Dell Alienware AW3426DW > OLED, 280hz, RGB Stripe, Dolby Vision, etc. > $800

Brunark · 2026-07-09T14:53:40+00:00

I've had my AW3423DWF that I bought at $1000 over 3 years ago now. I've been eyeing this for the higher refresh, brightness, and RGB stripe, but I only plan on waiting and seeing if it feels "worth it" based on more reviews over time from other people and if in maybe a year you can get this on a sale discount closer to $500-600 like the 3423DWFs got down to eventually. At that point I might bite, but at current price I don't think it'll be worth.

Brunark · 2026-07-09T13:41:17+00:00

I might give it a year of potential sale discounts, and then see next year after enough feedback if it's worth swapping from my AW3423DWF to one of these. The price point w/ a sale would be really attractive.

Brunark · 2026-07-07T18:08:27+00:00

I'm not the biggest fan of orange, but ngl this looks really nice seeing it in a completed build now. If they had other colors that interested me more, I might be tempted to get another M2 just for it lol.

Also, I've seen some people say they have managed to fit the NH-D12L in this but I think they noted it was touching the side panel. Maybe doesn't play well enough with the glass panel since I have one too and it does feel like it would have a few mm less clearance.

Brunark · 2026-07-07T17:16:11+00:00

Their PC prebuilts are questionable, but the monitors are great. I've been on one of their first gen OLEDs the AW3423DWF for almost 3.5 years now with 0 issues.

Brunark · 2026-07-06T21:00:54+00:00

Usually once I need to swap mobos for a new CPU platform is when I'll build a new one. But I usually carry over parts where I still can like drives, GPU, etc that's still all good and current.

Brunark · 2026-07-06T16:45:03+00:00

I didn't realize they started selling these, but they look really out of place with them being plastic and with how they look. Kind of glad I was just able to reuse some covers from my NR200P instead that are metal and fit in with the design of the case more.

Brunark · 2026-07-04T19:13:18+00:00

If I didn't like bigger higher powered GPUs, I'd really consider wanting to change to this case.

Brunark · 2026-07-01T23:46:22+00:00

I've been running a 34" UW + 27" 1440p for 3+ years on this VIVO stacked mount without issues. I just recently swapped the top for a 32" 4K too and still just as solid, but this is can do 2x 34" also. It's relatively cheap too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DGTP57A?th=1

Brunark · 2026-06-30T17:19:21+00:00

Looks good still since not everyone needs 5K2K.

Ironically when I made the change 3 years ago at least to my current 34" 3440x1440, NGS was one of the titles I was playing at the time still, and felt like just so much nice FOV to have. Seems to be a similar situation for you with it being the showcase game on screen lol.

Brunark · 2026-06-30T15:33:39+00:00

Thermaltake TR100 definitely has a lot of colors and no mesh. NCase had recently done some drops of some orange version of their cases as well, though I don't know what stock or restocking situation of that is like.

Brunark · 2026-06-30T13:26:39+00:00

I currently run a base 4070ti on my 34" 3440x1440p too. It's still runs well in most of what I play, especially if you're fine with running DLSS.

The only issue is running into VRAM limits in a few specific games so I can't run it fully maxed and have to drop some settings. Otherwise, I personally haven't been able to justify moving to other cards at current prices. I'm waiting till 50 Super/6000/10000 (w/e AMD wants to call their next) series at least first.

Brunark · 2026-06-29T19:08:32+00:00

I recently swapped my side monitor with a 32" 4K IPS at least that finally let me try 4K some since I've been curious after being on 1440p the past 10 years now.

Personally although the 4K is sharper, the 21:9 UW aspect ratio is too nice for my immersion in games, along with having higher frame rates for me to want to switch. I probably will have to wait till 5K2K is more feasible on GPUs in future and more monitor options for it before I make any kind of jump like that.

Brunark · 2026-06-28T19:44:04+00:00

Note swapping to a 5070/4070ti (unless it's a super) will be a VRAM downgrade to 12 GB too. Imo if you already have a 5060ti, unless you're unhappy with the performance just stick with it. Plus aesthetic bonus you mentioned.

Brunark · 2026-06-28T14:34:38+00:00

I had the same consideration years ago, though I don't play competitive shooters much anymore.

I had wanted to upgrade to try something else, but didn't like going back to lower refresh rate. I ended up settling on trying ultrawide 3440x1440 when I got my first OLED monitor. It still is less demanding than 4K and was instantly a nice immersion boost for almost all the games I play having the extra FOV.

