As a guy who just bought a 32 inch Samsung Odyssey G7, in my opinion if you really want to future proof, wait until next year.
Monitors are on the verge of a jump in tech specs. TN panels are as good as dead. The new Samsung VA panels are offering 240 hz 1440p with superfast response times, and I think 240hz 1440p fast IPS panels are on the way. We might even see HDR600 become the norm with more manufacturers releasing high end monitors with HDR1000.
I don't like the 34GN850-B because its already outdated. 240hz 1440p VA monitors with HDR600+ already on the market and IPS monitors with similar specs are in the pipeline. I think spending 4k+ on an already outdated monitor is a mistake.
The Alienware is even worse. It was cutting edge 2 years ago, but not in 2020. As soon as the new panels hit the market I'm almost certain Alienware will refresh that model.
For this much money I'd rather top up a bit and buy a Samsung G9 after they fix the production issues. It's a super ultrawide 1440p VA monior with 240hz, low response times, and HDR1000. It's also got up to date DP 1.4 ports. Also, we should be seeing HDMI 2.1 become more widespread next year, which means even higher refresh rates and better resolution. If we look at the direction monitors are moving in, 1440p 240hz and 4k 120hz are the next big things and I think a 3080 TI will be able to comfortably drive those monitors in the future. If you buy now, I think your 3080TI will be bottle-necked by your monitor choice.
If you absolutely want to buy now, get the LG. The nano ips tech is proven, and the Alienware is outdated badly. DP 1.2 is yuck in 2020.
Just a few more tips for monitor buying if you want to do more research:
1. HDR400 is a meme. In fact, unless a monitor has a lot of local dimming zones I don't think anything less than HDR1000 should factor in your decision making when buying a monitor.
2. LG is the king of fast IPS right now and their prices are fairer than their competitors. Their LG 27GL850 is the best in class for 27 inch fast IPS gaming monitors. Asus, Gigabyte, and Acer might sell monitors with similar specs, but none of them can beat LG in performance and they are often more expensive. Avoid them.
3. Samsung's new Odyssey G7 line are currently cutting edge. They are the first to 240hz 1440p, and their new VA panels are outstanding in terms of response times. The G7 line also comes with HDR600 (Which still isn't great tbh), and the G9 has HDR1000. The G9 also is offering something really unique: The form factor. That 49 inch super wide display is really something special. I don't think the pricing is too bad when you take into account that nobody else has those specs right now.
The cons? The entire G7 line sucks if you can't stand curved monitors. There are also some early production issues which will probably be fixed going forwards. If you buy one of these you need to stay up to date with monitor firmware.
4. Don't forget to check what DP version the monitor has. Personally, I feel a modern monitor should be on at least 1.4 to avoid bandwidth issues. If you see a monitor with HDMI 2.1 support in the future, that's even better.
5. Refer to
https://www.displayninja.com/new-monitors/ when planning your purchases. That list has all the upcoming monitors along with their panels and specs.
This post has been edited by katavatar: Jul 29 2020, 12:46 AM