What's new
Carbonite

South Africa's Top Online Tech Classifieds!
Register a free account today to become a member! (No Under 18's)
Home of C.U.D.

Review Asus Tuf vg34vql1b 34" Ultrawide 165Hz 3440x1440

Toadmaster

Epic Member
Rating - 100%
20   0   0
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Messages
517
Reaction score
331
Points
3,435
Age
31
I was able to get my hands on this monitor quite a few months back (Feb 2021) through import, just landed in SA, not sure if anyone have gotten their hands on it, so decided to review this one for you ultrawide snobs.
Currently online shops these ones are going for around 14.5K to 15.5K. I managed to get this one imported for 13K including import fees and transport.

  • Screen Size: 34 Inches
  • Resolution: 3440 x 1440
  • Aspect Ratio: 21:9
  • Panel Technology: VA
  • Refresh Rate: 165Hz
  • Response Time: 1ms
  • Contrast Ratio: 4000:1
  • Brightness: 350
  • Built-in Speakers: Yes
  • Stand: Height – Yes
  • Stand: Tilt – Yes
  • Stand: Swivel – Yes
  • Stand: Pivot – No
  • VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
  • Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
  • Weight: 12KG
Build quality for the Asus VG34VQL1B is excellent and it doesn’t seem like it’s a step below the brand’s premium options. The panels feel thick and reinforced, and there is no wobbling from the stand. Be sure to have a deep desk, this stand and monitor is absolutely huge and will take quite some space, make sure your desk can also carry the load, this is a beast. There is no cosmetic faults or imperfections as with all Asus products.

The monitor's control layout is identical to all Asus gaming monitors so previous owners will be familiar with it. You get a joystick with four hotkeys for easy manipulation and access to its functionalities. There is also software included which you can install to change the settings as needed without using the joystick.

The stand comes with tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, so you can get a comfortable view angle instantly. One advantage of this over its cheaper counterparts is it includes four USB 3.0 slots for your accessories. It also has two slots for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 so you can connect a bunch of gaming platforms to it and just switch over to which input you'd like. I currently have my gaming PC, work PC and server connected to it.
I also have all my peripherals plugged in so no need to replug everything into your other PC's when switching over.
This kind of usability extends the value of a monitor, so it’s a big plus for this one!

This monitor also includes speakers, but they only get 2 watts per channel of power so they aren’t good enough for gaming.It's good to have a backup though. You also get a 3.5mm jack you can use.

This Asus VG34VQL1B with a 34-inch VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time will get the job done, make sure your GPU can sport the refresh rate otherwise you will need to drop the frequency down a notch to 145Hz. The backlight is listed at 350 while the contrast ratio is at 4000:1, along with HDR 400 compatibility. The screen is 1500R. The resolution takes quite a knock on the performance coming from a 16:9 1080P setup, never less the extra screen space is quite handy playing Crusader Kings III and Red Dead Redemption. Also handy for the extra workflow space.

It produces 100% of the sRGB gamut and around 90% of the DCI gamut which is excellent for a gaming monitor.
The panel is decent, it's hard to spot leaks on the edges of the screen, but this depends on lottery if you get bleeding or not. They are hardly noticeable in all-black images and they are invisible in full-coloured scenes.

Responsiveness for the Asus VG34VQL1B shows some trailing in fast-paced and contrasting transitions, one specific CSGO map, BUT, setting the overdrive to its 20-40 setting stopped the overshoot, and eliminated the smudges completely!

The unit also supports freesync and totalyl supported by NVIDIA, I had no issues with setting up GSYNC for this one.

There are no bezels as well, only internal bezels, this is great for aesthetics as well.

The Asus VG34VQL1B is your best pick if you want better HDR performance and colour quality compared to it's main competitors in it's price range, other monitors on this price range only sport 145HZ, don't have built in speakers or USB hub, like the Gigabyte G34WQC. This model is the better buy, but you have to spend a tad more to enjoy that advantage.

Pros:
  • Crisp and detailed 1440p ultrawide screen
  • Attractive Design
  • Great HDR performance compared to counter monitors HDR 400
  • Excellent colour quality
  • FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
  • 165HZ
Cons:
  • Slight higher price than competitors
  • Prone to smudging, BUT overdrive sorts this out quick quick.
  • Curve prone to backlight leaks, depend on your monitor.

