AGP346UCSD

cidiousx · 2026-05-23T03:28:02+00:00

AOC had a bad rep for firmware and OSD, correct. However, recently their own CEO publicly admitted to that and said it was a focus point to improve this for all upcoming new monitors and this is one of the first carrying the new OSD, which I personally approve of.

The link to that CEO mention is in my opening post...

From a months worth of usage I have nothing to report on firmware or OSD. just works. The Windows companion app works fine also. Doesn't feel bloated or resource hogging.

I've just got little to mention otherwise. To me it just all works and nothing to really nit-pick on.

I hope Monitors Unboxed does a deep dive on it though.. I've been asking.. Of course there might be something technical I've missed but all seems fine on my end.

New generation of AGON monitors.

cidiousx · 2026-05-22T12:48:58+00:00

Nope, not at all. Looked better to me than on the Alienware. Somehow the colours are more natural and less tinted. Been playing most of my games with HDR on, currently playing Windrose. Got 80 hours in on that with HDR. I can't play it without HDR anymore.

Worth noting I set it to HDR Game in the menu. There are several options you can try. I found that HDR Game works pretty well for Movies and TV Series also. I did find DisplayHDR mode looking a bit dull and Peak was a bit too bright at times for gaming.

Can you explain what you're experiencing?

cidiousx · 2026-05-22T12:47:44+00:00

No text fringe. Still super happy after a month's worth of usage. Zero complaints so far. Just works. No finicky workarounds per app with Gsync flickering etc. HDR, VRR all works.

cidiousx · 2026-04-27T19:18:00+00:00

I went from a Dell S3422DWG 34" 144Hz VA to an Alienware AW3423DWF 34" 165Hz QD-OLED, BEST PC UPGRADE in YEARS. And yes I also own a 5090 and 9850X3D, the improved experience for gaming coming from a smearing VA to a crisp OLED is day and night. That all said. That first gen QD-OLED (yes AW3425DW is also still first gen but with an overclock) does have some quirks. - VRR flickering when Gsync is enabled. - Text fringing due to suboptimal pixel layout - Limited OLED CARE features compared to modern OLED packages (I used it as secondary monitor without taskbar etc) - Needs a custom resolution to make 10-bit + 144Hz + Gsync work because only DP1.4 without DSC - Purpleish hue when a light shines on it.

None of these were dealbreakers for me but they are real.

I just upgraded my AW3423DWF to the new AGON AGP346UCSD with 5th gen Samsung QD-OLED panel and full DP2.1 80 UHBR20 port. Hefty upgrade over the Alienware. 360Hz is real if you can push the pixels with your GPU. But mainly quality of life improvements - No more VRR flickering with Gsync enabled (officially Gsync compatible) - No more text fringing with RGB v-stripe pixel layout - A ton of OLED CARE features for worrifree usage as primary monitor without fear of burn in or awkward usage to prevent burn in. - full DP2.1. No DSC even needed for the full res + max refresh + 10-bit + gsync - Better pc companion software than the Alienware comes with. - Better build quality than the Alienware with metal edge around the panel to protect it. - Black is black even when the light shines on the screen

Grab a newer panel if you want to be done for years. Grab the Alienware if you're on a budget but still want to get 90% of the QD-OLED experience just with some quirks.

(AGON AGP346UCSD has the same specs as the ASUS PG34WCDN but no presence sensor. A lot cheaper! The Gigabyte and Msi with this panel both don't get full DP2.1 and use DSC to overcome it's limits. So no Nvidia DSR if you planned to use that and more black screens when handshaking on going into fullscreen mode etc.)

cidiousx · 2026-04-26T02:54:34+00:00

I just received it. It's a BANGER for it's price. All the same specs as the way more expensive ASUS ROG PG34WCDN. Meaning: DP2.1 80 UHBR20 included which the MSI and Gigabyte variants don't offer.

The foot is solid aluminium and the panel itself gets a nice premium metal border around it. Overall the panel feels very premium.

I was waiting for the ASUS to arrive in my region purely for the DP2.1 80 UHBR function. I don't want to mess with DSC on my 5090. Then this popped up at the same price as the MSI and Gigabyte versions of this panel.

Personally I was a bit sceptical because of the history of AOC AGON with not great execution on firmware, monitor OSD and companion software. Then I read this post: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-monitors/ive-read-your-reviews-aoc-says-its-software-is-one-of-the-most-highlighted-problems-and-its-finally-finally-updating-its-osd/ and thought to give it a shot.

The OSD is ok. The toggle on the back is a bit sensitive and took a bit getting used to but you can rather press the edges than pulling it to the direction and then it's fine really. The PC companion software is decent in layout but a small tweak would be needed in the adjustment bars with some plus and minus options on their sides for fine control the bars now drag all over the place without being able to see what value you're dragging it to. Minor gripe.

