At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Plenty of connectivity and menu choices
• Good distinction ratio
• Solid colour efficiency
• Up to 144Hz refresh charge with good movement readability

Cons

• Stand setup makes use of screws as an alternative of clip mechanism
• Modest most brightness
• HDR is supported however lackluster

Our Verdict

The Gigabyte GS34WQC is a 34-inch ultrawide that delivers wonderful worth at a funds value.

Price When Reviewed

$329.99

Best Prices Today: Gigabyte GS344WQC

$329.99

Buying a 34-inch ultrawide monitor requires some understanding of the nuances that separate seemingly equivalent displays. Most 34-inch ultrawides present the identical 3440×1440 decision, a refresh charge between 120Hz and 165Hz, and plenty of even look related with black plastic casings and enormous requirements. The Gigabyte GS34WQC doesn’t buck this system however executes effectively sufficient on every level to earn a straightforward advice.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to find out about competing merchandise.

What are the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s specs and options?

The Gigabyte GS34WQC’s specs are boilerplate for a 34-inch ultrawide monitor. It supplies 3440×1440 decision, by far the most typical amongst displays of this measurement, and a 120Hz refresh charge with 135Hz overclock mode. Adaptive Sync is offered by AMD’s FreeSync.

• Display measurement: 34-inch ultrawide
• Native decision: 3440×1440
• Panel sort: Vertical Alignment (VA)
• Curved: Yes, 1500R
• Refresh charge: 120Hz with 135Hz overclock
• Adaptive Sync: FreeSync
• HDR: HDR10
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Speakers: None
• Price: $329.99 MSRP

What’s most notable concerning the monitor is its value. Though not essentially the most cheap 34-inch ultrawide obtainable (options just like the Monoprice 35-inch Zero-G V2 dip under $300), it’s actually in direction of the low finish of the market. Gigabyte makes this occur with concessions in connectivity: The monitor lacks USB.

How is the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s design?

Matt Smith

Gigabyte retains issues easy with the GS34WQC which, given its value, just isn’t a shock. Matte-black plastic is the order of the day, although the design does get pleasure from just a few shiny piano-black highlights to boost the look. The monitor avoids garish touches like chrome or coloured inserts and it lacks RGB lighting—which I don’t thoughts, however might disappoint these trying so as to add some aptitude to their setup.

Build high quality is okay. The GS34WQC’s plastics may profit from extra texture however really feel moderately stable in-hand. And there’s no disputing that stand’s heft. It’s an absolute unit that takes up appreciable desk house and retains the monitor planted. This is generally an issue, however Gigabyte opts for a flat stand base, so the house it takes in your desk stays (principally) usable.

Yet I’ve a beef with the stand. It mounts to an ordinary 100x100mm VESA bracket however doesn’t embrace a clipping mechanism, so it have to be screwed to the rear of the monitor with 4 offered screws. That’s not the tip of the world, but it surely’s a trouble. I additionally discovered the screws a bit finicky because the metallic they used was gentle and simply stripped if an excessive amount of power was utilized. The stand additionally adjusts just for tilt and top, however doesn’t swivel, which is out there with some displays round this value level.

How is the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s connectivity and menu?

Matt Smith

The Gigabyte GS34WQC’s connectivity has strengths and weaknesses. It supplies a complete of three video inputs—two HDMI and one DisplayPort. That’s typical for a reasonable ultrawide monitor.

However, the monitor lacks USB connectivity. There’s no USB-C enter and no USB-A downstream ports, so the monitor can’t be used as a USB hub. That’s a bit uncommon even for a reasonable ultrawide monitor. A 3.5mm audio jack for passthrough audio is included, not less than.

What the monitor lacks in connectivity it positive factors in menu choices. The GS34WQC has a responsive, easy-to-use menu managed by a joystick on the lower-right bezel. A useful downward-facing LED makes this joystick straightforward to seek out.

Matt Smith

Menu choices are intensive, too. There’s a number of colour temperature and gamma modes, RGB colour customization, and an sRGB preset, alongside the standard brightness and distinction settings. There’s additionally a number of gaming-centric options, equivalent to an on-screen crosshair. The wide selection of picture high quality changes is superb to see in a reasonable ultrawide and can assist homeowners customise the monitor’s look to their preferences, if desired.

Speakers aren’t included. That’s no shock, particularly at this value. Headphones or exterior audio system are necessary.

How is the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s SDR picture high quality?

The Gigabyte GS34WQC makes use of a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel, a kind of show panel expertise that’s widespread amongst bigger displays and plenty of funds to mid-range televisions. It performs effectively right here, offering an affordable distinction ratio and engaging colour effectively suited to enjoying engaging trendy 3D video games.

Matt Smith

With that mentioned, brightness is among the many monitor’s weaker factors. It achieved a most brightness of 324 nits in SDR, which (spoiler alert) doesn’t go a lot greater in HDR. This is in direction of the low finish of what’s potential from any trendy gaming displays.

This, to be honest, just isn’t actually a problem for gaming or leisure in SDR content material, which is often seen in a darkened room the place you’ll have management over the ambient mild. But the monitor could appear dim in a really shiny, sunlit room or company workplace. And whereas the panel has a semi-gloss end, the 1500R curvature can act as a focus for glare.

