Revealing ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM – Buyers Review

Introduction

If you are looking for a new gaming monitor, you might have heard of the upcoming ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM. This is a 34-inch curved (800R) monitor with a 21:9 aspect ratio, a 3440×1440 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and 0.03ms response time (grey-to-grey). It also supports NVIDIA G-SYNC and HDR, and has a sleek design with RGB lighting. But, is this monitor right for you? In this article, we will help you decide by looking at the pros and cons of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM, and who should or shouldn’t buy it.

The Pros of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM

One of the main advantages of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is its lightning fast performance. With a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms (GTG) response time, this monitor can deliver smooth and responsive gameplay, especially for fast-paced games like FPS, racing, or fighting. You can also enjoy tear-free and stutter-free gaming with NVIDIA G-SYNC, which synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with your GPU’s frame rate.

Another benefit of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is its immersive and cinematic experience. The 34-inch curved screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio provides a wide field of view and a more engaging gaming experience. The monitor also has a “somehwhat” high resolution of 3440×1440, which offers sharp and detailed visuals, as well as more screen space for multitasking. Additionally, the monitor supports HDR, which enhances the contrast and color range of the image, making it more realistic and vibrant.

The Cons of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM

One of the main drawbacks of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is its relatively low resolution for its size. While 3440×1440 is still considered as QHD or 2K resolution, some gamers (like me) might prefer a higher resolution like 4K or UHD for a 34-inch screen. A higher resolution would offer more clarity and pixel density, as well as more content on the screen. Almost all new GPUs today, would have no problems powering 4K, however, 4k 240hz would probably be 4070ti and/or above.

Another disadvantage of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is its limited suitability for single monitor setups. OLED monitor owners have to worry about Burn-In. This means static content like destop icons, discord windows, webpages and even the task bar, can’t sit on the screen for hours without risk of burn-in. Having another non-OLED monitor as a part of your setup is useful when trying to limit static content on your OLED screen. You can use the the “worry free” monitor to display your desktop icons, friends list, webpages, and all other static content. In my opinion, the extra non-OLED monitor is a MUST.

The third drawback of the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is its potential risk of being an early adopter of an ASUS product. The monitor is one of the first OLED models to offer such high specifications in terms of refresh rate, response time, and resolution for a curved ultrawide screen. This also means that there might be some issues and/or firmware bugs that have not been anticipated or discovered.

For instance, ASUS has had some problems with a previous OLED model, the PG42UQ. ASUS still hasn’t fixed the HDR color issues for this monitor after 11 months. Therefore, if you are buying the PG34WCDM, you might encounter some unexpected problems and be forced to wait for firmware updates. Overall, ASUS’s response to the PG42UQ issues has been lackluster and we have no reason to believe anything would be different with the PG34WCDM.

Who Should Buy the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM?

The ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is an ideal choice for gamers who value performance and immersion over resolution and image quality. If you play fast-paced games that require high refresh rates and low response times, this monitor will give you an edge over your opponents. If you enjoy immersive and cinematic gaming experiences with wide screens and 1300 nits HDR support, this monitor will make you feel like you are in the game world. Also, the gamer who buys this monitor will probably have a non-OLED monitor to display their static desktop content.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM?

The ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is not a good option for gamers who prioritize resolution and image quality over performance and immersion. If you prefer a higher resolution like 4K or UHD for a 34-inch screen, this monitor will not satisfy your expectations. If you only use one monitor for your gaming setup, you will be faced with repetitive desktop management or risk burn-in.

Also, if you are wary of buying an early adopter product that might have some issues or bugs, this monitor might not be worth the risk. ASUS’s has a bad track record fixing issues with their monitors which can easily be witnessed via the countless threads on Reddit.

As a PG42UQ owner, I can attest the unsolved problems ASUS has yet to address. However, there are workarounds that allow these monitors to shine in all their glory. These workarounds require upkeep when GPU display drivers are updated. In short, it would have been nice if this monitor came out of the box fully functional without having to tweak the colors with software.

Conclusion

The ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM is a high-end OLED gaming monitor that offers impressive performance and immersion features, but also has some drawbacks and limitations. It is suitable for gamers who want a fast and responsive gameplay and a wide and engaging screen. It is not suitable for gamers who want a higher resolution, a standard aspect ratio, and a reliable and stable product. Early adopting any ASUS monitor is a risk in and of itself, due to ASUS’s poor support track record of their past OLEDs.

Burn-in mitigation is a requirement when owning an OLED monitor. Having at least one non-OLED is enough to greatly mitigate against the potential for burn-in. However, if the PG34WCDM will be your sole monitor, you will need to make drastic changes on how you use your computer, or risk burn-in.

Personally, I am not excited about the PG34WCDM. I don’t have any interest in 2K gaming, especially considering the powerful GPUs we have today. Only way I would be hooked, is if there was a 240hz 4K option, which I am sure we will see in the not so distant future. Are you planning on getting this monitor? Let us know why in the comments. Hope this post helped you out.

Read More: ASUS ROG Swift PG34WCDM – Specs & Release Date, Tips to Maintain Your OLED Monitor – 5 Good Things to Do Right Now, What is OLED Burn-In and How to Prevent It – Easy 5 Minutes

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