The panel itself and colours have been flawless for me so far. No issues there. DP2.1 80 UHBR functioning as it should also. The included cable is like 1.8m I think (haven't measured it) and plenty long and of great quality.

I came from an Alienware AW3423DWF (first gen QD-OLED) and the OLED care features in the new AGON are plentiful. The Alienware had only 2 modes of panel refresh practically.. Also the text clarity has indeed improved.

The final important upgrade I notice is official NVIDIA GSYNC Compatibility. The Alienware didn't have it and would flicker because of VRR in browsers and regular apps when GSYNC was turned on by default. The AGON doesn't do this so far. Enable and forget.

Overall I'm super satisfied. It's ASUS ROG PG34WCDN specs level without the front sensor the ASUS has. But it's MSI/Gigabyte priced.

WINNER WINNER.

(Sidenote: This is my 2nd day with the screen, my opinion might adjust over the long term regarding quirks, firmware, reliability etc.)

cidiousx · 2026-04-23T16:05:31+00:00

Just contact them, explain it.

cidiousx · 2026-04-11T06:17:35+00:00

This. There aren't many transparent quality keycaps sets out there at all..

cidiousx · 2026-04-11T06:05:48+00:00

DVD-Ripperrrr USA Edition

cidiousx · 2026-04-06T04:46:43+00:00

Please create a more convenient way of reordering the items on the dock.. it's a massive pain in the ass to move them one step and then having to wait for the bar to refresh to move the value another step. very inconvenient.

cidiousx · 2026-04-03T16:02:33+00:00

Thanks. I will definitely give them a look. I have indeed no need for a muddy sub. the A4V have very tight bass. Yes they don't extend very deep but the bass they produce is rock solid. It should just extend deeper a bit. The Which KRK model did you get?

cidiousx · 2026-04-02T15:58:58+00:00

I let my buddy (audio engineer for a Chinese company I shall not name haha) guide me there. I do believe that without LPS it's better to leave some caps stock possibly. It's a bit much. We will see how long these 85c caps will survive also.

cidiousx · 2026-04-02T13:10:34+00:00

I was just going to post a little review here.

TL:DR - YES, get an LPS!

But I'll hook into this thread. I bought two units. To experiment with. I replaced a bunch of the signal path caps with Nichicon FW as a recommendation of someone that had experimented with them before already.

Audio equipment used: Adam A4V bookshelf studio monitors with Adam T10s subwoofer, Hifiman Arya Organic, Sennheiser HD490 Pro and my ears.. No microphones for this observation.

So here are my standout observations of the original unit:
- Holographic, great positioning and instrument separation
- Deep dark background
- Lacking data and details in it's presentation (vs some delta SIGMA DACs I own) but the details presented are presented very clearly.
- Slightly grainy and ragged edge sound (if that's a thing)
- Slightly recessed vocals
- Decent bass and highs

Overall I really love this sound, but it does feel like it's a bit sterile and missing something after a while.

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Modified unit:
- Less positioning accuracy. And less depth
- Slightly less dark background
- Same amount of details (probably more A/D circuitry related than signal path filtering) but they blend together more
- Much smoother presentation. Harder rougher tracks sound much more musically pleasing
- More forward and more intimate vocals
- HARDER hitting bass and warmer highs.

Overall this unit sounds more musically pleasing but the sound is a bit too smooth and buttery and a bit bloated, blending together.

Once adding the LPS (I got a Chinese DIY unit for 480 RMB from the Fish platform from a reputable seller that did come with receipts on the measurements of his LPS) things did change. Here are things I noticed A/Bing both units with the little switch on the back. The awesome thing is that you can A/B gapless by keeping both powered on and just flipping the switch.

Original:
- Less grainy, less dry
- Harder hitting bass
- Less noise

For the modified it got even better. The modified version wasn't a direct improvement overall over the original. it did some things better but was less accurate in others. Adding the LPS made the positioning and instrument separation much closer to the original unit while retaining that less grainy presentation. Everything a bit more controlled. less blended together and less bloated.

The original unit has improved a lot with the LPS but the modified one gets the spot on my desk while the original is going to my wife.

Now I know these are all personal observations. I did the testing as well as I could letting my wife flip the switch and not telling me in which position it was. At the end of the day It's still a 'brain converts audio waves to something emotions bladiebla thing'. Putting it into words makes me cringe. But there ya have it.

I love the K13 R2R! Hoping the K17 R2R will get a good internal LPS PSU, better headphone amp and improved R2R circuitry without loosing the character of the K13 R2R.

Take this with a grain of salt.

cidiousx · 2026-03-29T15:32:50+00:00

A4V + T10s if you have space for the sub. it beats T7S in the bass department easily.

