I know there is always new PC tech round the corner, but I think waiting until 1Q19 for the UW5 panel might be justified.

The Acer X34 launched in 4Q15 (I think), and the follow-up X34P came 2 full years later. If the LG 950G might be superceded in 6 months is a very different timescale. When most people keep a monitor for 5 years or more, what's another 6 months...

I think we need to find more info on the UW5 timeline!