I really like ultrawide displays. I’ve to get that out of the best way very first thing as a result of it means I’m already quite predisposed in direction of the curvy $849 ( £718) BenQ EX3501R gaming monitor. But even when I wasn’t I’d be fortunately recommending this high quality display to anybody with a robust AMD graphics card and a penchant for first individual capturing. I’m going to overlook this expansive monitor for the remainder of my Far Cry 5 playthrough…
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Now BenQ aren’t promoting this as a gaming monitor, that’s what their Zowie stuff is for, however due to the standard panel, 100Hz refresh, and FreeSync-toting goodness, it makes for a fantastic ultrawide gamer. Unlike the latest BenQ screens we’ve examined – and people esports-obsessed Zowie displays – the EX3501R isn’t utilizing a TN panel, and that’s very a lot to its credit score.
Thankfully there aren’t any 21:9 curved TN panels on the market, not less than not that anybody have instructed BenQ about, so we’re getting a VA show within the EX3501R, with all the colourful colors and strong black ranges you may anticipate. If you’re nervous that the 4ms GtG response time goes to have that massive an affect in your gaming efficiency over a 1ms TN panel, then good luck to you within the professional leagues, good sir. The remainder of us will get pleasure from our video games wanting beautiful with out the washed out colouring you’ll be used to.
As I discussed earlier the BenQ EX3501R comes with a 100Hz refresh price to match its AMD FreeSync assist. And that makes it an ideal match for Radeon avid gamers who’ve been fortunate sufficient to buy a high-end AMD card – there’s not a lot of you on the market, nevertheless, such is the paucity of Radeon inventory today.
It’s additionally bought a quite delicate 1800R curve to it too, which is ok on such a broad panel. Having the acute edges introduced in a contact is sensible on an ultrawide gaming display, and since it’s a VA panel there’s not a lot in the best way of viewing angle points both. There is typically a bit discolouration on the far edges, however solely a really slight quantity.
The general panel high quality is excellent. It delivers respectable distinction, providing shiny, vivid colors on the top-end of the dimensions and actually darkish shades down on the backside. Maybe it’s a contact too darkish as default because the black ranges get a bit crushed on the lowest finish.
That stated the white saturation is superb, providing clear delineation between the brightest tones. The VA panel additionally shows a clean commencement between tones too, with zero seen banding to the color gradients.
And with the mixture of its 100Hz refresh and the AMD FreeSync smoothness you find yourself with a responsive, clean gaming expertise on a Radeon card. My evaluate machine has an RX Vega 64 as its base card and with the 2 it made Far Cry 5 a wonderful expertise.
Especially in HDR.
Yes, the BenQ EX3501R has HDR assist in it, which seems horrible should you spend any time wanting by means of its lens on the desktop, however could make video games look unbelievable. With solely a 300nit peak luminance it’s not in a position to ship the total vary of what HDR is actually succesful, but it surely does a fantastic job of getting shut.
And with the Radeon partnership with Ubisoft on Far Cry 5 it performs nicely on the AMD Vega card, and actually loves itself some FreeSync-y goodness too.
The EX3501R is way extra HDR-ready than the BenQ EL2870U was. Using the identical HDR check footage the distinction is night time and day, largely since you don’t get the identical stage of noise within the black tones as you do with the weaker TN BenQ.
That’s simply the panel and the electronics, however the design of the EX3501R is quite pleasing too. The sweep of its curve is properly complemented by the thinness of the display’s bezel. It’s not fairly edge-to-edge, but it surely’s damned shut for such an expansive show. It’s absolutely top and swivel adjustable too, and the stand is wobble-free and fairly elegant wanting as nicely.
BenQ have finished a fantastic job with the EX3501R. It seems nice and its panel makes video games look simply pretty much as good. Probably higher. Of course it’s a must to pay for this huge a gaming display, and particularly if you need such a clean expertise, but it surely’s nonetheless seemingly half the worth of the ultrawide HDR G-Sync screens coming later within the yr.
SE7EN.WS verdict: 8/10
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