Matt Smith

Next up is distinction, the place the GS34WQC supplies a convincing most distinction ratio of 3610:1. That’s primarily equivalent to the Monoprice 35-inch V2 curved ultrawide, and it’s a lot better than most equally priced widescreen displays (which are inclined to go for IPS show panel expertise as an alternative).

A greater distinction ratio supplies an improved sense of depth and immersion in video games and flicks. And, on this case, the distinction ratio improves not as a result of the panel is shiny, however as a result of it may turn into darkish. That supplies good element in darkish, shadowy scenes which will look grey and washed-out on different displays.

Matt Smith

Color gamut is a win, because the GS34WQC can show 95 % of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and 88 % of AdobeRGB. These figures put it barely forward of many related displays.

A large colour gamut is a profit in leisure, as it may ship a extra saturated and vivid look that almost all viewers will get pleasure from. It’s additionally good for content material creation, because the monitor can actually show extra colours, an necessary perk in the event you’re colour grading video or modifying skilled pictures.

The GS34WQC’s colour gamut isn’t large sufficient to suggest for severe skilled creators, however its efficiency is greater than enough for sketching out concepts or modifying a YouTube video (until you’re Marques Brownlee).

Matt Smith

It’s an analogous story with colour accuracy, the place the GS34WQC delivers a mid-pack outcome. Colors principally look sensible and convincing. The monitor’s colour errors have been truly extra distinguished within the grayscale (which is to say, shades between black and white), which I discover is much less noticeable in typical use.

Speaking of which, the GS34WQC hit a default gamma curve of two.1. That signifies content material might look a tad brighter than it ought to, and I did discover that in use. Fortunately, the monitor’s menu supplies ample gamma settings to regulate on your wants. The identical is true of colour temperature, the place I recorded a default colour temperature of 6800K, off the goal of 6500K. That signifies the monitor seems a bit extra cool and sterile than our splendid, however the included colour temperature settings can regulate this.

Sharpness is sweet, because the monitor’s decision of 3440×1440 supplies roughly 109 pixels per inch. That’s much like a 27-inch 1440p monitor and a giant improve over a 27-inch 1080p monitor, which has roughly 82 pixels per inch. Some pixelation could also be seen round small fonts and aliasing can seem throughout nice objects in video games, but it surely’s not often a serious distraction. Those searching for improved sharpness ought to think about a 5K ultrawide just like the LG 34WK95U-W—however that monitor is greater than thrice the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s value.

How is the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s HDR picture high quality?

HDR is out there on the Gigabyte GS34WQC, but it surely’s not nice.

The GS34WQC sustained a most brightness of simply 333 nits in my testing. The lack of brightness will obscure nice particulars in shiny scenes, which is half the purpose of HDR. It’s actually potential to view HDR, however I’m undecided why you’d wish to. It’s not going to seem because it ought to.

I don’t maintain this in opposition to the GS34WQC. No monitor under $500 provides an excellent HDR expertise: The least costly displays we suggest for HDR begin round $700. Just be warned: HDR is supported, but it surely received’t look the way you hope.

How is the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s movement efficiency?

Matt Smith

Gamers shall be happy by the Gigabyte GS34WQC’s 120Hz refresh charge, which may be elevated to 135Hz in Overclock mode. The monitor additionally helps AMD FreeSync for clean gameplay with suitable AMD video playing cards.

Motion readability was a lot better than I’d anticipated. Monitors with a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel often undergo an issue known as “dark smear.” It seems as a darkish blur or path behind darkish objects and is attributable to sluggish pixel response instances when displaying darker colours. This downside is seen on the GS34WQC however far much less noticeable than anticipated. The G34QWC completely outperforms the Monoprice Dark Matter 35-inch ultrawide.

Clarity is in any other case good for a 120Hz/144Hz monitor. Scrolling take a look at pictures from League of Legends present that character silhouettes and terrain are straightforward to make out and that hitpoint bars are seen, although the person ticks within the hit factors bar aren’t distinguished. Character names are nearly inconceivable to learn in movement, too. This is what I’d count on to see from a monitor with this refresh charge and a serious enchancment over a 60Hz monitor.

How does it examine to a equally priced 27-inch monitor, just like the LG Ultragear 27GR83Q-B? The Gigabyte GS34WQC is noticeably much less spectacular, principally as a result of lack of readability in transferring textual content and small interface components, equivalent to hitpoint bars. I don’t think about this a knock in opposition to the Gigabyte, because it’s offering a bigger show at a lower cost. Still, extremely aggressive avid gamers might favor a smaller monitor with a better refresh (just like the LG).

Should you purchase the Gigabyte GS34WQC?

The Gigabyte GS34WQC is a good 34-inch ultrawide for gaming, leisure, and entry-level content material creation. It scores effectively by most metrics of picture high quality, provides many picture high quality changes, and delivers engaging movement readability, all at an affordable value and alongside a primary however sensible design. The lack of USB connectivity is a bit disappointing, however nowhere sufficient to carry again the monitor. It’s a straightforward advice if you wish to get pleasure from the advantages of a 34-inch ultrawide at a value no greater than most high quality 27-inch displays.