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Article Number: 000196647

Alienware 34 Curved OLED Monitor AW3423DW Usage and Troubleshooting Guide

Summary: Learn how to use and troubleshoot issues that are related to the Alienware 34" Curved OLED Monitor AW3423DW.

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Article Content

Instructions

Alienware AW3423DW Monitor

Quick Links

Getting Started with your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Setup, Specifications and Service Manual Dell Drivers & Downloads Warranty and Support Services Frequently asked questions

For help with video or display issues such as: No video or no display, blank or black screen, flickering, resolution or color issues, horizontal or vertical lines, so forth see the expanding section below.

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The Alienware AW3423DW is a Quantum Dot-Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED) display that uses Oxide TFT as active element. The monitor features include:

  • 86.82 cm (34.18 in.) viewable area (measured diagonally) Resolution: Up to 3440 x 1440 through DisplayPort and HDMI, with full-screen support or lower resolutions, supporting a high refresh rate of 175 Hz
  • NVIDIA G-SYNC ULTIMATE certified monitor that delivers tear free, stutter free, and ultralow latency gameplay.
  • Color gamut of 149% sRGB and DCI-P3 99.3%.
  • Tilt, swivel, and height adjustment capabilities.
  • Removable stand and Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mounting holes (100 mm x 100 mm) using VESA adapter for flexible mounting solutions
  • Digital connectivity through 1 DisplayPort and 2 HDMI ports
  • The monitor is equipped with:
    • One SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) Type B upstream port
    • One SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) Type-A downstream charging port.
    • Three SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) Type-A downstream ports.
  • Plug-and-play capability if supported by your computer.
  • On-Screen Display (OSD) adjustments for ease of setup and screen optimization
  • AW3423DW offers a couple of preset modes for the user's own preference, including:
    • Creator
    • First-Person Shooter (FPS)
    • Multiplayer Online Battle Arena/Real-Time Strategy (MOBA/RTS)
    • Role-Playing Game (RPG)
    • Racing (SPORTS)
    • Three customizable game modes
  • Security-lock slot.
  • Power consumption ≤ 0.5 W in Standby Mode.
  • VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black
  • Optimize eye comfort with a flicker-free screen and low-blue light feature.
  • The Monitor uses Low Blue Light panel and is compliant with TÜV Rheinland (Hardware Solution) at factory reset or default setting. This integrated low-blue light solution reduces hazardous blue light emissions by adjusting display parameters, without sacrificing true-to-life colors.
Warning: The possible long-term effects of blue light emission from the monitor may damage your eyes, including eye fatigue or digital eye strain. The ComfortView feature is designed to reduce the amount of blue light that is emitted from the monitor to optimize eye comfort.
 
Warning: Do not mount this monitor in vertical orientation due to the risk of damaging the monitor.

This section provides some specifications of the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor. To learn more about the specifications of the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor, see the User's Guide at the Dell Manuals website.

Screen type
  • Color Active Matrix
Panel technology
  • QD OLED
Maximum resolution
  • DisplayPort: 3440 x 1440 at 175 Hz
  • HDMI: 3440 x 1440 at 100 Hz
Viewing angle
  • 178° (vertical) typical
  • 178° (horizontal) typical
Contrast ratio
  • 1 million: 1 at (SDR) and (HDR)
Response time
  • 0.1-millisecond gray-to-gray
Color gamut
  • 149% sRGB and DCI-P3 99.3%
Color depth
  • 1.07 billion colors (10 bit)
Integrated devices
  • SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) hub (with one USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) upstream port)
  • 4 x SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) downstream port (including one port which supports power-charging)
Ports and connectors
  • 1 x DisplayPort version 1.4 with HDCP 2.2 (rear)
  • 1 x DisplayPort version 1.4 with HDCP 2.2 (rear)
  • 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) upstream port (rear
  • 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) downstream ports (bottom: 2; rear: 2)
  • 1 x headphone port (bottom
  • 1 x audio line-out port (rear)

Ensuring that your Dell monitor is set up properly. Assembling the monitor stand and setting up the monitor ergonomically. Connecting the cables and organizing them. These only help make the viewing experience the best it possibly can be.