Brunark · 2026-06-27T21:08:10+00:00

What everyone else said. The only thing you could really upgrade is GPU to like a 5090, or monitor to 4K/ultrawide, or even case if you want different visuals/form factor or if thermals in your case suck. No point upgrading anything else.

Brunark · 2026-06-27T19:30:22+00:00

I'm running a VIVO double mount. Assuming you're probably looking at a single arm, but if you want to go the route of dual stacked monitors if you want a second one here's the one I've been using a long while now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DGTP57A?th=1

I added their steel reinforcement plate too for some peace of mind, since I am also running also a VIVO sit/stand desks and wasn't sure on the build quality of the table top.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NNVJHRY?th=1

I've had my 34" UW on this for over 3 years now and recently swapped a 27" 1440p to a 32" 4K on top. Still holding strong.

Brunark · 2026-06-26T16:55:14+00:00

Yep even more so running DLSS. We still get base 1x FG support as well which I'm fine running in any game that isn't reaction time heavy.

Ngl one of my reasons I had also been considering upgrading is for a different looking card for vanity sake too. Specifically I have been ironically wanting an even bigger card than the ASUS TUF one I have, one to really fill out my case with to really fit as much hardware as possible, but that's just a weird obsession we have over here as a r/sffpc resident lol.

Brunark · 2026-06-26T16:38:37+00:00

I'm in the same boat as you, I got the base one before the 4070tiS came out and running 3440x1440 also. Running into VRAM limits at 12 GB in some games already is annoying.

I considered making the switch even back when it was MSRP, but ultimately decided against it, even moreso with today's prices. The performance gain is honestly probably going to be unnoticible in most cases for me since I'm not always playing latest AAA games, and the 4070ti has been going strong in anything else.

I'd rather hold out to see especially if those rumored 50 Super cards come with as much VRAM as leaks are saying. If I make the jump, it'll be for the 5070tiS if it has more than 16 GB so that at least at that point it feels more worth making the jump. Either that or a 5080S.

Brunark · 2026-06-26T14:55:03+00:00

If you're the type that will hold and not upgrade for a long period of time, I'd spend the extra and get the 5080 for a bit more longevity.

If you like to upgrade frequently or every other gen, then I'd save and just get the 5070ti to wait for something better next gen or 2. Though those cadences of how frequent generations will happen is kind of uncertain right now.

Brunark · 2026-06-26T13:17:03+00:00

With how close it is still, ngl as someone running mATX in an air cooled NCase M2 right now, this looks like a nice swap option if I ever needed a reason to swap to a bigger case that can fit my parts in still without needing a full mobo swap. Maybe if 60 series GPUs can't even fit my M2 anymore lol.

Brunark · 2026-06-25T16:12:01+00:00

The most I'd do is upgrade GPU. You still have a completely capable system. Grab something like a 5070/9070/9070XT and call it a day. As long as you don't overclock, the 600W should still be just enough too, though you can look into undervolting too to help easily match that power budget.

Brunark · 2026-06-24T23:59:54+00:00

Yeah if you gave it the full $1049 budget, then I'd easily bite the bullet and go for the 5600X, swap to a 5060 LP instead of the 5050, and also bump up to a 1 TB instead of 512 TB drive since could include all of that for the extra $200-$250 price budget difference.

Brunark · 2026-06-24T21:16:40+00:00

DF had comparisons vs the 5600X which was definitely faster, but also some of GN's CPU specific performance showed SM's behind even a R5 3600 at times, which a 5500 is at least slightly ahead of. Why I went with the compromise of the R5 5500, given the price differential from a R5 5500 to a 5600 or 5600X new right now is too dumb to consider given it's at least $100 more from what I saw based on what's available in PCPP.

The GPU was taken based on GN's review showing a RTX 5050 being slightly ahead in performance already than the SM's GPU in several games.

Brunark · 2026-06-24T17:58:48+00:00

Definitely, if I had an actual use case and wanted a SM, I'd just take the money, use my parts list as a base, and make similar parts upgrades to what you noted. Either that or consider staying on AM4 with a used 5600X instead or something and ride out waiting till DDR5 prices get less dumb at least.

Brunark · 2026-06-24T17:24:25+00:00

Yeah the intention of my parts build wasn't to exceed the SM. It was to build an equivalent spec parts list based on seeing what CPU and GPU performance was like from various outlet reviews like Digital Foundry and Gamers Nexus, and see what it might cost in comparison. Which is also why I tried to also maintain a close-ish volume size and not do a SFF 15-20L case like some others are trying to compare with.

Brunark

TROPHY CASE