The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 offers tremendous value at a very affordable price point. You get a high-refresh 34-inch display with desirable add-ons like USB-C, making it more flexible than the typical budget gaming display. Let’s take a closer look if to determine how it compares to the flurry of ultrawides that fall within the sub-$500 price point.
Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 0.5ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 4000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 320 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 31.7” x 20.25” x 10.8”
Design and Features
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2’s design didn’t change much compared to its predecessor. It now has an all-black finish with the ARGB lighting omitted, so it’s less gaudy than the older model. The display has a bezel-free design, but you still get inner borders like usual.
It’s not the biggest monitor out there, but it’s definitely wider than your average gaming display. Scoping out your desk space before buying is a wise decision since this can offset other large peripherals like bookshelf speakers. It’s also not that heavy, but extra care is still necessary when unboxing and setting it up.
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 has an OSD joystick at the back, unlike many budget models. It’s a bit harder to access because of the overall width of the chassis, but it’s not too troublesome, in our opinion. It’s easier to get to something simple, like the brightness setting, with this gadget.
Its build quality is great thanks to Cooler Master’s expertise in manufacturing and material selection. The plastics used are reinforced and sturdy, so they won’t crack or fail just like that. The included stand is firm and stable, but it can still wobble if you nudge the screen accidentally.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included since ultrawide monitors are not suitable for portrait mode. You can use VESA mounts, but that’s only necessary in select instances.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 is its connectivity layout. You get DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 slots, but there is also a USB-C port with 65 watts of charging power. You also get a few USB ports and a 3.5mm jack for headphones.
You also get a pair of 5-watt speakers, which can get decently loud but lack any actual depth for convincing audio. They are usable for casual purposes, but headsets or a separate desktop set will always be more detailed and focused.
Display and Performance
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 boasts a 34-inch Quantum Dot VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 0.5ms MPRT response time. The backlight has a 320 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 4000:1. This model isn’t listed as HDR certified, but that’s normal for a product in this price range.
QHD ultrawides are perfect for gaming and productivity because of the extra width it offers. Games will have wider FOVs while productivity gets enhanced because you have more room to maneuver multiple apps. It will need a beefier GPU, but many midrange options can run it optimally.
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 covered more than 100% of sRGB and 97% of DCI-P3 for stunning and rich colors in games and movies. The downside is that its accuracy score is all over the place, with a deltaE average of 3.97. This is common with extended gamut displays, but gamers often like the oversaturation.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average, but it only improved the dE average to 2.74. It’s more balanced than the default setting, but it’s far from what you could expect from a calibrated display. This also means that it’s not worth getting the gadget just to even out the oversaturation of the screen.
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2’s backlight reached 441 cd/m2 at 100% brightness while its contrast peaked at 3051:1 at 40% brightness, indicating that it is capable of deep blacks. However, it’s far from what the manufacturer claims by a huge margin.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some issues due to backlight leaks on the top edge of the screen. They showed some clouding in darker scenes, but they are mostly unnoticeable otherwise. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are better ones out there.
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2’s main weakness is its slower response time. It’s still prone to blurring like most VA monitors. Setting the overdrive moderately helped, but maxing it out to try and clear the persistence and smudges isn’t ideal. Doing so will induce overshoot, which is counterproductive to what it’s trying to achieve in the first place.
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for stutter-free gaming. Having dual compatibility saves you money in the long run since you won’t need to get a new monitor if you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so it’s fast enough for competitive play.
Thoughts on the Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2
The Cooler Master GM34C-WQ2 is a great choice if you want a flexible and extra-vibrant display for immersive gaming. Its fantastic gamut coverage and contrast will make graphics pop, while its decently equipped feature set takes care of flexibility. Some will be bummed that it doesn’t have ARGB lighting anymore, but that’s okay since better build quality matters more.
There is still room for improvement despite it being the 2nd version already. Rich vibrancy may be a deciding factor for some, but meticulous users will demand better overall accuracy. However, it is still a great choice for immersive gaming, so we can’t really complain because of its low price.
Pros:
- Wide Gamut Coverage
- High Contrast
- Affordable
Cons:
- Prone to Blurring
- Dismal Accuracy
- Contrast Not as High as Claim
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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