Asrock launches 34-inch curved gaming monitor with built-in Wi-Fi antenna

[midian182]

In brief: Given the number of monitors on the market that share similar features, it's not easy to stand out from the crowd. Asrock's 34-inch Phantom Gaming model, however, has a unique element: it's the world's first gaming monitor with a built-in Wi-Fi antenna, designed for those who want both a new display and a better wireless signal.

Asrock has entered the gaming monitor market with two Phantom Gaming models. The most interesting of these is the 34-inch PG34WQ15R2B, which follows in a long line of inspirational monitor names.

The PG34WQ15R2B boasts a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution on its curved (1500R) VA LCD panel, a 165Hz variable refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium, and a typical luminance of 550-nits, earning it VESA's DisplayHDR 400 badge—though we know that isn't exactly a guarantee of quality.

What might make the monitor especially attractive to some gamers is the integrated Wi-Fi antenna. Asrock says this is the first-ever gaming monitor equipped with such a feature, which connects to a PC to increase a wireless signal's peak gain by up to 7 dBi, improving the online gaming experience.

Asrock notes that the antenna is designed for PCs that sit beneath desks and often have their signals hampered by the furniture. Those whose rigs are on top of the desk or use high-end Wi-Fi adaptors (or ethernet, obviously) aren't going to find much benefit, if any.

As for the rest of the monitor, it offers 115% coverage of the sRGB color gamut and 91% coverage of the DCI-P3 space, a 1ms MPRT response time, and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Port-wise, you get an HMDI 1.4 port, two HMDI 2.0 inputs (no HDMI 2.1), two 2W speakers, and a 3.5mm jack. It's available now for $430.

The second monitor, the PG27FF1A, has a flat 27-inch IPS screen (1,920 x 1,080). It shares some of its big brother's specs, including the 165Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, dual speakers, and 1ms MPRT response time, but no built-in antenna. The color gamut coverage is slightly higher—94% DCI-P3/123% sRGB—while brightness is 250nits, and it comes with DisplayPort 1.2 instead of 1.4. This smaller monitor has a fairly low price of $190.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/95986-asrock-launches-34-inch-curved-gaming-monitor-built.html

 

[psycros]

The antenna is a good idea, honestly. Monitors with things like relocatable webcams, boom microphones, headset hangers and similar accessories can really help organize that big chunk of desk space they occupy.

 

[VitalyT]

I have lost any interset in monitors till I start seeing DP2.0 products. Everything released without it at this point is essentially trying to pull a rabbit out of one's rear, or trying to milk the proverbial cow to its bones.

 

[bviktor]

Asrock notes that the antenna is designed for PCs that sit beneath desks and often have their signals hampered by the furniture.

Are you telling me ASRock have never heard of antennae?

 

[theUnforgiven]

The specs for the 27" looked promising until I saw it was a 1080 panel
Why not a 2K panel asRock?