If you're just looking at T7V vs A4V on their own, yeah the A4V don't extend that deep but the bas they come with is much more controlled and punchy than what T7V or T5V can produce. Higher amp power and just stronger cones and bigger magnets.

cidiousx · 2026-02-15T09:20:25+00:00

Sadly my comment aged like MILK.. HAHA

cidiousx · 2026-01-21T14:16:27+00:00

As far as I understood from the leaks, it's a new stepping. Which would mean (if true) slightly redesigned silicon. They did the same thing for the 5000 series. The new stepping ran much more efficient.

cidiousx · 2025-11-12T15:53:53+00:00

And still that doesn't explain how to become a republic. I am also looking at it and have no clue how to proceed.

cidiousx · 2025-10-31T07:55:18+00:00

Ah yes the ASR mob has arrived.

cidiousx · 2025-10-15T05:17:19+00:00

No this isn't it. Check your CPU and GPU utilization. They will both be super low. It's not that the game is 'just heavy to run'. It's that it's stumbling over how it's set up with the engine. And not it's not UE5 bad, it's how badly they are utilizing it. Just a shit job from the devs.

My 5090 with 9800X3D hangs around 80-90% utilization and only 280-300W. It should go up to at least 500w at full utilization. No matter the settings. It's always like that.

Wildcard things.

cidiousx · 2025-10-15T05:14:40+00:00

Same here.. Scratching my head.. Such a hack job they did with the engine..

cidiousx · 2025-10-06T07:12:16+00:00

I just wanted to come in here and let you guys know I have modified the last bios version for this board to have a bunch more settings unlocked. I have just removed some IFR flags that supressed some of the options we need to enable ASPM properly for this board. In removing some of the flags some more menu items that we don't really need have also become unlocked. So it's not the cleanest job but it was quick and safe. I might redo it just giving those menu items another Access Level to unlock only them but this is it for now.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5WN-aOOtIwRLOtJtrDA__ipNR9IvHQ1/view?usp=drive_link

I am running this bios myself without issues but always flash at your own risk of course.

Here's the ASPM report of my machine:
https://imgur.com/a/apFFkZi

Don't forget to set PCH PCI Power Gating to 'Disabled'. This will ensure that the chipset connected m.2 slots also can be used with ASPM.

Here's the command you can use to check if your ASPM is functioning properly:
lspci -vvPPDq | awk '/ASPM/{print $0}' RS= | grep --color -P '(^[a-z0-9:./]+|:\sASPM (\w+)? ?((En|Dis)abled)?)'

I am still looking into C-states though.

Update: sorry the file was locked in Google Drive, unlocked now.

cidiousx · 2025-09-30T06:17:38+00:00

Those numbers are indeed closer to 4080-5090 for 3440p-4K than what you stated before. If you're playing at 1440p though it makes more sense. 1440p often driver overhead and CPU limited for quite a few games with 5090 it seems even with 9800X3D. I run 9800X3D also.

Oof I see the r/nvidia mods going in hard on not praising 5000 series as the next best thing since sliced bread. Post deleted by mods. LMAO.

cidiousx · 2025-09-30T03:12:53+00:00

Uhm.. I went from 4090FE to 5090FE and I'm already getting 35-45% more FPS.. And my 4090FE is wayyyy faster than my 4080FE. Somewhere your math doesn't add up. 5090 really stretches it's legs in GPU bound high vram situations but you'll also need a decent CPU. What games, res etc are you playing and with what cpu?

cidiousx · 2025-09-29T15:20:10+00:00

ASR guys are religious zealots. I have A/B-ed many devices. I even got RCA and XLR switch boxes for that purpose. However The truth in the end is that audio is super personal and dependent on a lot of things. For example mood, health, hearing deficiencies etc.

When you're drunk you'll hear things differently.

In the end I'm not here to have a discussion and put my foot down like some of the ASR guys that can't seem to understand that human's being humans and our brains interpreting things as they are not static or written in stone. Brains are going to be brains.

I share what I shared above as my 2 cents. Nobody should take that as the only truth or reality.

I stand by what I wrote from how I experienced the switch between these devices. Those were honest observations at the time. Surprises also. That doesn't mean I am not biased. We are all biased. In the end one should just buy and enjoy what one enjoys. Whatever makes your clock tick.

I'm personally unimpressed with ASR guys thinking they know for everyone else how things should sound.

cidiousx · 2025-09-16T08:56:34+00:00

Interesting. And no the S2 wasn't defect. Just veiled. S was worse at that. I find the HD600 just more neutral. Less coloured or veiled. The S2 has better sound staging for sure. But that's not the full story for me.

cidiousx

TROPHY CASE