Attaching the stand

The standard monitor stand is detached when the monitor is shipped from the factory. To learn more about attaching the standard monitor stand. See the Setting Up the Monitor section in the User's Guide of your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor.
To learn how to set up any other stand with a monitor, see the respective stand setup guide for setup instructions.

Caution: Do not remove the monitor from the packaging box before attaching the stand.
 
Note: The Alienware AW3423DW Monitor is heavy; handle with extreme care. It is recommended to have two people to lift or move this monitor.

Ergonomics

Where you put your monitor is almost as important as what model you buy. The monitor should be directly in front of you, at an arm’s length away (between 20-40 inches from your eyes). The top edge of the screen at eye level when you are sitting comfortably. You may need to adjust your chair height or the height of the monitor to achieve this.

Connecting your monitor to the personal computer

Note: Do not connect all cables to the computer simultaneously.

To connect your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor to your personal computer:

Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Connectivity

Figure 1: Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Connectivity

  1. Connect the other end of the DisplayPort cable (or Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort) or HDMI cable to your computer.
  2. Connect the other end of the USB 3.2 Gen 1 upstream cable to an appropriate USB 3.2 Gen 1 port on your computer.
  3. Connect the USB devices to the SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) downstream ports at the bottom of the monitor.
  4. Plug the power cables for your computer and monitor into a wall outlet.
  5. Turn on the monitor and the computer.

To learn more about connecting your monitor to the personal computer, see the Dell knowledge-base article: How do I connect a monitor to a personal computer?

Alienware AW3423DW Monitor orientation must always be in landscape mode. This includes any wall-mounted monitors and monitors on a stand. In a multiple monitor setup, the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor should not be rotated either to 180° (landscape) or 90° (portrait).

Caution: Alienware AW3423DW Monitor setup must comply with the recommended panel orientation and working angle only. Setting up the monitor in an orientation that is not recommended may damage the monitor and/or cause a safety hazard.

When setting up your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor, ensure that the monitor front panel joystick is on the bottom center.

Using the Tilt and Swivel Extensions
Note: The following instructions are applicable only for attaching the stand that was shipped with your monitor. If you are attaching a stand that you purchased from any other source, follow the setup instructions that were included with the stand.

With the stand that is attached to the monitor, you can tilt and swivel the monitor for the most comfortable viewing angle.

Tilt and Swivel on Alienware AW3423DW Monitor

Figure 2: Using Tilt and Swivel on Alienware AW3423DW Monitor

Note:
  • The stand is not factory-installed.
  • The slant angle of this monitor is between -5° and +5°, not allowing for pivot movements.
Vertical extension
Note: The stand extends vertically up to 110 mm The following figure illustrates how to extend the stand vertically.

Vertical extension on Alienware AW3423DW Monitor

Figure 3: Using Vertical extension on Alienware AW3423DW Monitor

Use the buttons at the bottom of the monitor to access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press the Joystick (Figure 5) at the bottom center of the monitor.

Learn more about using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu. See the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor.

Note: Any changes that you make are automatically saved. Whenever you move to another menu item, exit the OSD menu, or wait for the OSD menu to automatically close.

Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Power Button

Figure 4: Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Power Button

Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Joystick

Figure 5: Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Joystick

Button Function Description
Power Button  Power On/Off button (with LED indicator). A solid white light indicates that the monitor is On and fully functional. Blinking white light indicates the power save mode.
Joystick Control Controls to make adjustments to the On-Screen Display.
  • Press the joystick to launch the Menu Launcher.
  • Move the joystick forward/backward/left/right to switch between options.
  • Press the joystick again to confirm the settings and exit.

Resetting a monitor to factory defaults can help resolve many video or display issues. To reset your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor to factory default settings, follow these instructions:

  1. Press the joystick on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
  2. Press up or down on the joystick to highlight Others option in the menu and press on the joystick to select.
  3. Press up or down to highlight Factory Reset option in the menu and press on the joystick to select.
  4. Press the joystick to confirm the reset action.

Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Factory Reset

Figure 6: Alienware AW3423DW Monitor Factory Reset

If your Dell monitor has a blank or black screen, fuzzy or blurry image, flickering, distorted or any other screen abnormalities, running a diagnostic test helps determine if the Dell monitor is functioning normally. To learn more about diagnostic options on a Dell monitor, see the Dell knowledge-base article: How do I run diagnostics on a Dell monitor?

It is always essential to separate the monitor while troubleshooting your computer for the following scenarios:

  • No Power - Your computer is not powering ON or showing any signs of power.
 
  • No POST - Your computer is not showing any indication of activity, the screen might be blank and will not display the Dell logo during start-up.
 
  • No Video - You are unable to see any display on the screen, able to hear the windows chime but no display is seen.

Your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor provides a self-test feature check that allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly. If the monitor and computer are properly connected but the monitor screen remains dark, run the monitor self-test by performing the following steps:

  1. Turn off both your computer and the monitor.
  2. Unplug the video cable from the back of the computer. To ensure proper Self-Test operation, remove the video cables (HDMI, or DisplayPort) from the back of the computer.
  3. Turn On the monitor.
    Note: A dialog box should appear on the screen, indicating that the monitor is working correctly and it is not receiving a video signal. While in self-test mode, the power LED blinks white (default color).

    Alienware_AW3423DW_Eco Mode

    Figure 7: Eco Mode

    Note: This dialog box also appears during normal operation, if the video cable is disconnected or damaged.
  4. Turn off your monitor and reconnect the video cable; then turn on both your computer and the monitor.

After performing the above steps, if the monitor displays no video output, then the problem may be with the graphics card or the computer.

Your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor has a built-in diagnostic tool. It helps to determine if the screen abnormality you are experiencing is a problem with the monitor or with the video card on your computer.

When you notice screen abnormalities like distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade, it is always a good practice to separate the monitor by running the Built-In Diagnostics.

Note: You can run the built-in diagnostics only when the video cable is unplugged and the monitor is in self-test mode.

To run the built-in diagnostics:

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
  2. Move and hold the joystick left for five seconds. A gray screen appears after one second.
  3. Observe if the screen has any defects or abnormalities.
  4. Press the joystick. The color of the screen changes to red.
  5. Observe if the screen has any defects or abnormalities.
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to inspect the display in green, blue, black, and white screens.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 to inspect the display in green, blue, black, and white screens.

Note: If you do not detect any screen abnormalities upon using the built-in diagnostic tool, the monitor is functioning properly. Check the video card (GPU) and the computer.
If you notice any abnormalities during Built-In Diagnostics, you may get the monitor repaired or replaced if it is under warranty by contacting Dell Technical Support.

During the OLED Monitor manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to become fixed in an unchanging state. Which is hard to see and do not affect the display quality or usability. For more information, see the Dell knowledge-base article Dell OLED Monitor Pixel Guidelines.

This section provides information about troubleshooting steps that can help resolve the most common issues with the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor. Alternatively, to learn more about troubleshooting common issues on Dell monitors, see the Dell knowledge-base article Troubleshooting Display or Video Issues on a Dell Monitor or use our Monitor self-help Guide.

Common Problem What User Experiences Possible Solution
No Video - Power LED Off No picture
  • Ensure that the power cable connecting the monitor is properly connected and secure.
  • Verify that the power outlet is functioning properly using any other electrical equipment.
  • Ensure that the power button is depressed fully.
  • Test with a known good cable and a known good computer if possible.
No Video - Power LED On No picture or no brightness
  • Increase the brightness and contrast of the monitor through On-Screen Display Menu (OSD).
  • Perform monitor self-test feature check.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
  • Ensure that the correct input source is selected over the Input Source Select button.
Poor Focus The picture is fuzzy, blurry, or ghosting.
  • Eliminate video extension cables.
  • Reset the monitor to Factory Settings.
  • Change the video resolution to the correct aspect ratio.
Shaky or Jittery Video Wavy picture or fine movement
  • Reset the monitor to Factory Settings.
  • Check for environmental factors (like fans or other sources of interference).
  • Relocate the monitor and test it in another room.
Missing Pixels OLED screen has spots.
  • Cycle power on-off.
  • A pixel that is permanently off is a natural defect that can occur in OLED technology.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
Stuck-On/Off Pixels OLED screen has bright spots.
Brightness Problems Picture too dim or too bright.
Geometric Distortion The screen not centered correctly.
Horizontal or Vertical Lines The screen has one or more lines.
  • Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings.
  • Perform monitor self-test feature check and determine if these lines are also in self-test mode.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
Synchronization Problems The screen is scrambled or appears torn.
  • Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings.
  • Perform a monitor self-test feature check to determine if the scrambled screen appears in self-test mode.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
  • Restart the computer in the power-safe mode.
Safety-Related Issues Visible signs of smoke or sparks
  • Do not perform any troubleshooting steps.
  • Contact Dell Technical Support immediately.
Intermittent Problems The monitor malfunctions on and off.
  • Ensure that the video cable is connected properly with the monitor and the computer.
  • Reset the monitor to the Factory Settings.
  • Run the self-test feature and determine if the intermittent problem occurs in the self-test mode.
Missing Color The picture does not have color.
  • Run the monitor self-test feature check.
  • Ensure that the video cable connecting the monitor to the computer is connected properly and is secure.
  • Check for bent or broken pins in the video cable connector.
Wrong Color Picture color is not good.
Change the video resolution to the correct aspect ratio. Color banding in the pictures.
  • Try to lower down the frequency (DP: 3440 x 1440 at 144 Hz, HDMI: 3440 x 1440 at 60 Hz)
The screen image is too small. The image is centered on the screen, but does not fill the entire viewing area.
Cannot adjust the monitor with the joystick. OSD does not appear on the screen.

Turn off the monitor, unplug the power cable, plug it back, and then turn on the monitor.
No Input Signal when user controls are pressed. No picture, the power LED light is white.
  • Check the signal source. Ensure that the computer is not in power-saving mode by moving the mouse or pressing any key on the keyboard.
  • Ensure that the video cable is connected properly with the monitor and the computer.
  • Reset the computer or video player.
The picture does not fill the entire screen. The picture cannot fill the height or width of the screen.
  • Due to different video formats (aspect ratio) of DVDs and videos, the monitor may display in screen.
  • Run the built-in diagnostics.
The displayed pictures appear incorrectly when the DP/HDMI cable is connected through a USB-C adapter or dock to your laptop or desktop. Display stops responding has black screen or display abnormal screen. Do not use a USB-C adapter or dock. Connect the DP/HDMI cable directly to your laptop or desktop.
Screen flickering There is some noticeable flickering in the displayed pictures.
  1. Use the native resolution of your monitor (3440 x 1440 at 60 Hz) or a higher refresh rate.
  2. If the variable refresh rate (VRR) of your device is turned on, turn off variable refresh rate (VRR).
  3. If you are using an NVIDIA graphics card and G-Sync is turned on, turn off G-Sync.
  4. If you are using an AMD graphics card and Free-Sync is turned on, turn off Free-Sync.
  5. Update the graphics card driver and firmware to the latest version.
  6. Change the cable connecting the monitor to the computer. A defective cable can cause the signal to break while being transmitted across the wire.
  7. Check the surroundings. Electromagnetic fields can cause screen flickering. If there is another device plugged into the same power strip as the monitor, try to remove it.
Image retention from a static image left on the monitor for a long period of time. A faint shadow from the static image that is displayed appears on the screen. Set the screen to turn off after a few minutes of screen-idle time. These can be adjusted in the Windows Power Options or Mac Energy Saver setting.
Unevenness in luminance or color of the screen images Visible spots (bright or dark) or lines or Mura appear on the screen.
  1. Alternatively, use a dynamically changing screensaver
  2. Perform the function of Pixel Refresh or Panel Refresh.
In the HDR Peak 1000 mode, the displayed images are dimmer then they are in the HDR 400 True Black mode. The HDR Peak 1000 mode is ideal for the HDR content with a peak brightness of 1000 nits. When displaying non-HDR content, such as browsers and editors, the brightness level in the HDR Peak 1000 mode is observed to be lower as compared to that in the HDR 400 True Black mode due to the luminance control method of OLED panels.
  1. For displaying non-HDR content, such as Office applications, disable the HDR display feature in Windows display settings.
  2. For displaying HDR videos or games with a maximum peak brightness of 1000 nits, set HDR Mode to HDR Peak 1000.
  3. For displaying HDR videos or games which meet the DisplayHDR 400 True Black standard, set HDR Mode to HDR 400 True Black.
   
Troubleshooting USB Issues
Specific Symptoms What User Experiences Possible Solution
USB interface is not working. USB devices are not working.
  • Check that your monitor is turned On.
  • Reconnect the upstream cable to your computer.
  • Reconnect the USB devices (downstream connector).
  • Switch Off and then turn On the monitor again.
  • Reboot the computer.
  • Some USB devices like external portable hard drive require a higher electric current; connect the device directly to the computer.
SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) interface is slow. SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) devices working slowly or not working at all
  • Check that your computer is SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) capable.
  • Some computers have USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 ports.
  • Ensure that the correct USB port is used.
  • Reconnect the upstream cable to your computer.
  • Reconnect the USB devices (downstream connector).
  • Reboot the computer.
Wireless USB devices stop working when a USB 3.2 device is plugged in. Wireless USB devices responding slowly or only working as the distance between itself and its receiver decreases.
  • Increase the distance between the USB 3.2 devices and the wireless USB receiver.
  • Position your wireless USB receiver as close as possible to the wireless USB devices.
  • Use a USB-extender cable to position the wireless USB receiver as far away as possible from the USB 3.2 port.

To learn more about how to view or download the User Guides and Manuals for your Dell product. See the Dell knowledge-base article Manuals and Documentation for your Dell Product.

 

Frequently asked questions

How do I set the maximum resolution on the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor?

Using Windows Display Settings

In Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8 or 8.1 and Windows 7:

  1. For Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 only, select the Desktop tile to switch to the classic desktop view.
  2. Right-click the desktop and click Screen Resolution.
  3. Click the dropdown list of the Screen Resolution and select 3440 x 1440.
  4. Click OK

Using NVIDIA Control Panel

To change the resolution using the NVIDIA Control Panel:

  1. Right-click the desktop and click NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
  3. Select Change Resolution under Display.
  4. In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution 3440 x 1440.
  5. Click Apply.

Using AMD Catalyst Control Center

To change the resolution using the AMD Catalyst Control Center:

  1. Right-click the desktop and click AMD Catalyst Control Center.
  2. Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
  3. Select Change Resolution under Display.
  4. In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution 3440 x 1440.
  5. Click Apply.
Note: If you do not see the recommended resolution as an option. You may need to update the video card (GPU) driver by visiting the Dell Drivers & Downloads website or the video card (GPU) manufacturers website. To learn how to download and update a device driver, see the Dell knowledge-base article: How do I download and install a device driver?

How do I reset the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor to factory defaults?

To reset the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor to factory defaults, see the Reset to Factory Settings section of this article.

How do I run diagnostics on the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor?

The Alienware AW3423DW Monitor has two built-in diagnostics that are available:

  • Self-Test Feature Check - The self-test feature check on the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly.
 
  • Built-In Self-Test - The Alienware AW3423DW Monitor has a built-in self-test that helps you identify if the screen abnormality is with the monitor or the video card (GPU) on your computer. When you notice screen abnormalities like distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade. It is always a good practice to separate the monitor by running the Built-In Diagnostics.

To learn how to run a diagnostic test, see the Running Diagnostics on Alienware AW3423DW Monitor section of this Dell knowledge-base article.

How do I troubleshoot common issues with the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor?

The Troubleshooting section of this Dell knowledge-base article provides information about troubleshooting common issues with the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor. The section has troubleshooting steps on how to resolve power issues, video issues, color or clarity issues, distortion issues, horizontal or vertical lines, brightness issues or pixel issues and so on.

How do I navigate the On-Screen Display menu?

To navigate the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, use the buttons on the monitor. The monitor control buttons are usually on the right side, either on the side, front, or bottom of the monitor. To access the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, press the Joystick on the monitor.

For more information about using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu and different menu options See the Operating Your Monitor section in the User's Guide of your Alienware AW3423DW Monitor.

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What is the supported orientation to set up an Alienware AW3423DW Monitor?

To learn about supported orientation, see the Alienware AW3423DW Monitor orientation section of this Dell knowledge-base article.

Additional Information

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Article Properties

Affected Product

Alienware 34 Curved OLED Monitor AW3423DW

Last Published Date

31 Jan 2024

Version

5

Article Type

How To

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