Recently I've been intently watching all of the Korean monitor videos @wendell has been posting to the channel. (Thank you for those!) I've been seriously taking to heart his recommendation that if you want to go 4K, 40"+ is the best way to do so.
I was particularly intrigued by the W-M UHD420 since it was a 4K AH-IPS panel versus the other 40" VA panels he had reviewed. I've tended to be an IPS snob with my past displays just because I've always felt the picture quality is superior to the other techs.
I've been noticing, however, that listings for the UHD420 seem to be disappearing from eBay and Newegg, and that instead the only model now readily available is the UHD430.
Does anyone know anything about this seemingly newer display? I get that it is obviously 1" larger, but other than that, wondering if there are any other major changes? On top of that, while looking at their websites, I noticed Crossover offers a very similar model in the 434K. I presume the panels they use are manufactured by LG?
I'm hoping to get some feedback about what the best choice might be. The 324K @wendell recently reviewed also muddies the waters some since he speaks so highly of its panel quality, but have concerns over its VA input lag and need for display scaling. I was considering the Predator X34 originally because of its overclocking and G-sync abilities, but wondering if going full 4K on a larger screen size might be the better way to go?
Anyways, sorry for rambling on, just hoping to get your opinions and feedback about making a good choice for a new display.
I own a UHD420 and it is, hands down, the best display I've ever owned. That being said, prices have gone way up since I bought mine, so I'm not sure I would buy one at the current rate, and as you said, the 430 appears to be a different panel. With these Korean monitors, quality can vary significantly from one model to the next, so unless you can find some thorough reviews of the 430, I'd be cautious.
What's your use case? Mostly gaming and media? If so, the new generation of VA panels are really perfectly fine, and I don't think you'll be missing much at all. I am very particular as well, but the VA panels are fine unless you're doing color-sensitive work, and even then, you should probably invest in a professional monitor anyway. By all reports, the B400 and the A409 are quite good. FreeSync is also a major plus for the UHD420, so if you're running Nvidia that feature would go to waste. A modern VA panel is way, way better than TN.
If you're into fast-paced action games, the X34 or another high-end G-Sync monitor will offer a superior experience, in my opinion. For pure gaming, nothing beats the combination of ultrawide, G-Sync, and high refresh. The Koreans just aren't there yet. However, for a well-rounded monitor experience (productivity, media, and gaming), 40" 4K makes a ton of sense. I agonized over which way to go as well, but I'm very glad that I chose this route for my use case. Gaming is still spectacular, and everything else is just so much better. I'm with Wendell: it would be hard to go back to smaller panels.
My use case is probably going to be almost exclusively gaming, so maybe you are right that I don't have to be hung up on IPS (or equivalent) only. But I also appreciate high image quality though. I've mainly avoided VA in the past because of the general reports that it had higher than normal input lag, but have never tried it out for myself.
Since I posted, I found an interesting compromise. I was taking a hard look at that CrossOver 324K after wendell's video and the current price of ~$440, but the input lag numbers and lack of any frame sync were turn offs. Then I found that Acer is now offering an XB1 32" 4K display that has G-sync. This seems like a good choice. The only problem is the price is just as high as the X34. I'm curious what panel it uses as well, but I'm thinking there's a good chance it might be the same AUO AHVA as in the CrossOver. Does anyone know?
Th other unknown for me is if a max of 60Hz@ 4K will be OK or not. I've been using a 2560x1440 Overlord Tempest at 110Hz refresh until recently, and the difference was remarkable. Screen tearing is not something that has ever bothered me, but the higher refresh was definitely noticeable and appreciated.
Yes, these are all tough choices, because you don't really have any bad options here. Each one of these is a good option, just in different ways. Questions such as
are really ones that only you can answer for yourself. For instance, I prefer 4K60 to 1440p100, but people who play fast-paced FPSes would almost surely be better suited by the latter. I suggest you think about what is really important to you, and then make your choice. It sounds corny, but maybe making a list of pros and cons for each monitor might help.
A few other comments: older VA panels had issues, but the newer ones are great. Almost any of the VA panels listed here on the site will have better response than the AH-IPS panels used in the Wasabi Mangos. For what it's worth, if you're fine with sticking with Nvidia and your primary use-case is almost exclusively gaming, I think that one of the ultrawide high-refresh G-Sync monitors would be a great choice. You'll have an unparalleled gaming experience for years to come, and you get most of the productivity and media consumption benefits of a high-resolution monitor as well. The Korean monitors are terrific, but at some level you are taking some risks buying one, so it's also nice to have the QA and warranty of a real company behind your purchase, even one as issue-plagued as Acer.