Hope this helped some guys that saw these monitors popping up recently to purchase. Either way you cannot go wrong buying this monitor or the slight cheaper Gigabyte g34wqc.
 
Awesome review! Is that 'overdrive' a monitor software setting, and how badly does it affect performance? I'm thinking of getting it for simracing titles, so I'm worried about the smudging.

I also saw you sold this monitor, or at least it was up for sale. Any reason it wasn't a keeper?
 
@floydthebarber71

Hey man

Thanks for the comment. No it is not sold, it was only listed as a feeler. I got a possible relocation overseas so contemplating on selling my stuff, this monitor was one of them.
I play quite avidly on assetto corsa competizione, I have no experience of any smudging whatsoever. ACC does have ghosting, but that is game issue easily fixed by a setting in game, had same issue on previous IPS panel.
The only smudging I have experienced so far was with CSGO as I claimed, by enabling the overdrive setting to 20 it took the smudging away completely, super handy feature considering smudging happens on VA panels. With enabling this setting, there is NO loss of performance whatsoever. It's a monitor feature! I have not noticed any ghosting from any game so far with this setting.
Also nifty feature is games with dark features, enable Shadow Boost, makes it look a lot more darker, and doesnt look like the average VA panel in dark lit areas, this also makes a big diff.

Anyway, I was racing before on a tripple screen setup, this for me is a bit better since you get more FOV, BUT, this monitor is a good substitute with it's 1500R curve, absolutely lovely, you cannot go wrong mate. Unfortunately all monitors that are 3440x1440 with 165hz are pricey, only difference is that this Asus model, have a lot of features making it worthwhile.

Goodluck!
 
Last edited:
@floydthebarber71

Hey man

Thanks for the comment. No it is not sold, it was only listed as a feeler. I got a possible relocation overseas so contemplating on selling my stuff, this monitor was one of them.
I play quite avidly on assetto corsa competizione, I have no experience of any smudging whatsoever. ACC does have ghosting, but that is game issue easily fixed by a setting in game, had same issue on previous IPS panel.
The only smudging I have experienced so far was with CSGO as I claimed, by enabling the overdrive setting to 20 it took the smudging away completely, super handy feature considering smudging happens on VA panels. With enabling this setting, there is NO loss of performance whatsoever. It's a monitor feature! I have not noticed any ghosting from any game so far with this setting.
Also nifty feature is games with dark features, enable Shadow Boost, makes it look a lot more darker, and doesnt look like the average VA panel in dark lit areas, this also makes a big diff.

Anyway, I was racing before on a tripple screen setup, this for me is a bit better since you get more FOV, BUT, this monitor is a good substitute with it's 1500R curve, absolutely lovely, you cannot go wrong mate. Unfortunately all monitors that are 3440x1440 with 165hz are pricey, only difference is that this Asus model, have a lot of features making it worthwhile.

Goodluck!

Cheers dude, you're a legend!

I play ACC extensively so this is great feedback. Thanks! I probably know you already if you race on local leagues :/

I was also considering the Philips 345B1C which has similar specs, except 4ms response and 100Hz, at R9000 from Wootware...sadly out of stock right now. Your review and comments are making this Asus a very strong option however.

Cheers
Z
 
Cheers dude, you're a legend!

I play ACC extensively so this is great feedback. Thanks! I probably know you already if you race on local leagues :/

I was also considering the Philips 345B1C which has similar specs, except 4ms response and 100Hz, at R9000 from Wootware...sadly out of stock right now. Your review and comments are making this Asus a very strong option however.

Cheers
Z
That Philips one also isn't a bad choice, good value for money either way. Atleast buying a monitor like carries it's resell value quite well down the line.

I am on Monday Night Racing and CNM. Haven't really done any of the Raceface events. Although I sold my G29 to help me purchase this monitor actually funny enough, had to sell it not to long ago since downpayment was due, so saving up for another G29 or a T300RS currently. So currently stuck playing Dirt Rally 2.0 on the controller ^^
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom