The Remarkably Flat Monitor
It would have been beneficial to evaluate the 40″ ultrawide CrystalPro monitor with a laptop capable of fully utilizing its features, especially the USB-C. With a single USB-C connector, you can enjoy a display, charger, and possibly an extra USB port, making this monitor a superior choice compared to similar models lacking this option. However, the performance of the DP 1.4 port is perfectly fine, although upgrading the HDMI ports would be advisable given the popularity of this connection for video capture.
The overall picture quality is exceptional, with no dead pixels visible. There is no noticeable light bleed on black sections, and the brightness exceeds that of an HDR400 display. Text in games remained legible during rapid scrolling, and the response time and adaptive sync implementation are on point.
The monitor tends to prefer sleep mode over being powered off. It takes about 20 seconds for the screen to activate after a cold boot, which is slightly slower compared to other ultrawide displays. While this behavior is common for ultrawide monitors, it may raise concern if unexpected. In the test setup, this monitor attached to an RX 6800 XT would occasionally flicker off for a second or two after a cold boot, lasting about a minute. Additionally, the brightness would revert to 90 every time you toggle HDR off. These issues are not deal breakers but add a certain level of quirkiness to the monitor.
At the retail price of $550, there are few competitors for a monitor of this size, many of which cost several hundred dollars more. However, it’s worth noting that monitors of this size typically have a resolution of 3840 x 1600. The current price of $385 makes this monitor a steal, as it is priced similarly to monitors with a smaller 34″ size. This makes for a higher pixel density but sacrifices total screen space.
It seems that this display is as large as Monoprice could make it. A larger size would highlight the absence of a curve, and further stretching out 3440 x 1440 would not be desirable. If you aspire to game on a large ultrawide screen without breaking the bank, this monitor could be the solution. While pricier displays offer more, the Monoprice 40″ CrystalPro monitor provides everything you need.
