The Alienware AW2723DF may not have a catchy identify, however does that basically matter when the monitor itself is so darn good?
Alienware has been round for years now. Its varied laptops, desktops, and design aesthetics have grow to be staples of the PC gaming market. Nonetheless, their current foray into offering all the things to your setup hasn’t been all clean.
Costly gear matches the model’s overtly costly lineup. Nonetheless, regardless of costing $649, and a brand new coat of paint – alongside a bounty of instruments at its disposal – the Alienware AW2723DF is perhaps among the finest gaming displays that we have now examined.
Key specs
- Display measurement: 27-inches
- Panel kind: IPS
- Decision: 2560×1440
- Brightness: 600 nits (peak)
- Distinction ratio: 1000:1
- Refresh price: 240Hz/280Hz overclocked (by way of DisplayPort)
- Response time: 1ms
- Shade gamut: 100% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3
- Connectivity: 2 x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-B Hub (USB 3.2 Gen 1 downstream with Battery Charging 1.2, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 downstream, USB 3.2 Gen 1 upstream)
- Value: $649
Design
Regardless of a fame for having mildly gaudy seems, Alienware has by some means managed to strike a sensible steadiness with the AW2723DF. The futuristic-gamer aesthetic blends nicely into the brand new clean and fewer ostentatious design. It nonetheless seems like one thing you’d sport on, nevertheless it isn’t overt in its look.
What we didn’t anticipate finding soothing is the backlight that emits from some LEDs on the again. Just like the look that Samsung and Philips have opted for, it supplies a tender gentle for these late-night periods. Often, gaming RGB merchandise are inclined to really feel somewhat a lot on the eyes after some time, however right here, it comfortably fell proper into place throughout just a few late-night periods with Resident Evil 4 Remake over the weekend.
We’re additionally huge followers of the matte, eggshell finishes to the plastic, giving the monitor that class typically lacking from gaming displays. We expect that’s the phrase to explain this with and it’s totally weird to be saying it about an Alienware product. It’s a sublime system, one which appears like a small push towards expectations.
As with most fashionable displays, it was notably straightforward to arrange. Inside about 5 minutes of opening the field and making room on the desk for it, we had been proper into Home windows. It nonetheless did require us to alter the monitor refresh price, however this isn’t something out of the norm.
Options
The AW2723DF is packed filled with options. Some really feel somewhat half-baked, just like the included arm to your headset. It’s simply an odd addition and one we didn’t make use of. We’re presently utilizing a pair of Audeze LCD-GX headphones for our gaming functions and so they’re notably heavier than different headsets we have now available. Leaving these for hours or days at a time is asking for a snap of the monitor’s fragile-looking headphone holder.
Alienware monitor instruments and settings
We’re additionally uncertain concerning the monitor’s software-level instruments. Constructed into the monitor are a number of monitoring instruments like on-screen framerates, and with the ability to isolate part of the display to help with aiming.
Nonetheless, the huge crosshair and a number of colours it may render the display are misplaced on anybody not getting this for esports causes. Even throughout testing Counter-Strike: International Offensive, we didn’t see a lot want for it outdoors of utmost edge circumstances.
We’re not berating the characteristic by any means, because it’s fairly cool that Alienware is making the Swiss military knife of gaming displays. Nonetheless, it’s such a distinct segment use case, we surprise why it’s one of many first choices you see.
We did recognize having a monitor-level refresh price indicator, which is often measured in Hz. It’s a pleasant little addition that provides you extra reassurance that you’re getting the efficiency that you simply paid for.
Shade and HDR
The place the monitor shines is within the colours and vibrancy of the display. As we talked about, we’ve been taking part in Resident Evil 4 Remake, and regardless of its gloomy ambiance, the sport simply pops whereas being performed. It constantly impressed with simply how good video games look on this monitor.
The HDR, nevertheless, nonetheless appears like a “make-do” scenario as we’ve seen on different displays. We’re in a selected place the place we’ve seen true HDR-calibrated displays. When you’ve seemed into the void of an Eizo monitor calibrated correctly and labored within the colour correction area, you start to note the shortcomings of many gaming displays.
HDR on Home windows isn’t the perfect. Even when forcing on the HDR or utilizing Home windows AutoHDR, the display at all times feels somewhat darker than supposed. Rated at DispalyHDR 600 by VESA, HDR needs to be 1000 nits or above. These variations and decrease HDR rankings aren’t unhealthy per se, however are successfully loopholes within the system.
Right here, it does the job it must for the viewers it’s imagined to serve. We wouldn’t need to use this for HDR colour grading or color-accurate work in Lightroom or Seize One, however in a fairly costly pinch, it might do a good job.
Decision and refresh price
What’s nice is the mixture of decision and refresh price. We’re of a agency perception that except you’re going all out with a GPU, 1440p is a candy spot for gaming on PC proper now. You get additional constancy in your video games and might obtain a lot larger body charges within the course of.
On a private degree, 240Hz has by no means been one thing to take a lot be aware of. Most of our time is spent in single-player video games, or titles locked at 60FPS for steadiness functions. The few occasions we’ve performed multiplayer titles at larger than 144FPS, we’ve not often seen the distinction. Although, those that are extra esports minded will definitely discover the change.
Right here, the Alienware AW2723DF isn’t any totally different. We might actually inform whereas taking part in Magic: The Gathering Enviornment and utilizing Home windows, as each the sport and working system overcompensate with an excessive amount of movement blur.
We’re positive those that can inform the distinction between the refresh charges will inform the distinction. Nonetheless, the few esports titles we took for a spin didn’t make this exceptionally clear to us. It’s actually a smaller soar than 60Hz to 144Hz. Nonetheless, a fast check-in with Blur Busters rapidly confirmed us the sunshine of higher-refresh price displays, particularly the distinction between 144Hz, and 240Hz.
USB hub
A bugbear we have now with Alienware is one thing that’s nonetheless persistent on a number of displays. An embedded USB hub is obtainable on the again and makes use of a USB-B cable to bridge the connection between the PC and monitor.
The dearth of utilizing the way more strong USB-C is one thing we hope producers begin shifting in direction of sooner or later. Having yet one more kind of hyper-specific knowledge cable, fairly than a common one is irritating, particularly if you happen to misplace the USB-B cable someplace.
Alienware AW2723DF gaming efficiency
We adored our time gaming on the Alienware AW2723DF. The vivid colours, regardless of the HDR points, made this exceptionally clean. Thrusting it into varied gaming situations by no means offered a wrestle.
Even when utilizing variable refresh charges in video games the place accessible noticed us by no means skipping a beat, because the monitor actively seemed its finest always.
After all, with that 240Hz refresh price, and the potential for the panel to hit 280Hz on highly effective techniques, this monitor is an absolute pleasure in nearly any gaming situation.
As soon as we set it up and calibrated it correctly, we discovered it to be an awesome associate to take whereas exploring Future 2’s new areas or tackling the fixed barrage of enemies from our beloved number of retro FPS video games.
It’s additionally GPU agnostic. With each AMD Freesync and Nvidia’s G-Sync onboard, it’ll be capable to slot straight into your setup with out a lot concern.
Verdict – 4/5
We’re big followers of the Alienware AW2723DF. It supplied an opulent gaming expertise and a boatload of instruments for many who want them. Alienware’s new search for their merchandise is one thing we need to see proceed too, as we’re going to overlook the rounded edges as soon as it’s taken again.
Whereas it may appear somewhat expensive at $700, we do assume that if you happen to can afford it, this needs to be a contender to your subsequent monitor.
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