Games look sharp and vibrant on the 3440 x 1440 screen, and the 21:9 aspect ratio is really great for wide-open shooters like PUBG and Battlefield 1.

While this is good enough for most usages, they all would benefit a little from a higher refresh rate.These two video feeds are input into the monitor, which then sends one of the feeds its DisplayPort Out to a second monitor, allowing dual monitors using only one DisplayPort.

That’s not as bad as it sounds, but it is an issue that won’t be resolved through calibration, or raising the contrast in the on-screen display settings.

The only thing missing is Thunderbolt 3, an option that’s been slowly rolling out to higher-end panels.

The Dell U3417W has speakers that can get decently loud, but not nearly as loud as headphones or dedicated speakers. The 1900R curve pulls you into the game more than any 16:9 display, although you will encounter the occasional game which doesn’t play well with a 21:9 panel.

Although the U3417W is not designed for gaming, it can still be pressed into casual play, but its input lag and lack of gamer-centric features will likely disappoint the hardcore gaming crowd. We are already seeing a wide computing products at CES 2021, and Dell is coming out strong already with some of the best monitors and laptops at CES. At the rear of the cabinet, facing downward, are two HDMI inputs, a full-size DisplayPort input, a mini-DisplayPort input, and a full-size DisplayPort output that can be used to connect multiple monitors in a daisy-chain configuration.

The rear also looks good, and there is a hole in the stand to route cables through and reduce clutter. Dell’s U3417W follows in its older sibling’s footsteps with a slightly deeper curve and some better USB charging capabilities, but ultimately falls behind where it counts — contrast and brightness. There are seven picture presets, including Standard, ComfortView (low blue light), Multimedia, Movie, Game, Color Temperature, and Custom Color.

The monitor only has a very common 60 Hz refresh rate, without any variable refresh rate feature like FreeSync (unlike the Samsung CJ791). Feast your eyes on this: With WQHD 3440 x 1440 resolution, consistently accurate color and a wide viewing angle, you’ll get clear, sharp views every time.