16:9 monitors not wide enough? Looking to go even wider with an ultrawide? A monitor with a 3440 x 1440 resolution might be the way to go for you, but there are some things you should know before going all in.
The 3440 x 1440 resolution has an ultrawide aspect ratio of 21:9. This resolution and the 2560 x 1080 resolution are the two most common with a 21:9 ratio. It’s much wider than the common 16:9 ratio that most monitors nowadays have. The 3440 x 1440 resolution is 29.3% wider than its 2560 x 1440 counterpart.
Is It 4K?
No. It should not be confused with the 3840 × 2160 resolution, officially referred to as 4K. While the numbers look similar at a glance. It’s pretty far from it.
The 3440 x 1440 resolution contains 4,953,600 pixels whereas a 4K resolution has 8,294,400 pixels. That’s a difference of 50.4% or 3,340,800 pixels! Also, 4K has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and not 21:9.
3440×1440 For Gaming
This is a pretty obscure resolution and uncommon for gaming. That’s not to say they are impossible to find, but only a handful of monitors with high refresh rates with this resolution. Also, they are pretty expensive. With that said. They are incredible at immersing you in a game, especially if you go for a curved one.
| Monitor | Size | Panel | Adaptive Sync | Pixel Density | Refresh Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Predator X35 | 35″ | VA | G-Sync HDR | 107 PPI | 200Hz |
| AOC AG353UCG | 35″ | VA | G-Sync HDR | 107 PPI | 200Hz |
| ASUS XG35VQ | 35″ | VA | G-Sync HDR | 107 PPI | 200Hz |
| LG 34GK950F | 34″ | IPS | FreeSync 2 | 110 PPI | 144Hz |
If you want one for gaming, then the first thing you should know is whether your current graphics card will handle the increase in pixels. If it won’t, you’ll end up with a bigger monitor but a choppy lackluster gaming experience.
Look up benchmarks of your card performing at the resolution to get a rough idea of what you’re getting yourself into. The hit in framerate will also depend on the actual game and the settings, of course. Holding system specs and in-game settings consistent and comparing the two, we can get an idea of how much impact it could have.
For example, upgrading from 2560 x 1440 to 3440 x 1440 and using the Rise of the Tomb Raider to benchmark, you can see the average frame rate drop from 114 to 94 FPS. That’s a drop of 17.5%—definitely a considerable amount. So keep an eye on your graphics card to avoid future frustration.
5 comments
I’ve got a 60hz lg 3440×1440 monitor, 34 inch. Bought it partly for work because spreadsheets on it are amazing. But for gaming I’d never go back either – it’s fantastic. Now I’m waiting for a 38″ one with HDMI2.1 and a better refresh rate, but this aspect ratio is just perfect for gaming, whether it be RTS’s or shooters.
Not to mention, at half the pixels of 4k, smooth performance is that much easier to achieve.
Hi,
I have a i5-10210U processor. Will this support a3440 by 1440 external monitor? I believe the max resolution for hdmi os 4096 but not sure if this means it will support ultrawide?
These monitors accept PBP mode where you can effectively use a DP and an HDMI output at 1720×1440 each and display them side by side seamlessly. So lack of a high resolution output shouldn’t deter someone from getting one.
The Pavilion G6 has a 2nd generation intel chip designated the i3-2350M. There is no physical graphics card on this laptop as it relies on the chipset’s onboard graphics for display. The 2350M uses Intel HD Graphics 3000. From what I can look up, your maximum supported resolutions are:
DisplayPort 1.1 = 2560×1600 at 60 Hz
HDMI 1.4 = 1920×1200 at 60 Hz
DVI (Single-link) = 1920×1200 at 60 Hz
VGA = 2048×1536 at 75 Hz
You will not be able to display 3440×1440 on a monitor.
Hi, I have an HP Pavilion g6 which I have had for many years. It is my platform for trading in the market. A 3440 by 1440 would allow for displaying many charts concurrently. What do I need to know about the graphics capability of this laptop to determine which of the bigger screens it could support?