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The original was posted on /r/ultrawidemasterrace by /u/UltrawideKey on 2023-08-18 13:46:23+00:00.
Hi, I bought a AW3821DW 2 weeks ago from LG C2 42 almost for work and you can see my previous review.
Now I keep both, AW3821DW for monitor and LG C2 for TV.
That's no doubt 38 IPS is better for productivity but there is no review about how 38 IPS's performance in gaming even though it's an old 2020 product.
So I tried a lot of types of game in my Steam and totally made a subjective tier rank that I hope can help you who torn between AW3821DW, AW3423DW, and LG C2.
As prerequisite, 75 contrast of monitor setting ,standard mode, use auto HDR in win11 for SDR game, set the gamma and brightness properly in game setting(importatnt).
Tier0
1.Forza Horizon 4
Racing game it's the best showcase for UW monitors, especially this game that has most bright scene with sunlight. Also tried it in LG C2, but the brightness of IPS gives me a more vivid and real experience in this game.
Forza Horizon 4
2.Monster Hunter World
Even thought this game has a lot of dark scene but it still looks good due to the popped up color of nano IPS and 21:9 aspect ratio. And in LG C2, of course looks good, but has too much ABL especially in the Volcano. I think MHW may has some issues about HDR but 3821DW looks better than LG just in this game.
MHW
3.GTAV
Oh, all things look fantastic including the night scenes. A real Los Santos!
I played this game a lot of time after bought the AW3821DW！
Perhaps because GTAV is an old game based on SDR so it's not the best showcase for OLED TV.
GTAV
4.Genshin
I didn't like this game before I bought AW3821DW but it's just the best monitor for such type of bright anime style game. LG C2 is a little bit dark for Genshin(subjectively), I prefer enjoying it with the AW3821DW. But an another dilemma is that most of JRPGs don't support the 21:9 ratio.
Genshin
Tier1
1.WOW
AW3821DW is the best monitor for WOW, an old SDR game, with many static elements and much text, doesn't need high contrast, and the most important--no fear of burn in.
I played this game about 8 hours a day when I was a student in Shadowland. When I'm in a RAID, I will keep playing about 4 to 6 hours without any break. I cannot talk to my guild master that I need to take a rest because I'm using a fXXking OLED monitor!
So if you are a junkie of WOW like me, I highly recommend this monitor to you. In some dark scenes you still notice the bleed but it's acceptable.
WOW
2.Planent Zoo
Like the WOW, this type of game has so many static elements and much text, really benefit from the additional width. This type of sim game doesn't have many dark scene and almost looks no difference between OLED and IPS.
Tier2
1.Skyrim
38 IPS is OK for RPG game with 50% of bright scene and 50% of dark scene.
Yeah, no doubt that LG C2 looks better in the Skyrim than IPS.
Skyrim
2.Bioshock Infinite
This game is an another type of story-driven game.
I don't hate the experience with AW3821DW but the Bioshock looks really awesome in LG C2.
It's not a type of game that you spend over 100 hours so I prefer to enjoying it with OLED.
Bioshock Infinite
Tier3
1.COD MWII / BF2042
This type of shooter that can put the HUD in the middle is PLAYABLE in 38 IPS but overall 38 is not a good choice for competitive shooter.
The big size and additional width can give you more fun but cannot make you win and it really make you tired so I always take a rest after playing 30 minutes.
But LG C2 is also not good for competitive shooter because of the size and 120HZ framerate.
If you have space I recommend to have an another 27's WOLED 240Hz just for FPS. It's my drame setup!
2.Diablo4
D4 is horrible for this monitor. You can always notice the IPS glow or bleed.
Actually I didn't play D4 anymore after buying this monitor.
3.Baldur's Gate3
A lot of you will be disappointing because BG3 is also not good for this monitor subjectly.
In bright scene, it's good but in dungeon the bleed is noticeable.
But BG3 is a fXXking beautiful game. I dive into the world and can forget the fXXking bleed!
For me, the solution is to play BG3 in the daytime and play other games in the nighttime.
BG3(bright scene)
BG3(dark scene)
Overall, AW3821DW is better for SDR-based old game. But we don't have a 38 inch miniled IPS or OLED in the market.
How about AW3423DW? I didn't try it but with my experience with old 34's, I suppose that 38's is more immersive, sharp(even though the same PPI), and versatile than 34's QD-OLED. But I still want to try when the 2nd gen comes out.
So if you want a good balance between work and game, the 38's IPS is still a good choice.
Let me know if you have other games that want to know its experience with AW3821DW!
