Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsTop of the line!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2016
I read a lot of reviews and made many comparisons between this monitor, other ultra wide, and 4K monitors and my research brought me down to three models
The predator z35
The predator xb32
And what I now own, the predator x34
Now keep in mind benq has ultra wide and 4K monitors comparable to acer as well as asus. The monitors that fill these three different categories were all nearly identical in specs ; however for me it came down to aesthetics and I found the sharper, and cleaner look of the predator series to be my choice. Without further adieu here is why I choice the predator x34 and have no regrets
Prior to the x34 I owned a dell 24" ips 4K monitor, and it was great. Sharp, bright colors, no dead pixels, or bleed. However the 60hz cap lack of screen size, and noticeable screentrearin my in game left me yearning for more in a monitor, so I began to research.
As stated before my research narrowed my choices down to three categories.
2560x1440 200hz capable gsyncmonitors
3440x1440 100hz capable gsync monitors
3840x2150 60hz capable gsync monitors
Now it is important to note I chose gsync due to my nvidia setup, if you have Ati look for free sync monitors they have a broad range and there is even a non predator acer 34" ultrawide monitor available.
Now what I was able to narrow down was a select few acer asus and benq monitors that fit the bill, and as I said prior I went with acer due to looks as spec wise the monitors all matched up with minor variations.
Acres 4K xb32 is no doubt the top of the line in 4K gaming monitors and one of the few to have gsync. It seemed like the logical choice as why would one want to downgrade from 4k.
But then there was the z35 and x34
Ultrawide monitors really struck me, especially when I went to frys and saw them in person, the curve was sleek, and I read that those who had 21:9 format swore they would never go back. So Other than the 4K I new my other options had to be ultrawide, and since the predator line were all were in relatively the same price range I had a choice to make.
The z35 boasting the largest of the screens (by 1" compared to the x34) and the highest refresh rate able to be over clocked to 200hz sounded tempting.
It was a stark contrast to the xb32 on one hand the resolution would be cut down drastically but the 21:9 format coupled with the insanely high refresh rate would make for one smooth and fluid gaming experience.
Then there was the x34, it seemed to be the middle ground between the z35 and x34. On one hand it had the ultrawide format and curved features. Coupled with a 3440x1440 resolution, that though not 4K was still higher than the z35, and though not 200hz, not 60hz either. It was the best of both worlds, the compromise between high resolution and high fps. So I bought it.
Now I guess this is where the actual review comes in to play, if you stuck around this far you have the backstory as to why I chose this monitor, and here is why I am keeping it.
Upon receiving the delivery you will be struck by one thing...the box is huge, pictures do not do justice to the sheer size of the graphics laden box. After hauling up the stairs my inner giddy child emerged and I began carefully unbound its contents. It comes with your standard ac power adapter, a usb cord, hdmi cord, and display port cord (If your gpu has display port use it as this will be he only way to allow the 100hz overclock). And then some large metal I'm guessing rear mount for the monitor if you plan on using it for vesa desk mounting. Then there was the monitor. Surrounded in a n armor of styrofoam, I hoisted this behemoth up by the coincidentally placed handle on the back of the monitor connecting the base the back. The first thing I noticed, well really the first two things the monitor is heavy, and it's larger than I thought. The features are sharp on the x34, and it has a build to back it up. Much of the weight, reassuringly, is in the base. is obviously some sort of metal and the solid build is reassuring, it's Titan like legs spread out over the desk, entrenching it's position on and over the entire space as if asserting its gaming dominance. The screen is clean, the curve is subtle but still noticeable, the back is of a black gloss that depending on your preference you are either happy or sad that it is hidden.
After mounting the monitor to my desk, removing the protecticve plastic; Strategically maneuvering my mouse and keyboard to accomadate this new addition, and finally connecting the cords, I powered it on. Now some tech gurus will be able to tell you the dpis, contrast ratio, etc etc.. I'm familiar with these terms and took them into account in competing monitors but what I noticed right off the back in lay person terms: the screen is bright, the colors are sharp and the immersion is great. There are led lights under the monitor that are able to be changed to a decent range of colors (though not rgb yet) so it matches my blue led lights perfectly. It was then time to game.
Firing up my tester of all hardware, gtav I began to tinker with the settings. The buttons under the right side are as for some reason with all monitors, not in the greatest access point, but with some practice they are easy to access and formulate. There your standard options for brightness, contrast, format, etc, as well as a game mode that I guess dims the background??? (The manual could tell you better) I kept it on normal brightness as I liked the way the colors popped and lit up the room. Then there was the overclocking menu. After enabling oc, and going to my nvidia control panel, setting the refresh rate to its max of 100hz, and then alternately setting gtav setting to match it, it was on!
The smoothness is something to be in awe of, the entire world of gtav moved in such a fluid manner, the driving, shooting, everything was liquid smooth, crystal clear, and well I want to save the curved aspect for last, but to answer my big question. Will the "downgrade" from 4K be noticeable. The answer is yes. Does it matter no. With 4K there is no need for anti-aliasing as the picture is already so sharp, but the 60hz cap, and the hardware needed to even play at a stable fps leaves one with a trade off. Personally though some jagged edges were noticeable though anti-aliasing did help, the stable 80+ fps even in high speed pursuits, shootings, explosions more than made up for the loss of resolution. As for the curved ultrawide. Just as all the others say I will never go back. The slight curve in the monitor adds an extra level of immersion, that other than vr i didn't know was possible. It's harder to describe, but being able to simply have the game in your peripheral vision, and being able to glance left to right in whatever gaming univers you are in, is truely a treat.
To end this marathon of a review I'll summarize with this. The acer predator is easily one of the best gaming displays available. Aside from vr there is really no other way to be as immersed in a game. But I c an honestly say it's not for everyone. If you prefer 4K I recommend the x32. If you prefer ridiculous refresh rates look to the z35. If curved is not your thing Pryor don't need gsync look elsewhere. But if you were in my same predicament of which to choose, the x34 is the best of both worlds.
Pros:
21:9 ultrawide format, other than vr the most immersive gaming experience.
Sleek, sharp and solid design and build.
3440x1440 resolution, not 4K, but also much sharper than 1440p
100hz, it's 100hz what more is there to say
Gsync
Cons:
Some people state there experienced dead pixels or black light bleeding, I have not had the issues (fingers crossed) but I hear this has been mostly fixed
Price. $1300 I will be feeling this for a couple years.
PC power required. Though it's not 4K, 3440 vs 2560 is a noticeable difference, (simply go to frys and look at them side by side) and in order to obtain stable 60+ fps a high end PC will be needed. Not as taxing as 4K
Well that's pretty much it, if you read this far, you are either really bored or really considering buying this monitor. If you can afford it and are still thinking about it.....JUST BUY IT!!! You won't regret it. Until they release an ultrawide curved 4k monitor, I'm satisfied and confident that this is one of the best gaming displays period.
